Clyde & Lockkeeper
Posted By Carrie L. Lewis on December 21, 2009
The studio year is rapidly winding down. In my final days for 2009, I’m working on two portraits.
I’m still working on the background for Lockkeeper. I have to say after today’s work that it’s more a matter of holding ground than gaining territory. I repainted the sky to lighten it and added a few clouds, hoping the lighter value would improve the over all look and feel of the painting without having to totally repaint the sky.
I also repainted the most distant trees.
I’m not sure either improved the painting very much, but I am working on it and there are days when that’s accomplishing quite a bit!
On the other side of the coin is the portrait of Clyde.
Clyde’s portrait entered the painting phase at the beginning of last week and by the end of last week, I had almost the entire panel (20×24) covered with the initial layer of dead layer colors.
Clyde was a big bruiser of a horse. A Clydesdale – Thoroughbred cross used for dressage. I didn’t get to see him in person, but have seen videos of him in the practice ring and was quite impressed.
That bold head carriage and big blaze have been a delight to work with so far.
I was hoping to put more work into the portrait today, but Saturday’s work was still wet and the painting is too large to try to work around or over the wet areas. So it rested for the day. I’ll check it again tomorrow. My goal is to have the first level of the dead layer done by the end of the day on Wednesday.
When I end the work day Wednesday, I’ll also end the work year in the studio. It hardly seems possible, but another painting year is just about gone.
And another about to begin, Lord willing!
I am a self-taught artist for the most part. Lots of trial and error in the past forty years! Formal art training consists of a couple of years of high school art, a painting class at a community college, one semester in the Fine Arts program at Abilene Christian University and a couple of local workshops.
I am always looking for ways to better my artistic skills, so I am a permanent student in the School of Trial and Error. I love reading and have been known to spend hours online researching materials and techniques. As a result, I've painted in several different styles, including the direct method (which goes straight for the color) and Classical methods (which involves underpaintings, layering and glazing).
I have exhibited paintings in locations such as Lone Star Park Race Track, Grand Prairie, Texas and Remington Park Race Track, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Since the early 90s, I've worked with the Michigan Harness Horseman's Association, donating custom portraits to their annual benefit auction.
In the course of maintaining a growing art business, I have taught myself web design (a skill that will no doubt prove to be a continual learning experience).
I also enjoy puttering around the yard, chasing trains with my husband, Neal, travel and, of course, looking at horses whenever they appear on my horizon.
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