Time changes ideas!

The Huntsman is done and ready to be framed. It wound up very different from the original idea, but I am happy with it.

I also knocked out a quick study of my retired Grand Prix horse. It is titled "In His Pasture" and is oil pastels on board. I based it on last summer during the prairie burns. You will just be able to see the smoke from the burn in the upper right.

2012 How time flies!

Retirement is the BEST!!! I am still getting used to it, but love all the time that has become available to me. Time was always such a precious commodity when I was working out of the home.

I still don't waste it, but now at the end of a day when I start to think "oh drat, I have to go back to work tomorrow" and then realize that I don't.....well, it is really wonderful!

I am still plugging away on The Huntsman. But I like how it is developing. I think it just is better because I am going so slowly on it.

Hawaiian Light and Shanghai Spring are framed now and entered in the AAEA Spindletop Invitational exhibit for 2012. As well as The Huntsman...entered that is, not framed.

two watercolors in the works

these are images for Fort Riley Cavalry museum

watercolors with pencil

"morning review"

and

"good boy"

travelling through texas

these are things/places I saw while travelling through texas this past week.

Memorial today for Traveller

I had a sad afternoon. I went to photograph the memorial service for one of the Ft Riley Honor Guard horses. I will post photos later and his history.
He is the fellow that I drew the portrait of earlier.
What a sad loss.

I think this could be called "Spaghetti Western"

Creature Comforts

I took advantage of great weather on Sunday and rode my Old Man. Then I watched Stephanie Burbach Weinberger jump my mare, Bebe (The Babe).

Bebe has not been jumping long and really enjoys it. Here are some shots of her.

portrait of ft riley horse

I finished this pretty much today. I will add his name and unit crest in the lower right corner.

The cavalry color guard are very happy with it. "It's better than a photograph!"

so I'm happy too!

two pieces this weekend

Spring is in the air. We had a blizzard (kinda sorta) on Friday,very cold Saturday, and today the sun came out to start melting the snow.

since I was stuck inside, I worked on this small watercolor and ink drawing. It is from a reference photo by Linda Schantz. size is 4x6 on paper.

the next piece started but not finished (and deadline is tomorrow!) is a memorial portrait of one of the mounts from the Ft Riley Honor Guard. He was found dead in the pasture a little while ago. He was a handsome 12 yr old Quarter Horse. His main job was to bring in flowers for the commander's wife. He always had one ear cocked back onto his rider.

Sypher in Hawaii

6x6 oil on hardboard (new material that I am trying-so far I like it)

using a photo of my horse that I shot in Hawaii. He is my favorite model.

got stuck with the larger pieces so hopefully this little one will pop the cork.

I do need to clean off my palette and squeeze out new paint.

worked on the figure more today. I like the color of the jacket now, the leg, head/helmut shapes are better as are the colors. still not content with the shoulders. I like the setting, and the colors and activity.

The Huntsman day 1 and 2

I modified the composition and began laying down paint over the Christmas weekend. I have been using large brushes to force me away from details.

I'm using the Daniel Greene palette. I watched his video before beginning and for the FIRST time, I am confident about what colors to use and how to mix.

I am happy with how it is proceeding, and so far haven't had the thought that "it is a piece of trash-what was I thinking-" a major step forward for me!

It is different from my previous works because of how loose it is. But still recognizable as my "style" because of the composition, I believe.

Some changes in my personal life have really motivated me to paint or draw everyday now. No more procrastination. So I have my studio set up and lots of different sizes of canvas, or paper so nothing stands in my way (except myself).

I will also work on my sculpture that has patiently been waiting for years.

kabuki head

I found an antique kimono that I will use as reference for this painting. It is beautiful.

finding reference for the wig has been unsuccessful so far.

but I just got a new book in yesterdays mail, hopefully it will help.

Huntsman 28 Nov

so I haven't been completely idle although distracted again. I did a small clay modeling of the head and upper torso to work out anatomy and lighting.

today I will check the layout again and hopefully start laying down some paint.

Huntsman delayed

so shortly after posting the last blog, I was getting dressed for work and while balancing on one leg and trying to slip my other into the slacks, I lost my balance. Hopping and twisting and falling resulted in a strained lower back. I spent 4 days in bed.

I did take some modeling clay and worked on the shape of the huntsman so that I can hit it with different lighting to help determine how the painting light will be.

Plus, I came up with a new idea for a painting. The kimono will be large sheets of watercolor. The kabuki face will be very stylized like a woodblock print. the wig hair will be intricate for the design element.

The eyes, brows, and possibly the nose I will do on a new gallery wrap canvas I saw at the art store. It is cut at an angle so that it appears to float above the surface.

Will it work? I have no idea, but the idea intrigues me. I also have no idea where I will put it in my house.

The Huntsman

I got the image laid down on canvas. Actually, not the canvas that I made a special trip to buy (30x40) but more rectangular. I will continue with this one because I like the flow better. I might go back to the more square one later, who can say.
Next step is to follow Michelle's guidance once again and make certain that my point of interest is right where it is supposed to be.
I am excited by this image and wish that I hadn't run out of time today. But because I did so many chores today, I will have most of tomorrow for the canvas.

the Huntsman

got this idea about three weeks ago and have been doodling ever since. Today I think I finally got the image out of my mind and onto paper.

Here is the initial rough (complete with lines from the notepaper I was using) and a cropped version with some color roughed in.

I hope that I can keep the feeling of this little sketch all the way to the final piece, which will be as big as I can get. (I was hoping to do it 4ft by 6ft)

Artist in Residence at Kentucky

I spent a week at the Kentucky Horse Park as Artist in Residence with AAEA. Even with the off and on rain, I had a great time and got lots of good reference photos.

Here are three small pieces that I did in the AAEA studio.

I recommend other AAEA artists to do the AIR program!

Update on Sidetracked!

I did finish the big chicken head but wound up leaving it in Hawaii. It now greets visitors to Green Flamingo B&B in Waimanalo.