My Horse, My Heart

My Horse, My Heart, 2009. 30" x 30", Acrylic paint and charcoal on deep cradled Ampersand Gessobord.
I create from my memory and imagination, so the composition of a painting or drawing is mulled over in my mind for days (or weeks!) before I pick up the charcoal.

I had been thinking about doing this horse's pose for quite a while before I actually attempted it. I played this composition and pose out in my mind so many times that when it came time to actually sketch it out on the gesso board, the lines flew from the charcoal and I had my composition realized in a few minutes. Wheeee! Charcoal was flyin' everywhere! I was quite eager to get this out of my head and onto the board.

I do not copy or trace reference photos or utilize computer programs to create a piece--it's all in my head--sometimes I have to hurry up and get the image out of my brain before it gallops away since I don't have a back-up copy...eeek!

The horse's bay coat has hints of acra violet, and the twilight sky behind the horse has deep blues, purple and magenta. (Just a few of my favorite colors!)

I love charcoal and I choose to give it center stage alongside the paint. Why cover it up, I ask? It creates such wonderful line and texture...and add a little water to it and it turns a midnight black; powerful and very dark. Charcoal was my first love when I was learning to draw, and we still have a partnership, I am happy to say.

If you would like to add this to your collection, please e-mail me at soundthebuglestudio (at) charter.net.

War Horse

War Horse is a London based play that features some of the most amazing puppet art I have ever seen. Check it out:



Amazing, yes?

And the puppeteers even sound like a horse, as evidenced by this video:



Truly fantastic!!! Such artistry. I am in awe.

lest you forget that I also do pet portraits...

Here's the latest!

This wonderful mastiff/shepherd mix is Lytton. His portrait is 11 inches by 14 inches, and was rendered in charcoal and Rembrandt pastel.

Lytton's owner did not have a lot of photos of him because, well, he's extremely camera shy! She wanted a portrait of him with a noble, alert look on his face. I took several (faraway and zoomed in!) photos of him myself, and studied the results and rendered this pose and expression. Isn't he handsome?

Lytton is a big, friendly boy, and when he drinks water--he sticks his WHOLE nose deep into the bowl. I saw that firsthand and it completely made my day. What a great dog!

Go to my pet portrait website to learn how you can commission your very own pet portrait. (They also make great gifts!)

copy and paste in your browser:

www.helenscanlonpetportraits.blogspot.com

painting in the sun...

This year, summer in Connecticut has been rainy, rainy, rainy.

And rainy.

And, there are slugs everywhere (yuck). I keep putting pans of beer in my garden, and they are slurping it down like there is no tomorrow. The slugs are having a regular ol' kegger in my backyard! At least they're quiet about it. Dead quiet. Heehee.

This past Saturday was beautiful, however. Not a slug in sight. I took this opportunity to paint outside under a cascading grapevine.

A slugless, sunny day. Aaaaaah.

Oh, and I got ice cream later that day, too! (Americone Dream)

Anyway, here's a pic of my latest on the easel under said cascading grapevine.

More great weather ahead! Take that, slugs!

a closer look at "Percheron"

here is Percheron, 24" x 24", acrylic, charcoal, and composite silver leaf on deep cradled Ampersand Gessobord.

click on each image to see it bigger.

Top is the full view, the other images are details to show line, texture and the metal leaf.

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

summertime studio update

Currently on the easel: a bright bay on 30 inch by 30 inch Gessobord panel.

I love bays, I think it just might be my favorite horse color. A bay coat holds a prism of color: cobalt blues, deep violets, crimson, magenta...
When the sun hits a bay horse, you can see a rainbow in each strand of their hair. The black mane and tail are also rich with deep blues and russet tones.

Heavenly!

(above image is a detail from "Here Comes That Farrier Again." This pastel/charcoal piece depicts a bay horse looking for that person who makes a lot of clanging noises and smoke...)

Also, in the studio: an almost completed dog portrait. Pet portraits are so much fun! I love doing them. Visit my pet portrait website here (copy and paste in your browser):

www.helenscanlonpetportraits.blogspot.com

Ordering a pet or horse portrait is so easy...And it makes a great gift. Thinking about it? Just e-mail me with any questions: soundthebuglestudio (at) charter.net
and put "portrait" in the subject line.

I love hearing from folks, so drop me a line.

Back to the studio!