Horse Work In Progress

    I currently have six paintings going right now It's amazing what feeling inspired will do for you! Three of them are horses and since you have asked here is a Work in Progress of one of them. I won't be divulging the name or final of this boy until it goes to it's new home. 

Step #1

    The sketch. I did several variations on the sketch and I like the composition of this one the best. I'm using Arches 300 lb Hot Press with a very smooth, bright white paper and is probably one of favorites because it is very suited for the way I like to work. This piece measure 14 x 11.

©Deborah Bollman
www.DeborahBollman.com

Step #2  

     Laying down the lightest glazes first and saving the white of the paper.

Step #3

     Starting to lay in the darks and modeling the musculature. As soon as I start adding some of the darkest darks the light seem to appear from nowhere.

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Holiday Portrait Gift Commissions

     THe holidays are right around the corner! Time to start thinking about commissioning those holiday portraits. I've already have a few spots spots booked! If you are thinking of giving the gift of a horse, dog or NFL football portrait/painting, please, don't hesitate to contact me. The process is super easy to get started! For more info drop me an email atdeborah@deborahbollman.com

©DeborahBollman
Luke, Watercolor, SOLD

Wind in your hair...

Tonight my husband and I did something we haven't done since we were kids.  Driving home in a desultory kind of way from the grocery store, we passed a school playground baking in the late afternoon sun.  Within 5 minutes we were both climbing onto the swings and heavenbound.  And with the lurching back and forth of the swing, the feeling of breaking the boundaries of the earth and soaring into the oak tree limbs, the stomach dropping moment of weightlessness at the apex of the arc, with each pass of the wind in our hair we felt better, younger, lighter.

This is my first blog post of 2012.  I realize that, and, if any of you were anxiously waiting out there for an update on the studio antics of one Joanna Zeller Quentin and Co, I humbly apologize.  It's not that I/ we haven't been busy - we have!  Four months into 2012, I've traveled to California and Louisiana to see my work hanging in big art exhibitions, seen my art published on the cover of a major six-week long international horse show program, had lunch and rubbed elbows with Olympians, seen some world class horses do incredible things, gave a giant hug to to my favorite author, taken over 2500 reference photos of various animals doing interesting things, had work accepted to a major wildlife art show, actually completed more work in time for the deadline for another major art show and become a member of the International Equine Artist's Association.  Whew!

Anyway, the point of all this is that being on the swings tonight reminded me of the simple, meditative joys of doing what you love, and how important that is to your emotional, physical and mental well being.  Watching twilight bleed through the oak trees in a sky Maxfield Parrish would have envied (and then painted, of course), listening to the soft squeak of the metal chains, feeling the air rush past my face, and just being oddly present and yet a million miles away... it was NIICE.  Better than nice, it was inspiring.

So I came home and spent some time working on a new watercolor.  I've got some vague plan of gouache and oil and gold leaf, so we'll see how that works out.  In the meantime, here are a few "new" images for 2012.  There's much more to come, so please stay tuned!  And, as always, thanks for reading.

PS - the new Jack White CD ROCKS.

(and just a reminder, please respect my copyright.  All work ©Joanna Zeller Quentin 2012.  All Rights Reserved.  www.MoosePantsStudio.com)

"Naples"  oil on canvas

"Flying Purple Plantain Eater" mixed media on board

"A Plea for Wilderness" india ink and scratchboard

"To the Jumper Ring"  pen and ink on bristol

"Chestnut Sketch #1, Alla Prima"  Oil on board

"Power Steering"  Oil and ink on board

"Picture Perfect" Watercolor and gouache on board

"Rhapsody in White" watercolor on paper

ALL WORK ©Joanna Zeller Quentin 2012.  All Rights Reserved.  

www.MoosePantsStudio.com 

Draft day

Trying to get back in the studio after some fun busy weekends away and getting hay in the barn and finished up this Percheron. She belongs to a friend who does carriage rides but this was definitely a day off for her. We had just returned with another team from a country drive and she was glad to see them back.
This original 5x7 matted (8x10) watercolor is available for $60 plus $5 S&H to the first emailer to lojomjnc@charter.net.
I am also offering 5x7 giclees for $10 plus $5 S&H.

Order deadline of february 28, 2009 for the Book: Children & their 4-legged friends, a series of watercolor paintings & poems.

Order your 'First Printing' now up until February 28, 2009 to be delivered by Easter and in time for Mother's Day!!! Orders are taken on Debbie Flood's website at: http://www.debfloodart.com or email Debbie at debflood@debfloodart.com
This book houses 40 of the best children and horse paintings that Debbie created between the years of 2004 and 2007. Many are from the Waldo County Riding and Driving club, Belfast, Maine Horse shows. Others are from the Joy Valley Riders Horse shows in Knox, Maine. And still others are from Debbie's own past with horses, including her father as a child!
If you are a fan of Debbie Flood's children with horses paintings, you won't want to miss this rare book!
This book also houses 14 new poems that Debbie wrote herself! Each poem is written for the painting or paintings that they are grouped with. They range from the fantasies that little horse crazy girls dream about, to the spiritual representation that the horse stands for and how Debbie feels about horses from her past. A true treasure of a book if you love horses, art and children.

How to paint the horse in watercolor - CD ROM

I have been updating my website. You can now purchase this CD ROM, How to paint in watercolors, the horse standing, through a Paypal cart on my site. Click on the 'Books & gifts' page on the site to order your CD ROM. This is an instructional CD and it is in a book format. It opens in a PDF file.
I also now have a Paypal cart button for my new book, Children & their 4-legged friends, a series of watercolor paintings & poems. That is listed on the same page as this CD ROM.
Happy shopping!
Debbie

The Filly Coming Five

Yesterday I painted the barn doors...and I also finished up this 12 x 8" watercolor of the filly. She has been the subject of my work a lot in her four short years. I was with her when she was born...and she is my helpmate when I am down doing barn chores. Maggie is always willing and curious to have her picture taken. A willing subject...but sometimes a little too willing and up close for long shots! But I LOVE HER EYE..... and so will be painting it often...and willingly!My barn now sports a bright yellow door....as does Les' work shed. I have started the back barn door and prepped the potting shed door...all to be painted yellow. When I finished up the front barn door and was watching Maggie watching me painting the door.....I saw the lovely red in her bay coat against the yellow door...........yup! This will be a new painting I am sure!

Today dawns a bit cloudy. But I need to get the barn doors done before the weather changes...I know it will turn cold and wintry soon. So the watercolor I am working on now of a Cardigan Corgi herding cattle will have to wait a bit.

Here in Morrill the tree colors are starting to change.....the red maple leaves and the yellow birch..and my favourite of all... the larch or tamarack trees. Today is promising rain...I am working in the studio...finished this watercolor and am working on the papercut. There is another watercolor almost done, drying before I go into it with more detail and color.
The papercut is of a Saddlebred. I think this is the first cutting of a Saddlebred, under saddle, that I have done. I have done cuttings of them being driven. I should get it done soon, if I don't get sidetracked,which seems to be the problem these days. I have too many ideas going and need more hours.
The above watercolor [ sized 8 x 12 1/2" ] is of a scene behind scenes at Keeneland race track seen last summer. I was so taken with the guys who are the real care givers to the race horses....the grooms and exercise riders. This is a sort of study for a bigger work that I plan on doing at some point.
Now back to the cutting...............
But first....
Here is a shot of my gardens with the last of color........as seen from my studio!

New Equine Art

I still need just a few finishing touches on this portrait and that it will be finished. This is a mixed media painting that is a sample of my work. I particularly enjoy painting horses and am available for commissioned portraits. I also have original work in acrylics, oils, watercolor and pastel on my web site. I have painted life-sized horse murals down to 9 x 12 paintings like the one above.

This time of year it is a tie between my two favorite pastime-- either riding horses or painting them! I rode my two chestnut horses today (not at the same time-- I am not that good!!) and was reminded again what good therapy horses are for me! I was feeling a little stressed today but that amazing process of the stress falling away begins as I step into the barn and spend time with my horses. I think that is why I enjoy equine art as well. My hope is to capture the essence of the horse and to bring the experience of being with them inside to enjoy. I hope you enjoy as well!

To see more of my work go to http://www.suesteiner.com/ or e-mail me at artbysue@hotmail.com

Mixed Media Equine Art

I've titled this piece 'Mirage'. It is on display at the Horse Fest in Kirtland, Ohio's LakeFarm Park until May 19, 2008. In this painting I wanted to give the illusion of strength and beauty in a very fluid way to simulate the movement of a horse at liberty. One of my greatest joys is watching my horses out in the pasture romping and snorting and having a good ol' time!

To see more of my work in acrylics, watercolor, pastel and oils go to www.suesteiner.com

I'm having a holiday sale!

I'm having a holiday sale with all of my art offered at discount. There are original pieces in watercolor pencil, graphite, Chinese watercolor, and more! Please click the image above to visit my sale.

Happy holidays, everyone!