"Belle" oil on canvas, 36 x 36 in.
You are looking into this horse's soul. This is another foray in to these large-scale paintings, and the composition of this one makes it the first one that is actually larger than life size. Belle is a mare that I hardly know at all...I photographed her on a visit to the stable where I used to work, and she was just looking over the fence in a way that made the shadows fall over her face in an interesting way. I think she must be a kind, gentle mare, from the soft look in her eye.
"Controlled" oil on canvas, 48 x 36 in.
"Controlled" is a look at the harmony between horse and rider. This horse is not straining against the bit, there is no tension, just perfect acceptance of the rider's cues. He's cantering between jumps and his rider is probably rating his strides to the next fence. A glossy bay thoroughbred on a sunny, late-summer day brings out the sharp lines of the shadows, the crisp highlight on the nostral, the soft highlights on polished leather. The light greenish yellow of the background evokes the color of dried-out late-summer grass, while complimenting the reds in the horse's coat.
