Wild at Heart



"Wild at Heart" is a 16"x20" graphite drawing on illustration board. This pair of young Morgans from my home town of Birch Island BC, seemed to epitomize the tension that exists between the willing, domesticated companion and their wild and free spirit. Though anxious to set forth on an adventure, they willingly submit to the restraint of a fence which would hardly withstand an escape attempt by such powerful creatures!

New Beginnings

Happy New Year! It sure has been a while since my last post--with a move out to the country near Bragg Creek, followed by the greatly anticipated arrival of our first grandchild, my art has had to take a back seat...but these are welcome diversions!

Here's what I've recently started. This is a detail shot from a larger drawing on illustration board. The colouration of this horse is referred to as "skewbald", as it is tan with large white patches. The horse also has a "bald" or white face, resulting in the eyes being blue--which is a challenge to translate in a drawing. It's still in progress, but the final piece will include a stormy background and a glimpse of the rider.  
  

Suzy

Suzy is a very athletic Quarterhorse mare in Lethbridge; saddled and ready to move some cattle. This is watercolour with coloured pencil, and is painted on cold press paper, a gift for my friend Barb, who loves riding this chestnut mare!

A Summer Ride

Here is an 8"x10" pencil drawing, done as a 'thank-you' for an opportunity to go riding a few weeks back. With a lovely disposition this 7 year old bay mare was also trained to bow!
I'll be doing more graphite work this summer as I have been travelling back and forth to B.C--the pencils and sketchbook are handy to pick up or set down as time permits. Hopefully more opportunities for horse-back riding are ahead!

Spruce Meadows time again

These paintings were done using Golden's Open acrylics, a paint which mimicks oils with its slower drying time. Even when dry the colours keep their vibrancy beautifully. I always enjoy using these paints!