Since I knew I would have a day off not just from the day job, but most of my other pesky painting obstacles (some might call them grocery shopping, chauffering kids from place to place, cleaning and cooking), I had a painting ready to work on for the day. I finished it, and in enough time to even make dinner for my (by then) starving family.

Doing a painting in a day requires many things to work in my favor… a whole day cleared of other tasks (a rare thing in itself), a very good reference photo that needs little adjusting on my part and requires nothing more than a simple background, and planning ahead – because it almost (especially in this case) takes more time to get to the painting stage than actually painting. This is true instant gratification for me, I’ve found doing one of these occasionally keeps me motivated.  This piece, along with “Uncontested”, should be headed to the Equine Art Show at Emerald Downs (in Auburn, Washington) on July 9-12.

And without further ado, here’s the finished work… “Walking Home”, a 16 x 20 oil on canvas:

Just finished the painting I worked on during the Preakness, like the Derby it’s not related to the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown other than the fact that it features a racehorse as the subject. This one was fun, from a photo I’d forgotten about that I took a couple years ago at Yavapai Downs in Prescott, AZ. It’s called “Uncontested” and is a 18 x 24 oil on canvas, I might send it to the Equine Art 2009 at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington (July 9-12) – I’ll have to decide soon.

I’m happy to say I completed my “Derby” piece, a racing themed painting I work on during the race. It has little to do with the actual race, though, more the mood I’m in – painting racehorses while they’re playing “My Old Kentucky Home” is a little slice of heaven to me.

But this painting was no “Mine That Bird”, who won the Derby by 6 lengths in a surprizing burst of speed. Instead it loped home clumsily not sure what it was supposed to do… until I got it straightened out just at the wire. When all is said and done, however, the hope is that it looks good. Fortunately speed is not so critical in the painting of racehorses.

“Dreams of Glory” 16 x 20 oil on canvas:

The other one is a horse finishing up his bathtime ritual at the end of a hard day. As temps now are hitting 100 degrees farenheight daily here in the desert, there are few mammals that wouldn’t enjoy even just the thought of getting dowsed by cool hose water.

“Spa Day”, 16 x 20 acrylic on canvas:

Thanks to everyone for enjoying my art along with me!

Carole

Betweem taxes, painting our house and a lot of random stuff I’ve had limited easel and computer time. But work only slowed, not stopped. Here’s one I recently finished… it’s an 18 x 24 acrylic on canvas called “Pep Talk”, a painting of two Clydesdales talkin’ shop.

I have a couple more pieces to post very soon, including my traditional Derby piece… every year I work on a racing themed painting while enjoying hours of pre, actual and post Derby coverage. It’s the next best thing to being there!