Gran Gesto – Complete!

I have very good news! I finished the commission of Canadian Dressage Team horse Gran Gesto..aka ‘Sammy’, last week. The painting was dry enough to put on the scanner today, so I can finally share it with you…

Gran Gesto...aka..'Sammy', 16x16 Oil on Panel

I’m notoriously hard on myself (as are most artists I know) and can honestly say I’m really, very happy with this painting. I again used the palette from the Sargent workshop and the result is so soft and gentle in feeling and mood.

The subject also really connects with the viewer of the artwork.  I spent many days modelling the eye, to get it to read just so. After years of doing eye studies, I’m always amazed how subtle shifts in colour and highlights can change a horse’s expression in an instant.

Rider Jacquie Brooks input played a key role in the creating this work.  She wanted something that portrayed “Sammy” as she knows him in the barn. A horse with a puppy dog personality, who despite competing under bright lights and cheering crowds, remains calm, quiet and ready to get the job done. She wanted an unconventional pose and having done many, many traditional poses, I was happy to oblige! I’m overjoyed to report that Jacquie felt ‘I got him exactly’.

I want send a BIG ’Thank You’ to Gary VanBolderen of Dutch Masters Construction. He is Jacquie’s sponsor and commissioned this special piece of artwork for her. It is, as always, a pleasure to work with you my friend!

I will have this painting on display at the Orangeville Fairgrounds for the Headwaters Stable Tour, October 4th, 10-4pm. I hope you can make it out to see it in person!

Links of Importance:

Headwaters Stable Tour

Dutch Masters Construction

Jacqueline Brooks

‘Po’ – Completion

'Po' - 18x18 oil on canvas, commission portrait

Well, the bun is finally out of the oven I’m off to deliver this commission of Po to his owner today. It’s been quite the journey. This painting has taught me a great deal in my process of switching medias to Oil from Coloured Pencil.

I began this painting in January, but restarted it after I took the John Singer Sargent workshop in June. I used the palette used in the workshop consisting of; Ivory Black,  Green Umber, Red Umber, Raw Umber, Cadmium Red, Yellow Ochre Pale and Titanium White. Ultramarine Blue was an optional colour, which I did use.

The main challenges I had with using the methods taught in the workshop were adapting the palette from humans to horses; and not being able to paint everyday. I could only work wet-into-wet in certain sections of the painting, or to a certain point then have to pack it up to get back to family duties.  Inevitably, portions of the painting would be dry or tacky when I would get back to it, so I would have to then wait until it was fully dry before I could touch it again.

This is the first ‘larger’ oil commission I have completed..okay yes, 18×18 is big for me!!  Now I look forward to moving on, knowing that my customer is happy helps too. Gran Gesto is next up for completion! stay tuned!

Brunner – The Mystery Horse Unveiled

Brunner - 12x16 Oil on Canvas

A few weeks ago I did a post on ‘The Mystery Horse’, a surprise commission portrait I had completed. The gift has been given, now I can fully reveal the horses identity and tell you a little bit more about this project.

I met the commissioner Jodie, on the Headwaters Stable Tour last fall. She was eager to have something special created of her horse Brunner, which she shares with her daughter Ashley. I was told Brunner was a gentle giant, a Percheron/Thbd cross. From there we set up a photo shoot where I could meet him in person.

I knew that Brunner was big, but I guess I wasn’t really prepared for how big, because I was quite shocked when I finally met him in person. There he was, 18 hands of tall, dark, handsome and solid horse!! Despite his size, he had a remarkable pony-like way about him.  He was gentle, soft, round and with a kind loving eye. He has three markings unique to him. A question mark shaped blaze, white patch on his wither (not from a rub) and white hairs at his tail dock. In the photo shoot, I tried some different perspectives to capture all three of these details in one photo. We ended up cropping the image tighter for the final layout in the finished painting.

Brunner and his mom standing behind him

With gift commissions, I rarely get the opportunity to hand the artwork directly to the receiver. So I sit on pins and needles waiting to hear some word about their reaction!! Thankfully, a couple weeks later I received a lovely note from Jodie’s daughter Ashley about the painting:

Hi Jennifer,
 
My name is Ashley, I am Jodie’s daughter and our horse’s name is Brunner.  I was given the beautiful, stunning painting you did of our handsome baby for my birthday and I LOVE IT!  I love that you captured not only how he looks on the outside but his kind, gentle temperament on the inside…you are very talented!  My husband and I are in the middle of buying a house and I can’t wait to find a very special place to hang the painting.  Not to mention the cards, what a special card to give out notes… used one the other day for my Mother in law and she loved it and said she would cherish that card.
 
Thank you again for all your hard work, what a beautiful gift to receive from my Mom!
 
Will pass your name on to any friends who would like to have their horses painted!
 
Many thanks!
 
Take care,
 
Ashley Arkeveld

 These types of letters always make me thankful for what I do for a living…I love my job! 

 

 

Brunner - Head Detail, Oil on Canvas