More Rain!

Locust Tree Blooms 5x5" study start
After looking at "A Painting A Day" sites, I have decided to try my hand at doing something along those lines. It isn't as daunting as starting a new painting right now,and seems to be a fun way to start painting for the day, so here's the first effort. I went to Meadowlake Farm this morning to check on Bear, who had been a little peckish yesterday. (He's fine today). So I took the opportunity to photograph on the farm. I got to explore places I hadn't seen before, and got about 250 photos. The camera wouldn't hold them long enough for me to really look for any length of time, so I got short glimpses and then painted from memory. I could return to this tomorrow, to define the tree trunks and mare, if I don't have to plant rose bushes all day!

Lunch with the arts

"Trees in the Draw"_8x8" _Oil on board_Available_$325
Trees on my farm (my favorite place to paint!)This painting was done last year on a day with me sitting in the moist grass...I had forgotten my portable easel and chair. The main interest for the painting, was on the color temperature changes of the grass in the shadows and sunlight.

I had lunch today with Shelley Hunter and Marilyn Sadler talking art and pets. Shelley brought her new sculpture of John Henry's head, done from her great sculpture installed at the Kentucky Horse Park. I think we may get together to work on some relief sculptures and painting small one-a-day type paintings for fun.

Shelley and Marilyn look at cats and dogs on camera


Shelley and John Henry
P.S. One look at my studio with clay sculptures done several years ago and never cast (falling apart) was enough to scare them out!

Bear's Video Day

Went to photograph Bear today for his debut on the internet. I'm pleased with his moving off her leg, really responsive. But now he needs more work on the straight lines. I'm looking forward to riding him, now, on Friday. Seems he needs to put on a bit of weight,too.

Deer paintings

It used to be, when I thought about painting a large painting, I would weigh out how much time it would take to paint all of the details, a daunting task. There had to be a better way, and as I studied the art of painting, I found that the painting is really a work of directing the eye to the subject or main player in the stage set. To accomplish the goal, some players have to be down played by softening the edges or reducing the strength of color. The subject must always be the most colorful, sharpest image within the painting, in order to command the attention it deserves. Painting "loosely" is not my goal. Painting loosely to downplay minor subject matter means a lot to me. Now that I know the difference, I'm much happier in my work. To illustrate this, I have included two paintings painted several decades apart.

White tail doe on a road setting, done 30 years ago!
There's a spike deer in the shadows. 24x30"


Whitetail Doe_11x14 _available_$450
White tail doe next to a stream, landscape, done 5 years ago.
I'm done with painting every leaf as you can see, and am much happier with the results

Grey Day

Her Royal Pie-ness


Ellee wants her hay, NOW!

Today is another grey day but what a fun day to take pictures! Soft light and soft shadows make for wonderful landscape photos.

Derby day 2009

Fresh Mint at the spring



mmmm mint tea




Audrie looks for a stallion....anyone?




















TV set up. Notice the ladder holding the antenna in just the right spot!


Derby Day was a cool blast from the North. I went to the spring to get fresh mint for the tea and along the way saw one of the barn swallow parents atop the house where he (or she) raised a group of babies. Maybe God was giving a hint for the Derby!




The men spent all afternoon trying to get the ATV fixed, then gave up and enjoyed the Derby.
We divied up the herd of horses, and I came up with Bird of Mine. I had picked his grandfather to win years ago, so he was a sentimental favorite. Hoooray! Just proves that a bigger horse is NOT better. "He is a good athelete" is all I can say. I won $8. Whooopie!

Pre-Derby

Ok It's Oaks Day at the Downs, and Rachel Alexandra won it by 20 lengths! She is just awesome.
I decided to trim my filly's feet today with the rasp. Her feet seem to just grow at the toes so I'm going to keep it up until the farrier gets back. She was real sweet about it.
Derby Day tomorrow! We'll have to watch it, gonna grill out with some family. Hope they don't talk too much while the horses are being featured, I can be a little rude by turning the volume up or shushing. Love you guys! but Derby is very important!