When I am about to paint, I have a process I usually use. After I have decided what the subject is going to be, I go about finding an image to inspire and guide me. I usually work from photographs. I enjoy that a photo will stay the same. The light won’t change; the subject’s position won’t change; the colors will stay consistent. With today’s Smart Phones, I can gather images throughout my day. Sometimes when I can’t decide what I’d like to paint, I’ll just scroll through my phone images.

With horses, I have found that video clips are a wonderful tool. I can scroll through a video clip and stop it anywhere so I can create a sketch.

So here’s the video which gave me the idea for a sketch::
When I found a frame I liked I used it for reference and created this pen and ink sketch:

This sketch rolled right onto the page. Kate was talking to me from that video clip and I felt like I had captured the essence of her happiness. Her gleeful romp in the soft arena after a day of standing on hard snow and frozen ground.

Sometimes these sketches just happen very easily and then I can’t wait to paint it.

I don’t know why, but I wanted this one to be big. I gave myself 1/2 an hour to paint it. Three colors and big brushes only! I found a big 4’x5′ piece of primed #4 canvas and clamped it to a board and set it up against my wall.

This is what happened in that 1/2 hour:

I was happy with the looseness and the “sketchiness” of this, and I let this stand there and look at me for a week. After lots of looking, and noticing that the eyes weren’t quite right and her butt was too high and her ears were too big, I decided to go back at it and paint over it. I still made myself work quickly. I didn’t want to get too caught up in the details. My mission was to capture the spirit of my girl.

So after another hour or so I had completed this portrait of Kate. It’s a study of her and it’s an expression of my love for her. These paintings are so much fun. I hope you’ve enjoyed the process.