'Sir Barrington' sold
61/2" x 8" watercolor
private commission
I absolutely fell in love with this big beautiful horse. He is so powerful, and just gorgeous! He is a beautiful example of a Gypsy horse stallion owned by Sue Niesen of Gypsy Lane Horses.
I'm working on incorporating more emotive (?? for lack of a better word) backgrounds in my paintings that really complement the subject. I don't want to get into super detailed backgrounds at this point (or. . . ever if I'm being honest) but I want the background to contribute to the feeling I want to convey with each painting. At least, that's how I hope it's coming across!
In other news, I am at home with a sick boy today. There is much juice drinking and Lego building going on here. Only been in school a week and already he's sick! It's nothing serious, just a cold that then lead to an ear infection which always makes me paranoid since my son has unilateral hearing (he only has hearing in one of his ears, he was born with it).
So every time he gets sick I usually run him to the doctor, just to make sure all is well with his ears. And wouldn't you know it, when I took him in today the doctor said he had an ear infection! Just as I suspected. Mothers know all I tell ya. :)
While waiting for his prescription to be filled at the pharmacy we stopped at a local bakery and got these cute owl cookies. Because everyone knows when you're a kid and you're sick your mother should spoil you. Right? Right. ;)
Have a great week everyone! Huzzah!
Mother ALWAYS knows best. (I love to sing the Tangled song to my kids so they don't forget it, haha) Hope your little guy feels better ASAP!
ReplyDeleteI haven't done any art in ... well, it's been years now... but after seeing one of your gorgeous paintings this AM on FB, I took a nap, and dreamed I got back into it, and was making equestrian art. haha
Oh I am SO goint to sing the Tangled song from now on! And my guy's doing lots better thank you. You should get back into art! But I feel the same way about writing, I haven't written forever. :(
DeleteOkay, so I got back into art (really!! I made a sketch just today!)......
DeleteNow YOU should get back into writing :)
Also, are you familiar with the watercolorist (is that the term? idk) Sibil Graber Gerig? Her illustration in the Worry Stone by Marianna Dengler inspired me to try watercolors back in high school - AND inspired my dream to write books for kids. Your artwork, in a children's book you wrote???! I'd die of happiness, and buy it in a heartbeat.
Ahh, poor little chap. I do hope he's feeling much better tomorrow and I'm glad Mummy is spoiling him with cookies. There's nothing quite as accurate as a Mothers instinct :0)
ReplyDeleteWow - that horse is absolutely gorgeous! Well of course it would be ;0)
I find background to be tricky. It's a balance between too detailed so they take over the subject, or not detailed enough!
I'm posting my latest bear tomorrow. This time the background is much more subtle. I think it works for the little bear :0)
Oh thanks Sandra! He is doing much better thank you. :) Backgrounds are difficult, I've always struggled with them, which is probably one reason why I focus on the face so much. ;) But I think yours look lovely with your bears.
Deleteabsolutely need those owl cookies and lots of spoiling when sick, it's a requirement! Love this piece, and love what you're doing with the backgrounds, nothing that competes with your focal point, but it does have a feel of vibrant life to it.
ReplyDeleteYes spoiling when sick is required! :) THank you very much Bren, I really value your opinion. :D
DeleteThis stallion is amazing Crystal, and the background really helps show off his strength and power. And I hope your son feels better soon :) Cookies are the best medicine, (in my opinion!)
ReplyDeleteThank you Maria! He is a beautiful horse, great models are easy to paint right? And I agree about cookie medicine. :)
DeleteIt is a lovely horse indeed and it is a lovely painting as usual.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Roger. :)
DeleteAbsolutely! Spoil the sick boy. Building with Legos is an artform. I know, I have a son who built fabulous structures that worked. Whe I mentioned that at his school once; "they" disagreed with me. Old fuddy duddies with no imagination.
ReplyDeleteThe horse is wonderful. I love the sheen you got on his glorious coat and how you underplayed, but told us all about the bbackground.
Linda thank you! And I would have been frustrated with those teachers! Old fuddy duddies indeed. :)
DeleteWonderful horse and love the background
ReplyDeleteThank you Sharon!
DeleteI hope your little one gets well soon! Once they go to school..that's it! they play pass the cold and infections...but that's the way it is...however, cookies work so well, Mom!! I can see why this painting was sold...beautiful piece, Crystal.!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Hilda! It is so true about school, one giant petri dish isn't it? :)
DeleteHi, Crystal,
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your sale! The work is very eye pleasant. Ah, you, mom and your boy's story is very heart warming. Heartily hope he will get well soon from the sickness and also live confidently as what/who he is.
Best wishes, Sadami
Thanks Sadami! My boy is much better thank you!
DeleteThose Owl coockies are AWESOME. Just love them. :)
ReplyDeleteI am appreciating those coocies because I am really have no words left in my vocabulary for your paintings.
You ROCK..
Aww thanks Prabal! I loved them too! Although they were not as delicious as they looked, I ate part of one my boy didn't want. :)
Deletethe horse is fabulous.. sorry to hear your son is not well, I hope the cookies cheered him up :) They would me- ha!
ReplyDeleteOh thank you Pat! Cookies cheer me up too~!
DeleteLovely painting. No wonder its sold even before its posted. The background complements it just right! I hope your son loved the cookies. Are the eyes made of chocolate?
ReplyDeleteThanks Vinayak! It was a commission and the owner really liked it so I was happy about that. :) Yes the eyes are chocolate chips, cool huh? :)
DeleteThose horses do resemble gypsies with that flowing mane, don't they? Beautifully done,Crystal, as always. Hope the little guy is better.
ReplyDeleteThey do don't they Carol? Thank you very much, he is doing much better, bouncing off the walls in fact.
DeleteMy compliments to both artist and Sir Barrington, he's absolutely gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteI wish your little boy to get well soon! And by all means, do spoil him; I'm going back home to visit my family and though -ahem- am not little I can't wait for some spoiling mothers can do sooo well :) And she knows it, because mothers DO know it all!
Warm regards.
Thank you Konsstantina! And I go home to - ahem - get spoiled by my mother too. He he. :)
Deletehi crystal! your work takes my breath away. i'm just overwhelmed by your strong shapes and use of color. astounding!
ReplyDeleteand thank you so much for your kind words on my blog. i'm glad i shared that i saw the medium. i can't put into words how the experience felt. i so appreciate your thoughts, they help more than you can know.
Oh thank you so much Suze! That is high praise, really thank you. :) And you are so welcome my friend, I think about you often and hope you're doing well, or as well as you can be. I'm glad the medium helped. :)
DeleteP.S. i hope the little one is feeling better.
ReplyDeleteHe is doing better, thanks Suze. :)
DeleteGo on, convince me you didn't eat an owl!
ReplyDeleteWonderful picture ... he has a certain look of arrogance about him...and why not? looking the way he does. I like the background btw, it really works.
Beautiful work, Guvvna!
Well not a whole owl, just the bottom part my son didn't want! LOL!! Thank you John, yes he does seem to hae a bit of arrogance doesn't he? Ta ta Guvvna!! :D
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