Florestan I by Sheona Hamilton-Grant

Mention Florestan and you automatically mention: success, beauty, quality and ... history.

Florestan I is a German Warmblood (Rheinland) breading stallion with amazing statistics.

Since 1989, this Fidelio-Rheingold son has sired over 5000 mares (yep three 0's after the 5) which has resulted in the following historical statistics. (Actually, I have it from good authority that he is so successful that it is near impossible to count all of his offspring...)

55 registered sons in the Stallion registry

200 State premium mares in Germany alone.

Approximately 2000 show horses registered at the German National Equestrian Federation.

1.2 Million Euros life time earnings.

A bronze statue of Florestan I can also be found in Wickrath Germanyhttp://www.pferdezucht-rheinland.de/index2.htm

Knowing all this, you can now all fully understand the honour and the excitement I experienced last spring when I was given, not only a private photo-shoot with the star but also the request to draw a portrait of him. (A great big thank you to Andrea Stricker, his groom and rider, for her time.)

I went for something different.

I wanted to steer away from the classic head-shot.

I was looking to portray the cheeky, clever, smart and inventive horse that he his.

His professionalism was amazing.

Like a model, he enjoyed every moment spent in front of the camera and gave me pose after pose, spoiling me with workable material.

However, it wasn't until I caught him off guard that I knew I had my moment, my portrait.

A glimpse of the normal, ever inventive, young at heart champion sire.

This pose captures everything: his beauty, presence , charisma and character.

At 24 he's far from feeling or looking his age and has definitely mastered the art of holding on...

"Holding On"

Pencil on Paper. 29x40 cm

Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved.

More of my work can be viewed at www.sheonahamiltongrant.com

Powered Together new drawing by Sheona Hamilton-Grant.

Deadline reached and my new commission is now ready to be shipped.
Powered Together was commissioned by the NRW Landgestuet for their annual stallion show (Warendorfer Hengstparade) in September.

I'm really chuffed with the way this drawing has come out.

"Powered Together"
Pencil on Paper. 39x30cm
Reserved
Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved 2010

Power, strength, speed, beauty, skill, trust and harmony are present in overdose.
Elements that my pencils adore rendering.
Meeting with my clients in a couple of days. Looking forward to hearing their thoughts.

(pssst: more of my work can be viewed at www.sheonahamiltongrant.com

Laureus signed, new equine drawing by Sheona Hamilton-Grant

"Laureus"
Pencil on Paper, 27x36 cm
Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved

Reserved

What great company he was, alert, attentive, kind and oh so handsome.
Here's the finished result of another good week's work.
I wanted a three D effect.
In order to achieve this I pushed the contrast in the neck and accentuated the detail on the nose . I also used a large format so when the portrait is seen "live", Laureus really comes into the room.

There will be a little canine study next. Running off up to the studio to finish him.
Have a great Monday.

"Malpais Gold" original oil by Kerry Nelson

"Malpais Gold"

Living thier lives along the edges of the Malpais lava flows in southcentral New Mexico, this little family of mustangs seeks sanctuary and grazing among the treacherous walls and boulders of razor sharp volcanic rock.

"Malpais Gold" is painted on a hand-made 14x18x1/8 inch hardboard panel using archival materials and is signed on the front, and, titled, signed, and, dated on the back. This is the original artwork, not a reproduction! Comes with a gorgeous antique gold with black crackle insert wood frame
 
AVAILABLE FOR SALE $495.00.  Purchase here;
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31747446
 
See more work for sale at; http://www.kerryoriginals.etsy.com/
See new work and works in progress at; http://www.kerryoriginals.blogspot.com/

Wrinkles-Hackney stallion

This is one I worked up this morning from a shot I took last fall. I take a ton of horse photos, then they often languish unlooked at in the computer until I stumble upon them and see that there are some possibilities I can explore.

 As always, I did some Photoshop work on this one, and as always I really have no idea how I came up with the end result or what exactly I did. I work with my photos in quite an intuitive "trial and error" way. Makes it hard to duplicate effects, but keeps my eye fresh as I have to approach each new visual with an open mind and no formulas or preconceptions. 

One of the reasons I was working on this one is that I finally have my photo art website up and I am busily adding images to the various galleries. I have a good number of images on the site already, with many more yet to be added. There will be new categories added as I get time to sort it all out. Check it out at www.judywoodartphotography.com  . You can also check my blog if you are so inclined for more photos and stories.