I've hardly told you yet about our impromptu horse painting session. The O.H. R.A.T.S. club (Old Hudson River Art and Truth Society) convened recently to paint horses and donkeys at the Southlands Foundation farm in Rhinebeck, New York.
Garin Baker, Susan Daly Voss, Kevin Ferrara, and my wife Jeanette wanted to try to walk in the hoofprints of some of our equine-painting heroes, especially Heinrich von Zügel and Sir Alfred Munnings. (Thanks, Christoph for finding this amazing photo of Mr. Von Z and his students.)
The farmer, Lenny Miller, posed with Turk, a prize Belgian gelding, while the stableboy Cody held two donkeys. Here's Kev painting Joy. Our session lasted an hour and a half, with breaks for Turk to walk around and blow off steam.
Garin got so interested in Lenny as a subject that he wants to come back and do his portrait -- never mind Turk!
The experience was challenging and electrifying— especially with the guinea hens screaming in our ears. Someone once said that painting live animals is the Mount Everest of plein air painting. I agree, and I feel like I barely got past base camp.
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Doherty's Plein Air Newsletter
Doherty's article on Munnings
The Southlands Foundation hosts the 4H club. Thanks, Lenny and Cody.
Previously on GurneyJourney:
Joy the donkey
Painting Turk in watercolor pencils and gouache
H. von Zuegel
Doherty's article on Munnings
The Southlands Foundation hosts the 4H club. Thanks, Lenny and Cody.
Previously on GurneyJourney:
Joy the donkey
Painting Turk in watercolor pencils and gouache
H. von Zuegel
10 comments:
Sounds like a lot of fun - what a great day, and a lovely painting. A question about the OHRATS club - is the truth part absolutely essential??
(smiling broadly)
xoxo
Vicki, we haven't printed the T-shirts yet. It could still be the Old Hudson River Art and Taco Society, but we haven't found a good enough taco joint near here.
Truth! Art and Truth go together very nicely for me! Ideally, of course. On the other hand, a good Taco will go with just about anything. Looks like a challenging and fun painting time with the animals. Thanks for sharing.
Very cool. Drawing live animals makes you really appreciate the old masters. They didn't have photos to work from. One time I was on a farm and thought it would be great to draw the horses. I found myself practically running along the fence with my sketchbook because the horse kept moving!
It does sound like a great time - not just painting the animals, but the camaraderie of other artists.
You never really realize just how much "in motion" animals constantly are until you try to draw or paint them. I struggle with this constantly with my dogs. I get tired of sketching sleeping dogs!
First Larry the Iron Worker, now Turk the Belgian. You guys have been contemplating some serious musculature lately. Love the bluish shadow in the valley between flank and thigh of Turk.
This is some challenging subject you choose to paint in two different styles too! Love the light and warm tones in the first one and the simplicity in the watercolor like rendering.
Imagine having to paint in a suit and tie like the days of old! James looks so comfortable in his t-shirt.
Those are really nice sketches. Beautiful color schems in the first one , lovely linework in the second one... makes me want to go out and paint!
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