Keyodee Star
Posted By Carrie L. Lewis on July 21, 2010
16″x20″
Oil on Oil Primed Linen Canvas on Baltic Birch
This is Keyodee Star, my latest portrait.
Odee, as he is affectionately known around the stable, is a Michigan bred Standardbred. The day the photograph was taken upon which this portrait is based, he was at Midland, Michigan. He finished a close second at, but was overtaken in the final yards after leading most of the race.
But his performance that year (2009) was good enough to make him State Champion for 2009 based on earnings.
The portrait was purchased at the 2009 Michigan Harness Horseman’s Association Benefit Art Auction. It was created using the Flemish technique. This technique involves a series of layers beginning with a detailed drawing fixed in India ink on the canvas and progresses through a toning layer, an umber layer, a dead layer, a color layer, and a detail layer.
This is the best example of the Flemish technique to come out of my studio since I began learning the technique. My personal opinion is that it’s the best portrait I’ve ever created.
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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