Some experimentation!

I am trying to make more of an effort to explore different, more spontaneous, ways of painting... not because I want to move away from my current style of painting necessarily- but because I know lessons learned sketching from life and quick loose studies will benefit my overall work.

With such little spare time to paint running round after my two small boys and trying to keep on top of commissions/work for exhibitions it's hard to make time to have a play about but when I do I'm always pleased I did.

Above is a 16" x 14" (I think!) 25 min sketch in oils that I did this morning. I had some paint left on my palette and knew I HAD to be out the door in 25 mins to go collect my children so I went for it! Poor horse has some nose issues going on amongst other things but he was fun to paint and could have been a lot worse given I just went straight in with a whopping big (for me!) brush! LOL!

'The Warm Up' finally finished!

Feel as though I have been working on this one forever!! It is finally done! 30" x 30" oil on box canvas.

So near and yet so far...

The bulk of this painting is looking nearish completion now, just the rider's left foot to paint really, and the section above the browband, and the plaits, the bridlework still needs some work too... hmmm maybe quite a bit left then. Unfinished bits aside there are still many hours worth of tidying up to do pretty much everywhere! Such a big painting and so much to focus right down in on.

I am almost always guilty of getting to the finished-but-slightly-untidy stage and rushing to declare it done before regretting it later so I think I am going to get it finished to a reasonable standard, re-touch varnish it and then add the finishing tidy-up bits with fresh eyes after a few months when they start to really bother me. I am really pushed at the moment trying to complete commissions so the only time I get to work on this is when things aren't going to plan on the commissions and I need a short break to re-focus!

Really enjoying my current commissioned work, lucky to have such wonderful clients with such beautiful and interesting horses!

The tail goes on...

Been away for the weekend and am snowed under with commissioned work so not much done on this, the tail went on today though!

Another update...

Still struggling for a title for this! More rough detail on the plaits and another layer on the background. I think I will probably keep the background simple and leave it as it is, but will decide once the horse and rider is finished!

Started detail on bridle.

First layer of detail has gone on the bridle now, just highlights really. Some highlights on the forelock plait too.

Another update, really need a title!

Still working away...