Status of Original Painting – Private Collection

Size: 9 x 13.5 inches

Medium: Watercolour on 300 lb d’Arches

Description:
Lonita is a horse at Circle Square Ranch in Manuels, where my kids spend a few weeks at camp each summer. I’d been watching the end-of-camp rodeo when I suddenly had a strong desire to make a horse the subject of my next painting. And I wanted a horse without a rider, so I wandered over where a few horses were tied up next to the fence. Why did I pick Lonita from among some other perhaps more colourful horses? Well, the other horses ignored me, but Lonita seemed to sense what I wanted: her head came up, she smiled, struck a pose and held it while I took a set of photos. When I was done, I murmured “thanks” and her head bobbed as if she was acknowledging me. When working with live models, it’s always important to have someone who is willing and cooperative.

I’d intended to use one of several full-length shots for this painting, but the portrait shot with the blurred-out background was just perfect.

The “Works-In-Progress” gallery has four images of the making of this painting along with a description about what was done at each step.