Smooth and Supple

'Smooth and Supple' 

5 x 7 inches oil on panel

$100 plus $7 US shipping/$15 International

Hello??? Anyone still out there?? It's me Crystal. You know, that crazy, geeked out girl who used to paint a lot? :D 

Yes, I've been gone a while haven't I? Weird. Life has been crazy hectic lately, we just put our house up for sale so the last few months has been a blur of packing and cleaning, organizing, and everything else that needs to be done to get your house ready for perfect strangers to walk through it and go into a crazy amount of debt to buy it. ;) 

I also have been busy with commission work, that's taken all my focus away from daily painting. But I am going to try, really hard, to try to post a new painting or drawing once a week. I feel like that's all I can manage right now, but I recognize that I NEED to do something. Or at least. . . a work in progress post once a week so you guys don't completely forget about me. :) 

This horse could count for 'J' in my alphabet series had I not cropped out his legs and body. Because he's actually jumping in the air. 

I also have broken quite a few compositional rules with this one. But I don't care. I LOVE this painting. And breaking rules is sort of a job requirement for artists. We're rebels at heart. ;) See you next week everybody! Thanks to all of you for checking in with me! Hugs to all of you, and virtual cupcakes too. 

Listening to: Pinback

Reading: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Watching: Revolution

Snacking on: Chips and salssa

Drinking: Dirty Diet Coke's as often as I can get them (the best thing ever and totally bad for you but well. . . see above about rebels and such)

Reference photo by Deidre T on deviantART, thank you! 

Sun Spots ACEO SOLD

'Sun Spots'  Andalusian stallion

ACEO (2.5 x 3.5 inches) 

watercolor on paper SOLD

“The horse, with beauty unsurpassed, strength immeasurable and grace unlike any other, still remains humble enough to carry a man upon his back.”
― Amber Senti

  

Last night my husband and son's went to a father and son's camp out put on by our church. So I had the whole house to myself. All. Night. Long. I think this has happened about three times in the whole time we've been married. It was very. . . lonely. Although it was nice to not have to share my red vines and peppermint patties with anyone and not hear complaints about having to watch the latest Vampire Diaries. Heh heh. ;) But I would have willingly shared them to have them home. 

I did a lot of drawing for future watercolor paintings and then did this little ACEO to ease myself back into watercolor painting. That's what I told myself anyway, but when I started painting it was like I had never left. It didn't feel unfamiliar at all. Like welcoming an old friend home after a long trip abroad.

Although there was one bad piece of news that happened right before the boys left. Our dog Chauncy had been limping all day and then his front paw started to swell up HUGELY, so I took him to the vet and he's now resting and on antibiotics for a blood blister and infection in his paw. The vet says he'll be fine, but Chauncy is not happy about this. 

*pouting because mom is making me wear this stupid bandage on my paw so I can't lick it. Better than the cone of shame I guess. . . SQUIRREL! Too bad I can't chase it*

See you Monday my friends, enjoy your weekend! 

Reference photo, with thanks, by Deidre T on deviantART.

Vitality - Not for sale

'Vitality' 

5 x 7 inches oil on panel

not available 

Earlier this year I met an amazingly talented artist on deviantART, Amanda Drage. We became online friends, following the art each other made, and one day she mentioned doing a piece of art as a trade for another artist. I quickly commented "I wanna trade too!!" (because I'm subtle and tactful like that). So we decided to do it. We each painted a 5 x 7 oil of a horse (a subject we both love) for each other and here's mine for Amanda. :) You can see the one she painted for me here. Isn't it lovely? I can hardly wait to get it.

In other news, I was very pleasantly surprised to be featured on FASO Featured Artists blog series. :D You can check out what they have to say about me right here.

See you tomorrow everyone!

Eat some chocolate for me okay? ;)

Reference photo by Vikarus on deviantART. 

In Flight - Andalusian Horse - SOLD

'In Flight - Andalusian horse' SOLD

6" x 8" graphite on bristol paper

A horse gallops with his lungs,
Perseveres with his heart,
And wins with his character.
- Tesio 

Why yes I was waiting in the car yesterday for my boys. Why do you ask?? Getting lots of drawing time in and it's awesome. :) Also my Kindle is now full of games to keep littlest Cook occupied while in the car so he's not bored either. Good times. 

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

P.S. this is the very same Andalusian stallion from my previous drawing 'Without Wings'

Reference photo by venomxbaby on deviantART, thank you!  

Beauty - Andalusian horse - SOLD

'Beauty - Andalusian horse'  SOLD

5 x 7 inch oil on panel

Admittedly, 'Beauty', isn't that much of an original title for a painting of a horse, but that's the thought that kept coming back to me as I was painting him. He  is a beauty. Absolutely beautiful. 

Sometimes when I'm painting I get in the zone and once I'm done I don't remember much of the actual process. I don't know if this is a result of painting a lot, much like driving a car,  how you forget about mundane things like turning on your blinker, and pushing the gas to go, or if it's something else, something deeper. That I'm lost in the creative act so much that I tune everything else out maybe? 

In any case, I do remember the painting process of this one very vividly. I remember it being so enjoyable, so fun. And I remember being absolutely amazed at seeing this beautiful horse's face emerge from a blank piece of masonite board.  Amazed that I actually did that!

This convinces me that I SHOULD keep oil painting in addition to my watercolors. There was so much joy in discovery while painting this and I want to experience that again. And I'm also really happy with the realism I achieved here, which has proved pretty elusive at times with oils for me. 

I feel like this 30 day challenge has made me realize some things about myself and my art. It's been really good for me. But I'll save what I've learned for another blog post. I've rambled on enough for today, just one more thing. . . 

Me and my little family went for a drive in the country the other day. I brought my camera, hoping to find something that caught my eye, and heart, to paint. I saw this guy, crouched in a field, tearing at his dinner still clutched in his talons (blegh). When I got out of the car he flew away but I managed to take this pic before he left. I don't know if I'll paint him or not, but it was a pretty awesome sight to see. :) 

This is painting 17/30 in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

Reference photo by Just Chaos, thank you!

By Moonlight, Andalusian horse, and the best gift I've ever received

'By Moonlight'

8" x 10" oil on gesso board

$100 plus $10 US shipping, or $15 International

 “Moonlight drowns out all but the brightest stars.”
― J.R.R. Tolkein    

When I started painting this horse I knew that I wanted him to look as though he was running by moonlight. I love the imagery of a white horse running through a dark field at night. Probably one of my leftover imaginings from when I was a horse crazy little girl.

After I had painted this I went to look for a quote about the moon, or moonlight and there were a lot of great ones to choose from. But when I saw this one I knew this was it. Because it's Tolkein, of course, and because this horse reminds me of Shadowfax. I thought it was fitting. :)  Reference photo by Seed of Beauty on deviantART, thank you!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! We had a great one and spent the day playing with new toys and games and eating too much Christmas candy (or maybe that was just me, tee hee).

And before I go I have to show you this amazing gift my husband and boys made me.

Brodie had the boys draw the first initial of their name and then carve it into some jeweler's wax, then he sent it to a jeweler to have it cast in silver. I had seen something similar online a few months ago, where the mother had a piece of jewelry that was her child's actual handwriting, and told him how much I loved that idea.

It is priceless to me. I couldn't stop sobbing when I saw what it was. I will cherish it always.

I seem to always have two conflicting feelings about motherhood, mostly I feel joy that I get to be a part of these sweet little people's life and watch all the new stuff they do, applaud their accomplishments, and watch them grow day by day. But there's also a feeling of mourning the stages they've left behind. No more babies to rock into the night. No more toddling fingers reaching for mine. So, to receive a gift like this, that captures them exactly, right now, means more to me than anything.

I love it. I love my family. I thank God for them every day.

Just wanted to share that with you. :)

Enjoy your day everyone, and stay safe in all this snow (for those of you who are getting it)!