"Above the Bit", graphite drawing by Sheona Hamilton-Grant

Here is "Above the Bit.", my latest soluble graphite study.

A study of the drama that goes on before the fence

The title is somewhat obvious forming a nice contrast, I feel, with the crop I chose to illustrate.

"Above the Bit"

23x22 cm. Graphite on paper

300 Euros ( 390$)

If you are interested and would like to see how this drawing came to life, you are very welcome to pop over my studio blog Black on Grey on White where the six main steps are illustrated and explained.

Annual Art Issue focuses on 'Connection'

I have just received news that one of my wire sculptures, "Power Steering", has been included in the 23rd Annual Polo and Equestrian Sporting Art issue of POLO Players' Edition magazine.

It is an honor to be in the company of such amazing talent, and it is also a great success for the medium of wire in the fine art world!

The theme for this year's Call for Artists was 'connection', which was particularly relevant to my work. I create each of my sculptures from a single, continuous strand of wire...horse and rider are connected by the energy flowing through the wire. The two move and work as one, as they must in the sporting world.

You can view other artwork representing this theme online at POLO Players' Editon.

Angela Hook
www.wireinspire.com

"Lashes and Corkscrews," 5" x 8", depicting a buckskin tobiano curly horse, acrylic on board, $289 to the first taker. Do I see any hands? Inquires to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com .

This painting is from the acclaimed "Painting a Dog a Day" project. While the piece really isn't a canine, I am allowed to bend the rules occasionally. Especially when confronted with such a gorgeous horse as Percy. Who can blame me?

The most important thing to me is painting every day, or as often as I can. And when inspiration hits me, I'm going to fly with it!

Consider yourselves invited to follow along with the daily portraits at www.paintingadogaday.blogspot.com .
Thanks so much!

Kimberly Kelly Santini

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

www.turtledovedesigns.com

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.

Following in Revered Footsteps - A Horse a Day for 30 Days

I'm an admirer of daily painters - I've often wished my lifestyle allowed for that kind of consistency. The reality of keeping horses is that things can go wrong and turn your life upside down at the drop of a hat. Still, I've made the decision to try and do it for 30 days. At the same time I'm doing NaBloPoMo, an event that involves a blog post every day for the month of November. No days off!

I'm on day four now. Today's guest is Jay, a chestnut Thoroughbred gelding retired from racing this year. He is available for adoption through LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement. He's a great horse, and will make someone a wonderful friend. I know how much I enjoyed him during the times he spent on my farm.

To keep things as simple as possible for this project, I decided to do just head studies for the 30 days. I'm also using a limited palette and keeping the sizes small. This one is 10 x 8 oil on panel.

I'm considering asking for photo submissions to be part of my project. If you have a good head shot you'd be willing to share, feel free to email me! The only stipulation is, it must be a photo you've taken. If you'd like to follow my project, you can visit my blog, see the work I've done so far, and have the option of subscribing through email or RSS feed. Come on over and check it out!

Acadia Again

It might seem as though I am fixated with Acadia...........I am. I miss the old days when the four-in-hand drivers were coming up to Wildwood each fall to picnic and drive, all duded up with their grooms in full livery and their passengers with their fancy hats. It was a taste of a other time. A time when things were slower and full of tradition. I liked that.This 11 x 14 casein is a scene often seen at the Wildwood barn as the grooms readied their charges..this time it is a Kladruby being groomed...what a lovely team they were stepping out on the carriage roads. This work is being added onto my website.

Another coupe for me...I finally sent off an 'email newsletter' ...it was a learning experience for me...full of typos I am sure......but done, nevertheless. This is another way you can hear my news and you can sign up for it on my new website. Check it out!!Now I am headed out to the barn while the warm weather stays...going down to paint the barn doors.....yellow to match the Tamarack trees that dot our forest line.

A BIT OF COLOR , HEH!!?

Elin Pendleton - Beginning another Large Landscape with Horses, and the Andalusian Colt

Here's the value structure for the next large landscape with horses. This painting is 30 x 30 inches, and will be the larger version of the painting of the aspens featured last Tuesday (opens a new window with just the painting). You can tell, even at this early stage, that I'm thinking of one of those six value plans (from Edgar A. Whitney, and the workshops I teach). Which one do you think it will be? Not chaos, not large dark in midtones. Not small dark, large light in midtones, not gradation. Two left....Hmmmm? Well, perhaps tomorrow will shed some light as this painting progresses.

The next question everyone had was, "Where's Chiron?" So herewith I submit a photo of him in his new home here at Two Trees, with Vincent van Goat, companion extraordinaire (head in the feeder, of course!). This image shows Chiron's coloration best--I'm seeing a dark bay, but with his head being black, I wonder if he might shed out in the spring to be a black? No matter, bay or black he's beautiful to me.
It has been a week now and he is settled in nicely. The Andalusian personality is coming out--yesterday we had workers trimming the tall pines in back, and I came out to see how it was going. As I walked up, I started talking to them. Chiron, standing at the far side of the pen, perked up his ears at my voice, and then came over to the near side to greet me. What fun! Having him on the property means I can visit/train him any time. Good for my busy schedule.

His only white are on his two coronets near his rear hooves. Ok, I'm a bit besotted. Bear with me. Yes, he'll be in paintings!

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