An Eventful Weekend

They call a horse that has power to spare when jumping fences "scope-y".  This characteristic is a real asset on the x-country course where the obstacles are huge and the pace is just short of mach V!  Had a great time at the Aspen Farms Horse Trial last weekend.  I've wondered about the fact that most of the things I like to do best require body protection gear, but compared to these upper level event riders I qualify as rather sedate.

Discover the Great Bear Rainforest

Paintings at Blend in Key Center the month of June.  The white black bear or Kermodi bear is an icon of this unique coastal treasure.  A % of any painting sale goes to help protect the region from current threats by short sighted politics & big oil.  This is a place worth saving!   

First Race

This is a sketch that I made for a larger painting a while back.  I'm posting it in honor of American Pharoah and his amazing running talent.  Whether you like horse racing or not, you can't make a horse take ownership of the racetrack like he does.  I used to gallop racehorses.... long ago and I wasn't particularly good at it (they tended to set their own pace and get me in trouble for letting them go too fast)  but there is nothing like the rush of power and lift into flight without wings.  I will never forget that feeling.

Golden Days

Happy dogs are always fun to paint!

Baby Face

Someone spilled the paint bucket!  Can't help it, it's just that time of year! 

Mudding

So, it was one of those days... hours swiped off into the mud bucket.  Decided if everything was going to turn into mud maybe I should just paint that.  It was a lot more fun at least.

Although we haven't seen much mud around here lately, it's definitely a nod to the intrepid nature of event riders.  A little water, a little more challenge, all in a days ride!

Fly Like Wind

This is a 5x7" sketch for a larger painting.  I like the limited palette and it also helps work out value issues without the distraction of full color.