Tag and the 88

Tag and the 88
original oil on canvas, 22x28"

With the gallery reception behind me I can finally take a deep breath and reset my focus.  These past few weeks have felt to me a little something like an emerging.  A transformation.   My studio has been my cocoon for the past month and suddenly I found myself thrust into the bright sun light, ready to face the big and dangerous world, eager to stretch and show off my new found wings.

Now that's it over my focus and purpose has changed and things like relishing the Fall weather, seasonal cooking, day trips and mini-vacations, pumpkin patches, and new Fall paintings are all tantalizingly real possibilities!

Which brings me to Tag, my husband's white quarter horse featured (for sale) here.  Every year around this time Seth and I take several state-wide horse and mule riding trips.  Just last week was such a trip, for Seth anyways.  I had to stay home and prepare for the gallery opening.  But, I think in the next few weeks, now that my time has been freed up, we'll drive out one day and ride through an equestrian park or something fairly close to home.

I wanted to feature this painting today because I love Tag so much and find him to be one of the most beautiful and elegant horses.  I'm sure he'll be featured in many more paintings to come!

Seth and Tag

Jamie and Tag

the first layer

Last night as the rain poured just on the other side of my studio walls I took a little time to lay the first layer of paint on what I'm hoping becomes a simple, soft, black and white painting of my husband's horse.  I used a #8 round filbert brush for the entire layer, which is a much larger brush than my hand is used to holding.  The first layer of any painting should outline the big shapes and larger blocks of values.  I sketched the horse first, and you can still see the pencil marks creeping out from underneath layers of grey oil paint.  The next step will include a slightly smaller brush and more detail, but I may even go back in with a pencil and draw some more free flowing lines. Lines are what make it interesting up close, I think.

Anyways, is it friday already??  The olympics start today! How exciting.  I feel like I should do something to celebrate...maybe I'll go for a run?  Maybe I'll carry a torch as I run around the neighborhood?  Oh!  I should hang a flag out front!  Good one Michelle.  Much less embracing than carrying a torch around town.  ;)