Another Horse, Another Day

Love, 11x14", watercolor, pen

This is Love. She is part Arabian and, as far as I know, part Quarter Horse. In her mid-20s, she still is a kind soul with strength on the trail rides. 

Horse portraits/commissions in any medium are welcome and wanted. Please contact me via email in my "About Me" section, for more information.

Some Friends Came to Visit

This was a fun painting. After advertising at Boulder Range Horse Farm in Southampton, MA about painting horse portraits for their owners, there was a line of commissions for my work. I am happy to say that I am grateful for the support of these people and I am having so much fun with it!

This is Kiki, owned by a woman named Debbie. One thing that Debbie stressed about Kiki was she is very attentive, and would stop to watch a hawk fly by, or a barn sparrow perch on the fence etc. Knowing that, I was able to work with the idea to create a friendly portrait with her attentive personality.

A Little Creature Design to go with your Horse?

Once and a while, I go on a creature spree. These are somewhat small (no bigger than 5x9", pen), but they still have great potential to develop into something better someday. You never know, I may use one of these for my thesis book I a writing, or even use these as practice ideas for my digital painting skills.....maybe someday soon...

Some thanks to the wonderful artist Terryl Whitlatch, for her inspirational book and drawings.

Aesop's Fable: The Three Bullocks and the Lion

"The Three Bullocks and the Lion"

pen, watercolor, digital, 9x6"

Example for part of my Thesis.

Aesop for Children (1919)


90. THREE BULLOCKS AND A LION


A Lion had been watching three Bullocks feeding in an open field. He had tried to attack them several times, but they had kept together, and helped each other to drive him off. The Lion had little hope of eating them, for he was no match for three strong Bullocks with their sharp horns and hoofs. But he could not keep away from that field, for it is hard to resist watching a good meal, even when there is little chance of getting it.

Then one day the Bullocks had a quarrel, and when the hungry Lion came to look at them and lick his chops as he was accustomed to do, he found them in separate corners of the field, as far away from one another as they could get.

It was now an easy matter for the Lion to attack them one at a time, and this he proceeded to do with the greatest satisfaction and relish.


In unity is strength.


(source: http://mythfolklore.net/aesopica/milowinter/90.htm)

Just a Hint of Wanderlust in the Tides

watercolor, pen (dragon and designs), digital painting/altering/collaging, 11x17"

For a scholarship I am applying for. Had fun with it. If you look close enough, you may see the small silhouette of a man in the crow's nest.

Nautical map reference and use: 

Mediterranean Map

Give a Warm Welcome to my Friend Meelo

Character Design of Meelo: MFA Thesis 

watercolor, pen, 12x9"

The first of many posts of my friend Meelo. If you have been following my work for some time, you can notice that this character was further developed from an old piece of mine that I did almost 3 years ago. You will find this little guy first in my post titled Admiration. 

I will not give away too much detail right now about his story, but I will say, he has a very bouncy personality.

Growth

"Aged Satyr," 10x22", watercolor, pen.

'The wiser you are, the more it shows.'

"They was no where to run."

pencil, pen and ink on vellum, 12x16", re-touched and added digital

The Morgue

 The double doors had locked behind them. George and Anna had no alternative. They had to go through the morgue.George turned as the amulet around Anna's neck began to glow. Moans and scuffing sounds started from every side.

Anna froze. 'The dead are awakening!'

Slowly, the first corpse dragged itself from a nearby autopsy table. As they backed away another shuffled into view, and then another. More corpses came until a lurching horde of cadavers surrounded them. There was nowhere to run.

This was my first attempt to render in photoshop. Being very new to the digital realm in art, I figure it would be beneficial to see what level I can get to in a practice run painting digitally. There is still a little bit of a disconnect between screen and tablet, but it is a great tool to learn!

It's Real to Children

 watercolor, colored pencil, 8x12"

Inspired by Children and how they remind us that there is more than just what we have in front of us to learn from and imagine.

Dinosaurs, Horses, and Beastly Ladies....What's not to love?

pen and ink on vellum, 9x12", re-touched and added lines digital

Even though my fighting figures didn't fit too perfectly with the environment, it was still a great turn out for a perspective practice. This was a project that I enjoyed very much! First starting with the fighting figures with an idea of what kind on environment to put them in, then putting clothing on them with patterns, then placing them in the environment. My initial idea for my figures wasn't working with the intense perspective I had to apply to this project, so my idea just changed. The more I developed on my vellum, the more ideas with dinosaurs came into the work.

pencil, pen and ink on vellum, 9x12", re-touched and added lines digital

pen and ink on vellum, 9x12", re-touched and added lines digital

"Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall...."

 pen and ink on vellum, 9x12", added lines and touch-up digital

You may not see it here, but there is a lot of other elements to this work that made it into the piece you see in front of you. During the pain-staking Perspective for Illustrators class I just had, I have learned a lot from how to plot reflections in perspective, to how to draw all things in perspective with four simple constructions. Through the many failed attempts, this was one of the couple I deem worthy for my audience.

What I like the most about this work is the mirror. As a child I always thought of the Queen's mirror as a huge, powerful character that comes with a huge and powerful influence to the Queen's everyday life. All of my peers and friends told me they never have seen that interpretation before and really enjoyed that. I am glad that I was able to show how I felt about that mirror, in all its grandeur.

"Goldy-Locks and the Three Bears"

watercolor, 10x18"

My children's book version of Goldy-Locks and the Three bears. This was the stage where, in the manuscript, baby bear says, "My bed was slept in and there she still sleeps!" With the surprised look on his face, he looks at the audience, demonstrating his astonishment with the given situation. You may be wondering why this is a blonde bear? Well I had a twist with The story. 

Copyright/Dedication Page, watercolor, 10x18"

My version was related to the Kermode Bears, which are a subspecies of the North American Black Bears living in the Central and North Coast regions of British Columbia, Canada ("Spirit Bear Facts." Province of British Columbia. Retrieved 2009-12-03). These bears are considered "Spirit Bears" which are prominent figures in the oral stories of the indigenous people in the area. They are not related to the polar bear, they are not endangered, nor are they their own species. Just a gene that pops up in the bears' births every now and then. But, I was just fascinate about them, and the fact that, to me at least, are not popularly known to the general public. Through my art, I am hoping I can bring that which is not known from this world to the eyes of my audience.

A Coffee Cup for You

watercolor, 11x14"

This was a concept assignment on the topic "Coffee Shop Advertisement." I had so much fun with this piece with its different cups, sizes, shapes, and even slight play on perspective. Each cup had to be a different color, water-to-paint ratio, a study of dampness, as well as fun and playful designs!

Wordless Narrative from Up Above

This is a wordless narrative which is a small story that contains no words but actions, insights, and interactions. This story is particularly based on the phrase "Up Above." 

The story consists of a small mouse-like creature who is a dedicated traveler. He also really likes tea. In his travels he comes across these beautiful, huge trees with windy willowy branches reaching high into the sky. As he ventures under these giants, he comes across a feather in the brush below and sets out to find this feathered friend to help him in his quest. He then finds this crane, gets it's attention, and asks to go up into the trees that he admires so. So up they went, into the sky, and onto a branch, where the two become great friends and share one of the mouse's delicious cups of tea.

Blodeuwedd

watercolor and pen, 22x33" (forgive the picture, I will be uploading a different one once I have proper lighting, otherwise my computer won't upload any image that has adjusted colors, for some odd reason)

Blodenwedd means 'flower face' in welsh. This piece was inspired by the story of this woman, born from broom and meadowsweet flowers, who was turned into an owl after murdering her husband for another. 

She was meant to be the thing that represented the hight of beauty in Celtic mythology. I am sure you feel that the face of beauty should have a strong sense about her, a confidence. Instead, I gave her not a stern proud face of beauty,  but an expression of confusion, unassured thoughts, and innocence. For some reason  I felt this way when I read her story because the king Lleu llaw Gyffes had her made from magic to be his wife. She had no choice in the matter. Which then lead to her feelings for Gronw Pebr, the Lord of Penllyn, who included himself in the conspiring murder of the King. The King was then murdered and turned into an eagle. Blodenwedd was then turned into an owl by the witches who created her as punishment. 

But was she wrong to go for true love? Wrong to murder, but not to love. You decide.

Patiently Waiting

Watercolor, 11x5"

I have been influenced by the New England weather lately, and seeing how I never have tried snow before I figure I have some practice.