First horse life painting of 2013- bit rusty!

Managed these this week, first attempt at life painting horses this year! Still a bit cold to be sat outside with an easel but nice to get back to it. Apart from the biggest sketch where the horse was tied up but busy prancing about (excuses excuses haha!) these horses were turned out in a big field so even more difficult than usual to capture! Rubbish sketches but such great practice trying to work quickly and trying to use more colour to describe light, shadows, form.

I am hoping to dedicate a fair bit of time to life painting practice like this over the next few months, more than usual! It is probably the type of painting I enjoy the most, and I'd really like to improve a bit more before I spend a whole week away with the Society of Equestrian Artists in June painting horses day in day out (can't wait!). Hoping to sharpen up my skills and really get the most out of the week and the excellent tuition on offer.

I'm looking forward to the week ahead, working on two really interesting commissions both of which are right up my street, I have a couple of mornings riding planned too. Loving being back in the saddle!

Dressage Mini Painting on ebay

Another half term project! I stared this little 5" x 7" painting ages ago, last year in fact, but have only just got round to finishing it. Unlike most of my work this size it isn't a preparatory study for a larger piece, just a little one for fun!

Bidding starts at 1p with no reserve and free shipping- it's goes for what it goes for! You can find the auction here: http://r.ebay.com/G4K5hx

Happy Valentines Day everyone! 

Half Term

It's half term here so a week off 'proper' painting but a good opportunity to dabble, sketch, and experiment! Last year I decided to buy a Beswick ornament and paint it 30 times in a bid to sharpen up my life painting skills. I dusted it off today for a bit of practice, this is only number 9 though! I'm a bit rusty and the drawing is decidedly dodgy but all good preparation for better weather round the corner and real life equine models to paint. I am especially looking forward to a whole week in June down in Devon painting horses with fellow members of The Society of Equestrian Artists!

'Winter Day'

Finished this painting today. I may tweak it with fresh eyes in a week or two but for now it is signed and complete! Looking forward to having it properly scanned as the photo hasn't really captured it accurately. Really enjoyed the challenge of painting this one, learnt lots throughout which will hopefully help future snowy scenes! 

More on the snowy scene done.

Have worked mainly on the pony today, and the snow in the foreground (the camera doesn't really pick up the light on the snow though!). Very nearly finished, another sitting to tidy up the pony, she needs a few more details/highlights/shadows, then my signature in the bottom right, a few more stick-like plants emerging from the snow, and it will be done!

Need to think of a title...

Snowy Scene, Work in Progress...

I have attempted several snowy scenes in the last couple of years but never managed to produce one I was happy with, they have all either ended up in the bin or overpainted! Determined to crack it this year as I'd love to have my own Christmas cards printed in 2013. This is my current attempt, so far!

The pony and foreground are only roughly blocked in so far but I think the background is pretty much done. There are lots of purples and greens in the trees which seem to get lost completely in the photograph, think this one will need professional scanning if it turns out ok- cameras just can't seem to cope with subtle detail AND areas of strong plain contrasting colour/tone.

Looking forward to it drying so that I can carry on with it. Below is a shot of it last week, two more layers of paint have gone on the trees since. The colours are a lot truer in the older photo!