Decisions, Decisions

I've had my nose to the proverbial grindstone lately.... working on a new painting that will hopefully be accepted by my clients for at least part of the commission.  Its finished, I think.  This is always the point where I have to make a second leap.... the first being the start of a painting.... that the picture has resolved itself, regardless how much or how little paint is on the canvas.  And then, the third leap - at least in this case, because this is a very wide-open commission I'm working on - is waiting to see if the clients like or dislike, alot or a little, the paintings. (Usually, my clients approve sketches before I even put paint to canvas, so that I'm sure they'll love the end result! In this case, they liked the general idea, and yet, I had to make a leap to keep working - highly unusual in my usually very controlled commission work!) I'm at the point where I'll soon find out if the commission is resolving itself, is resolved, or if I need to re-attack the 'problem'!  So much of being an artist, for me, is patience, and waiting.....  So here are the two main pieces, and soon, we'll know if I'm done, nearly done, or have more work.

Calf Team Roping at 4 Flags, 36 x 48 in., oil on canvas, £4,000

Crider's No. 2, WAT 2014, 36 x 48 in., oil on canvas, £4,000

Finding The Passion...

Its been way too long since I've posted here, but the holidays.... need I say more?!  I have been working though.  And what I'm loving is that this commission is stretching me.  I'm currently working on a team-calf roping painting.  Just a bit outside of my comfort zone to be sure!!  But, I have a passion for horses, understand them, know how they work, and so does my client.  I also have a passion for movement and balance, and my client does as well; riding a horse is about balance.  Its a dance, a conversation between horse and human.  In the painting I'm working on, I'm finding my own passion, my client's passion and am finding that I can see just what is becoming important in this work.....the movement and balance and speed of the horse(s) and their rider's.  The focus it takes for both beings to work together to capture the calf, to ensure it gets its shots, its castration, its brand.... 

The next question is how do I say all this with color as well.... and its all set in the magnificent West Texas countryside along the Brazos River - which will also dictate the color and light! Then there is the question of what in the painting becomes spotlit, what is important, what is sketched in as quickly as possible.... Like I said, these paintings are stretching me!  I'd never have pursued this subject on my own, and I'm so very glad I am!