Views from Lakehill

Fox Hunting Family Commission

2012-02-02T16:36:00.000-08:00

This is a commissioned painting that I completed toward the end of 2011. This lovely family wanted to be reminded of happy times with their son on hunt days and riding through the the hills of Tennessee. Our goal was to bring them happy memories of those days spent together. According to the client...mission accomplished....in her words...." I absolutely love it..... You not only got the physical appearance but much more the spirit."

Portrait of Tex

2011-11-19T09:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I shipped my latest commission off to it's owners in Wisconsin. It was a joy to paint a paint! (Okay... my little attempt at humor.) The clients sent good references from which I could work. I never did have the opportunity to meet this horse in life....but he sure does look like he's got personality plus. In the perfect world I get to meet all of my subjects in life...but sometimes that's not possible and a combination of various photo references can work well to achieve the final painting. So, here's to "Tex" and his new home.

Morning Surprise at Lakehill

2011-11-07T06:24:00.000-08:00

This morning I had a visitor just outside my studio window......this sweet deer seemed to be
saying "who me?....I'm not eating your hostas". ( I'm thinking this will have to be a painting at some point !) For many years we never saw deer in our backyard...until hubby started gardening.....then here they are visiting and looking for those nice green tomatoes. A friend suggested that you simply plant a big enough garden to feed yourselves and the animals ! Good advice I think except that it's going to have to be a very big garden.

American Academy of Equine Art 2011 Fall Open Show

2011-08-07T08:42:00.001-07:00

I've posted this image of "Hartsville Horses" before on this blog when it got into the Scottsdale Artist's School Best and Brightest 2011 show earlier this year. Now it's been juried into the American Academy of Equine Art's Fall open show for 2011. The show will be held at the Scott County Arts and Cultural Center/Gallery in Georgetown,KY from September 16th to October 15th. I feel very happy and excited to be part of this very well respected equine art show. If you are in the area...stop by and check it out. The show is usually put up on line on the AAEA website after the opening of the show in September. Here's the link to their website: http://www.aaea.net/

My favorite Nashville Historical Site....

2011-07-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

It's no surprise to anyone who knows me that Belle Meade Plantation is my favorite
Nashville historical site. It being steeped in thoroughbred history....well what's not to like? The photo shown here is from the 2011 Derby Day Party centerpiece at the carriage house. The grounds are dripping with beautiful southern charm. If you live in the greater Nashville area and haven't taken the tour of Belle Meade, add it to your list so you can appreciate the gem that is in our midst.

Happily I can say that last week the manager of the Belle Meade art gallery asked me to have another solo show in May of 2012. I'm thrilled to look forward to that opportunity again. A year can go way faster than we ever expect....so I'm already planning my Steeplechase and foxhunting themed paintings....on that note, I'd better get off the computer and back in the studio.

Steeplechase Horse of the Year 2010, "Slip Away"

2011-06-25T06:46:00.000-07:00

Shown here is the Steeplechase Horse of the Year for 2010, “Slip Away” owned by Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Ramsey with Paddy Young riding. Although this painting ( 20 x 24 Oil ) was not finished in time for my recent show at Belle Meade Plantation’s opening night…I did have it hanging there for much of the month of May. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Ramsey and his son Jeff and grandson William at the Iroquois races this year. You could search the world of horses far and wide and never meet a nicer person than Ken Ramsey. In the words of his secretary……”he’s never met a stranger”. How lucky I was to meet him and have a chance to work with him on a commission.

Solo Art Exhibition at Belle Meade Plantations Art Gallery 2011

2011-05-04T21:22:00.000-07:00

Happily I’m celebrating the month of May with another solo exhibition at Belle Meade Plantation’s art gallery. The opening is Thursday, May 5th from 5:30 -7:30 . Belle Meade is located at 5025 Harding Pike in Nashville, TN. The art gallery is located within the visitors center. There will be a wine tasting and hors d’ oeuvres. Also… I’m excited that Walter Durham will also be there signing copies of his latest book “History of the Southern Grasslands”.
I have friends who are too far away to make it to the opening and so for that reason I am posting some selected paintings from this Steeplechase inspired show that are not yet on my website.
Look back a few posts and you will see some paintings that I’ve already posted that you will also see there……. “I’ll bring the flowers, The Lipizzaner, Zenyatta, Bubble Economy, and study of Cuse.
Last year I was in seventh heaven having a press pass to the Iroquois enabling me to take much better reference shots than I could have gotten otherwise. I was trying to stay “out of the way” of the business of the trainers and grooms while still gaining access to some wonderful shots. When I arrived in the morning , one of the first horses that came into my view at the barn was “Birthday Beau”. He was grazing with his handler, had finished a bath and was drying off in the sun back by the tents. I have loved and observed horses all my life, but the sight of a thoroughbred glistening in the sunlight will always take my breath away every time. His owner, trainer, Michelle Sanger could not have been nicer to me chatting for a few minutes despite the activity of race day ! No wonder Beau looked so content and happy that morning. So, here is “Birthday Beau”, oil, 9 x 12.
Also shown here is “Vine Hill Flying” Oil, 18 x24. I made my way to the backstretch and realized that I was not in the best place with a lot of late afternoon backlight ….but then I snapped a shot of Vine Hill looking like he was defying gravity. A beautiful rich chestnut horse, the light glowed on fire through his mane and tail as it was caught suspended in mid jump. I couldn’t resist the way the light pierced through the yellow jockey’s silks too. Continue to scroll down to 2 more posts with more selected work from the show.....

Belle Meade Plantation Art show continued…..

2011-05-04T21:16:00.001-07:00

If you saw my show announcement that came out …you saw the painting of “Chess Board” oil, 9x 12 on the front in black and white. Here’s the real thing in color. Again it was late afternoon and the sun was shining on the horses cooling off back at the barns. Chess Board’s groom was giving him sips of water every turn around the paddock and whenever he would take a sip he would swing his head up and look into the distance as if there was something really interesting out there. I would love to know exactly what was in his mind.

“Shade at the Barn, Iroquois Day” oil 9x12. The ultra activity over by the race course
was balanced by a wonderful shady calmness back at the barns in the afternoon.
That’s what drew me to paint this little landscape of the view from that spot.

“Houghland and Naylor Silks” Oil , 9x12. These two horses and jockeys were headed to the start of the Iroquois. I wanted to feature the afternoon intense color of their silks and opted for this unusual view to do just that. Although the horses are not the stars in this painting….they were “Tax Ruling” and “Chivite”. Tax Ruling turned out to be the winner that day. I’d like to do another painting of these two horses together and have it on my must paint list ( my must paint list is very long….. )

Belle Meade Plantation Art Show continued.....

2011-05-04T21:01:00.000-07:00

Belle meade Plantation Art show continued…..
Okay…a little departure from the horses for a minute…. “Sunshine Fox” oil, 8x10. This was one of my fox friends that lived outside our fence last year and sometimes would venture out in the full sunlight and lounge around our yard right outside my studio window ! I think this was the split second before he realized that someone was watching. I loved the light on that ochre/orange color coat.

Humans deserve a little attention for Race day and here is a painting entitled “The Starter” 10 x 8 oil. I asked his permission to shoot his picture with the idea that he may wind up in the show this year. His demeanor exuded experience and confidence in the job at hand. The red starting flag rests under his chair as he looked so very calm and relaxed amidst the frenzy of activity all around. I couldn’t help but think that nothing happens on race day without him .

My last selected painting to post here is “Sunshine Numbers Cooling Off “ 9x12 Oil.
Wandering behind the scenes that day I caught a glimpse of Sunshine Numbers having a cooling drench behind the barns. I wanted to capture the water spraying and the reflections on his coat. The fact that it is downright cute that he is catching a few drops to drink was irresistible. I know horses do that all the time but I never get tired of seeing it.
If you have a chance to swing by the show sometime in the month of May, many thanks for your interest. Try to leave time to take a tour of the mansion….. the artwork in there is to die for and as a history lover, it’s my favorite historical site in Nashville….( yes, I admit a prejudice because of it’s thick horsey history ! )
See you at Belle Meade !

WIP for "I'll Bring the Flowers, Iroquois Day"

2011-04-09T21:31:00.000-07:00

When I started this blog, one of my intentions was to post some WIP or "works in progress" shots that I snap from my easel through the process of a painting.
This is the first one that I have actually posted. I start out with good intentions of making a chronicle of the progress of more of my paintings. I'll get the first few shots and then get so into the painting that I forget all about shooting more and then... oops...it's done. I'll have to work on my system for remembering to snap pictures more often!

Here is a short progression of an 8 x 10 painting entitled "I'll Bring the Flowers". It was inspired by one of the stylish attendees of the races on Iroquois day at Percy Warner Park in Nashville. I loved the pink of her dress against the green of the grass. (This painting will be included in my solo show at Belle Meade Plantation's Art Gallery this May.) Most of the work at the show this year was inspired by the sights of the Steeplchase Races on Iroquois day in 2010.

I did this sketch with a mixture of burnt umber and ultramarine with a medium/small sized brush. No pencil drawing..dove right in with the paint, tried to keep it sketchy but proportional. When the canvas is small I will usually start right in with paint and "draw" with the brush... actually, I have been starting out that way more and more lately even with my larger canvases. It helps me think in terms of blocking in masses more than getting too bogged down with a linear approach.

The next shot shows a general blocking in of the value of the green trees/grass of the background. I usually start with a toned canvas, however I did not tone my canvas on this one because I wanted the white of the canvas to help the brightness of the pinks and pastels of the dress.

Blocking in the local colors gets paint all over the canvas and starts to generally show my values. I'm not worried about the details at this point...mostly working on values.

The final painting shows the result of refining the drawing. The temperatures and values of the colors have all been pushed and pulled to this point. I will set this painting aside in a place where I'll see it everyday and with a fresh eye....then I'll know if it's truly finished.

The Lipizzaner

2011-03-31T07:44:00.001-07:00

Here is one of the paintings that I finished over the past months. I've wanted to do this one for a long time so I could take a beautiful horse such as this and play with the light. Of course the stage at the shows have no straw down....but I wanted to imagine this beautiful horse walking across the warm reflected light from the straw and the cooler flood light from above and just go with that imaginary place in this painting.... I imagined the two walking backstage toward the curtains leading to the performance area. Yes, I know that straw all over the floor is probably not reality behind the curtains either....that's where I claim artistic license :-). It's been a year since I saw the Lipizzaner stallions in Nasvhille....waiting patiently for them to come through town again!

New Gallery in Leipers Fork, TN

2011-03-08T06:28:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was a success at the Webb School's Art show in Knoxville. I met some wonderful East Tennessee horse owners and really look forward to completing some commissions that were a direct result of participating in the show.

This past month I was happy to add another Gallery in the middle Tennessee area to represent me and my paintings. Right now you can regularly see work of mine not only at Gary Tisdale's Midtown Gallery in Nashville, but at Bethany Laurel Reiser's Laurel Leaf Gallery in Leiper's Fork TN. If you are not familiar with Leiper's Fork...well, it's a gem of a town and takes you back to a slower paced time and place. The horse farms that line Old Hillsboro Road out to Leiper's Fork are a beautiful site to behold and is one of Tennessee's scenic byways for sure. Another plus is that Leiper's Fork is close to the Natchez Parkway. Laurel Leaf has wonderful jewelry and gifts along with a dedicated gallery area and is located on the first floor of a building that fits right into the original structures lining the main street. Have lunch at a number of quaint restaurants in the area such as Joe's Natural Bakery and Cafe ( for all you locavores ) or Pucketts Grocery. Looking for a great Saturday drive and relaxing afternoon....Leiper's Fork is the place for you.
Shown here in pictures is my wall at Laurel Leaf that will change out periodically.
Also, a view of the front of Laurel Leaf with the proprietress, Bethany on the porch.
Finally a shot of the entire building in case you are looking for it on main street...it'll be easier to spot! I can't wait to drive out there in the spring and see the foals all romping in the fields on the way ..... :-) I can almost smell the
fresh air just thinking about it!

Artxtravaganza at the Webb School, Knoxville

2011-02-28T11:49:00.000-08:00

This weekend I'll be at the Artxtravaganza Art show at the Webb School of Knoxville, TN.
It's the first time I've been invited to this show and I look forward to meeting lots of new people from the area and maybe a few horse lovers will find some time to stop on by.

Shown here is a painting that I will be bringing to the show entitled "Warm-up at Rolex", a 16 x 20 oil on canvas.

Here is the website in case you are interested in any more information: http://www.artxtravaganza.com/

Here's a quick glance at the hours of the show.....

Friday (3/4/2011) 2:00 - 8:00
Opening Reception: 6:00 - 8:00
Saturday (3/5/2011) 10:00 - 5:00
Sunday (3/6/2011) 12:00 - 5:00

Hope to see you there!

Some new studies....Zenyatta, Bubble Economy and Cuse....

2011-02-19T09:40:00.001-08:00

It's been a wonderful time to be working in the studio with all the glorious winter wonderland views out the window. But I'm ready for spring.

I have a lot going on as far as paintings go and have been racking up some major hours working on new pieces headed for my galleries this spring. Here are a few studies that have just been finished. One is of course the great "Queen Z" Zenyatta. I need more head shots in my portfolio and I thought that she was a great candidate since she has that beautiful dark bay coloring and wonderful ice cream scoop blaze down her regal face ! The fact that she was the The horse of the year for Thoroughbred racing in 2010 is also a plus!

The other two paintings here are small studies, only 5 x 7 and were done to see if I may like to paint larger pieces. They were both inspired by my day at the Iroquois races in 2010. One shot was of "Bubble Economy", headed back to the barns after winning his race and being thoroughly doused with buckets of cool water after leaving the track. What a beauty.

I loved the way the light was dancing all over the grey coat of "Cuse"...a steeplechaser that raced that wonderful sunlit day in Percy Warner Park. More pieces to come as the spring days move closer!

When I do these small studies....I like to use a method that was used in some landscape workshops I've had in the past. Obviously painting from life is the best option. But with animals.... it is not always practical for reasons you can imagine...like they are rarely still. So...my own photo references help me to at least remember the basics of the pose I would lke to do. I'll take some prints or shots on my laptop screen and place it next to my easel and paint as if I were standing there looking at the real thing. I know that photos distort and blend the values in the lights and the darks. Those are the kinds of observations that I try to make sure that I take note of when taking the shots. I can paint the things into the painting that aren't readily seen in the photo....but I remember those cool and warm shadows and can pick and choose about my edges and what I want to emphasize. The best thing about this is that with every painting, my drawing skills get a little sharper. I don't use a pencil at all anymore to start these smaller paintings on the canvas, rather I draw with the brush from the beginning. I've been drawing all my life...but I believe it is a "use it or lose it" skill.
I DO NOT use a projector or trace anything from the photos and these little studies are great for sharpening observation and drawing skills. With every small study I do...if I choose to make a larger work from that study...I've already drawn it once and it is easier then to draw it larger...since I've already made some mistakes and learned from them. So these 5 x 7 studies help me to draw/paint what I see...as if those wonderful thoroughbreds stop and pose just for me.

"A Nice Cold Draft"

2010-12-05T08:25:00.000-08:00

Winter is about here because the flurries were falling this morning in Nashville! The winter cold inspired my painting "A Nice Cold Draft" which I did to participate in the International Equine Artist's Group Winter/Holiday on line show. Go to the IEA site ( link is below...) if you would like to relax and scroll through some fun equine paintings inspired by the season.
They have an easy people's choice voting system in place, so choose your favorite and cast a vote. Merry Christmas to you all!

Here's the link: http://www.internationalequineartists.com/winterexhibit.html

Fine Art in Brentwood 2010

2010-12-01T14:31:00.000-08:00

Come on out to Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tn. this weekend to see a wide range
of wonderful art. This will be my first year participating in the Fine Art in Brentwood Show and I'm excited to be invited. I'll be showing a lot of my equine paintings but also some small gift sized oil paintings that may make that perfect Christmas present. Here is the link to their site so you can get all the information that you need !

http://fineartinbrentwood.com/

Polo Player's Edition Magazine December 2010 Issue....

2010-11-28T08:35:00.000-08:00

You've seen my painting "Calvin's Race" on this blog a few posts back...but the good news is that it has been chosen for inclusion in the 2010 Art Issue of Polo Player's Edition Magazine. I'm honored to be in the company of some fine equine artists. Here's the link to see the December issue.....http://www.poloplayersedition.com/test2/index.php

Their art issue each year consists of paintings chosen that represent a certain chosen theme. This year is was "making history". I haven't seen the issue yet...but it should be up on their site soon.

Also...keep Calvin Borel in your thoughts and prayers as he recovers from a recent nasty fall that resulted in a badly broken jaw. We wish you a quick recovery Calvin!

Hartsville Horses & The Scottsdale Artist's School

2010-10-09T06:15:00.000-07:00

Good news .... My painting, Hartsville Horses has been chosen for inclusion in the 2011 Scottsdale Artist's School "The Best and the Brightest" juried art show and sale. I'll be packing this painting up in a few weeks and sending it to Arizona to hang at the show which runs at the school from January 8 through March 15 2011. The paintings in this show will also be shown at the Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale.

I painted these draft horses at a farm on the road from Gallatin to Hartsville, TN. The back light was irresistible and I just had to paint this one. The horse on the right was the subject of a smaller painting that I did a while back that was on the cover of "The Barn Book" in 2009. That one was so much fun to paint that I just had to do more ....so here they are ..."Hartsville Horses", oil on canvas, 10 x 20.

Belmont Community Art Show and Sale

2010-09-07T16:24:00.000-07:00

Just a few weeks and the Belmont Community Art Show and Sale will be in full swing.
I'm happy to be invited to participate this year. You'll find me including smaller sized works to help fill the need for gift sized paintings since it won't be that long until the holidays are here! See you at Christ the King school between Oct.1st and 3rd!

Chronicle of the Horse Cover Art

2010-07-24T13:12:00.000-07:00

I was thrilled and honored to be chosen for another Chronicle of the Horse Cover for the July 23rd, 2010 issue. The Chronicle has a long list of artists over the years who have graced their magazine covers. Many of those names from the past have been an inspiration for me throughout my life as an artist.

Thank you Chronicle for choosing "View from Virginia Tech Barn"! Our sons both attended Virginia Tech and the many trips to campus we occasionally saved room for a photo shoot over at the equestrian facility and barns. The view out to the Blue Ridge mountains
with beautiful well cared for horses in the pastures
was inspiration for this painting.
I always smile at the memory of it.

A Horse in Vieste, Italy

2010-07-17T08:08:00.000-07:00

I'm always looking for horses wherever we travel. My husband loves Italy and because of him I love it too. My only complaint is that we rarely see horses there in our travels. Granted, the rolling vineyards are breathtaking but the views of grazing horses are few and far between.
Last year we spent some time staying at a small coastal resort town called Vieste ( if you see the “spur” of the boot of Italy…that’s Vieste) It has beautiful white cliffs falling into flat sands and calm waters of the Adriatic. We were walking along the base of the cliffs near the town when we heard hoof beats! As a guy was leading his horse down to the beach, his friend pulls up in a small car beside the two of them. This picture is what I snapped as I saw the horse being exercised Italian style….. two guys in a little car, talking and smoking; one with his hand stuck out the window leading the horse at a slow trot with their little dog following behind. I love to see how the Italians sometimes do have a different way of doing things!

Featured Artist at Picture This Gallery in Hermitage, TN

2010-06-30T20:20:00.000-07:00

This July I'll be one of the featured artists at PICTURE THIS GALLERY in Hermitage,TN.
Here is one of the paintings that I'll be showing there so stop by and check it out if you are in the area. Thursday, July 15th will be the wine tasting and art opening at the gallery. It is located at 4674 Lebanon Pike in Hermitage...Their phone number is 615-889-5640.

The painting you see here is "Calvin's Race" and is a 12 x 24 oil on canvas. I was inspired by the last day of racing at Churchill Downs in 2009. It was a rainy race day and the mud was a flyin'. That didn't stop Calvin Borel from winning almost every race he rode that day including this one aboard "Lawless Falls". So it goes that he battled for leading jockey with eventual winner Julien Leparoux throughout the 2009 spring/summer Churchill Downs meet. Calvin came in second that day for the season with 61 wins to his rival's 62. Calvin still had his trademark smile on his face after his last race that day and happily gave his goggles to the small group of starstruck little girls waiting with their Dads for a glimpse or autograph after the race! ( He did however, lead in earnings with $3,755,513 to Leparoux's $2,559,363.) In 2010, Mr. Borel was indeed the top jockey for the Churchill Downs season....go Calvin. He continues to make history in the racing world and in my opinion, it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

"Horse Country" art show at ArtReach Gallery

2010-05-24T05:06:00.000-07:00

Shown here is my painting entitled "Sisters", an 11 x 14 Oil on canvas. It's headed out to Memphis and Artreach Gallery in Germantown for their "Horse Country" art show. This event coincides with the Germantown Charity Horse Show and celebrates not only equine subjects, but the country landscape as well. "Alias", "Just an Itch", and "Heels Down" will also be making the trip to west Tennessee. The show will be hanging through most of the month of June.

Solo Show at Belle Meade Plantation 2010 and the "1000" year flood

2010-05-07T06:49:00.000-07:00

Last night was the opening for my Solo Show at Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville.
Considering the fact that we are experiencing the devastation of a "1000" year flood....well....some die hard people showed up and it was a very pleasant evening shared with old friends and new!

Belle Meade Plantation itself was very lucky to be on high enough ground that it did not suffer terrible damage. Yes, the basement was flooded a bit but I was told that it is a managable problem and they are thankful because it could have been so much worse. The roads surrounding the Plantation left it like an island last weekend. So many are suffering in the area from the aftermath of last week's storm. Nashville is an awesome community and we are coming together to help those of us who really lost so very much. Personally, our home was spared, but many friends homes were not. It is overwhelming..... but it just takes one step at a time..... Nasvhille could really use your prayers for quite a while.

Sneak Peak of Joan's Belle Meade Plantation Solo Exhibition

2010-04-14T14:15:00.000-07:00

Okay....for anyone who might read my blog today....You get a sneak peak !

My solo exhibition will run at Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville , TN from May 1 - May 30, 2010. The opening reception / wine tasting is on May 6th, 5:30 - 7:30 at the Art Gallery in the Visitor Center. Hors d'oeuvres will be provided by Belle Restaurant and there will be
wine from Spain provided by West Meade Wines. If you live in or near Nashville, you know where Belle Meade is.....but just in case..... here's the address: 5025 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205

NOTE:
If you are still planning to come to the show's opening tonight from 5:30-7:30 at Belle Meade Plantation, everything is still OK. Mansion and Visitor center suffered no damage but the main entrance was flooded and damaged, so please follow the directions to the alternate entrance.

DIRECTIONS

Both front entrances to the Belle Meade property have suffered flood
damage and are closed.

To access the site follow these driving directions:

From I-440/downtown:

* Head southwest on HWY US 70S/Harding Road/Harding Pike
* Turn left at Belle Meade Blvd.
* Go 1.2 miles
* Turn right at Leake Ave.
* Go .5 miles.
* Belle Meade Plantation is on the right.
*

If you need help with directions call Belle Meade at: 615-356-0501

The history of Belle Meade is a rich and important story in the development of the Thoroughbred Industry in the United States. As an Equine artist, that's why I am so happy and honored to have an exhibition here at such an historic place.

Here is the link to Belle Meade's "horse history".
http://www.bellemeadeplantation.com/Horses/Horses/

I have added 7 new works to my collection specifically for this show and I have posted one of them here..... "Alias" 22 x 28 Oil on canvas.

If you are in town....I'd love to see you at the opening !

Lipizzaner Stallions in Nashville

2010-03-28T20:27:00.000-07:00

This afternoon my hubby and I went to see the Lipizzaner Stallions at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. I think this is my 4th time seeing them and I still get a lump in my throat and teary eyes at sometime during the show, never fail ! I remember my Dad taking me to Philadelphia to see them when I was a teenager so many years ago. It will NOT be the last time I see them either because they are living history. I'll never get tired of watching them. Their beauty is just manifested on so many levels...it's really hard to put into words. We got floor seats for the first time and I am thrilled to have gotten the chance to watch the show from that position. Looking UP at those majestic horses just 6 feet away.... WOW. So, if they come to your town please support their show by attending and cheering them on ...loudly !

Art in Bloom Show and Sale 2010

2010-03-09T09:56:00.000-08:00

This weekend is the annual Art in Bloom Art Show and Sale presented by the Gallatin Junior Service League. This show benefits women's and children's charities of the greater Gallatin, Sumner Co. TN area. I'm bringing along some more small wildlife paintings to add to the horses this year. For example, shown here is "Red Fox Backlight" , a 5 x 7 oil on canvas, $160. Our local fox has no idea how many images he has inspired ! I haven't seen him for a while but hope he survived this winter, which for Tennessee , was a cold one.
Spring can't be far away......makes me want to paint foals, baby goats,sheep and birds etc !
Come on out to the Bluegrass Country Club on Johnny Cash Parkway this weekend on Saturday and see what 40 local artists have to show ! It'll be an eclectic mix of styles..... something for everyone.

Lipscomb Art Event 2010

2010-02-16T08:28:00.001-08:00

This past weekend was spent at the David Lipscomb Campus School in Nashville at their annual
Art Event. This shot is of my space at the show. It was a great weekend full of meeting many friendly art show attendees and some new area artists. One of my favorite perks of doing these shows is getting to know the artists that are set up around you. It's a great way to connect considering that artists spend a lot of solitary time in the studio and the shows are a great way to catch up with each other. The people running the show at Lipscomb could not have been more kind or more helpful to the artists....that is so appreciated!

Winter in Tennessee

2010-01-30T19:31:00.000-08:00

We've been hit with a winter storm here in Tennessee and everything has come to a screeching halt! We don't have enough plows and such to clear away all the snow , so what is normal everyday weather for much of the US.....isn't so normal for us. It is such a treat to see the snow covering everything because it just doesn't happen that much around here, so we appreciate it and we are intimidated by it. So, everybody stays home. We've had a great day cocooning inside except for venturing out for a winter time photo shoot to gather references. I can see the tracks of my fox friend that lives outside of our fence line. I put some leftover turkey out for him tonight. I know my canadian friends are laughing at me right now....but hey....this snow is big news for us :-) !

I've also attached a shot of a corner of my studio and you can see the twilight snowy evening out of the window. You can also see my nice new taboret that just arrived a few weeks ago and it really helped my organization in the studio. It is a "Todd Reifers" workstation and so far I really like it. It looks all clean now but I'll probably have it all paint splotched before long. It has storage and a generous sized top for paint mixing. It also has a cover that you can pull up and over your paint overnight and I find that it helps keep the paint from drying out quite so much.
So, looks like tomorrow I can enjoy painting and looking out at this winter wonderland..... what a treat.

Chronicle of the Horse Magazine

2009-12-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

I felt like a kid at Christmas ...... that might describe my feeling when I went to the mailbox yesterday and found a package from the Chronicle of the Horse Magazine letting me know that one of my paintings (Beech Grove Blessing) had been chosen for their Dec. 11, 2009 issue. I remember reading the magazine back in the 70's (cover to cover and when it was in black and white) during my riding years. I suppose that's why I am particularly happy about making the cover now. Heck, I still read the magazine cover to cover ! I think of my Dad and how happy he would be for me that I am having the opportunity to pursue my dream as an artist.......

"Fontana Dei Cavalli Marini"

2009-11-22T19:58:00.000-08:00

My husband loves Italy. He has opened that world to me and now I love it too.
We joke about the fact that I don't see enough horses when we go there. Lots of wonderful olive groves and vineyards stretching to the horizon, but not a lot of horses. So, I found inspiration in the beautiful horses in the fountains of Rome. I plan on another painting of the Trevi fountain soon, but this year I finished a painting of one of the fountains in the Villa Borghese Park.
The sparkling Italian sun on the water trickling over the edge was beautiful to me and I loved the colors that reflected all over the gray stone sculpture. I couldn't wait to paint it and so here it is...."the Fountain of the Sea Horses".

Small Works....

2009-11-16T08:19:00.000-08:00

From time to time I'll post a small painting that I don't normally post on my website.
In the future I may make a website page for small works, but until then...here's an example of my latest, entitled "Lucky Saddle". It is a 5 x 7 . My small works often are studies for larger paintings. Some turn out to be little gems in and of themselves. Good thing is, they are affordable original oil paintings that fit into many budgets, especially in these days of the economic pinch. The next one is "Jockey Study" also a 5 x 7. The third is sold, entitled "Mini Amigos", 5 x 7.

Contact me at jpj@lakehillstudio.com if you are interested in prices. Just put "small works inquiry" in the email title.

Back from Italy and a visit with Rembrandt

2009-10-27T07:08:00.001-07:00

The last three weeks have been an adventure and great time as my hubby and I drove around
Italy. He drove, I navigated. Good thing because you've got to be an aggressive driver to keep up over there and I would have probably had a meltdown trying to just leave the rental car area at the Rome airport !

Anyway.... I'm always on the lookout for horses of course and let me tell you, they are few and far between in Italy as far as I can tell. I will look through and see what I can find and post those later. But for now....I'll mention our two days in Amsterdam (because of a layover on the way home) and our museum packed 48 hours in that city. I was surprised at how much I liked Amsterdam. I think I had a preconception about certain negative aspects of the city that I had heard about, but realized that it is largely a beautiful place and the Van Gogh and Ryks ( Rembrandt) museum is worth the visit all by themselves.

Apart from those museums...there is also the actual home of Rembrandt that has been
preserved and the contents carefully reconstructed. So here are some shots of Rembrandt's studio and it's contents. The shots are not so sharp because I had to be a little fast to get them without other tourists walking through and also, there was no flash allowed within the house.
( there...my excuses for my lackluster photos !) Still, the feeling of standing in the same spot where Rembrandt worked and lived...... In the words of Van Gogh..."we artists are all but links in a chain" we all learn from the ones who came before........ standing where you know that the great masters had been...... I think any artist would feel that connection.

The Judges Choice On Line

2009-08-01T06:44:00.000-07:00

It's August 1st and this is the month where I am the featured artist on the website for "The Judges Choice Equine Classifieds". It was nice of them to ask and I was happy to oblige :-).
Here's the link: www.thejudgeschoice.com
I have shown here my painting entitled "Breaktime" which is one of the images that they show on the website. I painted this one because I was really attracted by the rider in shadow and the horse in the light. They also show that common activity between classes.....just taking a break and resting up for the next activity. The way the rider kept her hand on the horses muzzle just reminded me of that special bond between these two teamates. This painting is in the collection of Ms. Ellen Johnson of New Jersey.

Wolves

2009-07-23T18:35:00.000-07:00

Had a great time this week doing some studies of wolves. After painting a few smaller studies I came up with this 8 x 10 called "Edge of The Woods". I think I'd like to do a larger much more detailed painting of wolves sometime soon...they are really beautiful animals with the greys,warm browns and whites, not to mention gorgeous eyes! Back to my horses next week....a dressage painting is calling my name.

Closing Day at Churchill Downs

2009-07-10T09:36:00.000-07:00

This horse seemed dressed appropriately for the 4th of July Closing weekend at Churchill Downs.
My family all made the three hour drive to Louisville for a day at the races. No , I didn't win anything.....but that hardly matters because the photo ops were fantastic. We all had a great day full of a lot of laughs and beautiful horses. We were happy to have the chance to see Calvin Borel that day and my impression of him as being a genuinely nice person is only reinforced after seeing him interact with his fans after the races. When the day was done and he wasn't in a hurry to get on to preparing for the next race, he stopped and gave all of his goggles to some kids awaiting a chance for an autograph..... they were thrilled. It was just one of those great days all around.

"You Go First"

2009-06-25T15:16:00.000-07:00

Here's "You Go First"...the last painting that I finished a few weeks ago. These two Montana paint horses were happily grazing away near Anaconda, Montana last summer when I interrupted their privacy with my skulking around the fence line. Hubby was endlessly finding places to pull the car over every time I spotted horses grazing in that beautiful Montana scenery.
I'd never been out there until last summer when we made a whirlwind trip to a friend's wedding. It was incredible. I totally understand why people fall in love with the west. We live in a beautiful country and to travel around experiencing the nuances of all the regions.....it's a blessing.

Canadian Warmblood Association

2009-06-03T14:46:00.000-07:00

Sometimes good news comes right when you need it. The Canadian Warmblood Association
has chosen "First Class Flight" as it's 2009 poster art , brochure and advertising image for their Fall Breeder's Classic. I almost didn't submit this painting because of it being a horizontal image and most all of the past images have been vertical. But obviously I submitted anyway and I'm glad I did. I can be pretty good at talking myself OUT of things .......but I'm working on it. :-)
The painting itself is a 24 x 36 oil on canvas. They will auction the original off to start the Breeder's auction in Alberta this fall. Here's the link to the website for the Auction:

http://www.fallclassicsale.com/

Pets of Putnam County Art Show and Sale

2009-06-01T15:25:00.000-07:00

This weekend is "The Best is Yet to Come Art show and Sale" benefiting the Pets of Putnam County Humane Society in Cookeville, Tn. I'll be there with some of my work and hoping for a good turnout for a worthy cause. The patron
party is on Saturday evening June 6th and the show continues on Sunday 2 p.m. thru 6 p.m.
call 931-858-2228 for ticket information.

Beautiful Rolex Weekend!

2009-04-27T12:08:00.001-07:00

I am so glad to have gotten the chance to go up to Lexington this past weekend to revel in the wonderful world that is the Rolex CCI**** Kentucky 3 day event ! I almost missed going this year and I know that I just can't let that happen again. Seeing the olympic caliber horses and riders who you know have worked so hard to make it to this level of the sport...it's just exhilarating to say the least. Following the Eventing USA blog has helped me keep up with who was going to be competing this year...and only added to the excitement and anticipation. The photo that I posted here is of Syd Kent, ridden by Jan Byyny from the USA.
I certainly filled up my flash cards full of references for future artwork for sure. Each year my photography skills get just a little better and more and more of the photos are keepers. I never claimed to be a sports photographer, I really have to respect the work that those people do! I work from my own reference shots and so between all of them...I can get the info that I need.
My husband went with me for the first time and he was enthusiastic learning about the sport. To see him also appreciate something that I feel so passionate about warmed my heart :-). We had a great time enjoying the crystal clear spring days. 364 days and counting until next year's Rolex....... :-) :-).

Art in Bloom Fine Art Show and Sale

2009-03-25T09:31:00.000-07:00

This weekend will be my second year exhibiting with the Art in Bloom Fine Art Sale & Show presented by the Junior Service League of Gallatin, Tn. This show is a fundraiser in support of charities supporting the women and children of the community. It will be held at the Bluegrass Yacht and Country Club at 550 Johnny Cash Parkway in Hendersonville. The Preview Party is on Friday March 27th from 6:30 p.m (reservations required...call Cindi Givens at 615-452-1431 for tickets). The show is open to the public on Saturday, March 28th from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Although I have about 7 larger equine themed paintings in process in my studio right now....I concentrated on including smaller works for this show. I've included a sneak peak of a few of my 5 x 7 studies that I'll have at the show this year. The first is a 5 x 7 ,"Gray Hunter Study". The second is a 5 x 7, "The Hunt is on". The third is an 8 x 10,"Female Elk, Yellowtone study"

It's spring in full swing here in Tennessee and hopefully our community will be out and about and ready to see all kinds of artwork from over 40 artists. Stop by and say hello at Art in Bloom !

Horses in Art Magazine

2009-02-16T07:33:00.000-08:00

Good news ! I was thrilled to find out this weekend that I have been awarded an honorable mention for my painting "Beech Grove Blessing" in the 2009 Horses in Art magazine's cover contest. Knowing the volume of entries that they receive, I'm happy and honored with this recognition. They'll be following up with an editorial in a future edition.

This painting was done from a combination of my references shot while attending the BGH's opening hunt. The jt MFH is Elese Alsup who is pictured here on her beautiful bay thoroughbred "JB". They make quite a team for sure. The blessing of the hounds, horses and riders is a tradition of the opening day of the hunt season.

I have become fascinated with the entire fox hunting tradition and love painting the subject. My younger days were filled with riding in junior hunter shows and training for eventing, etc. but I never had the opportunity to ride with a hunt. I'm not entirely sure I would have had the nerve required anyway.....but that's beside the point! Experiencing all the tradition, excitement and atmosphere of the hunt is exhilarating even if it is from the outside looking in. I really appreciate Beech Grove Hunt's willingness to allow me to visit and learn from everyone. They are patient with my endless questions and reference shots. A few years ago, the Masters of the Foxhounds Assoc. had its centennial traveling art show and I was proud to be one of the artists included. To encourage artists to consider the subject, the MFHA urged it's members to open up opportunities for artists to experience the hunt and the members of BGH were willing to do just that very thing! I look forward to many fox hunt-themed paintings to come.

Hartsville Horse

2008-12-12T08:45:00.000-08:00

A good thing happened to round out 2008 ! My painting, "Hartsville Horse", has been chosen to be on the cover of the 2009 north/central Florida edition of "The Barn Book". This publication is a regionally targeted resource book for the horse industry that is circulated in 6 different regions of the eastern United States. They are associated with Sidelines Magazine. My ad will also be in there somewhere...so check it out if you see a Barn Book at your local tack shop , barn, horseshow etc. Here is the link in case you want to read more about it: http://www.thebarnbook.com/

Polo Player's Edition Annual Art Issue

2008-11-05T06:41:00.000-08:00

I am happy to have my entry entitled "Advice From Dad" chosen to be included in the Polo Player's Edition Magazine's 23rd Annual Art Issue. The theme for the entries was to communicate the feeling of "connection". This was a competition that was juried by the editors.
The reason that I entered this particular painting was because of what I saw between this young rider and the Dad at a horse show. I wanted to express the feeling that horse and rider teams are backed up by dedicated parents, friends, trainers, grooms etc........ a long list of "connections" for sure. Thanks Polo Player's Edition Magazine......I'm honored to be part of this yearly tradition !

Greg Beecham workshop

2008-11-03T15:06:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday morning I hugged my family goodbye and stepped OUT of my comfort zone. I flew to Scottsdale Arizona to the Scottsdale Artists School. I have never been to Phoenix and was surprised by the size of the city. It's huge. The desert surroundings were a dramatic change from where I had been the day before at Beech Grove, Tennesssee.

My reason for going to the school was to take a workshop from Greg Beecham, a very successful western wildlife artist from DuBois, Wyoming. The School is a wonderful place to take a workshop and I would highly recommend it to anyone considering taking a class there. You can stay nearby within walking distance of the school and restaurants are also within easy access. I did rent a car but in hindsight I could have managed without one. The class had 11 students which made it great for observing Greg's demonstrations. He was very forthcoming with lots of information about his approach to oil painting and his career in general. This included technical info plus lots of great tips on dynamic compositions , brushwork and color harmonies, with an emphasis on the expression of light. Workshops usually have a way of energizing an artist.

I've included 2 photos. One is of Greg during a demonstration and the other is a hallway of the school with that wonderful southwestern light pouring in. The building itself is a perfect combination of wonderful light filled studios. It used to be a one story elementary school and the changes that they made kept the convenient flow to the space while showcasing that southwestern architecture on the inside and out. Gee....can you tell I liked the place ? So, don't hesitate to sign up for a workshop there. Hopefully you'll be as pleased as I was with the experience.

Beech Grove Opening Hunt

2008-11-03T08:14:00.001-08:00

Last week was a busy one. It started with a great weekend with my son coming home for a whirlwind visit from college. He went with me to the much anticipated opening day festivities and the blessing of the hounds for The Beech Grove Hunt . It was a glorious morning in the hills of Tennessee with welcoming hosts Dale and Elese Alsup ( MFH of Beech Grove Hunt). The picture here shows some of the hills I'm talking about. What can I say...a sight that's good for the soul ! I'm smiling just thinking about that morning full of the sights and sounds of hunting and being so welcomed by a great group of people.

a garden sanctuary !

2008-09-16T18:16:00.001-07:00

Okay...here I go again...with the foxes. We have a little "teenager" looking fox that lives around here and he came out late this afternoon as I was painting away in the studio. I looked out into my hubby's garden ( freshly tilled and mulched , getting ready for fall plantings.... ) and there was our little friend we call "Cinnamon". He was just relaxed and happy in that cool dark dirt.
Got some good reference shots for future paintings so I was one happy camper.
He eats my impatiens.....but I guess that's his modeling fee so I say fair enough.

NJEAA 2008 Juried Show

2008-08-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

Good news in the mail last week....I'm happy to have been juried into the New Jersey Equine Artists Association's 2008 show.

This show is held every two years at the Somerset Art Association in Bedminster, N.J. Unfortunately I won't be able to make it up there for the opening.

The show has a very good reputation and I know that there will be a lot of wonderful work to see for all of you horse lovers out there. It runs from Sept. 14th through October 25th.

Here is my entry "View from Virginia Tech Barn"

Inspired by "Rusty"

2008-07-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

From time to time I'd like to post some of my smaller works that I do not post on my main website. These may be studies for larger paintings that work well on their own. The galleries that carry my work also like to have some small pieces available for their buyers. Last year I found that fox subjects really resonated with buyers. I also found out that they are a blast to paint. I mean nature gave them quite a ready to wear outfit! The black , white, grey and rusty red colors are a painting waiting to happen. So, here are two examples of some 5 x 7's. We have a fox that we call "Rusty" who lives and roams around where we live and occasionally I'll get some photos of him for reference. They are certainly fast little buggers and I only see him when the light is not so good, early morning or dusk. They are quick and very alert. I found that sneaking up on a fox is not easy! Anyway, these particular paintings are already sold but I have some fox paintings in progress at the moment for shows and galleries in the fall. All my time is dedicated to a fox hunt commission right now and I'll post that on my main site soon.

The Mural Mosaic Project

2008-07-17T20:45:00.000-07:00

My contribution to the "Cadeau du Cheval, The Horse Gift" Mural Mosaic has been packed and shipped to Alberta. It's panel #5 all the way on the top left area. I still check the mural site a lot to see if I can see what new paintings have been added. It's like a game of "where's waldo"at this point, as the paintings are really filling in the space. (Warning... time flies as you're checking out all the paintings and reading the artists comments! Addictive in a good way.) I've been impressed with the attention to detail that the artists in charge have shown from the beginning, they've been great to work with..... Check it out...just go to :

http://www.muralmosaic.com/Cadeau.html

I've posted the original panel that arrived in the mail to me back in May. I took one look at it and couldn't imagine anything else but a big log jump. That's probably because my friend and I just got back from the Rolex 3 day event and I guess I still had the images of those monster sized hurdles on my mind ! The colors were not in my usual pallete for sure, so it was an adventure to slather on all that purple and electric green and blue! Can't wait to see the final mural image after it's unveiled at Spruce Meadows in Canada in September.

Welcome !

2008-07-16T07:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog and I hope you'll visit from time to time to see what's going on at Lakehill Studio. I'll be updating with artwork and news that can act as an embellishment of my Lakehill studio website. Here you'll get a little more information about what's going on with me and what's going on in my studio. That may be updates on small works or works in progress, painting tips and my adventures in the world of art and horses. I may venture outside that world occasionally....we'll see about that !