grace of a thoroughbred

watercolor

fabriano

14 x 16

i think these paintings probably look easier than they are. i guess the trick is to make them look easy when they are actually a bit difficult. controlling the flow of color and water is a constant challenge. I know I have painted this horse a million times but there is something about the lines and movement and fineness of a thoroughbred that just personifies grace. here she is running directly toward me.

dark horse

watercolor

on fabriano

this is the same almost black horse that has been so hard for me to paint. i have decided it is that it is not so easy to find the shadows!

watercolor

on fabriano

12 x 14

my second attempt and I am thinking I will try yet again. i am not quite getting what I want. this is a really dark almost black horse and i find white or light animals much easier to color. this paper is a soft or cold press which is not the rougher texture that i prefer. i know when i paint these really loose paintings that there is a thin line between what i want and just a watery mess. these are however really fun to create!

what now????

watercolor

fabriano paper

11 x 14

I tried this painting a few weeks ago in gouache (see below). i was not happy with the results so I tried again with just the watercolor. much happier with this result. i do love color and it is hard to beat gouache for that deep rich color but i haven't yet mastered it yet.

how much is that doggie in the window?

how much is that doggie in the window?

watercolor

on fabriano

20x20

This painting is for Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society's annual fundraising art auction, Paws for Art. I donate a piece each year and have done so for many years now. The cat, Dammit Kitty, is a walk-up cat (dropped off as a kitten on the road by my house) and the pup, Boo Radley, is a recent acquisition to my farm from OLHS. Boo was one of a litter of many newborns dropped of at OLHS (with no mom). Fortunately, someone (an angel no doubt) took on the entire litter and kept them until they were 5 weeks old at which time OLHS put them up for adoption. There are so many and so willing few homes!

 

CrackerJack again

8x8

Watercolor & Gouache

Primed board

Will work on sealing this one too after it sits for a day or two.

CrackerJack

8x8

Watercolor & Gouach

Primed Board

CrackerJack is almost 30 years old. I have had him since he was about 8. He is a bit hard to paint because he always looks grumpy these days. But, here the wind was blowing and he was focused on something in the distance. This painting was actually an experiment (and still is) of painting watercolor on primed board. I will let it to dry and then figure out a way to seal it. I am hoping to have a painting that will not have to be placed behind glass.