The Darley Arabian

Legend V: The Darley Arabian, 2011. 19" x 20" charcoal and conte on burgundy Canson Mi-Teintes. (Vaughn/Lahoski collection, CT)

The Darley Arabian was a delicately beautiful bay Arabian stallion and is one of the three founding sires of the Thoroughbred breed.

All modern-day racehorses can trace their lineage back to either the Godolphin Arabian, the Byerly Turk or the Darley Arabian.

These historically significant Arabian stallions were known for their stamina, speed and power.

Next--Legend VI: The Byerly Turk!

Man o' War

Man o' War, 2011. Acrylic on canvas, 16" x20"

Wow, I had so much fun with this painting!

I had a craving to paint Man o' War in a classic conformation pose using bold color and line.
This painting also features little touches of iridescent copper and silver paint.

This painting was done without a reference photo; I used the images that are forever burned in my brain of this great horse.(I've only been ooohing and aaahing over Man o' War since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, so I had a lot to go on.) *smile*

Man o' War is for sale, e-mail me at soundthebuglestudio (at) charter.net to inquire.

STALLIONS RULE!

here's a freehand pencil sketch I did this morning.

I decided this might be nice for a large-scale painting...?

Whenever I want to jump-start the creative process, I draw a stallion--nostrils flared, eye whites flashing...

Drawing a stallion always reminds me why I wanted to be an equine artist. :-)

New Book Illustration

UC Cannie and Foal, 2011. Watercolor pencil and ink. Copyright Helen Scanlon.

chapter excerpt:

Born in 1949 to the to athletic and exquisitely feminine mare, Phillipa, and the majestic stallion, Canfield, Cannie possessed a brilliant chestnut coat and a small star on her face with a tiny smidge of a snip on her muzzle. Her eye was large and bright; her attitude kind and willing.
~Helen Scanlon, from My Horse, My Heart: The Morgan Horses of the University of Connecticut

follow the book adventures here:
My Horse, My Heart: A Book Journey