Imagekind

The Return of Madison, 16×16 Oil on Panel

For those of you collecting images from the mural project, Le Cadeau du Cheval I have posted my panel from the project to my gallery at Imagekind. At Imagekind, images can be printed and custom framed on-demand. Imagekind’s online fine art print shop offers my customers over 5 million, printing, matting, framing and glazing possibilities.

The link to my gallery is here:  http://sporthorseartwork.imagekind.com/ and in the column on the right side of this blog

I will be adding to the gallery and should you have any special requests from my portfolio of images that you would like me to upload, please just leave a comment below and I will get right to it!

TaaaDaaaa!! here tis!

From this…

 

to this…

My panel for the project ‘Le Cadeau Du Cheval’ is completed. I have titled my panel, ‘The return of Madison’. I invite you to read my artist statement regarding this project:

 

 

Spruce Meadows is the home to international showjumping horses and riders of the highest calibre. In looking for inspiration and a model for my panel, I came across a warmblood gelding by the name of ‘Madison’. Madison is a jumper who competed at Spruce Meadows with Canadian team rider, Hugh Graham. He was then purchased by the Johnson’s of Travis Hall Equestrian Centre in Fergus, Ontario. For them, he turned out to be an invaluable school master. Their son, Dave jr. enjoyed learning from and winning many competitions with him.

Madison is now retired, but still has plenty of strut left in his step. In person he seems to exude a real zest for life, healthy and happy. I thought it to be a fitting tribute to depict a model in my panel who lived a productive and full jumping career, obviously loved by his owners, now living his golden years, return to one of the places that he competed. That place being one of the best, Spruce Meadows.

 

It has been a long time since I have worked on a project with the emphasis on creative expression and individual interpretation.  My end result is very different from my existing portfolio. Loose and free, and incorporates an unusual palette of purples and blues.

Overall,  I am pleased with the results. Thank you for viewing. You can see the rest of the mural in progress here: http://www.muralmosaic.com/Cadeau.html

Head detail

Let’s get started!

I’m back! Recovered…almost…after two weeks of viruses (not the computer variety) sweeping through our household, I am finally working on the panel for Le Cadeau du Cheval again!

In the studio, I did quick, sketch mock-ups of my proposed ideas. It helped me decide which panel was going to be the better choice. I have chosen to go with the second layout, of the grey trotting…(sorry to those who liked the other better) It came together more naturally for me during the sketch process. The image seemed to balance well and I am drawn to the sensitivity in the details just waiting to be captured in the face, eyes and forelock.

Here is the first rough sketch I did with charcoal and some soft pastels. I determined the size and placement of the horse.

Then, I toned a canvas panel violet and transferred my sketch. I completed a quick study in oil, loosely mimicking the colours on the original panel. At this point things are very rough and sketch like. I just want to be sure the layout is going to work for me on the final panel.

Here is the detail in the face from the study:

So onward with it! Yesterday I transferred the sketch to the actual panel…have to admit, I am a little scared to touch the darn thing!!