Horse Portrait process

The Foster Farm

This Thanksgiving Seth and I made the very short trip to the Foster's (remember the barn we got married in?) and stuffed ourselves with homemade everything.  Everything about this place gives me the warm fuzzies: the people, the food, the horses, and the kittens.  Five little kittens!  High up in the hay loft in the Foster's big white barn now live five little mouse-hunting, playful, and snuggly kittens.  Two black, two gray striped, and one very affectionate black and white kitten who got most of my attention.  They really have it made up there in the hay loft with so many places play and sleep and explore.

And then there's Tag, Seth's white quarter horse who rolls in the mud until he's Seth's gray and brown quarter horse.  I love their winter coats and Tag's long pretty mane.  And those fuzzy Mule ears get me every time.

So here's a little part of my Thanksgiving day, and did I mention how thankful I am to you for meeting me here so often?  I'm always thankful for a space to share and for a friend who hears.

Gallery Preview

The Singer Swan
oil & fabric on canvas, 4'x5'  $3000

Loon Song
oil & fabric on canvas, 4'x5'  $3000

Henrietta
oil on canvas, 18x24"  $600

Tag & the 88
oil on canvas, 22x28"  $750

Under Her Watchful Eye
oil on canvas, 18x24"  $600

Sewing a Luna
oil on canvas, 16x20"  $525

Tea Time
oil on canvas, 16x20"  $525

 These new oil paintings (along with all the watercolor work in my Etsy shop) will be featured this month at the David Strawn Art Gallery in Jacksonville, IL.  You are all invited to attend the opening reception tomorrow evening October 6th from 6-8pm with my gallery talk at 6:30pm.  Normal gallery hours (for those unable to attend the opening) are listed here.

Next week I'll feature each piece individually on the blog with detail shots and descriptions.  If available they'll all be listed for sale in the shop at that time, but if you'd like to reserve a specific piece now, please email me at Michelle@TheArtofMichelle.com or Kelly Gross (the gallery director) at strawnartgallery@frontier.com.

Happy Friday to you!  I'm so happy to finally have a day off!  :)

today's inspiration...

My inspiration today comes from one of my favorite old black and white photos

I found one day while digging through my grandma's things.

Are you looking for inspriation today?

Because if you are, looking through old pictures might just give you your fix!

The identity of the two boys on the horse (or is it a pony?) is unknown,

but I can't get over how much I love this picture anyways. 

I love the chaps, the bandana, and the crooked cowboy hat! 

And I bet that horse feels fancy with that studded bridle and breastplate!

I also found some amazing photos of riders on buggies carted by horses.

I'll post those soon...and trust me, you'll love 'em!

But in the mean time, here's a few of the best

"horse and buggy photos" from the web...

I'm heading to the studio this evening and am pondering my upcoming

giveaway for the month of June.  Perhaps you will see a painting of a

horse and buggy!  (or maybe a giraffe pulling a buggy?

what about a boy horse trainer?) 

I'm so excited!

So come back soon and see me and maybe this time YOU will be the winner!

(Who doesn't love freebies??)