Belgians in Harness

My newest piece will be offered for sale in a rustic, authentic barn wood frame. Contact me at soundthebuglestudio (at) charter.net if you would like to add this to your collection.

I had so much fun creating this painting!

Belgians in Harness, 2008. 9x12 inches. Watercolor, watercolor pencil, and ink on Arches watercolor paper.

Super-Quick Live Study Sketch, 2007

Horse head and neck study, Done in ballpoint pen at the 2007 Equine Affaire.

Live study quick sketches are absolutely beneficial in keeping my drawing muscles in shape.
I thought I would share this quick pen study from my sketchbook to give all of you another peek at this artist's process.

And, the Belgians in Harness painting is done and it is drying as I write.

What should I do next? All ideas are welcome, leave them in my comments.

best wishes!
Helen

Live Study Sketching Awaits!

I was chatting with my wonderful and talented trainer friend, Gretchen, and she told me she will be showing some incredible Crossen Arabian horses at the AHCC (Arabian Horse Club of Connecticut) A rated horse show on Memorial Day weekend at the Big E fairgrounds in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Oh my---Arabians as far as the eye can see....

Do you LOVE Arabians? Then you can't miss this event! See you there!

Guess who is dragging her fun and fabulous friend Kim to this event. Guess who is taking a big sketchbook.

Me and me.

Good luck, G! See you soon.

(above, G rides one of her Champions, Paragon of Crossen Arabians. Photo by yours truly, Helen Scanlon)

work in progress: drafts in harness

Here are the guys slowing coming together in a watercolor...

This piece is about 75% done, and it's a fun challenge. I hope to paint more draft breeds (I used to love drawing the Budweiser Clydesdales when I was a kid), and explore more intricate and complex harnesses. They are a work of art in themselves.

I LOVE working in watercolor. I love the unpredictability of it; the "happy accidents."

You add some water to some color, and let it dry and magic can happen. The shapes, textures, the patterns that can occur are as diverse and beautiful as nature itself.

Watercolor lets you control it---up to a certain point. Then, it takes over. It forms a partnership with you and your vision, but it also maintains its own identity. That's what I love about it. It's not afraid of anything.

Adding ink to watercolor gives it an a little extra sharpness, and it helps the color jump off the paper.

These two Belgian horses are resting right now as evidenced by the somewhat stripped down harness and their relaxed looks.

But, hmmm...That off guy sees something interesting in the distance, and the near guy is keeping on eye on you. Maybe you could scratch under his forelock, please.

These two horses were drawn from memory and imagination, and a diagram (and a farmer who uses draft horses!) are helping me with rendering the harness.