Some of you may be familiar with my “daily doodles”. Each morning I try to whip up some sort of drawing in pen and ink, pencil, charcoal or sometimes with a little pastel color in there. The idea is that I do something spontaneous. It’s turned into a sort of meditation for me. It’s very relaxing and it starts my day on a creative note. I encourage anyone to give it a try!
So on the weekend I sat down and did this little doodle and it turned into one of those things that just starts to grow on you. It’s a magical feeling when images start to appear in front of you as if your hand is just a vehicle to let this thing out!
Daily Doodle 3-18-18
Before I knew it, I was pulling out a piece of very heavy canvas which I had prepped for a floorcloth project. Don’t ask me why I thought heavy canvas was a good idea, but it was nice and big, so I went for it! I transposed the lines onto the canvas and started painting the riders.
I usually have a lot of trouble with faces, but these guys were quite cooperative! I much prefer painting horse heads than people heads!
Then I went on to paint the horses. After many hours of listening to tunes and (admittedly) the news(ugh!), I was ready to move on to the hounds.
Last night I completed these and now I’m where you see at the top of the page.
The big question now is: Is it done? Part of me wants to put a soft background in there, but part of me likes the stark whiteness. Maybe just a shadow or two under the horses’ and hounds’ feet. Or maybe some foggy trees in the background, like they’re coming out of the mist. Or maybe I just STOP!
I’d love to hear what you think!
I have read all the comments. This is soooo unusual for you and so breathtaking in it’s simplicity. I love the movement of the horses feet.
Leave it as is and see if after a bit it speaks for more.
Lisa
I love seeing your weeks every week. Some distant hills with trees and coups they have just left behind them would be another idea. But as always it looks beautiful as is.
I love this piece and a perspective I haven’t seen in your earlier works. I can imagine it was very exciting to see it unfold! Although I like the starkness, a suggestion of green would add warmth, and shadow would add gravity. With the dogs in the painting, I think a subtle background and below ground would tie the elements together. If it were the three riders alone, as in the last image above, they could stand majestically on their own. So do this again sometime! It’s lovely and provocative.
Dear Lisa,
I like your work. I would put in a subdued background.
Genie Belletete
What’s there is wonderful, but for me I’d like some sod for them to stand on (at least), and then some sky and trees in the background would finish it off.
Stunning!
Thanks for sharing your talent with the rest of us.
All of your work is beautiful! What a talent you have Lisa! IMHO, This piece cries out for some type of backround, though..
Hope you are not getting clobbered by this “FOUR’EASTER” as they are calling it in NJ! 4th nor’easter in 3 weeks!!
Take care!
Lisa,
You are a very talented artist. The faces are perfect. Don’t you love it when your project evolves before you and you don’t even know how or where it comes from? Like the idea of trees JUST BARELY in the background…almost frames the scene. But then again, I like it as is…keeps the focus on the main subjects.
Jerry (a.k.a. Jerome Thomas)