Samantha

"Samantha", oil on canvas board 11x14

This was a commission that had to be ready for Christmas, and I did it on time...just!
The reference photo, was from a school portrait.
My style of painting is loose, but a portrait demands precision, and I had to be very patient with myself, and not allow my eyes to confuse me!
My dear wife was of great help, pointing out errors, some of which took me a few days to accept, but it worked and at the end I'm happy with the result, and the commissioner is too!

John

American Pharoah

"American Pharoah" oil on 8x10 board

After seeing a photo of Pharoah and reading the story in the attached link I decided to paint a small painting, 

He certainly a beauty and well known a horse like this doesn't come along too often. Hopefully he will have a long and happy life.

An excellent story in Pharoah is here

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207750790791237&set=a.1218070175377.2033935.1337570468&type=3&fref=nf&pnref=story

Babs 

Work in progress!

What next!

Got a bit lost here, you stare at horses and riders and paint what you see, then you look at your painting and it seems everything has moved, especially the horses legs!
But we shall persevere!
First painting in a year and its doing me good to get back into it.
Oil on 36x24 inch canvas, from a photo I took at Caledon couple of years ago.
John

Percherons

Percherons oil on 11x14 board

I really enjoyed painting these two horses close up, mainly because of the different subtle colours in their coats varying from blues to blacks Browns and orange and because they were both standing so close together it took time to make sure they looked separate!

It was a challenge which encouraged me to squint a lot!

My thanks to you Barry for such great photos
They can be seen here:
http://cameraonking.blogspot.ca/2015/07/percherons-at-windy-hill-farm.html

Babs

Peony in Ichiban Vase

Peony in Ichiban Vase, oil on 8x10 canvas

I was lucky enough to be given a gift made by one of Johns friends it's  a wooden vase with spikes for the flowers so you can arrange and keep them secured in place. Our peonies this year were battered with continuous  rain when in full bloom, but I managed to rescue a few and this is the result of a study I painted today.
I enjoyed it too using bright colours made a change from what  I use for horses or pets.
Thank you Mike, I really like my gift.

Babs

"Hay! Something happening at Onice Farm today!

"Horse at Onice Farm oil on 11x14 board

http://onicehorsefarm.ca/OnIce_Horse_Farm/Welcome_to_OnIce.html

Headwaters Stable tour today!
https://www.facebook.com/OnIceHorseFarm

Wet bird

"You never had a bath?" oil on 8x10 canvas

This is from a photo taken by Barry Wallace in his garden in King City, a picture of a Robin just coming from the bird bath on a hot day. I thought it was an opportunity to paint it,loved the indignant look and the wet feathers of the bird.

Barrie manages to capture some great pictures on his journey around the King Area and he is an avid Birder too, he has as many as ten bird feeders and the water bath in his garden plenty of food for the passing birds who pop in for a quick feed and a clean up before their travels.
This is a North American Robin.

Babs

Barry Wallace's blogs can be seen here:
http://cameraonking.blogspot.ca/
http://barrythebirder.blogspot.ca/