COLD in Connecticut

Hi all,

BOY has it been COLD here in the woods of Connecticut!

I have been spending a lot of time in my warm studio as I have three commissions to finish....Wonderful! The latest is a clydesdale/QH mare with a kind and gentle face. Her portrait will be done in charcoal. I haven't done a charcoal portrait in a while, and I am thrilled to work in my fave medium again. Smudging away!

The large watercolor of UC Ringmaster has been outlined, and given its first sweep of color. This stallion is gorgeous in his rich chestnut coat. He looks regal--like the two time world champion he is. I am painting him on a delicious sheet of Arches paper, and I have had many chances to use the incredible da Vinci cat's tongue brush Brandy Gale gave to me last August.

Skeeter, my siamese tortie point studio assistant, has been very helpful with the creative process, and Celtic traditional tunes have been the music of choice these days. Jigs really light the creative spark...

Springtime and an Open Studio are just around the corner...Watch this space...


Pictured above is a study sketch for a commissioned portrait. I do many of these before choosing a prelimary outline for a final portrait. I do not trace or project photos--I experiment with pose, expression and composition in order to achieve an original artistic interpretation of the subject. This is where over thirty years of studying and drawing horses comes in real handy. It's also a lot of fun!