Thursday, July 28, 2016

Black 2016

 Black Drawing
 Jacob feeding Black a carrott
Me giving Black a treat
Black is another Thoroughbred that I was commissioned to draw out of Helmore Farm in Maryland. He is very aggressive, and my relationship with him is a challenge to me. I think he is a gorgeous horse, and I was glad I was asked to draw him. 

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Tack and Horse Sketches 2016

 Halter Hardware Drawing
 Bit Drawing
Bliss' Eye Drawing
This week I started doing some smaller finished drawings. These are 5.5x8. 

Helmore Farm- July 12,2016

Bliss, Annette, and I with the Bliss Drawing
This past Tuesday, Jacob and I went to Helmore Farm. The purpose of our visit was to deliver the Bliss drawing to my client Annette. She loved the drawing, and we got Bliss out of her stall for photos. 
Bliss
Annette put Bliss in the grooming stall, and spent some time showing Jacob different things she does daily with her.
Jacob and Bliss
Cindy with Black and I
After putting Bliss back in her stall, we spent some time with Annette's friend Cindy. She has a retired thoroughbred race horse named Black. I have met him before. He is very aggressive and can be dangerous. It is amazing to watch Cindy with him, and she seemed to enjoy the enthusiasm that Jacob and I showed for learning and spending time with she and Black. 
Noah Yawning
Noah, one of the other horses in the barn, put on quite the yawning show!
 Nancy on Indian
As we were getting ready to leave, Nancy another horse owner at Helmore was preparing the jumping ring to tide her retireed thoroughbred Indian. She said she didnt mind if we stayed and watched. 
 Nancy with Indian
Hayla with Jacob up
When Nancy was close to finishing her riding, she asked Jacob if he had ever ridden a horse to which he replied no. Within minutes, she had put Indian away and tacked up her mare Hayla. Nancy helped Jacob aboard and gave him his first riding lesson. 
Hayla with me up
I couldn't resist the opportunity, and when Jacob was done on Hayla it was my turn for a quick ride. What an incredible couple hours for Jacob and I. On my previous visit with Joshua, Annette had stated how most horse people start very young. She said how nice it was to see the interest and  teach older people about the horses. Clearly all of the woman that Jacob and I spent time with felt the same way. Annette, Cindy, and Nancy were incredibly gracious with their time and knowledge. Jacob and I just had an amazing time! 

Friday, July 8, 2016

Gone Bluffn' 2016

Gone Bluffn.
Gone Bluffn' is a filly that races at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas. I was contacted by her owner via Twitter, and he commissioned me to do the drawing. Despite being drawn from a cell phone photo, I love the way this came out, and is one of my favorite equine portraits. My client had me send it to his father as a surprise gift which I thought was really cool!

Bliss 2016

 Bliss Drawing
 Bliss and I exiting the barn at Helmore Farm
 Bliss with Annette and I      Photo Joshua Bardsley
 Joshua and Bliss
Annette and Bliss
I met Annette at Black Eyed Susan Day at Pimlico during Preakness week. After exchanging emails, she commissioned me to do a drawing of her horse Bliss. Bliss is a 28 year old thoroughbred mare who raced when she was younger. Joshua and I went to Helmore Farm to photograph Bliss. Joshua had never been that close to a horse, and loved her. She is very gentle, and a perfect horse for his fist experience. I shot quite a few pictures, and ironically, Joshua took the shot that I did the drawing from.