Polocrosse Practice

A bit more done today on the horse and rider...

Polocrosse Practice

Back to this after a bit of a break... lots of work left to do on this!

Polocrosse Practice

Some more sketchy colour on the background, and first splashes of thin colour on the horse.

Polocrosse Practice

Finally back to this painting. Feeling a bit uninspired with it! I can't wait to paint the horse and rider as I love the pose, light, and everything about it... but have so little enthusiasm for the background. Got some paint on today, just rough guidelines really but I'm pleased to have made a proper start!

'Dressage' Finished

Finished at last! I plan to put it away for a few months and look at it with fresh eyes down the line but for now, it is finished. Will sign it once it is dry enough.

Now I just need a title!

'Dressage'

VERY nearly finished! Horse and rider are done, just a few glazes left to do over the whole background to bring it all together and tidy it up.

Can't wait to finally sign it. This has been by far the most challenging painting I have done to date in terms of the sheer time and work involved!

'Dressage'

Some work done on the background today. Trying to move it back a bit and tone the colours down. Looking a bit scruffy as it is but hopefully a few glazes of bluey green over the lot will soften it and send it back.

'Dressage'

So nearly finished!

Today was a 'glaze day' so not much actual work other than slopping on a load of thin paint... but I'm so pleased with how it has brought it together! Nice to see the ugly highlight/lowlight stages transformed with a burnt umber glaze.

Just tidying up now really but a bit more darker detail in the mane and reins and few other bits here and there. Also think the grass at the front needs more detail and the trees need taking back a bit too.

'Dressage'

Work on shadows done today. Doesn't look that much different from the photo yesterday but it is really! I'm hoping a thin glaze of burnt umber will see the horse finished. The riders jacket needs some work and the reins... the rest is just touching up the finer detail. Can't wait to finish it now!

'Dressage'

Managed to do quite a bit on this today, highlights and tidying up mainly. Will need to let it dry completely before using a fine brush to pick out all the deepest shadows next. The end is in sight now!

'Dressage'

More highlights on, brown glaze to go on tomorrow... close up shot shows I still have a lot of detailed work left to do!