Borrowed Horse
30 x 40” oil on linen
I just finished this piece and, unlike many pieces that I’ve painted, it feels done. I will not be tinkering and tweaking. Probably.
Working from a photo has a way of making me very literal so I spent my time squinting and trying to hold onto my concept. I wasn’t painting specific children or a particular horse, I was painting the idea of children and horses and that magical feeling of sitting on a big, gentle animal and trusting that it won’t hurl you to the ground and stomp on you. We’ve all felt that, I’m sure:)
My sister and 2 brothers on a headless horse, many years ago
I took progress shots along the way and this piece spent a lot of time on the shelf while I considered next moves. Here are a few of the stages that it went through.
Finding my way in. I never draw first, but am always adjusting the
drawing as I work, thinking in shapes, not lines.
Focusing on the faces and trying to see them just as shadow and light. Likeness didn't matter. What I'm trying to convey is universal and a specific likeness would
ruin that feeling.
I decided that the trees had to go. I prefer the mood of optimism and light in this pale shape behind the figures.
Moving colour through the composition. Everything is too high chroma but I’m not dwelling on it or editing as I go. It’s better to go too far and then pull it back than to be too timid.
Almost there, but now if felt dull. I used complements to lower the chroma in several areas and stopped to let this version rest for a while.
On a sunny day, I suddenly realized that it was missing sunshine. This is a summertime image as most memories from childhood are, and I needed to make that clear. I hit the colour harder on the light-struck planes of the horse and caught a few crisp, rich darks here and there to make if feel lighter overall.
The finished version is a joyful memory - despite the fact that I didn't exist at the time the photo was taken. I've grown up with this photo and have created a false memory of it, one in which I was there, too. And it was a grand day!
Happy painting!
Hi Ingrid! this is a nice site. The photos are large and it looks great.