Two Big Beauties

11x14 Oil on board

Two big beauties on Windy Hill Farm near Kettleby Ontario.

Photo by Barry Wallace "Camera on King"

I was lucky to get permission to use this portrait of  these Horses the breed is called Percherons they are much bigger in real life, and they seem to be very close as a couple or twins. We visited the area and they were out grazing. When one moved the other followed keeping close to one another the whole time, I believe they are used at local fairs, sleigh rides, weddings etc.

They were more than a little difficult to paint those legs,  there seemed to be bit's of them everywhere hiding in the background !
I decided to not give up and find a way to finish this painting. They are magnificent Animals and they looked happy and content in their field. Perhaps one day we might get close up and give them a treat.

Babs

The Big Red, a Big Picture

 "The Big Red" Oil on 16x20 canvas

At the beginning of this week I made a decision to go beyond an 11x14 to a 16 x20 I had a photo from Stuart when he took a trip to see an enactment of the 1812 war. It was a boiling hot day with a lot going on especially many horses being used in a lot of the scenes. A lot of cavalry dressed in splendid uniforms. This is a close up of one of those horses I was able to use as a practice with 16 x 20 Canvas.

I must admit that size on an easel looked positively huge in comparison to an 11x14!

With encouragement from John and Stuart to 'go big' and do it.a good experience and practice. So in front of a sketch on the canvas and some music in the background I took the brush paint on and reached out and said to myself  'DO IT'!

I am sure any equestrians look at 'Big Red' (my name for him) will see mistakes, love of horses go deep and owners know every inch of the precious animal ,but,on the whole I believe my interest is becoming avid I enjoyed working with him and hopefully it shows a 16 x 20 was worth the while.
Babs

For the Love of Fred!

"Frederick" oil on 8x10 board

I am finding more and more interest on YouTube, decided to look up horses and was amazed how much info was in it from videos to photo's of all kinds of horses.

I found a video of Frederick the Great. I was blown away by his beauty. He is a Friesian, they were almost extinct not too long ago, hard to believe when you see him in action. He's totally black  with a magnificent main and tail, obviously well groomed. Watching him gallop across a field in slow motion was wonderful to see!

I managed to find a picture that I could try and paint to show how proud and full of life he looks I enjoyed the challenge and will keep him at home!
 Babs

About Horses

"Secoya" oil on 8x10 board

I must admit I love horses from Clydesdale to mini and anything in-between.  Somehow I have found a young lady in the UK who is an equestrian artist. She is on Facebook Laura Barber Riley I have started to follow her mainly because she is passionate about horses. Her work and the energy she has is inspiring. She paints pleine air and loves it. I asked how she is able to paint such lively painterly horses so well. Her answer was almost too simple, "practice everyday and eventually you'll get it!" Her passion and gift of painting shows in her work.

Laura Barber Riley

Being a little on the impatient side (mentioned before) when I paint, it's almost as though I have to rush I decided to take things a little easier, a horse has many subtle shapes in it's face and bone structure and it took time for me to concentrate on each step.

Having had the opportunity to have close up of photo's I have been practising and looking more and there
seems to be an improvement (I hope it's noticeable!) I enjoyed the practice and took my time!

Babs

Friday Afternoon

Sitting out side under the awning on my own with some time, I didn't expect, to myself. It's

roughly 26 degrees very pleasant looking at a newly mowed law and  the greenery around me then looking  at our pink, white, and red peonies. Every few minutes I get a waft of their scent it's delicate for such large flowers and the frowsy loose petals show off their  beauty.


Having a new bird feeder that seems to standing a lot of traffic from some lovely yellow birds mostly coming around lunch time to feed, the chipmunk pops out about the same time for any castings that will give him his lunch. I've watched a black squirrel trying hard to get some seeds from the feeder away at the top which ( thank goodness ) doesn't move.

John has planted pots of red geraniums a Favourite of mine and they are just shooting up very well with lots of buds because of all the rain we have had in the last few weeks, our herbs are doing well too, parsley thyme mint and the bay bush I manage to winter over are enjoying some sun and the breeze.

It's not that often we sit outside, even more so on my own, we rush through the garden more often than not! usually with groceries . Right now I feel very grateful having sat for a while and let nature entertain my mind it"s very relaxing and giving my brain a brief but lovely experience just letting everything slip into the background and taking the time to breath, look and listen like a little vacation that dropped in to say HI wondered where you were!

Babs

Iriae

"Iriae" Acrylic on 45"x22" masonite

Lots of fun and frustration, but I guess all painting attempts are such!
Earlier in the year we decorated our bedroom after the roof leaked and destroyed a wall, but we had a new roof installed and the wall was rebuilt. Then the colours for the walls and bedding and drapes were carefully picked after much "discussion".

The colour scheme is green, purple, white. We had a big sheet of thick masonite which was used as paint tray to stop slops on the floor. So with a brilliant stroke of genius, the wife suggested we paint a picture on it using wall paint, the chosen subject was Irises, using a painting I did a couple of years ago as inspiration, and that we would both work at it.

Well that didn't happen the housepaint is not easy to mix etc, and herself got into painting horses and had no interest in flowers anymore.

So I, brave soul that I am, got out the acrylics and began a journey, with the board flat on the table I sketched, and daubed and using iris pictures from our garden and from a friend's pictures of Iris in his Texas garden (thanks Mike), and some imagination for the leaves and background.

The picture will be hung in the bedroom when we have worked out a method of framing - I just found out one end is 1/2" longer than the other!
John

Secoya Side View

"SSecoya"  oil on 11x14 board

Same horse as in previous post, he seems more contented in this one!
Babs