Before the Ride oil on birch panel 9 x 12″ unframed but ready to hang $200
This pasture with its rolling hills is a spot where I’ve wanted to paint for some time. The forecast was for nice weather too. I set up behind a barn and started in. Some horses appeared in the distance so I grabbed the camera and got a quick reference shot in the minute before they started galloping around. Then after I’d gotten past the point of no return with the painting some riders arrived. My umbrella spooked the horses so much I finally had to move my easel so they could be coaxed into the barn. Once the riders were on their way and I’d settled back in ominous clouds appeared. I was sure I was once more going to be caught in a downpour but I couldn’t stop putting one more touch and then one more on the painting. Happily, the dark clouds moved off, followed by some beautiful bright ones. Finally, when I was leaving, I somehow managed to hit a stone wall, knocking off a non-essential piece of the car. Oh well, in spite of the complications I was pretty pleased with the painting. I of course added the horses in the studio. They were so tiny in the distance I had a hard time suggesting their forms.
