Vizsla and Dachshund and an Exhibition

Quite a few updates for today. First is a new exhibition of my work at the Bakla Java Cafe on E. Main Street in Pawling, NY. I have both horse and dog original art and prints available for purchase.
I have been busy painting dogs these days. These two both measure 6 x 6 inches and are acrylic on canvas board. I am concentrating on getting one small painting dne a day so theses are quick, loose sketches.
The first is a Viszla and is not quite finished I have a little bit more to do. But overall, I am satified that I have captured the essence of the breed




The second little painting is of a black and tan Dachshund. These are such darling little dogs! I have a few minor detail to complete on this around and in the eyes. I had my scanner warmed up so thought I would get them up for you folks to see. Both paintings are available for purchase for $35 each plus $5 Priority Mail shippng. Drop me an email if you are interested in owning them!

Have a great weekend!

Foal Painting & Hunter WIP

Another painting finished. I am really enjoying the process of doing a daily painting. This is another small piece measuring 8 x 10, acrylic on canvas board. Titled Morning Light it captures a foal lying down in the tall grass. This is a very familiar sight this time of year around these parts. I used a reference photo from the Wet Canvas ref library. This one is available for sale for $45 and includes Priority Mail shipping. To Purchase
And be sure to check out some of this weeks previous offerings.





In addition to this acrylic painting I have been working on a rather large (for me) watercolor of a hunter (horse). This measure 14 x 11. The support I am using here is Arches Cold Press paper. Not my favorite paper so I am giving it another chance to see if I like it. I do LOVE to paint on Arches Hot Press. It is a lovely super smooth surface and it just lets me push the paint around. Today I am posting WIP1 & 2 (WIP stands for Work In Progress). It is very much in the uglies stage at this point but we will push through! ☺
First glazes going down here. When I work with these watercolor horse paintings I need to lay down a very detailed sketch first. Watercolor is not very forgiving since so many of the pigments I like working with are very staining so they won’t lift very easily.



Starting to throw a better shape here. Patience and more patience. More WIPS tomorrow! Remember, all images are clickable for an enlarged view. Have a great one!

Border Collie Painting

Hitting the studio with gusto! Today's daily painting is a Border Collie. What About Me? is the title of this one. It depicts my most favorite breed of dog. This one really, really wants to come out to play but can't reach the latch! :) This one is a small 5 x7, acrylic on canvas panel. As always can pop into a standard size stock frame. This little gem is super affordable and can be yours for $35 and includes Priority Mail shipping! Purchase What About Me?

Flatwork Painting Completed

I have been laying really low these days so I apologize for my lack of updates. Been feeling icky with this Lyme disease. Here is the much delayed finish to the jumper painting. Titled Flatwork it measures 10 x 8 and is acrylic on canvas board. Check out the previous post for the story behind this piece of art. This one is available for sale. To purchase click the following and you will be directed to my website for a safe and secure transaction. Price is $80 and includes Priority Mail shipping and insurance. Purchase Flatwork

Jumper Schooling on the Flat WIP2

More on this little jumper painting. I had fully intended to finish this little painting last week but I wasn't feeling great. Those darn ticks got me again. I have Lyme...again... This is becoming my spring right of passage. Please, guys, check yourselves and your animals thoroughly for ticks after being in the great outdoors.
Okay, so back to this painting. When I first started out in horses I did the jumpers. I had a super Amateur Owner (A/O) horse named Mr CJ Bonkers. He was a super, super TB (ex racehorse) that I picked up cheap by paying his back board. His owner didn't want him anymore and he was just left in his stall for a couple of months when I found him. He was a very difficult, complicated spooky guy. But we clicked and we had a blast together. He was very accident prone..needed to be wrapped in bubble wrap....:) ..constantly getting stitches for this, cold hosed for that. He couldn't be tied and he spooked at everything when I first got him. His name was actually very appropriate! :) But this boy could jump and jump well and he was super fast. And I loved him dearly. We competed very successfully on the East Coast in the jumpers until I retired him at age 14 because of odd lameness issues that no vet could diagnose. Turns out he had LYME disease! Seeing a theme here? This was back in the early 80's before vets around here would routinely check for it. He was treated but never came 100% sound so he was lightly ridden, hunter paced, etc for fun .He loved to do stuff. He had an untimely, tragic death in a pasture accident at the age of 18 on Thanksgiving morning. He was an incredible boy. I am sure some of you have known a special horse like this. I'd love to hear about them!
So what,you may be thinking, does any of this have to do with this painting? The horse in the reference photo that I used for this could be his twin. So I will be using some of CJ's photos to complete this. I really will have this finished tonight.
This one is for those special horses. Let's hear about yours!

Jumper Painting

I just started this new painting of a jumper working on the flat this evening. I'm taking a little break so thought I would post the work in progress. I pretty much just blocked in the shapes here and will start to tighten things up a bit but not too much. I want to keep it loose and painterly. This measures 10 x 8 and is acrylic on canvas board. I apologize for the glare I took it with a flash but you can get the basic idea.
I listed a new quick sketch 5 x 7 painting yesterday in my Etsy store. It is a small acrylic sketch of an in- foal Gypsy Vanner from a reference photo from the Wet Canvas reference library. Painted on gessoed hardboard it can pop right into a stock frame and is ready for hanging. This is titled Gypsy Mama and is available for purchase for $25 plus Priority Mail shipping.
Click to purchase

Maplebrook Art Show

Saturday evenings art opening was a great success. Great people, fabulous artwork, wonderful food, big Derby hats and a thrilling race! When we arrived there was a brass band outside dressed up in red and white stripes. The first person I saw was equine photographer extraordinaire Juliet Harrison. She made a rosette out of film for her hat. Very clever! Be sure to check out her website to see her wonderful work. Juliet Harrison Photography

That's me on the left with my crazy Derby hat with Juliet on the right.

My derby hat. I found this hat in a consignment shop and then just stuffed it with fake flowers and rooster, turkey and Guinea Hen feathers. My roosters are not very happy! ;-)

Juliet with one her entries.

Two of my pieces on display.The painting Eyelashes depicts an inquisitive little foal.
Below that is Power & Lightness which I have previously done a WIP here on the blog.

Tilly Strauss is a wonderful local artist who participated in the show. I adore her work as I find it both whimsical and haunting. It can catch me off guard and make me think. There is something in her work that I can really relate to. Be sure to check out her website and blog.
Tilly Strauss Website
Tilly's Blog Showing Up For the Muse

The art show runs until June 7 and all artwork is available for sale. See link for details.
Maplebrook Art Show

Interview

I was interviewed about my art on Equinest. To read the full interview go here.

A reminder! Tomorrow is the Maplebrook Art Show Opening. Info in the previous post. I am looking forward to seeing some familiar faces!

I have been active on Twitter these days so why don't you hop on over and follow! To follow me go to @eponastudio. I offer a 20% discount on a first purchase of an original painting
to my Twitter followers. Be sure to notify me of your intent to purchase and your Twitter id so that I can send you an invoice with the reflected discount! Come join the fun!

I am off to the studio to paint. I have been selling well and need to make more art! Happy spring!

Power & Lightness

I think I am calling this watercolor done. Titled Power & Lightness it depicts a lovely stallion piaffing.
This is heading up to an art show next week and is available for sale. Matted, frammed and ready to hang for $650. I'll post the info when it becomes available.

Studio News- Art Events

The next couple of weeks will be pretty busy. So today's update will be event related. So mark your calendars! I am really looking forward to participating in these events.

ArtEast and Pawling Library Slide Slam
Friday, April 24, 2009
Pawling Library Annex
Broad Street
Pawling, NY

(845) 855-3444
Spend an entertaining and fun evening viewing the work of artists. Listen to what inspired each unique style.
Enjoy friendly conversation and refreshments with your fellow artist and art enthusiast.

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I am delighted to be exhibiting at the Maplebrook Show. I will post updates as they become available.

25th Annual Maplebrook Art Show & Sale
Opening Reception
May 2, 2009 5 pm
“Over Hill and Dale”
Art work will include a section representing the equestrian world, landscapes and other nature based themes and interpretations, especially those of our region and the greater Northeast.

This year’s show will coincide with and celebrate the running of the Kentucky Derby and feature a Derby theme at the opening including favorites such as mint juleps, big hats, and Kentucky celebratory foods, plus a viewing of the 135th annual race at Churchill Downs, “the most exciting two minutes in sports.”

Piaffing Dressage Horse WIP

I had a nice long session in the studio last night and I thought I would post the results of my watercolor painting. This is a WIP of a dressage horse piaffing (or trotting on the spot).. WIP stands for Work-In-Progress. I am at the stage where I will look at it for a couple of days and then I will make changes or additions. This is 10 x 8 on Arches Cold Press. I usually work on hot press but I thought I would give the cp a go. I found that I couldn't push the paint and water around as easily. I used a pretty limited palette of cobalt, ult. blue, yellow ochre, aliz crimson and Payne's grey then azo, sap green and black(for the greens). All images are clickable for an enlarged view.

I worked wet on wet on the background just dropping paint and pushing it around.


Just laying down glazes. Not sure how I wil finish the rider's face. I don't want much detail on his face. So this is one of the things I need to figure out..



Still laying in glazes and playing around with the colors..



This is where I have ended up. I am pretty happy with it so far. I need to work on the bridle, the horse's eye and the rider's face,shirt and boot. Then do some softening of the lines where the colors come together. I don't want to overwork this.

And as always it has no title so suggestions are most happily welcomed! Naming paintings is harder for me that painting them!

Updated Photos

I wanted to post some better photos of this dressage painting. The glare in the previous post was bothering me. I have also included some close-ups shots. I will listing this on my Etsy Store this evening so be sure to check it out! I will post the link tonight. This is unframed, price of $335 includes Priority Mail shipping + insurance. A payment plan is available for this one and all artwork over $100. See my Etsy Store for details.

Half Pass Dressage Painting

I had a super productive day in the studio today. I had the whole day to myself and I just got into the zone. I am calling this one done...theoretically speaking of course. I may find something that needs tweaking here or there. I struggled with this painting a bit because I went into it without a plan what-so-ever. This is a horse doing a half pass across the diagonal. This is a larger painting..refreshing for me since I have been doing so many small pieces lately. This is acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas and measures 18 x 14. It is available for sale! Time to do a new watercolor.. comments always welcome! The image has a bit of glare on it. I apologize for that. Don't forget that all images are clickable for an enlarged view!

WIP #2 Herding Border Collie Painting

Here is the next installment on this little Border Collie painting. I am working on the perspective trying to achieve the correct depth between the dog and the sheep. I am having a bit of time with the sheep due to poor reference photos! Does anyone have any good reference photos of sheep coming towards you that I could you use? Drop me a comment or an email at deborah@deborahosullivan.com I would be eternally grateful! :)Thanks!
This quite a bit more to be done on it. It is a small 10 x 8 acrylic on gessoed hardboard.

Herding Dog Art - A Work In Progress

The dog paintings are flowing off the paintbrush these days. This painting is a combination of images brought together. I am using my own ref photos of Ireland, my Border Collie herding and separate sheep photos. I brought them together to create this little painting. Keep in mind that this is very much a work in progress. Now that the mainn ideas are blocked in I will start to work on deepening the values to create depth and interest. I am fascinated with working Border Collies...and I am hoping to catch that fascination and excitement in this painting. This is a 10 x 8 acrylic on gessoed board. Image is clickable for an enlarged view!

Don't forget the March Studio Sale at my Etsy shop. Some really nice original pieces available at very affordable prices! Epona Etsy Shop

Another Border Collie Painting Completed

Boy, I have sure been going to the dogs lately! No worries though, finishing up a large dressage painting and have another smaller horse painting in the works. This watercolor is the final painting from the series of WIPS (Works In Progress) that I have posted here on the blog. Scroll down to see the painting come together. I am pretty much calling it done. It gets to sit about my studio for a bit where I may tweak it a bit here or there. In fact, I see a little something right now that needs to be tweaked! It's all in a days work. :-) This is 12 x 10 watercolor on Arches 140Hot Press, most favorite watercolor support. As always it is untitled! So ideas are welcome! Image is clickable for an enlarged view!

Celebrating Tess

I was organizing my computer and found some photos of Tess, my beautiful Border Collie, and me playing on the agility course. Next to herding sheep (and Guinea Hens) and playing ball.. agility is one of Tess's most enjoyed activities. She is intense super,super fast ( I have to work very hard to keep up on course and place myself strategically so she doesn't have to wait for me) and she just never stops smiling! So for fun I thought I'd post a few photos of us having some fun! For those of you who don't know about Tess. I got her from a Border Collie rescue here in the North East. With her previous owner she spent the first year of her life locked in a crate for most of the day because of her intensity level. I am incredibly lucky to have her. She is the most amazing dog, incredibly smart, trusting and just so much fun. She always makes me laugh. She is always so joyful..We can learn a thing or two from our dogs in that regards. So without further ado here is Tess and I having some fun!


Here I am trying to remember the course... she is so fast that I have to know exactly where I am going! There is no time to even think...Tess is rolling her eyes! I always get lost on course!



Case in point...the rocket is out of the tunnel......and where am I?



Tess up on the dog walk...I am staying with her here to try and get her to slow down a bit so she won't miss her contact on the ramp down.


Now she is supposed to be holding her stay her at the start of the course so I can get a nice big lead in. I can then send her and KEEP UP!! :-) However, if you look closely..Little Miss Let's Get On With This has her butt off the ground and is creeping to the first jump!



My happy girlie!



So there you have it!

I do have some updates from the art end of things. I received notification last week that 2 pieces of my horse art have been accepted for cover art for The Chronicle of The Horse magazine. I am very excited about that. I have also been invited to participate in an artist Slide Slam here in New York. There will 10 artists altogether and we each have 10 minutes to show slides of our work and (lord help me) talk about the art... I hate public speaking... Other that that I really don't know what to expect and will know more when we do a trial run through. If any of you folks have ever done or been to a Slide Slam can you pop me a comment and let me know more about them? Off to the studio to earn a living! Enjoy!

Some more paintings

Last night's painting session has resulted in this Border Collie playing in the water. I really enjoyed painting this one. This is an 8 x 10 acrylic on gessoed hardboard.
I have also enjoyed the reasonably warm weather and took my pochade out and did a small plein air painting. This is our barn painted from the driveway...still cold..stil some snow. I really enjoy painting outside. This one is a small 5 x7 ,acrylics on canvas panel.

Dressaeg Work In Progress

I am posting several images of the progression of this acrylic Dressage painting. I went into this painting without any sort of plan what so ever. Not a good idea...it has gone through many changes and has been a bit of a compositional challenge. I need to get rid of that low fence line..I have added a planter of flowers to break up the line... I need to stare at it for a while. You never know where this one will end up! I welcome discussion or thoughts on where to go compositionaly on this! All images are clickable for an enlarged view

March Studio Sale!

Time to think spring and take stock of my studio inventory and make room for my new paintings. So now is your chance to take advantage and get the piece you have your eye on! I offered several pieces of ORIGINAL artwork for sale for the month of March in my Etsy store! Feel free to make offers AND I offer a layaway plan offer artwork with price tags over $100. Details at my shop site! My store is at Epona Studio

I am also very excited to announce that I heave been invited to join the Etsy Whoa Horse Artist Group. Whoa Blog

Foal Painting

I want to give a warm thanks to all of the folks who have purchased my artwork and for the emails of kind praise . Thank you for helping me stay in business and appreciating the art that I so lovingly create. It is much appreciated! In these tough economic times I will be offering a lot more small, affordable works so that you may have the opportunity to purchase an original piece of artwork at an affordable cost. Nothing brightens your wall better than an original painting that touches your heart.
I completed this painting last evening. Here an adorable foal sketch done in acrylics. I just love his long eyelashes! This a 10 x 8 gem done on canvas panel. It is ready to pop into a stock frame and hang on your wall. As always title suggestions are welcome!! Available for purchase. Click here to purchase .

Border Collie Puppy update

I have put some more painting time into this so time for a new update. I have added quite few more glazes of Ult Blue, Perm Alizarian Crimson and Davey's Grey. I am trying to find the darks and balance at this point. I have a ratty old brush that I use to do fur. I need to do bit of lifting next and some more glazes on the nose for the next step. I am pretty happy with this so far. Watercolor, 14 x 11 on Arches Hot Press

Playing with my paints!

I homeschool my son with a Waldorf style curriculum and we do a lot of watercolor painting. So yesterday I joined him in one of his wet-on-wet projects and just played with my watercolors. This was unbelievably freeing (and fun)! I didn't know where it was going but out of the mingling colors I found interesting shapes and themes that are very familiar to me. This quite large..18 x 24...I usually work 11 x 16 or smaller. If you have been stuck or used to working in a certain way I highly recommend trying something like this and just letting loose. It was quite intimidating at first! I had no plan.... just a jar of water, a big sheet of white paper and a big brush..... untitled, M Graham watercolors on Arches CP paper. It is a bit washed out from the flash. I apologize for that. The colors are much more vibrant and brilliant IRL.

New Border Collie Painting WIP

I have been doing so much acrylic work lately that I've been itching to get back to my watercolors. WC's are my most favorite medium and I particularly enjoying painting dogs with them. This posted image is my latest effort. I found this really cute BC pup in the Wet Canvas reference library. I am using a very limited palette for this painting..6 colors. Aliz. Crimson, Yellow Ochre, Cobalt, Payne's Grey, Indigo and Gamboge. This is the early stages of many glazes. I work wet on wet at this point just buillding up layers, mixing color on the paper and pushing the paint around. I just get in the zone, listening to Jack Johnson and playing with my watercolors! No title as of yet so I would love some suggestions. I am really bad at coming up with titles!:-)
This painting measures 14 x 11 on Arches Hot Press, M Grahams.

Tess, my Border Collie

This one was so much fun to paint. I have a GREAT photo of my Border Collie, Tess, that has a bit of distortion and makes her nose big! I decided to run with it and paint this because it just captures her with her most delightful smile. I need to brighten the whites on the top of head a bit more but it is pretty much done. Tess can almost always be found with me, involved with whatever I happen to be doing or not doing! She is my best girl. This one is not for sale...it will be hanging up in my studio. Need a title for this... so comments welcomed! This is acrylic, 8 x10 on masonite panel.

I have 4 more paintings that are almost finished so I will getting those posted this week. But now I am going make my way down (across the ice) to the barn,feed the chickens and get the locked up for the night before Mr. Fox pays a visit!