Hello All ! Still here...Still Painting!

It's been a while since I've updated this blog!  Covid 19 starting in 2020 pretty much explains that! I thought I'd post the Music Country Grand Prix paintings both from 2020 and 2021 to catch up.  The painting done for the Saddle Up! winner of the MCGP at Brownland Farm 2019 was David Jennings and Caddy R, Congrulations to both of them, what a team!

The second painting is from the winner of the 2020 MCGP, Kevin Mealiff and Marcos Vande Dude Heihoef..... It was fun to watch the event and see this team win despite the weird fact that no outside spectators were allowed that year.  That still seems so surreal. It was a cool, rainy, misty fall day....so unlike the usual spring dates.....but it was a joy to paint the background to reflect that particular day! Congratulations to Kevin and Marcos Vande dude Heihoef!

I'm currently working on the winner of the 2021 Grand Prix.....I'll update when it is finished! 

Saddle Up! and the 2019 Music Country Grand Prix

This year's painting for the Music country Grand Prix is a 20 x 24 oil on linen painting titled "Kirk Webby and Brando du Rouet".  Proceeds from this event go to the Saddle Up! therapeutic riding program in Franklin, TN.  It's a great day full of upper level competition from riders and horses from around the country.  For more info just go to www.musiccountrygrandprix.com

Another year at The Lipscomb Art Event in the books! 2019

Shown here is one of my new pieces shown at the Lipscomb Art Event in Nashville, TN a few weeks ago. "Harris Hawk" oil on canvas, 9 x 12.   A wonderful weekend meeting new friends and reconnecting with old friends at the wonderful McAdam center on the Lipscomb Academy campus.
See you all next year !

Ohio Valley Art League's 2018 Kentucky National Wildlife Art Exhibit

I'm very happy to get the news from the Ohio Valley Art League that my work titled "Winter Woods Elk" was accepted into this year's 2018 Kentucky National Wildlife Art Exhibit.  This national juried art show is held every two years at the Preston Arts Center in Henderson, Kentucky.  The opening reception and awards presentation will be held from 5 pm to 7 pm on Saturday October 20th 2018 in the Stagg Room at the Preston Arts Center. ( This painting is an 8 x 10 oil on linen RayMar board.)

Some Andalusian Happiness

A few years ago my husband and I took a wonderful trip to Spain.  We visited the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art.  What a beautiful day and a location steeped in history.  Having the chance to snap many reference shots of the training going on that day, I've been anxious to paint my impressions of the day.  This painting is titled "Andalusian Driving School".  It's a 16 x 20 oil on canvas and is currently available.  What an inspiring trip and this is only the first of many more paintings to come as a result!

Music City Grand Prix 2018

I am always honored to help support the Saddle UP! organization these past 5 years by providing the original oil painting of the winner of their $50,000 Music Country Grand Prix each spring. This year we have "Louise Graves and Zavira" spotlighted.  I appreciate that they embrace a piece of art for their advertising for this fundraising event.  The art is used for the advertising posters and invitations.  The painting is then auctioned to raise funds.  Here is a link to the website where you can have your questions answered about what, where, and when for this year's Music Country Grand Prix and to learn more about Saddle UP! therapeutic riding Programs.  I'm looking forward to seeing who I'll get to paint for next year!
                                                 
                                                                                                                                                            www.musiccountrygrandprix.com

Another Fun Weekend at the Art Event at Lipscomb 2018

The Art Event at Lipscomb was held in their brand new facility on campus and the artists and patrons enjoyed a wonderful light filled roomy venue for the 2018 fundraiser.
Thank you Lipscomb volunteers for your professional and friendly treatment of your artists and all the hard work that goes into a weekend such as this.  Here is just one of the 9 paintings that found new homes at the show this year.  "Swanlake" 9 x 12 oil on canvas.  SOLD. 

Gloria's Boaz

It was more than a pleasure to work with Gloria and John Cooper to do a portrait of one of their Norwegian Fjord horses.  This was a small 6 x 8 sized canvas, however the presence of their personality plus "Boaz" filled the space!  It was fun to have the chance to paint a Fjord as I have not had that opportunity in the past.  Their horses seem to have that wonderful Fjord lovable personality for which they are so well known.  What fun that day was to see their farm that has been in the family for over 100 years. 

Music Country Grand Prix 2017

Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 3^rd for the 29^th Annual Music Country Grand Prix  at the beautiful Brownland Farm in Franklin, TN

 This is a premier equestrian show jumping event benefitting “Saddle Up!” Therapeutic Riding Programs.

 Seen here is my oil painting of last year’s winner, “David Jennings and Donegue”  (inspired by a photo reference by Lili Weik.)

Want to attend ?  For more information call 615-794-1150 or go to www.musiccountrygrandprix.com

One week until 2017 Lipscomb Academy Art Event!

Happy to be included again in the Lipscomb Academy Art Event here in Nashville.  It will be held over the weekend of Feb 3 – 5 at Lipscomb Academy on at 3901 Granny White Pike.  Here is the link for more information:

https://www.lipscomb.edu/advancement/the-art-event

Shown above is fresh off the easel and headed to the Art Event.  Titled “A Familiar Path” and is a 16 x 20 oil on canvas.  Many thanks to the Fox family that occasionally takes up residence in my own backyard…great inspiration!  

Mary Lynne Walker and Coach

This painting was a surprise for Mary Lynne Walker from her husband Brian Johnson (who by the way, just celebrated their one year anniversary!) 

Mary Lynne and Brian are avid foxhunters.  Brian really thought ahead on this one.  He worked with me to get the right painting that he had in his imagination onto the canvas.  Here is Mary Lynne and her now retired horse , Coach.  She is wearing her colors earned as a staff member of Beechgrove Hunt here in Tennessee.  Many wishes for happy hunting for them both in the years to come!

"Divine Fortune, Loving His Job"

It's been a year since the Steeplechasing world lost one of their stars.  Following Divine Fortune and his many victories and watching the heart and soul of a champion here at the Iroquois Race Day was a privilege over these past years.  I'm so glad I got to follow his story even though from afar.  I had a chance to see how much this horse was LOVED by Keri Brion Wolfsont and all of his connections.  I only had a chance to experience Fortune from behind the lens of my camera, but he was an inspiration. When I had some time to choose a painting that I wanted to do and was not commissioned to do....I knew it had to be Divine Fortune.  So here he is, inspired by that rainy day here in Nashville with Darren Nagle riding....ears up and ready to run.

Music Country Grand Prix for SADDLE UP!

Here is my oil on linen painting of Colleen Acosta and Diamond.  They were last year's winners of the Music Country Grand Prix at Brownland Farm in Franklin, TN.  This Saturday will be the 2016 Music Country Grand Prix again...a wonderful event to support SADDLE UP! Nashville's premier therapeutic Riding program located in Franklin, TN.  It may be a little rainy this weekend, but that never stops horse lovers, we all know that!  Find your rain boots and come on out and support this worthy cause!

Fresh off my Easel... Bay My Hero and William Fox Pitt

I was able to finish this painting before Rolex after all!  It is a 16 x 20 Oil on linen. It was inspired by seeing this winning team compete at Rolex in 2014. 

Carol Gee of Fernhill Sport Horses introduced me to Catherine Witt a few years ago after Parklane Hawke's win at Rolex. This was a painting that I wanted so much to complete as I'm a big fan of Catherine Witt's horses ( in this case Bay My Hero) and William Fox Pitt. I am hoping this painting acts as a big shout out for his continued success as he comes back into competition after his injury last year. 

Eventers are T O U G H and resilient athletes and an inspiration to us all for working through life's ups and downs. Best of luck and safe trips to all our competitors this year!

More Wise words...this time from Richard Schmid.....

"If what you choose to paint comes from the heart, and you are skillful enough, it will resonate somehow within someone else.  It is absurd to imagine that the magnitude of a work is somehow connected to the accepted importance of its subject (or the artist)...  Let your subject come from within you and be a simple act of sharing .  In a sense, every work you do is a self-portrait because your paintings always reveal more about you than about your subject.  Your experience of something, not the something itself, is the true underlying subject of every work you do.  Ultimately, that is how your work, or that of any other artist, will be judged."   

Richard Schmid

Wise words from artist William Wendt

This past week I found myself feeling introspective concerning my art and how it fits into a business model.  As so often happens, words appear before us that really resonate with what is going on in our minds.  For me it was a quote from William Wendt, an early california impressionist painter (1865-1946).

" The true artist does not paint to please the public...but he holds the interest of all who think, for a work of art expresses the mind of the workman."

The LIpscomb Art Event 2016

Happy new year!  There is something about January that I really love, a whole year looming ahead, fresh starts and that sort of thing. Right now I'm at work getting all new pieces ready for the Lipscomb Academy Art Event in Nashville coming up on the weekend of February 12 - 14, 2016.
Come on out and say hello!

The painting shown here is one I'll have there this year...titled "Gaucho Leading the Leader", a 16 x 20 oil on linen.  It was inspired by a recent trip to Argentina with the Criollo horses and the Gauchos outside of Buenos Aires. This is the first of a series I'd like to do with that theme.

A few small paintings currently at Midtown Gallery in Nashville

 Are you looking for small gift sized oil paintings priced under $200 (including frame) for some last minute Christmas gifts for that special art loving person in your life?  Hop on down to Midtown Gallery in Nashville and you'll find these paintings, all 5"x7" original oils ready to find a place under someone's tree.

"Chula Homa Hound Study"

"Fawn Study"

"Sweet Baby Bells"

"Woodpecker Study"

"Softness of a Rose"

Portrait of Khuryia

The most recent painting off of my easel....a portrait of "Khuryia", a much loved Arabian commissioned by her owner Tracey Kujawa, director of Angel Heart Farm in Tennessee.

Two more weeks until....THE MUSIC COUNTRY GRAND PRIX !

The $40,000 2015 Music Country Grand Prix is in just two weeks!  What a fun afternoon full of activities for all ages at Brownland Farm in Franklin, Tn.  Nashville folks...mark your calendars and plan to be there!

Shown here is the oil painting that I completed for the advertising image for this year's event.  It was inspired by a photograph taken by Lili Weik and shows last year's winners of the Grand Prix, "Quattro" and Daniel Bedoya.

The gates open along with the silent auction and "People Prix" at 3:30 pm on Saturday May 30.  The Grand Prix itself starts at 5p.m. Rain or shine.  It's a great way to have a wonderful afternoon with friends and family while supporting Nashville's premier therapeutic Riding program, "SADDLE UP!"

For more information call 615-794-1150