Tis the Season… for Commissions! 

My latest work is a portrait of a handsome Quarter Horse named Flyer.  The owner contacted me with a photo she really liked – the lighting was atypical for a portrait – but the interplay of highlights and shadows cast by a nearby (out of view) tree created an interesting challenge to capture in paint. I was excited with the chance to take on something a bit different.  The end result is an unusual play of light that works nicely to compose a painting that is truly unique and will likely be treasured for many years! 

I’ve a few more commissions taking turns on my easel, the others aren’t for Christmas (obviously, lol), I’ll share them as each one reaches the finish line! 

“Flyer”
16” x 20” Oil on Canvas

Just a reminder that my Commission Special continues only through 12/31/11 – I still have room for a few more.  I also offer gift certificates for those giftee’s that are pickier than others! 

Also, don’t forget to check out my Etsy Store for Prints ($1 shipping through 12/31/11), Greeting Cards and a sale on select Originals: Equine, Bovine and Southwest (marked down 20-50% through 12/31/11)!!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everybody!

The holiday season is upon us, and that means things are going to get busy!  That means status quo for me, of course!  There are a number of new pieces available (and some still cooking on the easel), the Southern Arizona Horse Expo coming up, and lots of great deals to finish out the year, new and not so new!  So to start out, here are some of the awesome specials and new offerings that will help you find unique gift solutions – for others or yourself – followed by an upcoming event and a few new works!

Holiday Specials

• 20-50% Off Select Originals on Etsy; Equine, Bovine and Southwest!
• $1 Shipping* on Prints in my Etsy Store . *in the US, reduced shipping elsewhere.
• NEW – I now have Greeting Cards in a variety of images available!
• And don’t forget my Commission Special – a great deal on having the one of a kind fine oil portrait to commemorate that special  horse (or pet,or other subject), still good through the end of the year (includes Gift Certificates)! 
• Also – Gift Certificates are available for everything from prints to commissions (contact me for more information)!

Southern Arizona Horse Expo

I will have a booth at the Southern Arizona Horse Expo going on November 26-27 in Oracle, AZ, if you’re there please stop by and say hi!  If you’re in Southern Arizona this is a great event with wonderful presenters and their Cowboy Christmas – independent vendors, many local, selling unique items for the horse person – is a great way to Shop Small, Local and Independant this year! 

Lots O’ New Work!!

This is the first piece, a striking moment of the great Zenyatta, 2010 Horse of the Year, doing her unique dance in the saddling paddock.  I have always been fascinated with her dapples, and this painting gave me the opportunity to tackle them with great enthusiasm!   Original and Prints available!

“Zenyatta in the Paddock” 18″ x 24″ oil on canvas 

The next is a bit of deja vu.  A striking dark bay based in Southern California, this nice mare named Harmonious is also trained by Zenyatta’s trainer John Sherriffs.  A turf specialist, Harmonious is a come from behind horse and is always exciting to watch race whether she wins or not.

“Harmonious 14″ x 18″ oil on canvas.

This fun painting of a bay appaloos filly will be available at the Horse Expo!

“Blanket Baby” 12″ x 12″ oil on canvas

Nothin’s bothering this calf who’s happy to be lazy and relaxed!

“Just Chillin” 14″ x 18″ oil on canvas

Three rescued and comfortably retired thoroughbred racehorses enjoying the good life in the arizona desert oasis that is Equine Encore Foundation – a great racehorse rescue that could always use more support!

“Oasis Sentinals” 18″ x 24″ oil on canvas

Well, I’m off to prepare our turkey – I’m thankful for all of you who’ve been kind enough to enjoy my work and share in my passion for painting!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Carole

2011 Commission Special: Part 2!!

Introducing a new Commission Special for the 2nd half of the year!  15 % off any commissioned oil painting and the option of a monthly payment plan for up to 6 months!

This is a great time to get your spot for *Christmas Portraits !    *Commissions started by September 15th are guaranteed to be completed and delivered/shipped 1st week of December. This special also applies to Commission Gift Certificates for those who would like to leave the tough decisions to the giftee! 

This Special will be good through December 31st, 2011!   Make sure to visit my commission page for more information – you can email me with any questions.

New Work

Here’s a couple new pieces I finished over the past couple months.  I worked on the first at the Phippen show in Prescott, AZ.  This is “Power Nap”, a 16 x 20 oil on canvas mounted on board.

…and this one would have been worked on at the show if the second day wasn’t dominated by up to 50 mph winds!  Fortunately it found some quality time on my easel after the show.  This is also a 16 x 20 oil on canvas mounted on board, as yet untitled.

Upcoming Show in Tubac…

I”m excited to have some pieces hanging at the Tubac Center of the Arts for the Summer Gallery Show,  July 30 – August 28 – the opening reception is July 30 from 5-7 pm!  Drop by and check out the show!

As the weather warms up here in southern Arizona, I’m already looking forward to packing up my work and heading to Prescott for the Phippen Art Show & Sale over Memorial Day weekend!  I’m working on at least one new piece to bring, and may work on another piece while there.  The show runs from May 28-30.  If you’re able to attend the show, please find my booth and stop by for a chat – I will be on the south side of the courthouse, along Montezuma Street – right near the middle!  I really look forward to being amongst so many of the best western artists – even though this means I’ll miss opening weekend at Yavapai Downs!   I will try to make another trip to beautiful and (most importantly) cool Prescott this summer just to spend some quality time at the track, of course, most likely when the temperature here is working it’s way up towards 110 F!

Painting Sold!

I just found out my oil painting titled Checkmate sold at The Horse in Fine Art – AAEA Invitational Exhibition at Spindletop Hall in Lexington, Kentucky!  It’s always nice to see my work going to good homes!

April Special!

While waiting and hoping for April showers (this is the desert, one can dream!), I thought I’d do something fun and different for April, a simple portrait special that simply gets to the heart of the horse and the people that love them!  I’m offering an 11 x 14 oil portrait for the awesome price of $300 – that’s 40 % off the current price!  Imagine owning a gallery quality fine oil painting that will be a valuable and lasting memento of a favorite equine friend!

This would be about simplicity, each portrait is limited to a one horse head shot (tack OK), and a simple background, like the pieces below.  Even better, it could be done (and paid for) over a 2 to 3 month period!  There’s a limited number of orders that can be accepted. Email andreenharris@gmail.com for more information or if you have any questions!

Two New Cattle Pieces!

 It seemed a good idea to create a pair of 11 x 14 cattle pieces for the Cattleman’s Western Art Show & Sale coming up April 8-10 in Paso Robles, CA.  I had some bovine sketches in my painting queue just waiting to be done – so they got bumped to the top of the list and ended up on canvas recently!  If you’re in or near Paso Robles in a week, come visit!

“Yakki Yak”

“Don’t Talk Back”

Equine Art Instruction

After getting a number of inquiries, I’m considering a plan for equine drawing and painting lessons, and even a workshop!  If anyone is interested please contact me (andreenharris@gmail.com) and share your input – ie: what you’d like to learn, how you’d like to learn it – such as individual lessons, classes, worshops, anything else, etc.

As we’re enjoying some wonderful weather here in Arizona, the urge to do some spring cleaning is growing, and that includes making room for the many new pieces I’m producing.  This means finding homes for the many prints and originals I have taking up space in my studio!  So I’m offering a great deal for March on my Etsy Store – 25% off everything – prints and originals!  There’s a wide selection, including a number of originals added in recent months – many of my more popular pieces from recent years, so check it out!   Important: To receive the discount, insert the coupon code SAVE25 at check out. 

***For those interested in commissions, watch for more information on my “Pre-Summer” portrait special – a discount on all commissions in the next couple months!

New Work

And now for a couple of  new paintings – with the Triple Crown season starting to amp up, I was in the mood to have some fun with some racing pieces recently. 

This one is from morning workouts at Santa Anita in October, 2009.  This bright eyed and brilliantly colored chestnut is on his toes and ready to hit the track.  This is a 14” x 18” oil on canvas, appropriately titled “Morning Glory”…

”Checkmate” is from a trip to Hollywood Park last June, it’s not often a head on angle makes for an intersting painting, but with the right canvas (with perfectly unique dimensions), this horse and jockey practically step out of the canvas as they’re preparing to ride out onto the track for the 5th race!  This is a horse named Sea Rascal who’s been climbing the claiming ranks in Southern California in the past 9 months and has a look that makes him a riveting subject – he might even make it into another painting.  12” x 24” oil on canvas…

Upcoming Shows:

I will be in Paso Robles, California April 8-10 for the Cattlemen’s Western Art Show & Sale., and over Memorial day I will have a booth at the Phippen Museum Western Art Show & Sale in Prescott, Arizona.  This show runs from May 28 – 30.

If you’re near either of these show’s please come by and visit!

I am thrilled that my saddle painting (see previous post) will be part of the Empire 100 Western Art Show & Sale from January 10th through March 10th.  Please stop by the Northern Trust Bank at Sunrise east of Campbell (3450 East Sunrise Drive) Mon-Fri 8:30am to 4pm to see some amazing work with which I’m truly honored to have a piece of mine included.

I will also have a booth at this years 2nd Annual Southern Arizona Horse Expo, January 15-16 from 9am – 5pm at the University of Arizona Horse Farm.  It looks to be a great event featuring John Lyon’s along with other notable horsepeople sharing their wisdom and experience!  If you’re there, please stop by and say hi!

New Work

Here’s a piece I just finished that is a gift for a very special friend of her very special horse - a gentle and handsome Andalusian named Baja.  It’s a 16 x 20 oil on canvas…

 A detail shot of the head…

I recently finished my first painting since October - when I started a series of art shows that has kept me too busy to paint (sounds ironic, I know).  I’ve always thought it would be fun to do a series of tack still lifes, and I finally got a chance to play with this idea where I play best – in paint.  This time the saddle IS the star, in this 18 x 24 oil on canvas titled “Saddle Up”…
 

Originals and Prints Available!

With the holidays approaching I’ve stocked my etsy store… more originals, new prints in both 8″ x 10″ and 11″ x 14″ sizes as well as some favorites now available 11″ x 14″.  I also now have Gift Certificates for prints in both sizes to make gift buying easier!  On top of that, I’m offering $1 shipping until the end of December!  And as always, if you see a piece you like and it’s not on Etsy, just send me an email to get more information on the pieces price and availablity!

Happy Holidays to All!

I’m proud to announce that I have the honor once again to have a painting in the Mountain Oyster Club Contemporary Western Art Show & Sale!  The prestigeous show starts November 21 and continues through January.  This is the accepted piece:

“Bashful” 11 x 14 oil

HEART of TucsonTack Sale Sunday, November 14th!

I will also have a few peices and some prints at the HEART of Tucson Tack Sale on Sunday, come by and enjoy some good food and music, shop for tack and other goodies, and stop by and say hi!  It’s happening at Pantano Stables Wedding Park  4550 S. Houghton in Tucson from 8 am – 3 pm.

Equine Showcase: Le Cheval – the Horse

I also have a four pieces in the Cazenovia College Art Gallery in Cazenovia, New York.  The show is the Equine Showcase in conjunction with the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament and runs from November 4 December 9!

I have been connecting with three other artists that share my interest in working with the rescue HEART of Tucson.  Together we decided that the best way we could help was through what we do best… our art.  As a result we dubbed ourselves “HeARTists for Horses” and started brainstorming!  We are myself, Lori Faith Merritt (photographer), Dikki Van Helsland (Batik) and Mia Larocuque (photographer). 

With the blessing and help of HEART and the valuable input and contributions of some good friends with experience in the art market, we’ve organized our first fall show!  It will take place on October 24 at the San Pedro Chapel in Tucson, Arizona.  There’s also an auction of the adoption of a nice looking 2 yr old paint gelding named Blue (adoption pre-approval needed to be able to bid)… along with artwork by the HeARTists featuring Blue!  Along with a Blue paitning, I’m doing a lot of new work just for this show, including some pieces featuring rescue horses from HEART – starting with the painting of Britches I posted earlier this month!  

For more information visit HeARTists for Horses Facebook Page or HEART of Tucson – HeARTist Page.

And now… some new work…

“Lone Ranger”
This is a a fun use of reference material… here I use a horse as a model but change enough to create a fictional character.  It’s still from one of my own photos, but there’s always something refreshing about inventing a horse – turning a domestic horse in a stable into a mustang wild and free.  This is a 16″ x 20″ oil on canvas. 
 

“Bashful”
Occasionally I wander towards other species, sure it’s not a stretch to go from horses to cattle, but it’s definitely a refreshing change!  This soft eyed creature really captured my eye enough to find it’s way to being painted in oil on an 11″ x 14″ canvas. 

Another HEART rescue has been finished, this yearling TB named Domino is a true character, as a foal he was the star of my painting “Dinnertime for Domino”, and now is featured in all his awkward, gangly pre-pubescent glory in “Domino: Coming of Age”, a 14″ x 18″ oil on canvas.