"Scarlet & Brit Together Forever"  Acrylic Painting on Canvas-30 by 40 inches 1991

This painting was very hard to accomplish because the horses were combined from different photos.  Being very representative of the horse's personalities, the chestnut Quarter/Arab horse named Scarlet looks upon  her Thoroughbred mare companion "Brit" with a deep compassionate stare, as she always did in real life.  Though always the dominate  mare of the two, Scarlet's soft side was hardly apparent to most horse people.  Brit accepts her place beside Scarlet looking upon her as if she were her mother.  These were my very first two horses, bought while a senior in high school.  They were stall mates and have been moved around alot.  Brit was an off-track TB, having won races at Hollywood Park and Caliente in short distance.  She has Bold Ruler, Native Dancer, Arts And Letters, and Ribot in her blood.  It was always a dream to breed her to a Swaps grandson to bring the next greatest racing triple crown winner into the world!   Return to Fine Art Page

 

Arabian Horse Portrait

 

Untitled

Graphite (pencil) on old Canson- 24 by 19 inches

1986

 

This was one of my very first inspirational pieces done of the Arabian horse.  I had worked at a local tack store and noticed some really nice Arabian Horse magazines.  The one that got my attention was "The World".  It was their Scottsdale issue.  I had looked through and felt so compelled to draw from all of the pictures.  This one stood out the most.  This particular horse, whose identity is unknown by myself to this day, stands framed in my home office right above my computer.  I have noticed over the years that he watches over me.  Everyone comments on this portrait.  Ed Skinner at the age of 83, breeder f the Davenport line,  once saw it and claimed he knew who it was.  But he couldn't think of the name.  He sure does have alot of Arabian stories to tell, (both Ed and this drawing!) Return to Fine Art Page

                                                                                                

 

 

Parents On Their Wedding Day"

Graphite Drawing on cotton blend

22 by 30 inches,  1997

 

 

I have learned and finally realized that drawing people is the hardest thing to do in art, besides reflections and water. And what makes it even harder is if it is being drawn from a photo, as this one was, but when both subjects come from different photos.  I got tired of drawing detail towards the completion, and stylized my mothers curls behind her neck area.  Besides being scolded for giving my stepfather a bigger nose, I was quite pleased with everything else.  Also, I fussed with the "vignette" like halo, all the way to the end of this drawing becoming framed.  Which is so funny.  The frame expert was a friend,  and artist, so I asked her if she could make it look more balanced.  I don't think she did much with the eraser, OH, all the whine and fuss of us perfectionists!   Return to Fine Art Page

                                                                                               

Good Morning Maddie"

Pastels and Charcoal drawn on gray Canson

24 by 19 inches, 1994

 

 

Every drawing has a story, and this one made such a big impact on my life.  I was renting a room while in college, from some folks named John and Julie.  Maddie was Julies dog and she was one of the smartest dogs I had ever met.  Every morning when I would come out to my little porch and have coffee, Maddie would greet me with the biggest smile and ask me to play ball with her. After their major Halloween party, one night she got out and hit by a car.  This was a memorial drawing given to Julie.  I really loved Maddie too.   Return to Fine Art Page

                                                                                                    

Fantasia", A Hallmark Drawing

Graphite on white Stonehedge, rough edge

22 by 30 inches, 1993

 

 

Limited Edition Prints on 30lb paper

for sale, $45.00 plus $5 shipping

 

 

 There are several layers centered around the head of a beautiful Arabian Stallion. In the upper left corner four full-bodied horses run in a circular motion. Behind the Stallion's cheek the effect of the flowing mane  and  transparent layers  ignite a mysterious suggestion about the 'other' side of the horse, the literal translation to mean his intelligence and wisdom. There is suggestion of power by the strong form of the intertwined neck muscles. And most importantly, the very center of the drawing, his eye, representing the door into his soul.  Literal translation, his heart and well-rounded nature.  The soft and gentle look of his eye draws us, the viewer, in and reminds us that he is always watching over us, and cares about his human companions. The eye is suppose to be the beginning of our journey into this drawing and from there, anything is possible. The bold face and forward 'perked' ears exemplify his truly magnificent and majestic nature and the expression in his eye suggests that he is smarter than we could ever imagine!"   Return to Fine Art Page

                                                                                                       

Arabian Horse Full Figure

 

Untitled, graphite 9 by 12  inches, 1989 

This detail work in this piece definitely reflects my year abroad in Friesland, Holland 1987.  Not like they have many arabians over there....but that year I had drawn several large poster size pieces ( of big horse heads)  for my host family to keep.  My brother and sister there loved Madonna, and the big "Madonna" craze was going on.  She even had a concert in Rotterdam, but I was not allowed to go.  But I had drawn several face shots of her as well that year.  The detail in that work let up to this piece.  But also, I lived on a dairy farm and Heit, father Joost, bred Friesians.  So I got to break them and ride some other Friesians of the village there that year.  I have seen some of the most famous real Friesians in the world!( ie: Tjsalling) and went to the greatest indoor Friesian Stam Boek Shows ever!  I have not imported any info this country yet....but you can count on that sometime when I can afford it.   Mijn nederlandse vader Joost De Vries heeft zyn Friese Paarden nog....op een niewe boorderij, niet in Suwald (Suawoude),  Ik hou van de Friese paarden!

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