Painting Sketch

My latest painting sketch for my Daily Riding Essentials Collection. This is a quick acrylic sketch of my favorite leather backed German body brush. The horses LOVE this brush. M graham acrylics on canvas panel. Measures 6 x 9.
Available for purchase $35 includes shipping!
To purchase

Lonely Again and Blanket of Snow, horse photos.

Here are two more from yesterday.
Donna Ridgway

Montana mustangs in the snow, nature photo.

I was sitting at my studio desk yesterday, trying to get interested in a painting I was working on. Nothing was happening. I mean nothing. It was frightening, there's never a time when I can't paint.

I kept thinking about my camera. I looked outside, the sun was shining bright and the air was warm, totally opposite of the day before, when a huge blizzard hit our area. Snow was melting, birds were singing...I felt so restless inside.

Robert was cleaning his office. I didn't say anything to interrupt him, just went in and plugged in the camera batteries, still wondering if we should bother to spend the money for gas it would take to get us to the mountains....I looked outside again....the sun was so beautiful...I knew we'd get great photos with that light....

"Hey Robert!" I yelled, "Let's grab the camera and go shoot some pictures!"

His hands were deep in dishwater, washing his model car collection. There was no hesitation in his voice, he said, instantly, "Ok, let's go!" I heard the drain come out of the sink and the water whoosh away.

We fixed a lunch and off we went.

On my personal blog, you'll find many more photos from the shots we took, but these are the photos that were calling me to come out. They're the reason I was so restless I couldn't paint...these were the shots that had to be taken!




The sun didn't remain with us on this photo shoot. A storm moved in over the mountains and across the prairie. It was one of those heavy, wet, snows. I froze nearly to death taking these photos, but the chance was there, and I wasn't about to miss it.

Sometimes when you have a very strong, restless feeling, it's time to pay attention to it, you never know what's out there, waiting for you.
Donna Ridgway

If you click the photos, you can see a larger version of them.
Email Meif you have questions, or want to inquire about purchasing a painting.

Remember, you can find horse art, Western art, Mule and Donkey art
wildlife art, cow art, and animal paintings, for sale on my website.

Cowboy Dreams

I found this photo of my grandson Mark (now just turned eleven and almost as tall as I am) in a forgotten pile in the corner of the studio. It was a cute shot of him trudging out to greet my Thoroughbred, but I felt it could be enhanced.

I scanned the original print (this was from my pre-digital days), added the horses to the background, who were on site when I took the original shot, but not in the photo as it was, then decided to incorporate a cowboy, horse and cattle from a more recent shoot. I like to tell a story with my images when possible, and this one carries something of a universal message for the dreams and aspirations of many youngsters, both boys and girls. A little corner of this dressage riding grandma still wants to be a cowboy when I grow up!

To purchase this or any of my photo images, contact me at judywood@sasktel.net Thanks for looking.

Thoughts of Spring - and Foals!

I almost sold this pastel painting a week ago, but the woman decided that she wanted an oil instead. I had to take it out of storage and hung it on the wall while she made up her mind. It has been such a cheerful addition to that wall that I've left it up and have enjoyed it every day since.

This little foal had just been turned out with his mother and was showing his juvenile exuberance by running, bucking and prancing around the pasture, doing lots of "airs above the ground". The title is "Feel So Fine" and it is available for purchase framed. If you would like something new to brighten up your wall this Spring, please contact me through my website by clicking on the image above.

Welsh Cob Study

We have a coming 4 year old welsh filly [Sec. D] and she is so beautiful I feel the need to paint and draw her often. Today I did just that......I did a 8 x8 " graphite study of her eye and forelock, but it was her eye that caught my eye! This study will become a painting.

You can see more studies on my mixed media page on my website.

And when the painting of Miss Maggie is done, that will be there too.

Gypsy Vanner

I am calling this painting done! I really enjoyed painting this one.This was from a lovely reference photo that I found in the Wet Canvas reference library. I am including some close-up photos so you can see the brushwork on the legs and details on the head.
This is measures 24 X 24, M Graham acrylics on triple primed hardboard and varnished.
You can click on the images to see enlarged views. To Purchase
Art of the Horse