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Karen Brenner's Horse Paintings Blog - October 2009 |
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Advice for the inexperienced This painting seemed like the perfect illustration for the Oscar Wilde quote: "Experience is one thing you can't get for nothing." That quote applies to humans and horses! Click here to download and print the newest quote/painting/to-do list. posted by Karen Brenner 0 Comments -- Click here to add your comment
Shining Eye Lynda What is it about draft horses that are so amazing? I think, for me at least, it's a combination of their gentle nature and gigantic size that I find awesome. What are they thinking when they gaze down on us from their great horse height? That is the feeling I've tried to capture in this painting of Shining Eye Lynda. Lynda's a pure white Percheron mare, 19 years old. And she was nominated by her owner Kris, who first met Lynda in 1992. They've been best friends since! Kris wrote that together they've won many draft classes in Pennsylvania and Maryland. And in 2006 they competed in the Percheron World Congress and won! So Lynda is a World Champion! Kris also wrote, "Lynda is a wonderful brave mare - one that I have entrusted my life to during our wedding/carriage ride business. We read each others' minds it seems. She never let me down, and still she is full of herself --telling anyone who'll listen how grand she is. "She has helped me in so many ways, always right there when needed, being kind to her 'students' she n' I taught to drive. "Now she n' I are getting older and slowing down a little -- but shhhhh -- don't tell my best friend. She's not getting older, she is getting Better!" You'll find Kris's story about Lynda and one particular wedding published in Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul. Lynda's painting is part of the Beautiful Horses of Pennsylvania series. Here's a link to more paintings in the series: Beautiful Horses of Pennsylvania. posted by Karen Brenner 1 Comment -- Click here to add your comment Ohhhhhhhhhhh Karen- you caught my beloved mare to a "T". Thank you so much for letting me know you had painted Lynda today of all days.You see,just last night I had to have my very best barn buddy put down. Petey was an American Bulldoggie and we loved each other for almost 10 years. He got a tumor that grew & grew till it was so painful and intrusive that his hind leg was all but useless. So, we who love, must feel the broken heartedness of being alone after these wonderful animals leave this earth. I'm totally lost with out him now, and seeing my horse in paint really made a difference today of ALL days.
Nile Roze When Angela nominated her Straight Egyptian Arabian mare, Nile Roze, I was excited because Arabians are such beautiful horses! Nile Roze is a great example of the breed and is quite the spirited Arabian. She raced around her pasture as I did my best to follow her movements with my camera as she flew by. Angela had written, "Roze is the true ugly duckling of the horse world. She came to me as a green four year old who was less than stunning. She has since blossomed into a beautiful and talented athlete and she is without a doubt my heat horse. She's a beautiful princess and she knows it, especially in the show ring, which makes her such a blast." I wanted to capture her princess attitude, with her proud headset, sleek movement and flying tail. And with her "rosy" name, I thought a bit of pink would be appropriate too. Nile Roze's painting is part of the Beautiful Horses of Pennsylvania series. Here's a link to more paintings in the series: Beautiful Horses of Pennsylvania. posted by Karen Brenner 0 Comments -- Click here to add your comment
See the photos behind the paintings! Now you can see the photos behind some of my favorite paintings! My book, "Beautiful Moments in the Lives of Horses," can now be previewed online! The WHOLE book! Yes, it's a new feature available at Blurb, where my book is available for purchase (thanks to print-on-demand technology). Previously you could only view the first few pages, and well, there just great stuff throughout the WHOLE book! What are you waiting for. . . (well, you will be waiting for pages to load, but it's worth it . . . ) Click on this link below to . . . Preview WHOLE Book Enjoy! posted by Karen Brenner 0 Comments -- Click here to add your comment
Where do you see beauty? "The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone." This Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quote is one with which I, as an artist, can really relate. Every artist whose sets out to paint something beautiful needs to take their own path. And the results are not always what others consider beautiful. Here's an example of how everyone's taste for beauty varies. At my exhibit of the "Beautiful Horses of Michigan" paintings in March, I asked attendees to vote for their favorite painting. Almost all the 37 paintings had numerous votes! Each person defines beauty differently. I find this amazing and soooo interesting. Our tastes are all so different! But however you define it .... may you take time - each day - to reflect on something that is beautiful. Click here to download and print the newest quote/painting/to-do list. posted by Karen Brenner 0 Comments -- Click here to add your comment
Paddington Bear Paddinton Bear was described by his owner, Jane, as "one of the cutest horses I've ever known. Everyone who meets him agrees. He knows it too and uses it. He makes you laugh when he's done something that you should be really mad at him for." I couldn't pass up a chance to meet a horse named Paddington Bear! And he is so cute! And unique too, he's a Percheron/Connemara mix! So unique! And so photogenic! I just might need to so another painting of him someday! But I like this one for now! Here's a link to the Pennsylvania series: Beautiful Horses of Pennsylvania. posted by Karen Brenner 0 Comments -- Click here to add your comment
Sunrise Toboso DC Margie and "Sunny" are quite a pair! Margie has taught Sunny, who is an eight year old American Paint Horse Breeding Stock mare, some wonderful tricks, and together they entertained us during our visit. Sunny can ring a cowbell, squeak her toy monkey, and stand on a pedestal! It's hard to believe this gleaming mare had lead a less than perfect life before Margie got her. Margie writes, "I bought Sunny on February 15, 2006. Sunny was standing in cow manure up to her stomach and had a big lump on her hip bone when she was found. Sunny was very shy and spooky when she first came home. It was not long until I started Natural Horsemanship training with her and we started to bond." Margie also writes, "She makes me smile every day." Here's a link to the Pennsylvania series: Beautiful Horses of Pennsylvania. posted by Karen Brenner 0 Comments -- Click here to add your comment Polo! This past weekend we made a quick trip to Aiken, South Carolina, which I like to call the "horse-iest place in the whole USA." While there we went to a polo match -- the first I've ever seen. It is an exciting sport with galloping horses! I have to admit that I was freezing the whole time. Isn't it supposed to be warm down south?? I had on my thermal fleece vest, thermal fleece jacket, and medium weight fall coat (lined), gloves, and hat on, and I was still shaking while trying to hold my camera steady. Brrrr. But I did manage to take a few photos that I hope to use for reference material for future paintings. Here are a couple of my favorites.
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Forward Movement Forward movement, in equestrian lingo, is something to strive for. Forward movement, in mental thoughts, .... something to think about. What do you think about this Henry David Thoreau quote, "Never look back unless you are planning to go that way." Click here to download and print the newest quote/painting/to-do list. posted by Karen Brenner 0 Comments -- Click here to add your comment
BooBoo Jessica wrote that she bought BooBoo, a Thoroughbred gelding, 10 years ago "from his racetrack owner who wanted to offload him after he suffered from pulmonary hemorrhaging." She continues, "He has carried me to many a blue ribbon, but more importantly, taught my then teenage self about sincerity, honesty, humility, trust and forgiveness. "He's the horse that I worked 3 jobs to keep, that I drove an hour each way to see in college. He certainly has the heart to have been a racehorse, but physical limitations led him to me. "He's a teddy bear in horse clothes. He can take me over four foot jumps or take my nephew on pony rides. He's an amazing teacher." BooBoo was a real sweetheart the day I visited. It was pouring down rain, but he carefully followed Jessica's sister Jennifer (who had been recruited to assist with the photos since Jessica was not available) to the porch of the barn so I could get her photograph with him. Then he posed perfectly looking out the back barn door -- standing patiently in the bit of sunshine that was peeking through the clouds. When the rain eased up a bit, he diligently trotted around a slick pasture so I could get some action shots. I used my favorite pose for this painting. Here's a link to the Pennsylvania series: Beautiful Horses of Pennsylvania. posted by Karen Brenner 0 Comments -- Click here to add your comment
Rosewater Cassidy of Chestnut Oak When I read Wendy's description of Chestnut Oak Gypsy Drums' stallion "Sid" there was no doubt I'd include him in the Beautiful Horses of Pennsylvania project. I must say after meeting Sid, what Wendy said is 100% true! Here's what Wendy wrote... "Our beautiful boy is simply breathtaking. He is a combination of strength, grace and beauty, coupled with the sweetest, attention loving personality we've seen on any horse. He adores people and other horses and exhibits a playful demeanor when out in pasture with his best buddy, our weanling Drum colt Rhythm. Sid can move with the speed of a Thoroughbred, agility of a Quarter Horse and the animation/extension of a Warmblood! He is beauty in motion. Everyone who meets Sid agrees he is beauty and sweetness all wrapped up in one, plus he is loaded with tons of silky hair and feather that never seems to stop growing!" Wendy included the story about how she ended up with Sid. "We actually acquired Sid by chance so to speak. In 2007 I was bidding on a Gypsy Horse calendar on Ebay that was being auctioned off by Julie Heise of Wisconsin. I won that calendar, and through emails back and forth with Julie, I told her that my "dream" was to one day own a Gypsy Horse stallion. She raises a few Gypsies each year and told me that her Gypsy mare, Sinead was due in June 2007 with a Gypsy foal. She told me that she can't keep colts and if the foal was a colt would I be interested as she would give me a fair deal as she knew how much I wanted a colt. I told her "yes" but figured it would probably be a filly, and anyway, I had "strict" criteria for my "dream" colt. He had to be at least 50/50 black and white and marked really well, as I don't really like too much white, he would definitely need to have an all black tail, and I wanted a rainbow, or several back & white stripes in his mane and two brown eyes. Also, since I was going to use him in my Drum horse breeding program, he would need to mature to at least 15hh. Needless to say, I was totally STUNNED when Julie sent me that first photo of the colt that Sinead had foaled! He was EVERYTHING I was looking for, perfect! How could I say no? He was the one, and before you knew it, he arrived at our farm in Pennsylvania as a 5 month old weanling, and has been "wowing" us since!" Click here to learn more about Wendy's Gypsy Drums and Chestnut Oak Farm. Here's a link to the Pennsylvania series: Beautiful Horses of Pennsylvania. posted by Karen Brenner 0 Comments -- Click here to add your comment
Change through Chance Fundraiser was Super! Change through Chance's fundraiser, "An Afternoon with Stacy Westfall," was fantastic! Stacy gave away all her secrets about riding bridleless and told such amazing stories about her adventures with horses keeping the crowd enthralled the whole afternoon! She's delightful! The auction went great thanks to Wayne County's own auctioneer extraordinaire, Dave Acker! And the Cowgirl Express Drill team rode in perfect sync for our entertainment! Our food vendors could not have been better - Amish cooking!!! And the facility - Windy Knolls Farm in Sullivan, Ohio, was the perfect setting -- for a perfect day! Thanks to all the volunteers who made it happen! Click here to read more about Change through Chance's event (pictures included). posted by Karen Brenner 0 Comments -- Click here to add your comment
Friesian in Wonderland This Friesian, Ares, seemed like a fairy tale horse, with his beautiful flowing mane and tail and dreamy movement. And in this painting, he seems to delicately step through a pastel fantasy world. That's why I paired it with a quote from Lewis Carroll, who is best known for his fantasy writing of "Alice in Wonderland." Click here to download and print the newest quote/painting/to-do list. posted by Karen Brenner 0 Comments -- Click here to add your comment
Sprintown Amos, Buamguardner and Jendon Rhythm N Blues Buamguardner, a Morgan/Percheron gelding, was eagerly awating his photo session, along with his pasture pals, Amos and Blue. I loved the three dark horses posing at the gate and asked if I could do a painting of all of them together. Luckily, the answer was "Yes." Bum's buddy on the left is Springtown Amos, a 20 year old Morgan gelding. And on the far right is Jendon Rhythm N Blues, a 2 year Morgan stallion. Of course, Buamguardner - in the center - is the star of the piece!Pam, their proud owner wrote the following in Buamguardner's nomination: "Bum is now retired due to an injury. When he was active he was a crowd favorite at parades and Medieval events. Every year he pulled a cart with Santa as a passenger to several community children's parties. He would stand patiently while the kids would pet and feed him. Once a small child in a wheel chair came up; Bum dropped his head to the child's level and stood to be petted as long as the child wanted. He was and is every child's imaginary 'Dream Horse' - Big, Black, Beautiful - and gentle of spirit." Bum actually had two of his "fans" also nominate him for the Beautiful Horses of Pennsylavania project! Diane wrote, "Bum jousts, games, trails, drives, babysits visitors. You name it, he does it. When you look into his eyes, you KNOW he knows what you are saying or thinking. Never seen a stronger connection thatn Pam and Bum. They are an amazing team." And Cindy wrote, "Bum is a 'once in a lifetime' horse with his owner Pam." Here's a link to the Pennsylvania series: Beautiful Horses of Pennsylvania. posted by Karen Brenner 0 Comments -- Click here to add your comment
Fillipe Fillipe, a champion Dutch Warmblood gelding, moved like a dream. He and his owner Evelyn performed piaffes, canter pirouettes, perfect lead changes and side passes in the lawn of Cool Breeze Farm, where Evelyn and her husband Mark train sport horses and their riders. They were a joy to watch.... I was so amazed, I didn't want to bother with the camera, but of course I had to take photos. Christine, who nominated Fillipe, wrote, "Evelyn has shown Fillipe in Dressage, specializing in Musical Freestyle, for the past six years. He projects a keen understanding of dressage and moves his body fluidly to each beat of the music. Fillipe has the innate ability to know what Evelyn will ask next of him and displays his extreme pleasure at performing to Evelyn's musical scores. He is a dancer extraordinaire and together they appear to be one. His ears pricked forward and his tail swaying to the notes, Fillipe's performances will bring tears to your eyes and your heart will want to beat out of your chest. He and Evelyn are, for me, the epitome of the dressage discipline." To learn more about Evelyn and Cool Breeze Farm, click here. Here's a link to the Pennsylvania series: Beautiful Horses of Pennsylvania. posted by Karen Brenner 0 Comments -- Click here to add your comment
Going 3-D If you subscribe to my monthly e-newsletter you've heard about my trip into the world of 3-D. (no special cardboard glasses with multi-colored lenses needed). If you don't subscribe, I've copied the newsletter article into my blog -- just in case you are curious about why a painter would create a horse sculpture. Of course in my blog version, I've added PICTURES - - - photos of the finished sculpture and a couple "in progress" shots. Why a Sculpture — And How????? (from my e-newsletter) If you’re curious about why I would make a sculpture, read this (WARNING: it’s wordy.) I was patching a little section of my porch where some of the concrete was chunking off (that’s technical construction lingo) and discovered I sort of liked stirring that nitty gritty cement mixture. Since I’ve been looking for a garden horse head sculpture and haven’t found one in my price range, I decided I’d try to make one. So, being a geeky type person, I looked online to see if there were any books about creating cement sculptures. YES! Creating with Concrete: Yard Art, Sculpture & Garden Projects by Sherri Warner Hunter was available at the Wayne County Library! It’s a fantastic book! It has step-by-step instructions for all kinds of projects and great illustrations for the clueless like me! It was my guide! Plus I happened upon sculptor Jorge Benlloch’s YouTube series of videos showing how to create a horse head sculpture out of clay. Here’s a link in case you’re feeling the need to make a horse sculpture too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnenIlakvnU&feature=channel. Probably the most helpful idea I got from his video was that Jorge cut out an enlarged copy of the profile of the horse head, and the front view of the horse’s face, which he held up alongside the sculpture as he progressed to make sure the sculpture was the right shape and the size that he’d planned. With this in mind, I decided that my favorite pose — and the one I’d aim for in my sculpture — is of horses running freely with their face “beyond the vertical” — dressage riders know that’s bad, but as an artist, I love the look! (It means the horse’s profile is almost perpendicular with the ground, but tucked a little bit closer to the neck.) And of course, I had just the horse in mind who I would base my sculpture on, Orturo, a Lusitano stallion who is in two of my paintings. I found some of my favorite photos of him and printed them out on my sculpture cheat sheet. Then I drew an outline of his head and neck profile on a sheet newspaper (yes, I love recycling). Then I drew another shape — the front view of his lovely Andalusian looking face. I cut them out and was ready to start building my wire frame — basing the shape and size on these templates. Wouldn’t you know, when my next door neighbor set out his trash the very next day, he leaned a thick board against one of his trash cans! It was just the right size for me to use to build my sculpture on! He’d even mixed some concrete on the one side! It was perfect! (I made my husband snatch it for me!) Boy, I’d been planning to use a thin, awkward piece of plywood that the horses had chewed on last winter. I’m so lucky!!! After hours of cutting, bending, twisting and turning, the wire frame was lovely. . . before I started pasting in the cement. . . . Not so lovely after the first layer. I’m glad the book said not to worry if globs of cement plopped to the ground when you were applying the first layer. Otherwise I would have been very, very, very discouraged.
After layer number two, my husband was still shaking his head, wondering what species that sculpture was going to turn out to be.
And even now that it’s completed, he’s still not sure! Okay, I need to stick to painting! But I have my horse head garden sculpture that I’m planning to put in my flower bed — behind some VERY tall plants!! And they’re going to have to be evergreens. Here's a close up of the "good side" of the sculpture.
posted by Karen Brenner 1 Comment -- Click here to add your comment Don't throw in the towel yet. You have a feel for the process, now you can get going the next one. Do your larger changes in the armature stage. "See" where the lines need to be different. Then use the clay to tweak the details in the last stage. Clay is great to work with. Keep up the great work -Pam
Are You in the Gutter? If you ever feel like you're in the gutter, this Oscar Wilde quote is for you! "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." Look up, and tell me what you see. Click here to download and print the newest quote/painting/to-do list. posted by Karen Brenner |
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