Karen Brenner's Horse Paintings Blog - August 2009

Brady Close Up
Posted August 28, 2009

This sorrel Quarter Horse, Brady's My Hobby, has such a quiet spirit. He's been a show horse for years and years, and has helped many riders achieve their dreams. In this little painting, he seems to be reflecting on the world and calmly anticipating a new adventure.

Click here to see more miniature paintings.

posted by Karen Brenner

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A Cat Painting!
Posted August 27, 2009

This week's quote/painting combo has my only painting with a cat! It's accompanied by an all too true quote from Will Rogers, "Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier 'n puttin' it back in."

That goes for puttin' cats back in those little pet carriers too!

Click here to download and print the newest quote/painting/to-do list.

posted by Karen Brenner

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Spanish Mustangs - Shades of White
Posted August 24, 2009

I loved visiting Carol and Jim Dildine's CJ-8 Ranch in Texas where they raise Spanish Mustangs and Longhorn Cattle. I was most impressed by the earthy colors found in their wonderful herd.

The Spanish Mustang Registry has lots of information about this very special breed of horses. Here's a link to their page about breed colors.

You may remember some of my past Spanish Mustang paintings. Well, here's another one! This lovely mare and foal posed so peacefully.

Click here to see more miniature paintings.

posted by Karen Brenner

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Gabriel's Tail & Mane
Posted August 24, 2009

Gabriel is the amazing champagne Tennessee Walking Horse featured in one of my "Beautiful Horses of Michigan Horse" paintings. He's amazing! I loved how his mane and tail floated like angel feathers with his every movement. I've tried to capture that wonderful movement in this miniature painting of Gabriel.

Click here to see more miniature paintings.

posted by Karen Brenner

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Work Worth Doing . . .
Posted August 23, 2009

Do you agree with Theodore Roosevelt's quote, "Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing."

Once I read a report of a worker who volunteered at a nonprofit organization who lamented over the fact that his day job was mundane. The nonprofit organization's leader pointed out that the worker's gains from his day job allowed him to make considerable contributions to the nonprofit organization and also allowed him free time to spend volunteering.

Is the work you are doing "worth doing" -- in a direct way or perhaps in a round-about way?

Rick Warren's Daily Devotional for today (August 22) is about Service [coming to the archives soon if not yet posted]. He points out that some ways of serving "are visible and some are behind the scenes, but all are valuable. Small or hidden ministries often make the biggest difference. In my home, the most important light is not the large chandelier in our dining room but the little night light that keeps me from stubbing my toe when I get up at night. There is no correlation between size and significance."

The same could be said about work. All jobs are significant, and need to be done. It seems like one's attitude toward one's work is significant though. Knowing your job is important goes a long way toward making it worth doing.

Click here to download and print the newest quote/painting/to-do list.

posted by Karen Brenner

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Close Up of Cruz
Posted August 18, 2009

This new miniature painting features Cruz, a wonderful Andalusian stallion.

posted by Karen Brenner

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Stride Onward!
Posted August 14, 2009

Another Will Rogers quote, "The best way out of a difficulty is through it." This Frieisan stallion, Minske, with his powerful stride, seems able to go through anything!

Here's a link to more Friesian paintings.

Click here to download and print the newest quote/painting/to-do list.

posted by Karen Brenner

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Cocker Spaniel's Eye View
Posted August 10, 2009

You've heard of bird's eye view and perhaps even worm's eye view. This painting is approximately cocker spaniel's eye view. It's different!

I liked the muscles of this beautiful paint horse, On Black Ice. I also liked the abstract patterns from this angle and the linear quality and movement of his swishing tail.

This miniature painting is now part of my abstract paint horse collection! You can see more miniature paintings online, or come to my Studio Open House on Sunday, September 20 and see them in person!

posted by Karen Brenner

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The Right Thing
Posted August 9, 2009

This painting is of Nanning, a Friesian stallion with such stature, he stands out in a crowd -- even a crowd of Friesians!

Friesians seem to be such willing horses, always willing to do the right thing. Not all horses are like that (and probably not all Friesians are really like that either!), but after having just read Mark Rashid's new book, Whole Horse, Whole Heart, I wonder how much of bad horse behavoir is a result of bad (or wrong) human behavior.

Mark writes that horses are looking for a leader, so they can relax and follow. If we do the right thing, the horse seems to do the right thing too. Developing a focus, and keeping your mind on the right behavior you desire from your horse seems to magically produce the right behavior in the horse. I've tried it with Sorpresa with very good results!

And yesterday I read about an amazingly brilliant scientific study that proves human behavior has a direct effect on horse behavior. Here's a link to a short summary of the study: Nervous Humans=Nervous Horses.

Click here to download and print the newest quote/painting/to-do list.

posted by Karen Brenner

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