Day 21 of 30

California Bighorn Sheep

8 x 8

Acrylic

This poor girl needs work both on canvas and in real life.  She had chunks of fur missing and what looked like dozens of tics gorging away.  She was standing beside my car and giving me a bit of an indirect stare.

Day 4 of 30

Horses on Pismo study

8 x 8

Acrylic

Very rough and unfinished but meant only to be a study.  Guess I chose a difficult subject for a 2 hour practice session but I really enjoyed the process.  In the fall we explored the coast of Oregon and California and I immediately fell in love with both Pismo Beach and Moro Bay.  There is just something about the freedom to have ones dog or horse on the beach as well as bikes, cars, you name it.  I even had a semi truck drive by me one day.  So long as everyone behaves of course.  These riders were out enjoying the last rays of the sun on a beautiful day.

Year of the Horse

Running Wild  SOLD

14 x 23

Acrylic on Doorskin

We see this herd every now and then up in the hills to the west usually when we are out running the trails.  My first painting done when I was a small child was of a riding stable with horses being walked and tack being cleaned and since then I have had a love for anything horsey.  I think this is a good year to focus on them.

Day 14 of 30

Farm in the Kootenays sketch

6 x 6 

Acrylic on Canvas Paper

A quick sketch today, a scene that I'm fond of and will paint larger.

Day 13 of 30

Horse study

6 x 6

Acrylic on Canvas Paper

Well I have given up on this one but will try again sometime as I like the composition.  Maybe it would work better with oils as I find acrylics frustrating in the blending and nailing the value department.

Day 11 of 30

High Water  SOLD

6 x 6

Acrylic on Canvas Paper

Heading south on a birding drive I came across the most remarkable scene - the valley floor was flooded and a herd of horses was out looking for exposed grasses to graze on.  The backdrop was stunning with layers of foothills and mountains.  Some day I will paint the whole scene.

Day 10 of 30

Subtle Moves

6 x 6

Acrylic on Canvas Paper

I love the deep rich colors of this horse with a coat so well groomed that the sky reflects off it.  The rider gives subtle shifts in weight, a slight squeeze or maybe a nudge, barely perceptible but the horse in partnership moves accordingly.

The Ranch

Day 3 Winter Horses

6 x 6

acrylic on canvas

On my way up the mountain yesterday I passed herds of cattle out in the snow feeding on hay bales and coming up to the ranch I managed to get a quick shot of the horses out having their lunch as well.  I can see this 30 day challenge is going to require some organizational skills and time management.  I'm getting a little more behind each day and still find far too much time is wasted fiddling with details and taking and correcting bad photos.  This is all good though as I should most certainly improve in those areas if nothing else! 

Apex Guest Ranch

the  Ranch

12 x 16

oil on canvas board

Winter is the time to head up to the mountains for some skiing or snowshoeing and we pass this guest ranch on the way up.  In the summer we ride up here on our road bikes as a 20 k time trial or as part of a circle route around the Okanagan Valley.  It's a great landmark but unfortunately won't last forever.  This painting was done from an older photo and I believe part of the roof has now come down and the horses are a different breed so I will have to take some new reference photos and give it a go again next year.

Iggy Pop

Bow Tied
8 x 6
oil on wrapped canvas

My kids are grown up but I still have a little 4 lb baby, or should I say 'whirling dervish' named Iggy. He can literally swirl his head around and toss a ball, watching to see which direction it goes so he can then chase it! He'll resort to this if I'm busy reading a book and paying him no attention. The blue eyes of course are the reflection of the camera flash but I kind of liked the effect so put it in. Another candidate for my cards.