Fur In The Paint

So here it is as promised. I had to rush to complete it in time to actually use for this Christmas, and not the next one or perhaps the one after that. And to top it off, I actually got most of my cards written and mailed off, with a whole 7 days to go before the big day.

I had a dream last night about a flamingo. Not being one to often ignore my muse. I think I may give it a try. I have yet to do a bird in oil pastel so it may prove interesting. Plus I am in need of painting some insane colors like pink and turquoise. (They apparently aren’t found all that often in horses.)

So … umm… it is Sunday. And today, no matter what, My 2007 Christmas card design will be called complete. At least as far as using it for a card. I settled the red thing by adding purple and removing both the pink and the orange. I fell back to using my old mantra which is, when in doubt…add purple. And it worked. Well it worked sufficiently. I will post a picture as soon as I scan it for the cards.

I am sitting here, occasionally blowing on my fingers. I just came into the gallery and the place is still quite chilly. I’ve got Oliver the gallery cat draped over my left shoulder for moral support and proof reading. My warm and purring fur muff.

Speaking of frostbite in the gallery. Yesterday I had my art group over for our get together. I had the heat cranked way up and yet everyone had their hands clasped tightly in their armpits as they hunched over in the fetal position, swearing repeatedly that the room temperature was just fine. (Sigh) The problem with a big brick building plopped on a large cement slab in the middle of winter, is that it just doesn’t warm up. I can have the thermostat at 80 and the room temp in the front room will be 65. Now, I have been in this building for almost 8 years, so I just take it in stride. Sorry girls. I should have provided thermal undies or something.

Anywho, back to group. It is officially called 20/21 which has to do with women artists creating in both the 20 and 21st century. We are around 10 artists (some come and go) of all very diverse backgrounds and artistic styles. I am the only self taught amongst them. This can occasionally become uncomfortable for me. But that is only because of my issues, not anything anyone else does. We try to get together every month but lately it is closer to every 2-3 months. Most of the time it is a real joy. We bounce ideas off each other, show our latest work and talk art in general. It not only gets me in the mood to create, but to create better art.

Every year I try to come up with a new image for our business Christmas card. This year I have fallen behind and it is early December already. Which means I have to complete the painting, profile it for cards, print the cards and then of course write them out and mail them. Sigh. I better get cracking. I have an idea in mind. Nothing too original really. A pair of gray drafts in winter coat with red padding and decorations. Actually it is just a current version of The Greys from several years ago. This means I have to set aside my latest paint horse study for a few days.

After rummaging through my draft photos, (no small feat there) I find exactly what I want. Well, not quite exactly. I find basically what I want. I mean they are two draft horses with heads about where I want them. The only things that I am going to change is their tack. And the horses color and markings … and …oh yea, their hair coat from summer to winter, and lastly I will add red decorations and padding … and … ummm … crop the image. I think thats about it.

I projected this image because of my time constraints. I am a lousy tracer. I really suck at it. (really, really) And have since spent around 6 hours drawing it out more fully. Since there were so many changes it took me awhile to finish the drawing despite the projecting. But, I am sure it still saved me another 6 hours of draw time. I have always drawn out all of my paintings. I think it makes them have or more me kind of feel to them. Plus it helps me to better see. But I really needed to get going on this, so I did it.

Here is a snapshot of the work so far, complete with a couple dozen reference photos and smeared oil pastel all over. (I am not terribly neat). It is kinda washed out but you get the idea. The photo that is almost touching the left side of the painting is my primary reference photo. Hard to make it out here. I will try to get it scanned and posted by the time I complete the painting.

Tomorrow is the big day. It is our first turkey of the season. And as such all 18lbs will be consumed at an alarming rate. The Christmas bird lasts much longer and occasionally some of it even gets frozen. But the first bird always gets devoured. On the farm, Thanksgiving (and Christmas for that matter) are days of celebration for everyone. The horse gets extra apples. The goose will get some celery (which he likes almost as much as watermelon) and our dog Cisco and Ollie the gallery cat will get some turkey. By the time it is all over, everyone will be laying around belching with their tummies pointed skyward. Ahhh, so much to be thankful for.

The barn cats get the large pot of fat drippings and skins and such. They smell it cooking and will all be lined up in the windows watching and waiting. The are so ramped up by the time I bring it out that they are a snarling pack of wild beasties. As I trip my way through the dozen or so rabid looking felines. I speak softly to myself, “Yeah, though I walk through the valley of death shadow … No that’s not it, through the shadow of death valley… Ummm, …damn, I used to know it! ”Occasionally I wonder if at some point they aren’t just going to climb me like a tree and take me down.