Cantering Mare II

Cantering Mare II, 2008. 18"x20", charcoal, Conte crayon and chalk pastel on Canson Mi-Teintes.


The first cantering mare from 2007 has a new home, so it was time to put a new cantering mare in the stable!

This piece shows a happy mare doing a relaxed and unhurried canter. Have you noticed a plethora of new works lately? That always happens when the weather gets cooler...Fall is in the air already...


Please e-mail me if you are interested in adding this piece to your collection, soundthebuglestudio (at) charter.net

Movement

Movement, 2008. 9" x 12", charcoal, graphite and chalk pastel on deep cradled gessobord. Varnish finish.

available for purchase, e-mail me at soundthebuglestudio (at) charter.net

I like to show my artistic process. I don't cover it up. You can see lines, ghosts of lines erased and re-drawn, blending and re-working: it's all there. I don't use photos to create pieces; instead I use memory and imagination. Memory and imagination are not static and the lines reflect that.

This piece is 9x12 inches, and I just ordered a 30 inch by 30 inch board. Time to work big!

coming up: live studies from Crossen Arabians in Coventry, CT.

what is a Conte crayon?

from Wikipedia:

Conté, also known as Conté sticks or crayons, are a drawing medium composed of compressed powdered graphite or charcoal mixed with a wax or clay base, square in cross-section. They were invented in 1795 by Nicolas-Jacques Conté, who created the combination of clay and graphite in response to the shortage of graphite caused by the Napoleonic Wars.

The white lines in my work are either Conte crayon or white charcoal, or a combination of both. I seem to be preferring the white Conte crayon to the white charcoal as the Conte gives such a bright and bold line. White charcoal seems to be better for more subtle highlights.

The majesty of the stallion is inspiring me again. I really want to capture the heart-racing feeling of danger when in the presence of such an awesome creature.

...and I feel the need to work big. Not just big, but BIG.

Time to order that HUGE sheet of paper. Off to dickblick. com!

"Legend III: The Godolphin Arabian"

new for 2008!

"Legend III: The Godolphin Arabian", 2008. 19" by 23". Charcoal and Conte crayon on Canson Mi-Teintes, the smooth side.

The newest addition to my "Legend" series was inspired by the great Godolphin Arabian.
One of the three founding sires of the thoroughbred breed, the Godolphin Arabian was a sturdy and speedy little horse that possessed amazing endurance and beauty.

He was also the subject of Marguerite Henry's wonderful award-winning book, King of the Wind; a favorite book of mine. Wesley Dennis' fantastic drawings in the book show the Godolphin Arabian in all of his arch-necked glory. He must have been a truly amazing horse...

I am an equine history lover, and the Godolphin Arabian has long fascinated me. For this drawing, I thought of what he could have looked like with a strong wind tousling his mane and forelock. This stallion must have always looked confident; strong and with that unmistakable Arabian beauty and refinement. He must have known how special he was. I gave him a muscled neck, a large, flared nostril and wide and observant eye ringed with white. Having this magnificent animal as my muse for this piece was a thrill!

Note: The muse for my first two "Legend" works was the legendary racehorse Man O' War: go ten generations back in Man O' War's pedigree and you will find the mighty Godolphin Arabian.

Please e-mail me at soundthebuglestudio (at) charter.net if you would like to add this to your collection.

"Collected"

Here's "Collected" (formerly called "Bend"), all done.

It is 20" by 25 " Charcoal and Conte crayon, on terracotta Canson Mi-Teintes paper--the smooth side.