Upon the Horse

Upon the Horse
Pen and Ink on paper, 6x7

I have recently had a longing to draw in the western theme, and my civil war reenactment photos were the perfect aid!  Using my favorite superfine black Pitt pen, I have drawn this completely.  I have so many of these pens, in so many colors, but I continue to return to my one favorite!  It is the same way I am with brushes.  I must have hundreds, and I end up using just a few. Different ones for different mediums, but just a few in each.  I have only started to draw people in ink, and the trick is to leave them loose.  I will probably have to do a great many of them before I am truly comfortable with the process!  Drawing number 1325 in 1325 days :)

To the Barn

To the Barn
Oil on wood panel, 7x5
auction - bid here

Some days are so hectic, that by the time I make it to my easel - I REALLY need my painting fix!  I had sketched this one out a while ago, and then I switched gears to another theme.  It was a treat to return to this, the composition and sketch already complete.  It left me to mindlessly paint with brush and palette knife and oils.  When there are no distractions between me and the panel, I can quickly lay in that paint - almost as if the oils just roll of the brush!  I wish it weren't so late, I would go right on painting.  But alas, its been a very long day and I have another one ahead of me tomorrow.  Painting number 810 in 810 days.

Preparing the Horse

Preparing the Horse
Oil on hardboard panel, 7x5

What a great day!  I just started a weekly painting class last Monday, and I am having SO much fun teaching it!  With my already super full schedule, I have resisted committing myself to a weekly time slot for so long!  I simply love sharing all that I have absorbed through the years, and don't know why I put it off!  This painting is small - only 7x5 inches, which is pretty tight for so much information.  I have started offering this size for auctions, and since the western scenes are attracting so much attention, I thought I'd give it a try.  I was able to sketch and block in the masses after housework and before class.  I was then able to return to it briefly to finish between class and picking Michael up from practice.  With a sorority meeting tonight - and so much laughing and visiting late into the evening, I have only now returned home to get his image uploaded and posted.  Some days are just a non-stop whirlwind of activity - and truly, I revel in it.  I should sleep well tonight!  This painting is number 765 in 765 days :)

Adjusting the Bridle

Adjusting the Bridle
Oil on panel, 16x12
Civil War Reenactment on the farm

This is my fifth painting of the week, painted from our reenactment this past weekend.  What I really like about this one is that our milk barn is in the background.  When I was younger, I wished this barn looked more like the big red ones dotting the countryside.  As the years go by, I truly appreciate the unique design and color of this barn.  In all these years, I have not seen another one like it!  With each horse I paint, they get easier.  I really enjoy capturing the line and form of each one in paint!  This painting is number 231 in 231 days :)