One of my advisors suggested a few months ago that I should “draw every day”. At the time I thought that was a little silly. I always draw. A design for a mural. A layout for a floorcloth. A Christmas card. You know. All kinds of things. Well, he gave me a little (like 2″x4″) sketchbook and said, “Just draw what’s in your head…” So I did. I started on September 29th. I sipped my coffee after breakfast and doodled a little picture of what used to be the milk house of our barn’s dairy operation, long before we moved here.
9-27-17
After that, I continued to draw these little pen and ink sketches as many mornings as possible. And what I soon realized is that my drawing was freeing up! I don’t worry so much about how it’s going to “come out”, but enjoy the process instead. I’ll start with an idea and build on it. Sometimes it ends up not at all as planned, but that’s half the fun.
If I like the sketch enough I might consider turning it into a full painting. It stays there in my little sketch book. I post it on Facebook and Instagram to let others see what I’m doing. Now I’ve created this blog to show visitors to my website what I’m doing. Some of the drawings aren’t very exciting or I hadn’t had enough coffee, or I was just preoccupied with some other “must do” for the day. I am finding, however, that like so many good habits, I feel a bit slighted if I don’t have a chance to do it.
Each one only takes 15 minutes to half an hour. I try not to worry about the time. I hope you enjoy these as much as I enjoy creating them! I may make some of my favorites into cards which I will offer for sale. I’ll keep you posted here. Please feel free to share the link to this page with anyone you think might be interested. Please note that all images are copyright protected. Matted prints of each Daily Doodle are available. Mat size is 8″ x 10″ and drawing size is 4.5″ x 6.5″. Prints are $75 plus $10 s&h. Contact the studio with the desired print name and an invoice will be sent to you.
Please join me to receive my “Daily Doodles”!
Daily Horse Paintings Week 3
These are the daily horse paintings I did the week of Jan 24-30, 2024. Contact the studio if you'd like to know more about any of them. Which is your favorite? Please feel free to comment below! Click on any image to see the full photo.
Abner
Oh, Abner!
Halt 8-20-18
peaceful, somehow
Blackberries 8-15-18
Prickly. Yes.
Blueberries 8-13-18
I have one blueberry bush in my front yard.
Stretchy Trotting 8-10-18
I’m off to a lesson with Kate today.
Whale Tail 8-9-18
The humpback whales out in Nova Scotia’s Bay of Fundy.
Brier Island 8-8-18
This fishing boat was resting next to this old fish house and made a nice composition.
Beach Roses 8-6-18
I felt the urge to paint a rock
Chebogue 8-4-18
On the south western tip of Nova Scotia there's a little place called Chebogue. We hike out there to a little island where we go clamming and fly-swatting. It's a magical place and feels almost like it's not real. Moss hangs off the trees, black mud oozes up through...
Our Pond 7-26-18
The view out my studio window this morning. Very peaceful.
Hare 7-25-18
Just a little guy out on the lawn.
Kate 7-23-18
Yesterday I took Kate to a schooling dressage show to act as a warm up for GMHA's biggest dressage show of the year next weekend. This horse is so nice to work with at a show. She absolutely loves being on the grounds and showing off. She is a giant golden retriever...
Cross Country 7-19-18
Out on the cross country course
Braebirch 7-18-18
"Braebirch" is the name of my family's summer cottage in Nova Scotia. We have gone there in the summer since I was a tiny thing. The last time I was there was in 2015 and I'm itching to get back soon. It's one of those places where peace greets you at the driveway....
Lake Ninevah 2 7-17-18
Sometimes you just have to go back and try again. This painting is much more what I was looking for in representing the peacefulness and beauty of the lake. I googled Lake Ninevah and found a photo of it in winter that gave me the perspective I wanted. It's funny. The...
Kate & Pepe 7-13-18
These two are the best of friends.
Pounce! 7-12-18
Today’s little fox is pouncing on an unsuspecting critter in the grass.
Weathersfield Center Meeting House 7-11-18
This building sits on a hill with Mount Ascutney quietly resting behind it.
Piaffe 7-10-18
This movement is called a “piaffe”
Like Parrish 7-9-18
It couldn’t possibly look like that!
Three’s Company 7-6-18
These three are coming at you!
20 Stroke Pirouette 7-4-18
The final horse took about 20 strokes.
Chestnut & Gentleman 7-3-18
Apparently this guy lost his hound.
Lady, Gray & Hound 7-2-18
This lady is just casually out for a ride with her hound.
Rainy Day Fox 6-28-18
I felt like painting another little fox and decided to make him be in the dim light of today’s weather.
Gray on Gray 6-27-18
I never quite know what’s going to happen when I paint these little things.
Abner 6-26-18
Abner is one of my two mini donkeys. They really are adorable and frequently strike a pose for me!
Study of J.F. Herring 6-25-18
I find the best way to study a painting and to really learn from it is to attempt painting it. And doing it on a small scale (this one is 3"x3") forces me to simplify. A solid composition will translate to the mini scale, so then it's a matter of looking at the...
Remembering the Cotswolds 6-22-18
Rolling hills, sheep pastures and stone walls.
1-25-28 Snow Play
1-24-18 Run Rollie Run
1-23-18 Vermont Farm
1-22-18 Kate & Geese
1-20-18 Morning Chores
1-19-18 Communication
1-18-18 coffee cup
1-18-18 Coffee Cup
1-17-18 Two Hounds
1-17-18 Two Hounds
1-16-18 Four in Hand
1-16-18 Four in Hand
1-15-18 Winter in Vermont
1-15-18 Winter in Vermont
1-13-18 Neighbor’s Barn
1-13-18 Neighbor’s Barn
1-12-18 tiny hunt scene
1-12-18 Tiny Hunt Scene
1-11-18 Abner in Snow
1-11-18 Abner in Snow
1-10-18 Racehorse
1-10-18 Racehorse
1-9-18 Trotting
1-9-18 Trotting
1-8-18 Devon matted
1-8-18 Devon
Milk House 1-6-18
1-6-18 Milk House
Foxhound 1-4-18
Foxhound 1-4-18
fox 1-3-18
1-3-18 Fox
1-2-18 Kate
1-2-18 Kate, Bundled
1-1-18 Leaping
1-1-18 Leaping Into the New Year
12-29-17 Window
12-29-17 Kitchen Window
12-28-17 Wine cheese
12-28-17 Wine and Cheese
12-27-17 Jump fence
12-27-17 Jumping the Fence
12-22-17 tree
12-22-17 Our Christmas Tree
12-21-17 aside
12-21-17 Aside
12-20-17 gang
12-20-17 My Gang
12-19-17 fox cardinal
12-19-17 Fox and Cardinal
12-18-17 apples
12-18-17 Apples in Snow
12-15-17 donkey bros
12-15-17 Donkey Bros
12-14-17 Winter church
12-14-17 Winter Church
12-13-17 parade lady
12-13-17 Parade Lady
12-13-17 winter hunt
12-12-17 Winter Hunt
12-11-17 House and dog
12-11-17 House and Dog
12-8-17 Wassail
12-8-17 Wassail Parade
12-7-17 happy gang
12-7-17 Happy Gang
12-4-17 aside w hounds
12-4-17 Aside with Hounds
over the wall
Sitting Fox
Abner
Halloween ride
sunflowers
From Raphael’s drawing
Theorem Vase
I too enjoy your sketches.
The foxes are my favorite.
I look forward to receiving these daily.
Thanks,
Suzanne
Love, love, love your sketches, Lisa! So glad you’re sharing them with us. Such talent!
lovely…
Your doodles make me smile!! Here in western NY we are living in the land of Narnia with temps 4\5 below.
See you in the spring.
I look forward to these and check every day now. They are wonderful. The most spontaneous ones are the best, in my opinion.
Thank you!
Thank you for creating a bright spot in the day! Love your work!
Your drawings are so refreshing and spontaneous… Very enjoyable !