tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19236037863098777742024-03-05T10:44:56.795-05:00 Drawing On Life; The Art of Karen Baker ThummJoin me for insights into the life of an equestrian artist as I create art in my studio and en plein air. Horses have been my passion from childhood, so they are my most prolific creative muses.Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.comBlogger229125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-89278408018352436412021-09-14T17:51:00.000-04:002021-09-14T17:51:24.581-04:00Horse Comission Gone Wrong<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwFug8ixoYauxT6QDKWR4XmE_x6uloQzAX-MS0LjisqflicHCXPkP3t6NqYVKJHA3cLRiNbdVIBagDP-UGSvY2CqhZO4E-BgIJ7MEcUkAOAvTflBGdzOWFSuw-7UI9rJcHWJd-WOIN6M/s729/surfrunners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="729" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwFug8ixoYauxT6QDKWR4XmE_x6uloQzAX-MS0LjisqflicHCXPkP3t6NqYVKJHA3cLRiNbdVIBagDP-UGSvY2CqhZO4E-BgIJ7MEcUkAOAvTflBGdzOWFSuw-7UI9rJcHWJd-WOIN6M/s320/surfrunners.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><i> "Surf Runners"</i></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I had a hint in the very beginning that this commission wasn’t going to go smoothly. When I first spoke to the woman on the phone, there was no hint of friendliness or even cordiality, just a very standoffish tone and words. “This is what I want. Can you do it?”</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What she wanted was a pencil drawing of two Arabian horses running on a beach from left to right. One was to be a stallion and the other a mare. The drawing was to be used to etch a large mirror. I got right to work looking for references of horses running since there were no photographs provided for this project. Since I’m not an Arabian artist, the only photographs I had in my own morgue files were of Thoroughbreds racing. I did some thumbnail sketches and came up with two sketches I liked that would work well together. Then I set to work on the preliminary drawing, changing those Thoroughbreds into Arabians as best I could. After completing it, I sent it to the client for approval, and waited anxiously.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The word soon came; she didn’t approve.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGOge89aeOYM2-HhSxUgQal2jbLBul6ZxXjy2tV1m9Ma3Jqqksoh5UlC3w2OtpoLnAP5guI4cuLOcqTSJx0Si6ZCXw6TZY0f6y9UMctVI97PWy2235ipnm2-RH4Gl7GpTsyjzdd2T6rc/s841/surfrunners-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="841" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGOge89aeOYM2-HhSxUgQal2jbLBul6ZxXjy2tV1m9Ma3Jqqksoh5UlC3w2OtpoLnAP5guI4cuLOcqTSJx0Si6ZCXw6TZY0f6y9UMctVI97PWy2235ipnm2-RH4Gl7GpTsyjzdd2T6rc/s320/surfrunners-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Again, there was nothing friendly in her tone or words. Never having encountered anything like this from any of my other clients, I was puzzled. Most people are very friendly and open during the whole process.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The changes she wanted were a full out gallop depicted, higher more flowing tails, more “free spirit” feeling and less “playful’ feeling. I scrapped the first two horses and came up with two more which I thought fit better the feeling that she wanted. I sent her a second preliminary drawing and waited for her reply. It took a while for her to get back to me, and again she had changes to be made. Make the nostrils on the left horse more flared. Give the right horse a more intense expression in the eyes and mouth.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mVN0_44bShc7bwRyrMt90vkE9evxnitQvZ85WTgPCgOv6NKAZ1dR3VA7f9UfVHkOWw2vhYpxEE2dusajo_xN6Zdxn0BEAIcMibWLb_CmwDbguPQ5jgBcUY8LZyeq9gzQxDqNw96N4Eo/s841/surfrunners-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="841" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mVN0_44bShc7bwRyrMt90vkE9evxnitQvZ85WTgPCgOv6NKAZ1dR3VA7f9UfVHkOWw2vhYpxEE2dusajo_xN6Zdxn0BEAIcMibWLb_CmwDbguPQ5jgBcUY8LZyeq9gzQxDqNw96N4Eo/s320/surfrunners-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Again, no friendliness (or even annoyance!) in her voice.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This time, thinking the changes were minor, I went ahead and completed the final drawing and delivered it to her in person. Again, her demeanor and tone were very standoffish.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A short time later she called to tell me that they had decided to scrap the whole project and she would be returning the drawing. It was a bit of a blow to my ego at the time, but I soon realized there was no way this woman was going to be happy with anything I did. She had such a firm idea in her head of what she wanted that it would be difficult for any artist to please her, and I was certainly not that artist.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I’ve thought a few times over the years of doing this image over again with my own vision. I know which of these two designs I like better and which has potential to become a new painting. What do you think?</span></p>Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-38562294838078360872021-07-19T20:58:00.000-04:002021-07-19T20:58:34.792-04:00Looking Back; Looking Forward<div data-block="true" data-editor="7f4e7" data-offset-key="77su9-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="77su9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8YLo1wx9Z9l-vNjNHY_MTxbDABw2Q0Rn5TBKfqBFei-uDWzkcwb0t2aHWNR5c_LSU9aeI5dFKOScA2FOmMIRLDY9WefiB2CXoDFARhHB6pnWuaARbUkpKHo-BftdqAhzSacn0sRHjE4/s1176/misty-head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="751" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8YLo1wx9Z9l-vNjNHY_MTxbDABw2Q0Rn5TBKfqBFei-uDWzkcwb0t2aHWNR5c_LSU9aeI5dFKOScA2FOmMIRLDY9WefiB2CXoDFARhHB6pnWuaARbUkpKHo-BftdqAhzSacn0sRHjE4/s320/misty-head.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />What can I say? It’s been a tough three years.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><p></p><p class="p2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Three and a half years ago I said good bye to my horse and just haven’t found the right words to post here since. Probably some of you, my followers, have given up long ago and gone on your way. Frankly, I didn’t know how to follow that devastating post with anything uplifting and joyous. But it does deserve a follow up even if I’m writing only for myself.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the instant we left the barn for the last time after loading up my tack trunk, saddles, bridle, blankets and lunging whip, Barn Life and the community it engendered ended for me forever. In truth, barn life had diminished in the preceding two years as one by one my riding buddies gave up riding, except for one. The first one’s back no longer allowed her to ride without great pain, another was dealing with his own health issues, and a third sold her horse and devoted her time instead to her art. A fourth had moved away to pursue a degree in the medical field. Of the boarders, only Anne remained. Problem was she only came out after work once a week which was often too late for me, and I hated to burden her with riding the more flat trails for Scottie’s sake, knowing she liked more adventurous riding.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Meanwhile, I had my own health issues which kept me from being able to trek out into the hilly pastures to fetch Scottie and even to get on and off him. In fact, there were very few rides in his last years as it was. Perhaps, with his deteriorating health, it was for the best. But the loss of the companionship of my barn buddies, my only real friends, was as devastating as losing Scottie whom I knew was in a better place and no longer suffering. For over a year, it was a very difficult adjustment to make; from horse owner and life in a world of horses to being alone and an outsider.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The following year our five year old female rescue dog, who was my heart dog, became desperately ill. For five weeks we tried to save her but in the end had to let her go. This loss was far more devastating, and I mourn for her still, resenting the unfairness of it all; striking down a lively, beautiful, loving dog still in her prime.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And then the Year Of Covid came with its lockdowns and fears of the unknown future ahead of us. Truthfully, lockdown was no big deal for me since I work from home as it is. In fact, it was a relief to have an excuse NOT to go out among people, hermit that I am.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And then our twenty year old cat succumbed to her kidney disease, and we had to let her go, too. Rest In Peace, Mollykins.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtEmuMNAeKiRATnOuhE4sej1sbJydxJZFW25Dq0_-4CTEYpNXBLUSXa0z-PpySPn5rUUe907PVT6rZJMKWuJvHjOvsrrEN2b2ZqMiQZB1B3j0wJkVVLKKPZCWJf_Lm8lUb4idIs_EFWo/s864/molly-head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="864" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtEmuMNAeKiRATnOuhE4sej1sbJydxJZFW25Dq0_-4CTEYpNXBLUSXa0z-PpySPn5rUUe907PVT6rZJMKWuJvHjOvsrrEN2b2ZqMiQZB1B3j0wJkVVLKKPZCWJf_Lm8lUb4idIs_EFWo/w320-h253/molly-head.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p class="p2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So there it was, three losses in three years. I am thankful, however, that we didn’t lose anyone in our family or among our friends to the terrible ravages of Covid-19, and that is something to be very grateful for.</span></p><p class="p2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">During the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>past three years not much art has been created or worked on or even finished. Truthfully, my heart just isn’t into art at the moment. In the meantime, I’ve found another outlet for my creativity.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Back in the fifties, my father wrote a novel about his experiences in The War and about his life. He submitted it to a publisher who rejected it, he started to revise it and then gave up. I inherited his novel in all its forms and have begun copying it to my computer from the faded typed pages he composed so long ago. Being a journalist, he was an excellent typist. I am not. So the going has been slow as I squint at those old thin sheets of typing paper trying to decipher the text. I figure I owe it to him to get the book printed and possibly self-published and distributed to family members. In the process, I’m gaining a better understanding of the father from whom I kept my distance all my life, never fully understanding why.</span></p><p class="p2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As I’m working on my dad’s writing, the urge to compose my own stories has welled up. Long ago my third love after horses and art was writing. I took creative writing classes in both high school and college and did well but never pursued writing in any meaningful way.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It’s so good to feel enthusiastic about something again. Perhaps The Muse will also spread that enthusiasm and confidence to art some time soon.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: 14px;">
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Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-25577035461350279562018-03-09T13:26:00.001-05:002018-03-09T13:26:49.167-05:00My Muse, My Horse, My Scottie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4W_nFK4Sp7w_Pc5bUzgLe-7F_H9DNVjKixf790aDEJUNrk9R0VvTnTxAVNIAg_zXLKmALWEbW7kwDSn92OLNFoBheQmodPuhleTKDt532Tv4-ULH1OgRLQqhyPjnd00UJdkZTQpkJH9Q/s1600/young-scottie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="576" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4W_nFK4Sp7w_Pc5bUzgLe-7F_H9DNVjKixf790aDEJUNrk9R0VvTnTxAVNIAg_zXLKmALWEbW7kwDSn92OLNFoBheQmodPuhleTKDt532Tv4-ULH1OgRLQqhyPjnd00UJdkZTQpkJH9Q/s320/young-scottie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Two weeks ago today I lost the love of my life, my muse, my dream-come-true horse, my beloved Scottie.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Scottie had a long and well-loved life. I bought him as a still green four year old. I had just started riding lessons in middle age after many years away from horses. For you see, I'd had a bad riding accident when I was 13 which left me even more fearful of riding than I had already been. Soon after I gave up riding but never stopped loving horses. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">My lesson horse was Scottie, a very handsome sorrel Quarter Horse with a very laid back disposition. One thing led to another, and several weeks later I bought him at the urging of my riding instructor. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You would think that pairing a green horse with a timid rider would not have been a wise combination, but contrarily it turned out to be a perfect match. Not that those early years were easy. Scottie tested me in little ways; never truly naughty or dangerous ways but just willfulness. If I insisted long enough he gave in and did my bidding. Sometimes I went to the barn with a churning stomach full of butterflies. Sometimes I came home thinking of selling him and giving up on horses again. But, I never did, and in the end it was a confidence building experience for me. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7W2MGBZDN5rJR_D2X5qOYY3A1bQ2wLSBlxJzuM5vqYmfThyphenhyphenUvkz7ICG5yYOBJTo83rB1PTdKhbLYO2BB291tDYfiXGymAG7lxHnsIuxaNd0uvbglNAEegacHNm2Hm5wXdyMKsX1EZNnc/s1600/scott-saddled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="576" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7W2MGBZDN5rJR_D2X5qOYY3A1bQ2wLSBlxJzuM5vqYmfThyphenhyphenUvkz7ICG5yYOBJTo83rB1PTdKhbLYO2BB291tDYfiXGymAG7lxHnsIuxaNd0uvbglNAEegacHNm2Hm5wXdyMKsX1EZNnc/s320/scott-saddled.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Through the years we took riding lessons sporadically, mostly of the classical dressage nature and gradually became a perfectly matched team. Scottie liked to work but not too hard. He was rarely a horse you had to hold back; mostly he was a horse you had to put out a lot of effort to get to work a little harder. But he always tried. He was always a perfect gentleman. Never once in the 28 years I owned him did he ever buck or refuse to work at all unless he was in a lot of pain. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu90zLp5Q5Qf0GAIDLhv1Aal_054pkTA4VKNYAUxQsorGevFb8EOWbTo4mhmAuEgSKW_c-824HLwGTMnzybv3Zk7IRMNGU6QhDu72OhZCtI3upAEb_wY54KT-g6kS1k1zWakAnXa11-kc/s1600/trailride-8-10b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="504" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu90zLp5Q5Qf0GAIDLhv1Aal_054pkTA4VKNYAUxQsorGevFb8EOWbTo4mhmAuEgSKW_c-824HLwGTMnzybv3Zk7IRMNGU6QhDu72OhZCtI3upAEb_wY54KT-g6kS1k1zWakAnXa11-kc/s320/trailride-8-10b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYopRXpRSGnb0aQAcnynmHb7YkJXQeSBnz2xETQpLPAnq3yaR8Uy9nfowmRzdy2ucvwnAZlp_voukcyHvUE6vgX3o3lGAHDdJ8w8J1uSnpJXLbLaKIWAVv_1nxK3_MfYaVDSVgyuJQcHQ/s1600/trailride-8-10c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="504" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYopRXpRSGnb0aQAcnynmHb7YkJXQeSBnz2xETQpLPAnq3yaR8Uy9nfowmRzdy2ucvwnAZlp_voukcyHvUE6vgX3o3lGAHDdJ8w8J1uSnpJXLbLaKIWAVv_1nxK3_MfYaVDSVgyuJQcHQ/s320/trailride-8-10c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Most of all, Scottie loved to go on trail rides. And so did I. In the early years we boarded at different farms where we had access to trails and people to ride with. Twenty two years ago I found a private farm which took in a few specially selected boarders of a mature age and whose owners had the same horse care philosophy that I did. It had an indoor arena for winter riding and miles and miles of very hilly trails for fun the rest of the year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That's where Scottie spent his last years, and he loved it there. He found a best buddy to play "wild stallion" with. He lived in a herd on pasture year round where he could eat grass and good quality hay to his heart's content. Most of all, he loved grass. There were run-in sheds and the big indoor arena where the horses could come in away from the flies and sun or snow or pelting rain. It was idyllic for any horse and a very healthy environment. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxBreeHCygQ4U9hePTX2ShBX4tA3WFISzVIW_Hzu-cV4WgWzCvpL5ebiL7C_T-vJZETDhwGq6Qvgwa51BRizUdoE34cfz-rdCZRMCipzFOEJootesctqpTG2U6XZ8V-VwGo8clyku9zw/s1600/fallride-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="432" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxBreeHCygQ4U9hePTX2ShBX4tA3WFISzVIW_Hzu-cV4WgWzCvpL5ebiL7C_T-vJZETDhwGq6Qvgwa51BRizUdoE34cfz-rdCZRMCipzFOEJootesctqpTG2U6XZ8V-VwGo8clyku9zw/s320/fallride-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was idyllic for me, too. With new barn friends close to my own age, we rode the trails together often and had many adventures. Some of those trails were really steep and scary to this still timid rider, but Scottie always took care of me, negotiating them with nary a misstep. Sometimes we went off trails through the woods, dodging tree branches, shoving them out of the way and stepping over downed tree limbs and other brush. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The years took its toll on both of us. I developed debilitating leg and knee problems which kept me from the barn and from riding regularly. Scottie developed Cushings disease and as a result suffered a severe sinus infection that threatened his life. A trip to Michigan State University Large Animal Clinic saved his life and revealed he had severe periodontal disease. From then on he was under the care of a veterinarian dental specialist. He lost most of his teeth, and the rest were worn down to the gums. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As a result of his dental problems, Scottie could no longer chew hay and lost weight. A year ago I retired him and retired myself from riding. In spite of massive amounts of grain daily, Scottie lost weight rapidly this winter. He developed another bad abscessed tooth infection. His liver was failing, and sometimes he couldn't get up on his own after lying down. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">At the end, the decision I'd dreaded making for so many years was an easy, but sad, one to make. It was time to let Scottie go. It was the kindest thing we could do for him. He was tired and suffering and giving up. We put him down in the arena surrounded and comforted by the two people he loved most in the world. We told him it was okay to go now, and he slipped away peacefully. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Scottie is buried up on a hill in the pasture along with his herd mates Jack and Mellissa and Stutz. Mikey will join them eventually. From there you can see almost all of the farm. I think he will like it there. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBhBCJZ9u2a7NmhjU1Px9mGfHnnmQPJ2T21xqwTbK6apCoERqkAHPqidhpJWbX8X2JIMa4P3HB1GlfboaMHy8HF816jy2-pvfU2W1ti7O_0jXgWb6dmIL2-QBJi0iFYz56ZNGdBVyCB8/s1600/mydreamsstudy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="432" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBhBCJZ9u2a7NmhjU1Px9mGfHnnmQPJ2T21xqwTbK6apCoERqkAHPqidhpJWbX8X2JIMa4P3HB1GlfboaMHy8HF816jy2-pvfU2W1ti7O_0jXgWb6dmIL2-QBJi0iFYz56ZNGdBVyCB8/s320/mydreamsstudy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-63108706744992986482017-06-09T11:55:00.000-04:002017-06-23T07:34:42.963-04:00"You're Fired!" Thank Goodness!<span style="font-size: small;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeXFSLOnjX48uqBcw2ZiZjA7szSdalfQS_5YsjoCnqEoGj2yk_PQHv6yWqgOTVV2d-ZyNyWwhxS3199b3b6IY_nP5EPymmw5WGz3SKD4n2nKpkndtA99q-qtzmMi6mQXHQUCp-7AmyTI/s1600/huntley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeXFSLOnjX48uqBcw2ZiZjA7szSdalfQS_5YsjoCnqEoGj2yk_PQHv6yWqgOTVV2d-ZyNyWwhxS3199b3b6IY_nP5EPymmw5WGz3SKD4n2nKpkndtA99q-qtzmMi6mQXHQUCp-7AmyTI/s320/huntley.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Huntley" one of my early pet portraits</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you've ever been through this ordeal, you know that being fired from a job can be a humiliating and demoralizing experience. But, sometimes it turns out to be the best thing that could have happened to you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Right out of art school I got a job with a billboard company as a keyliner. As it turned out the job entailed more than that. My boss also gave me billboard design jobs to do along with the keylines for billboards. Keylines are boards that contain the type and artwork that are used by the painters when sizing up the designs onto huge billboard panels to be painted. Everything has to be accurate and precise because any tiny mistake on the keyline is magnified many times on the huge billboard panels. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Designing and doing the layouts is much more exciting and rewarding. We were given a few guidelines, like the text to be included and the images wanted and then it was up to us to arrange everything in an eye catching design. A billboard has three seconds to grab the attention of drivers passing by. We used a type setting machine for the type and created color layouts of the designs using markers, just as I had been taught in art school. I loved working with markers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There were only three of us in the art department in a tiny upstairs studio at Dingeman Advertising in Traverse City. We listened to NPR on the radio a lot, and I particularly remember one day listening to a reading of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" as we worked. It was one of those mesmerizing magic moments that you never forget. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It came as a shock, then, when my boss's boss instructed her to fire me for being too slow. It wasn't that it wasn't deserved and that I hadn't been warned, but it was still a shock. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It took me maybe half a day to get over the shock and to embrace a new way forward. Being fired gave me the freedom to do freelance design work which quickly broadened into a pet portrait business. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I returned to riding after a thirty year absence and bought a horse, pet portraits expanded into horse portraits. It wasn't long before I was creating equine fine art too, going to horse shows and horse expos with my booth and entering juried art shows. The rest is history, as they say. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">After several years of doing freelance design work, I realized it wasn't where my heart was nor where I was most skilled. I gave it up and concentrated on using my graphic design skills to design my own marketing materials and a website for the fine art business. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULfMEAQC6jfDXnrPRSjkE7_1Z4pb5N8jPmtQ3dOog8vhubxcG-lUhd1EY9hKz_FQA7itKA6-8AECLVu5LuADi5Ax20hAVhyphenhyphengPQ2N_Rl-Jl_0sWiQ-sazbzHfVgcto3Jmihyphenhyphen9LQ0gjJ9A/s1600/lavender-light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULfMEAQC6jfDXnrPRSjkE7_1Z4pb5N8jPmtQ3dOog8vhubxcG-lUhd1EY9hKz_FQA7itKA6-8AECLVu5LuADi5Ax20hAVhyphenhyphengPQ2N_Rl-Jl_0sWiQ-sazbzHfVgcto3Jmihyphenhyphen9LQ0gjJ9A/s320/lavender-light.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Lavender Light" a college art still life</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If I hadn't been fired all those years ago, all of this might not have happened, or at least it would have been delayed for who knows how long. So, today I am grateful for being let go from a job that I wasn't suited for in the first place. Today I celebrate my long career as a fine artist and occasional illustrator. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today I am fulfilled. </span>Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-13111134197452716162017-04-22T17:55:00.000-04:002017-04-22T17:56:08.345-04:00Stepping Stone Art #2; "Spring Lamb" painting<span style="font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTUzyQTTvHkUe5VDe-wjXQrsXZyQz7jOKotHkXI1cRSY1A0iobfmRFTlj-yKgpVKChiViquCIgRMnSOFDEgzTfO9gf514n2ieySybcoaRNbN1fXeiSKhLnZQxsf8-Kmgw2PtM5ERZbPs/s1600/lamb-framed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTUzyQTTvHkUe5VDe-wjXQrsXZyQz7jOKotHkXI1cRSY1A0iobfmRFTlj-yKgpVKChiViquCIgRMnSOFDEgzTfO9gf514n2ieySybcoaRNbN1fXeiSKhLnZQxsf8-Kmgw2PtM5ERZbPs/s320/lamb-framed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Spring Lamb" 8x10 oil painting on linen canvas panel</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I guess by now it's no secret that I've been in a bit of a creative slump for some time now. There is no need to dredge up the reasons for said slump; something akin to airing one's dirty laundry in public; so we'll just proceed as if there hasn't been one. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This little painting was recently completed and is now in an art show at a local restaurant. I started it several years ago as just a quick study, worked on it a little last Fall, but then holiday duties took precedence and it was set aside - again. After that came end of year business tasks and then tax season which left the little painting once again languishing on the studio wall. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Several weeks ago I was asked to donate art to an art show benefit event for the animal rescue from which we adopted our dogs two years ago. I jumped at the chance and immediately thought of the lamb painting which was sure to be an appealing image that would hopefully earn some much-needed funds for the rescue. Down from the wall came the painting and onto the easel it went. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpI3_5XcuM7-pb0RH0tGDY2g3qiRBENv9lG9cyYgS2vx6MYasXZW3-rl9FTWWfkg7H8Jwu_2E8YWeJ_lj7viq_e09ILIsFHTiDtC2Bd3T4RyOOM6TxDq6oyqT-QvgZBGvgGAxRlk4lw-k/s1600/lamb-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpI3_5XcuM7-pb0RH0tGDY2g3qiRBENv9lG9cyYgS2vx6MYasXZW3-rl9FTWWfkg7H8Jwu_2E8YWeJ_lj7viq_e09ILIsFHTiDtC2Bd3T4RyOOM6TxDq6oyqT-QvgZBGvgGAxRlk4lw-k/s320/lamb-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where I started from to finish the painting</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, many artists will tell you that most paintings have their difficult moments during creation when nothing seems to be working and the artist considers junking the whole project. Being an artist is not all Fun and Games as the general public seems to think. But once in a while a painting almost paints itself. The studio is in harmonious abandon, and there is much joy in the heart of the artist. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Such was the case with this little painting. The lamb was partly painted already so I proceeded to finish it while making a few corrections as I went. Even the corrections went smoothly. I didn't have to wipe out and redo any troublesome areas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">All the while I had no idea how I was going to finish the background. Should I leave it as an unfinished toned area or should I try for a full landscape? Up until the very minute I started on the background I wasn't sure what to do. Taking a risk, I decided to try for a full background and see how it went. After all, I could wipe it out if it didn't work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wonder of wonders, the background practically painted itself! At every moment it told me what it needed, and when it was done the result was very pleasing and complementary to the lamb. Over all, I am very pleased with this painting, the first one I've finished in a very long time. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hGFz9xZpcBIhM7hLfX4yJKmsNfkUVxFEXHwaV-7NXkPVp0xIlbkmPbgZDDtk4nKOOR1tZsDuU2gme8MH3RaAcBOH-hSdbr1bhmMc53qPrITgc-EU5DWFJUiMfweDDWgHA1UJridMnic/s1600/lamb-closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hGFz9xZpcBIhM7hLfX4yJKmsNfkUVxFEXHwaV-7NXkPVp0xIlbkmPbgZDDtk4nKOOR1tZsDuU2gme8MH3RaAcBOH-hSdbr1bhmMc53qPrITgc-EU5DWFJUiMfweDDWgHA1UJridMnic/s320/lamb-closeup.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of the lamb</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think my creative block has finally broken, and I'm ready to move forward once again. Perhaps that polar bear I started last year? That should be a challenge!</span><br />
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Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-65747696219655591012016-08-07T13:57:00.000-04:002016-08-07T13:57:20.579-04:00Stepping Stone #1; "Morgana", a Morgan Horse Drawing<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEw2AnBhVlX1ht3TiSFWwUTzzmq5Y6WMwrx6937I1v-q0v1C3S-EsCn3Q0XaOMjsrFvh9OFsn8bhi9uK4owSqGVLd_fBkZT6e_6g3ADofSwRj5qYBJsO0-DYnxa99sdXPiKksZzeRd-E/s1600/morgana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEw2AnBhVlX1ht3TiSFWwUTzzmq5Y6WMwrx6937I1v-q0v1C3S-EsCn3Q0XaOMjsrFvh9OFsn8bhi9uK4owSqGVLd_fBkZT6e_6g3ADofSwRj5qYBJsO0-DYnxa99sdXPiKksZzeRd-E/s320/morgana.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Morgana", graphite pencil drawing, Morgan mare</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After several more hours and many revisions to the drawing, "Morgana", I am declaring it finished. It is the first piece of art (other than sketches) that I've completed in over two years, so its significance can't be under estimated. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Morgana" will be my first finished piece of art in the Stepping Stone series; a series of paintings and drawings that will help me to become actively creative again after a creative block of several years. Not only was it a confidence boosting drawing but also a learning experience. Here is some of what I learned:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. Choose the paper support wisely before beginning to draw. I fought this utilitarian drawing paper from the beginning. It has very little "tooth"to grab onto the graphite and proved very difficult to get the darks as dark as I wanted them. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. Measure twice; draw once. I began the drawing sitting on the couch watching TV, holding the sketchbook on my lap while holding the reference photo in my left hand. I eye balled the proportions and angles rather than measuring them, and they were off in several places. I didn't discover this until the drawing was finished. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. Don't proceed with the drawing/painting until you're sure that the initial outline drawing is absolutely accurate. After that, corrections are very difficult if not impossible. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4. Size matters. If this is to be something more than a quick sketch, draw it larger or enlarge the outline drawing on a copy machine or computer. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5. If your reference is a small 4x6 inch photo, scan it at a high resolution and enlarge it on the computer. Either work from a computer screen or print out the enlarged photo. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfXG8pPMdFuu5YpiKr85Qii5UiysPaTmZpPzBM6f5M4-SWxQ_4TR07-YRA2DBbMLN-KM67LQDY7XCOVjdEuX2vrJFE9jScyzAZgnsrCw-xaR86_ooAE1ofXdq49r8XxDRgL5E6JYwqBs/s1600/Morgana-ref.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfXG8pPMdFuu5YpiKr85Qii5UiysPaTmZpPzBM6f5M4-SWxQ_4TR07-YRA2DBbMLN-KM67LQDY7XCOVjdEuX2vrJFE9jScyzAZgnsrCw-xaR86_ooAE1ofXdq49r8XxDRgL5E6JYwqBs/s320/Morgana-ref.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">reference photo for the drawing, "Morgana"</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This latter point was the most telling lesson of all. I didn't scan the photo until the drawing was done and did so only to show you what the reference was like. When I opened the image on the computer screen and saw it enlarged by zooming in, I could see far more detail than I had been able to see in that small 4x6 inch photo print. It was a real Ahah! moment to realize how much detail I had missed putting into the drawing. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But, that's okay. Lessons learned, and that is the whole purpose of the Stepping Stone series; to build confidence and build skills through DOING. At the same time, I'm scraping off some of the rust of the inactive years and awakening again skills and lessons learned in the past. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What will I tackle for Stepping Stone #2? Check back to find out. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thank you, as always, for your interest and support.</span></span>Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-44698326076777927672016-07-28T10:12:00.000-04:002016-07-28T10:14:13.607-04:00New Drawing; "Morgana"<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QQzcphSfy0eXAQnI1lBJ1X7EFRupVpSAG7xbSuFG21C9UvQdvl_LyMaQ-0BnZfu0xAult_K9nx6uKPtJFuwOsv4ckm7IXP2Sr71W9GhKMfWbLyosMg-c4xHjniqeH-A1A8Rj2VwtAog/s1600/morgana-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QQzcphSfy0eXAQnI1lBJ1X7EFRupVpSAG7xbSuFG21C9UvQdvl_LyMaQ-0BnZfu0xAult_K9nx6uKPtJFuwOsv4ckm7IXP2Sr71W9GhKMfWbLyosMg-c4xHjniqeH-A1A8Rj2VwtAog/s320/morgana-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Morgana" pencil drawing of a Morgan Mare</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">watching</span> the Democratic National Convention this week, I've been working on this drawing in one of my sketch books. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As reference, I'm using a photograph taken several years ago at a Morgan horse farm. Her name was Lady, and she was a broodmare. In fact, she is the mother of Bullet, the Morgan colt that I've painted twice. The reference photo shows her with mouth open eating hay; a not very flattering picture. The challenge was to change the mouth, and I'm quite pleased with how well that turned out.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The drawing needs a lot more work. I will keep working on it to get it as close to the photograph and artistically pleasing as I can, keeping in mind balancing the values. It will be excellent practice in building up my "seeing" muscles again after such a long layoff. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, here you have "Morgana". The drawing is not big; about 6x6 inches done in graphite mostly with a 6B pencil and a little with an Ebony pencil to get the darks more dark. It has a ways to go. Already I can see about ten things that need to be corrected. It will be posted again when it's finished. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've always loved to draw and used to do it endlessly as a kid. I'm really enjoying getting back to my drawing roots again and will be doing more of it from now on as part of my Stepping Stones project of rehabilitation and building up confidence in my artistic abilities again. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Please let me know what you think of this new drawing (remember, it's not finished yet).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank you for stopping by.</span></span>Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-34499694469795451392016-05-18T17:33:00.000-04:002016-05-18T17:56:11.246-04:00Closing a Door and Opening Another?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8atB1jRH5u_8FMQ5eOw0XwwEZhtvvhK-3sxOn8cO6rZ7-kQFUaCZA-LiAxbWPdUKenUoDZARJoFkjH5E5udpVmB6bjEHGDK45fGSBpAVOPdxzL6Gqy1DbBH-7NtUHOrnFWw4l9EewGg/s1600/feelfine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8atB1jRH5u_8FMQ5eOw0XwwEZhtvvhK-3sxOn8cO6rZ7-kQFUaCZA-LiAxbWPdUKenUoDZARJoFkjH5E5udpVmB6bjEHGDK45fGSBpAVOPdxzL6Gqy1DbBH-7NtUHOrnFWw4l9EewGg/s320/feelfine.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Feel So Fine" springtime foal is now home and available for purchase. </span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: normal;">For several years I've had my artwork in a very nice shop in the nearby small village of Central Lake. It started out as mainly a consignment shop for local artists and craftsmen, but over the years the shop has transitioned into more and more stocking commercially made very tasteful home decor and clothing. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had good sales in this shop for quite a few years, but in the past 2-3 sales fell off considerably to almost nothing. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">This past week the owner of the shop called to ask if I wanted to come get my artwork, and I readily agreed. It was something I had been intending to do for months but hadn't gotten around to. With sales so low and the shop no longer emphasizing local artists and craftsmen, it didn't make much sense to leave the art languishing in the recesses of a side room where many visitors didn't go. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday I picked up the original art, prints and the few note cards that were left. No one had told the young clerk, who was alone in the shop, that I might be coming in or where to find my art. It took her a long time to find it in their back room, and not all of it could be found in the whole shop! I had kept very careful records of what was in the shop and what had sold over the years so arrived with my own inventory list of what SHOULD have been there. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">If I had any regrets about leaving the shop they were quickly dispelled. Remembering that although the owner, an animal lover, had always expressed great admiration for my art, the woman she later hired to order the merchandise and approve the art and do the displays did not seem to share her enthusiasm. More than once I found original paintings of mine hidden behind lamps, and when I stopped in last year, I no longer had my own designated print rack; in fact my prints were nowhere out to be seen. Is it any wonder that none were selling? This was a big hint that it was time to go. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">At this point my feelings are very mixed but mainly positive about this "loss" of gallery representation. Merry was very good to me over the years, and sales were good when I had given up other marketing outlets like art fairs and horse expos. In some years, the shop was my only source of income. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now that the art is home, some pieces will be available to show to honest to goodness local galleries where actual art buyers will be looking for their next purchase. That will be a better fit for me at this point, and that is my near term goal. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">That is the door I hope to open. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-34543965405683783512016-04-12T15:51:00.000-04:002016-04-12T19:36:44.627-04:00New Painting; Polar Bear<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First layer of color on new painting</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have begun a new painting; the first in a very long time. It's a simple painting set up mostly to be non threatening, non intimidating and fairly easy. It's the first in what I'm going to call my Stepping Stone series, a series of new paintings designed to resurrect my failed artistic confidence and get me enthusiastic, confident and prolific once again. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A famous artist once said (and I'm paraphrasing) "Behind every masterful artist are a lot of failures". That quote has stuck with me as I've struggled to get back into the game. I briefly considered calling new paintings "failures", but that seemed self defeating. Why declare a work of art a failure before it's even begun? Why bother putting much effort into it if it's destined to be a failure anyway? So, I've settled on considering them stepping stones on the path forward that I'm building for myself. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back to that new painting. Some time ago I bought a rather large plastic polar bear at Michaels, intending to use it as a model some day. It seemed like a good place to start with the first stepping stone in my series, a rather easy form to draw as compared to a horse or wolf or human. Stacking a couple of boxes of appropriate size, I set up a still life stand on top of a tray table next to my easel, covered the boxes with a bath towel and placed the polar bear on top, choosing a pleasing angle for his "portrait". </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPYSa6Icy3wUlfTv5cNfKdhPNPckt13aAmflbqwda87_KWGg-LcPmEqnCkJP9sJo8cB_LaKE_9x9ShZQ-lN9SpccuAZootdhJlKXzhJmM1qTVKT5Q-s-vdq6CC-udLACA8RW8dHpLSq8/s1600/polarbear-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPYSa6Icy3wUlfTv5cNfKdhPNPckt13aAmflbqwda87_KWGg-LcPmEqnCkJP9sJo8cB_LaKE_9x9ShZQ-lN9SpccuAZootdhJlKXzhJmM1qTVKT5Q-s-vdq6CC-udLACA8RW8dHpLSq8/s320/polarbear-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Envisioning an arctic scene, I toned an 8x10 inch canvas board with thinned Naples Yellow and proceeded to draw the bear directly on the canvas with a brush. The first attempt didn't look quite in proper proportion, so I made some adjustments, painting over the wrong lines and made new ones.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The result looked better, but I wanted to check my accuracy so I did a little trick with the computer. Seated at the easel, I took a photograph of the painting and then took another one of my still life setup being sure to frame the polar bear in the viewer just as it was on the canvas. Next I brought the painting into Photoshop and imported the still life photo on top of it in a new layer. By reducing the opacity of the layer, I could see the painting underneath and just had to move the layer around a bit so that the two bears overlapped nose tip to rump tip. I was dismayed to see that the drawing was still off in some areas although the body length was spot on. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Oh2R06V_FDTYHYLUHtFQe-_ZHH6cTJJa3M7hDUKgkvPw9sA8Y3C3st3E-jZ_oxJGdr1dY07S1AtCpUHYfsD2YARVkPhBbef8sN4EPCPske2KDK4hI8Gs8hvql7k0rlBgrWVor3TyxiQ/s1600/polarbear-overlay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Oh2R06V_FDTYHYLUHtFQe-_ZHH6cTJJa3M7hDUKgkvPw9sA8Y3C3st3E-jZ_oxJGdr1dY07S1AtCpUHYfsD2YARVkPhBbef8sN4EPCPske2KDK4hI8Gs8hvql7k0rlBgrWVor3TyxiQ/s320/polarbear-overlay.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drawing with reference superimposed to check for accuracy</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I immediately beat myself up for not getting the drawing exactly right and fell into deep despair. Fortunately at that point my Nurturing Parent stepped in to to say, "Wait a minute here, Bucko! Don't be such a perfectionist! Remember, you haven't done very much drawing from life (or still life) since art school 30 years ago. Yes, Yes, we need to do more of this and up our skills at drawing accurately. But for now cut yourself some slack."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I felt better after that and was ready to move forward. Then the next dilemma cropped up. Should I leave the drawing as it was or make another bunch of corrections to match the photograph? Would it be cheating to do the corrections now? I decided that I wouldn't be happy with the painting, knowing the drawing was still off, if I didn't, and so I did. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once I had the drawing set and had drawn in a rough landscape, I painted a thin first layer of color over the whole canvas. Shown at the top. It's in what we artists call the "ugly" stage, but that will be remedied in subsequent layers where I will work in more color and detail. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Early in the process I looked up photos of polar bears and the arctic on Google. So far I'm very happy with the way I caught the diffused winter sunshine of an arctic day and the pristine blue of the arctic waters. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank you for stopping by, and please visit again. </span></span>Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-54755808148284259182016-02-29T12:02:00.001-05:002016-02-29T12:04:31.913-05:00"Molly" A Dog Portrait<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuvaLYyrPnolVgsAa_VBXAoZAW794XFca4l-fIIYussa4Btw8SSc2o6EGtnbAAB2I9o5aAiLaxx78gQhwo8EIBbDoQORQrltJaUJ0ZPQ2IzfhLB2DYQrq3Q7tC5Gr974PnLAbHM4M2Nc/s1600/molly-dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuvaLYyrPnolVgsAa_VBXAoZAW794XFca4l-fIIYussa4Btw8SSc2o6EGtnbAAB2I9o5aAiLaxx78gQhwo8EIBbDoQORQrltJaUJ0ZPQ2IzfhLB2DYQrq3Q7tC5Gr974PnLAbHM4M2Nc/s320/molly-dog.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Molly" pastel dog portrait</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking through a pile of old portraits, I came across this one of Molly the Bichon Frise.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She was a charming little dog who loved her tennis ball, so of course it had to be included in the portrait. She lived in a house with green shag carpet, a perfect backdrop for her snowy white coat. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I delivered the portrait, her owner seemed a bit underwhelmed (never a good sign) and sure enough, a day or two later she called to say that the portrait was not quite right; it just didn't look like Molly. I dutifully retrieved the portrait and examined the reference photo closely, and to my embarrassment realized that I had gotten Molly's head too narrow and the ears not right. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Making corrections on a pastel portrait is fairly easy, and in no time "Molly" was looking like her real self. This time the client's enthusiasm was more genuine when I delivered the corrected portrait, and she has since told me how much she loves it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes one can get too close to a work of art and fail to see the flaws. I have learned to avoid this by standing back often from the easel, checking it frequently against the reference photo and looking at the work in a mirror where mistakes are more obvious. No artist, however accomplished, is immune from this myopia, so I've learned to be aware and to not flog myself when it happens. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank you for stopping by. </span></span>Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-65309739777947360792016-02-27T12:32:00.002-05:002016-02-27T12:47:43.062-05:00"Cadence", A Driving Horse Pastel Portrait<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaiFgj8sX33HmTR4EHg14uhaX_jJ4hgGgjuiK44HM5b1gL_uxVSeGdkQVbUbIxp-ryJk_W-OY7bREYyjJt9_V9a8EZKRXXxpliNemCB27JmF2E3JAVOZ6H4s0wmrmGYnlXvcrfYEMijA/s1600/cadence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaiFgj8sX33HmTR4EHg14uhaX_jJ4hgGgjuiK44HM5b1gL_uxVSeGdkQVbUbIxp-ryJk_W-OY7bREYyjJt9_V9a8EZKRXXxpliNemCB27JmF2E3JAVOZ6H4s0wmrmGYnlXvcrfYEMijA/s320/cadence.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Cadence", a pastel portrait</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here is another in a series of old portraits to share with you. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is Cadence, a flashy Morab driving horse. The portrait was 11"x14" pastel on paper. I took the driving photos for this composite portrait at a local show but used the very nice head photo provided by the client. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am particularly pleased with how the eye turned out. Some day I'd like to do a larger version of Cadence with his owner/driver in a country landscape. Wouldn't that be lovely? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At one time I had note cards available of this image. But after the horse's owner asked if I was going to split the sales of the note card with her, I decided it was time to retire the design. After figuring in the cost of producing the cards, I wasn't making much profit nor was I selling many. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So it goes for a portrait artist. </span></span>Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-52279745823186132982016-02-17T12:47:00.000-05:002016-02-17T12:48:54.191-05:00Sudan, Palomino Horse Painting<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrIk15ifi-apbw-QWLDwuoVEBq-3V5k6jlaOJly7yubwkZe2mv_gZHkJW1HlP-HgyAW2EnLTOvt0jRHrIZ-MOZpHr7xUBjlAq_6gH_pKxTMrLkYFXdXIaBhL3wnS8NcAhfx-9-MLyosg/s1600/Sudan-online.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrIk15ifi-apbw-QWLDwuoVEBq-3V5k6jlaOJly7yubwkZe2mv_gZHkJW1HlP-HgyAW2EnLTOvt0jRHrIZ-MOZpHr7xUBjlAq_6gH_pKxTMrLkYFXdXIaBhL3wnS8NcAhfx-9-MLyosg/s320/Sudan-online.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Sudan" 24x24 inch oil painting </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While I'm toiling away preparing tax stuff to send to the accountant, I've decided to share some of my older artwork and portrait work with you and share the stories behind them; good, bad and downright ugly. It should be fun. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First up in the spotlight is "Sudan", one of the last commissioned portraits I accepted. Sudan was a nice looking palomino Arabian Quarter Horse cross gelding. His owner wanted me to depict him in his summer and winter coats since he turned much lighter in his winter woollies. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although I got to see him in person, I didn't have my camera with me and had to rely on photos provided by the client; almost always a challenge. I was downstate visiting my elderly parents and didn't have the camera with me at the time. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The most challenging part of the portrait was selecting the photos that were the best AND which worked together the best. Once I had the composition worked out, the painting went rather smoothly. It was delivered to the client on another downstate visit to my parents. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> "Sudan" might not be up to my current painting standards, but it was one of my best at the time and for that deserves a bit of recognition. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy him, and thanks for stopping by. </span></span>Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-45215161865005777222016-02-06T15:44:00.000-05:002016-02-17T12:49:33.614-05:00One Step Forward, Two steps Back<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjashpS-KeXHlAON5BD829vKpdmq7Hdn429jUEhC9g1iNbePs5Iq_m3JwokucQYkHuMvrbZ_4yHBFufdw4TRXZSI8ETJlER5UDSMMIxSitmp4wItTIl4CvqF04YtU2b7z1L6vBwGlz9c/s1600/twilight-2-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjashpS-KeXHlAON5BD829vKpdmq7Hdn429jUEhC9g1iNbePs5Iq_m3JwokucQYkHuMvrbZ_4yHBFufdw4TRXZSI8ETJlER5UDSMMIxSitmp4wItTIl4CvqF04YtU2b7z1L6vBwGlz9c/s320/twilight-2-6.jpg" width="265" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's safe to say that I am rusty when it comes to painting. Witness the painting above. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last week I put in time on this painting two days in a row. On the second day, I wiped off part of what I had painted the day before. On the third day, I tried to wipe off what I'd done on Day Two, but the paint had already dried, and I was only able to get off a little bit of it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The "progress" you see is on the hind legs and haunches of the horse. The left side isn't too bad, but the right haunch is a different matter. I mixed three piles of reddish brown: dark, medium and a lighter version. But somehow the haunch all came out pretty much one value. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How did that happen? I asked myself. Well, I just wasn't paying enough attention when I mixed fresh batches of each value. I will have to paint that area again. There are other corrections to make as well. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although I'm eager to get back to the painting, I've taken a break to give the paint plenty of time to dry before I put on another coat and also to get some progress made on income tax information for the accountant. Then I plan to set aside three whole days to do nothing but paint the horse. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So that's where I am now; dealing with Life responsibilities before getting back to the painting. Next time you can be sure that I will mix those different values more carefully and test them out before putting paint on the canvas again. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes it's just one step forward and two steps back. That's just the way it goes in the life of a painter. </span></span>Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-23854959841118685902016-01-20T10:51:00.000-05:002016-01-20T11:05:59.617-05:00Blink Of An Eye<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIhKhy1dKf5zAFtMfKC-Ze8CR_5z_2mICCF9HWV5wtSgIggowVN24OHo5xxxPjGD-m4fz5X_1-O8lkUqiGKYz3j3hMw7exXV5UoqMJqETs-fjEWjGumuzMYAz_RE9atQQyVb5p6dEeKE/s1600/twilight+5-31-15-colorcorrect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIhKhy1dKf5zAFtMfKC-Ze8CR_5z_2mICCF9HWV5wtSgIggowVN24OHo5xxxPjGD-m4fz5X_1-O8lkUqiGKYz3j3hMw7exXV5UoqMJqETs-fjEWjGumuzMYAz_RE9atQQyVb5p6dEeKE/s320/twilight+5-31-15-colorcorrect.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Twilight Reverie" in progress painting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2VuWEcw80d4hfEEI87LhS4KtbEC96YynmB8Jt7B79zWZm-xtbnbyEllf9XJDtuGeFcSY0ui6g-8APbxgSThM_ATOieWjt8Ux2OlwRVKeoNSPmhxQ02bLP2lo0uaVeqExk3zIvnfFk9I/s1600/twilight+5-31-15-colorcorrect-smallbushes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2VuWEcw80d4hfEEI87LhS4KtbEC96YynmB8Jt7B79zWZm-xtbnbyEllf9XJDtuGeFcSY0ui6g-8APbxgSThM_ATOieWjt8Ux2OlwRVKeoNSPmhxQ02bLP2lo0uaVeqExk3zIvnfFk9I/s320/twilight+5-31-15-colorcorrect-smallbushes.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Revised painting, in progress</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">After an unusually warm Fall and a very green Christmas, the weather has changed from mid October-like to mid winter in the blink of an eye. As I write this, we are experiencing what is locally called Lake Effect snow. Those who live on the borders of the Great Lakes know exactly what I mean; periods of heavy blowing snow interspersed with blinding moments of cheerful sunshine. Mother Nature is at her most fickle. <br /><br />Early January is the time that my day job dictates doing all the end of the year chores that are required for preparing business tax figures for the accountant. In my case, that would be two businesses: my husband’s and my own. So, this week I am sorting through papers, making new file folders, moving records and compiling documents into the Tax Box.<br /><br />On the art front, I always do an end of year assessment, looking back over the year and noting what art sold, what art was started, exhibitions participated in, new products created, hours spent in the studio (yes, I do keep track of that for every work of art) and other assorted things. Part of that is also planning ahead and making new goals for the coming year. <br /><br />So here I am in the midst of all this busyness, thinking about the promising year ahead. Having gone through some very difficult years (family, health, emotional) where art has taken a back seat and practically been kicked to the curb, I am thinking more than ever that THIS is the year to poop or get off the pot. Pardon the vulgarity, but that is exactly the phrase which is most apt. Either start creating again or throw in the towel for good. <br /><br />For quite a few months now, I’ve been stuck on one particular large painting. There was something bothering me about the background. Was it too warm - or not? I feared that I had fallen into that crippling pit of following the reference photo too closely. I couldn’t decide, and so it languished on the easel, staring back at me in admonishment of my incompetence. <br /><br />A few months ago I decided to learn more about Notan, an art technique used in the composing a work of art. I will write more about that later. Having learned how to apply it to a work of art, I decided to apply it to this same painting to improve another problem that was bothering me. The simplest way to do that was to manipulate the image on the computer in Photoshop, and in the process I could try cooling down that offending background with a thin layer of blue on the computer screen. That is exactly what I did, and in another blink of an eye I knew this was the answer to my dilemma, and it hadn’t even risked ruining the painting!<br /><br />However, the holidays were fast approaching, with much to be done and little time to devote to art. I decided to put off working on the painting until after the holidays which brings me to the present. <br /><br />I love this part of winter when I can hibernate inside and not feel guilty about all the things I should get done outside. It is a time to relax, regroup and begin anew. Having resolved the problem of how to fix the painting (which had also greatly boosted my miniscule self confidence), I am now eager to work on Twilight once again. THIS year I resolve to put art at the top of the priority list and let everything else fit around it. <br /><br />I am letting go of all the rejections and disappointments of the last several years and moving forward with new confidence, moving in new directions and setting more realistic expectations for the future. I feel more upbeat than I have in years, and that is a very positive thing. </span></span></span>Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-48394000703672690232015-10-27T12:29:00.000-04:002015-10-27T15:55:46.865-04:00A Season of Gold and Silver<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The view from my studio</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lady Autumn has descended on northwest Michigan, laying her golden hued gossamer cloak upon the earth and imbuing the air with a soft glow that no other season knows. Like the squirrels and birds which scurry about stashing nuts and seeds for the impending winter storms, I am busy cleaning out flower beds and putting away the garden equipment. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This fall, more than any other, I feel a part of this golden season as I seek to find a new place for myself, a new meaning in daily living and art. I am becoming more comfortable in my own autumn season. It was quite timely, therefore, to encounter an admired artist from my past this morning. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Burton Silverman, now in his eighties, was interviewed in The Artist’s Magazine. It took me back over 30 years to my final year in art school when our class took a field trip to Chicago. One of the highlights of the trip for me was a visit to a top advertising design studio where we were able to peek into the tiny cubicle spaces of illustrators as they worked. Lining the walls were original paintings by some of the top illustrators of the day. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was awestruck. Although enrolled in the commercial art program at Northwestern Michigan College, it was the Illustration courses that excited me the most. The nineteen eighties may not have been the Golden Age of Illustration, but its top illustrators were golden in my mind. The likes of Robert Heindel, Bernie Fuchs, Bob Peak, Mark English, Bart Forbes, Nelson McLean and Burton Silverman inspired me to make art my life’s work; to have something to say through art. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looked down upon by the Fine Art establishment, illustrators were all blue ribbon winners in my mind. While following the constraints imposed by clients and art directors, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">they were still able to create great art</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">. To tell a story or illustrate a point is the purpose of commercial illustration, but isn’t that exactly the same goal that fine artists strive for? They create without having to follow the dictates of outside voices. Who, then, is the better artist? Consider also that many illustrators become some of the most respected fine artists in their own right, having honed their skills and sensibilities in the commercial art world. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Getting back to that interview with Burton Silverman, he discussed his endeavors to make his models not just objects but flesh and blood people with real lives, putting them in some sort of context in his paintings; telling a story and making a point. Isn’t that what the greatest paintings have always been about, going back through the centuries? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was a small reminder to me of what I’ve long wanted my own art to do. It was a nudge from a fellow artist in his own golden years to do my own thing. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My life has wandered many paths since art school days; some led nowhere, some through briar patches and dark woods, but now in my Autumn years, I am finding my way along the path that destiny laid out for me in the birth of my own Spring. I am finding my destination. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As a child, I earned the nickname of “Silver” because of my silvery blonde hair. Now here I am in the Golden Years, the Silver One again. When the flower beds are cleared and the garden tools put away, Burton Silverman will follow me as I enter my own winter hibernation in the warm inspirational walls of the studio. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There I will embrace this Season of Gold and Silver and look forward to the promise of Spring. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking northwest from the studio</span></td></tr>
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Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-79709369316219964002015-09-23T11:49:00.000-04:002015-09-23T11:49:31.134-04:00"Echo", a Horse Drawing<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT46fPylN-nTX1SohuusqOScRSrvqJjQAO7U4ugKwO9TtOHh-cZR0JCWxE3U7liAQbhsW3WDfthWVjjgMbu_FqNdEE2tljKX2rZTguWtCzxC-ymIGlseJx8H54C5zvTsN0H9kk-tIx-a8/s1600/echo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT46fPylN-nTX1SohuusqOScRSrvqJjQAO7U4ugKwO9TtOHh-cZR0JCWxE3U7liAQbhsW3WDfthWVjjgMbu_FqNdEE2tljKX2rZTguWtCzxC-ymIGlseJx8H54C5zvTsN0H9kk-tIx-a8/s320/echo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Echo" a Quarter Horse Mare</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvHcqJ8cQJpQC_2A0A1sFGX10pzc5vf8G7buP0wjsh2U2Wkpl1_CO-h5eq57RyPyrj6ch1UnJt7EBhc-pSv_jaDDSUeV3mKvuaOCDp_bhVUqczNhse4rCv-3v5kQ653wU-oN_bWWZ4a4/s1600/echo-sketch-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvHcqJ8cQJpQC_2A0A1sFGX10pzc5vf8G7buP0wjsh2U2Wkpl1_CO-h5eq57RyPyrj6ch1UnJt7EBhc-pSv_jaDDSUeV3mKvuaOCDp_bhVUqczNhse4rCv-3v5kQ653wU-oN_bWWZ4a4/s320/echo-sketch-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drawing from the photograph</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I saw a woolly caterpillar in the barn aisle the other day, and that is a sure sign that Fall is here and winter is on its way. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Usually, Fall is very busy at our house as we batten down the hatches preparing for the snow and cold ahead: taking water craft out of the water for winter storage and cleaning out the flower beds, preparing for the holidays and other sundry things. This year is no exception and is shaping up to be even busier than normal after what was a busy summer. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For one thing, we took our cat, Molly, downstate to a cat clinic for radiation treatment for hyperthyroidism. She has been on medication for two years, but it was no longer working. It has been traumatic for both us and poor Molly since she had to stay at the clinic for four days and is now in quarantine at home for a week. The treatment itself is very safe, but she was stressed to the max just being taken away from home and "abandoned" by her people and now isolated from all of us in her room alone. She came home very thin and totally exhausted but is now doing fine if not very lonely. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In spite of the hubbub, I started a new drawing the other day. Not a sketch but an honest to goodness drawing of a Quarter Horse mare that I wanted to finish in colored pencil. I will probably also use the drawing for an oil or pastel painting of this mare and her foal, a painting that I've long wanted to do. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The drawing was done freehand using the photograph above. I didn't do any measurements to start with, and when it was done, I found some problems. Hunting up my calipers or dividers or whatever you call the thing, I used that to measure the proportions of that particular horse, using the head as the basic measurement by which all others were compared. One head equals the length of the neck and also the width of the barrel and the length of the forelegs to the fetlocks and so on. I traced the original drawing onto a sheet of tracing paper, making some adjustments as I went. This is just the first tracing. I will do another over the top of this one because there are still several adjustments to be made. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I'm satisfied with the drawing, I'll trace it onto a good sheet of paper and finish it with colored pencil. That can serve as my color study for the larger oil painting. For that I will add a foal and a background. The foal photo I'd like to use has lighting opposite to what is in the photo of Echo, and I'll have to change it to match the mare by doing some sketches and a value study before proceeding to the painting. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It feels very good to be tackling a brand new image with challenges to overcome and having the confidence to do it. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Echo was a former ranch horse who became a broodmare and a trail horse. She is still very much missed by her family. This will be her tribute. </span>Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-21209495215305715762015-09-13T13:28:00.002-04:002015-09-13T13:28:30.995-04:00"Impromptu" Revisited - A Horse Head Drawing<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9P4uhTckPyJ8EPd4wO2A_sHPdY1Gdi1RfX5QodHnJ27nM8EvQKcT7KJHxlmethjsApjwBrBUcqn58L1NhzokPD8btlTVOllIlfIvd0hL9kpvT2uOpLUKVMbJK-iq7Wg1JtNWX6im6KRE/s1600/impromptu-9-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9P4uhTckPyJ8EPd4wO2A_sHPdY1Gdi1RfX5QodHnJ27nM8EvQKcT7KJHxlmethjsApjwBrBUcqn58L1NhzokPD8btlTVOllIlfIvd0hL9kpvT2uOpLUKVMbJK-iq7Wg1JtNWX6im6KRE/s320/impromptu-9-15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Impromptu" a horse head pencil drawing</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday, September 12, 2015 was an exciting day for us die hard Michigan fans. The University of Michigan has a new football coach, as almost everyone in the country knows, and yesterday was Coach Harbaugh's debut in the Big House where he once played on that same field years ago. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a native of Ann Arbor, child of a professor and University graduate, my roots with Michigan football run deep. Many is the time, from a youngster through college and into adulthood, that I cheered on the Wolverines and sang Hail To The Victors within the awe inspiring walls of the Big House on crisp Fall afternoons. The stadium truly lives up to its name. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On this particular Saturday I chose to revise this little drawing while watching the game. It was done back in July, if you remember. It had been an exercise in drawing a horse head using no reference whatsoever except my own knowledge of and experience with horses. But, I wasn't completely satisfied with the results, so on this day I gathered pencils and erasers and set to work tweaking here and changing there as I cheered on the Wolverines. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, the paper support only allowed minor tweaks and very little erasing. For that reason, the drawing is now as good as it's going to get. It's better but there are still changes I'd like to make while keeping to the exercise of using no reference. Perhaps I'll throw a sheet of tracing paper over it and rework the outline and create a completely new drawing from that. Perhaps in colored pencils this time which is a medium I haven't used in many years now. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, Coach Harbaugh got his first victory in The Big House, and the great tradition of Michigan football has been revived. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">GO BLUE!</span>Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-15236132049544593142015-09-04T14:19:00.000-04:002015-09-04T14:30:53.984-04:00Labor Day and Summer's End<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIV5QlfXMSpdD1d3PwKHtYfgIsRg3Yo2oRMV-QQH3Su8671DZ4cdWq34QlhXN8gSWBw8BoP6v0EZ32OxHnvLbIwB210ceFYBmJhi5vmLXOUoWFZ7xY5JPsmmPPvKYH9BuI5rrnAeyehE/s1600/fenceline-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIV5QlfXMSpdD1d3PwKHtYfgIsRg3Yo2oRMV-QQH3Su8671DZ4cdWq34QlhXN8gSWBw8BoP6v0EZ32OxHnvLbIwB210ceFYBmJhi5vmLXOUoWFZ7xY5JPsmmPPvKYH9BuI5rrnAeyehE/s320/fenceline-2015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fence line flower beds all weeded and mulched</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whew! It has been a very busy summer! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a year of total neglect, I did finally get all the flower beds cleaned out, the annuals and a few new perrenials planted and the beds all fertilized and mulched. What a job! </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did some sketching but not much else in the art department. Our house is not air conditioned, and sometimes it just gets too hot in the studio. Those overhead studio lights really heat it up. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My horse, Scottie, is doing well at the moment. He did have a bout of mild laminitis in July so we’re now keeping a close eye on him and his feet and will remove him from his beloved grass if he goes lame again. He had a very good checkup with the equine vet dentist last month. She was very pleased with his weight gain and over all condition considering his worn down teeth and chewing difficulties. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnTAp00-jqszSPw70JEg2RaT1kcLJJ3VswMXhpmP2D-CoUsRmTfRIZh8dyfEArPVKL4psRNqKuoWfKUlFFDKCDcC5OvyeA5OzNrkNt1_6dgIAVYDNKxkptdt_qt9ljx_3eK2pnnESoMM/s1600/pines-trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnTAp00-jqszSPw70JEg2RaT1kcLJJ3VswMXhpmP2D-CoUsRmTfRIZh8dyfEArPVKL4psRNqKuoWfKUlFFDKCDcC5OvyeA5OzNrkNt1_6dgIAVYDNKxkptdt_qt9ljx_3eK2pnnESoMM/s320/pines-trail.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Riding The Pines trail with a friend</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We went on trail rides when it wasn’t too hot, and Scottie was eager, enthusiastic and tired less than he had last summer. All are good signs that he has fully recovered from his terrible sinus infection of three years ago and that his Cushings disease is under control. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Back on the home front, we’ve made a big change in our lives. We just bought a 23 year old pontoon boat to add to our “fleet” of water craft. We had an old one years ago when our kids were little. We had a lot of fun on that boat with our kids and relatives and friends. It wasn’t much to look at, had no built in seating, but it did have an outhouse on the back. During a lean time we sold it. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In the past couple of years, the kids and I have realized how much we missed that old pontoon boat, and now that we have the dogs, a pontoon boat will be much more practical and comfortable for all for taking the pooches with us out on the lakes. My husband was persuaded, and we lucked into finding a really nice used pontoon boat on Craig’s List at a really good price within our meager budget and not too far away. The owner, an older gentleman from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan was downsizing and was motivated to sell. We snapped it up as fast as we could and hauled it home two weeks ago. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thummbelina, our new/used pontoon boat</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">After some maintenance work by my husband, we got it in the water and are all eager to enjoy it this weekend. Beautiful Torch Lake is just a short boat ride away, and the weather is supposed to be great for the next two days. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another project I’ve undertaken this summer is to copy my mother’s Life Stories from printed sheets of paper onto my computer. I will compile them all into a book of sorts and plan to give them to anyone in the family who wants a copy. Talk about a trip down Memory Lane! Some of the stories I’ve heard all my life, but others are brand new to me and very revealing about my mother and her unique life. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am a convert to writing Life Stories. It’s just too bad that more people don’t do it because so much family history is lost forever otherwise. I am writing down some of my own memories and experiences and will take another writing class or two this Fall. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of the reasons I’m looking forward to the end of summer and the passing of Labor Day is because the next project on the agenda is to begin sorting through all the old photographs of my parents’ and putting them into albums. I figure that is a perfect companion project to the writing and copying of stories. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Perhaps my mother’s book will be “illustrated” with old photographs from her past. </span></div>
Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-58575796623357952422015-05-31T22:21:00.000-04:002015-05-31T22:21:07.471-04:00"Twilight"; Horse Painting In Progress<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsX3z2qfqw9L8UTQBigiYWj_Eu8yxY4vq3-REywmAAXNhTGJccw_Bcvj9-MmEVIYTfKxz3hmAsSmlZQtc5fnVBoEPpr2X5jXcPHxS3ZrzitjkPaKazodFAoruZ7mwyn0736RZL8TrzQI/s1600/twilight+5-31-15+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsX3z2qfqw9L8UTQBigiYWj_Eu8yxY4vq3-REywmAAXNhTGJccw_Bcvj9-MmEVIYTfKxz3hmAsSmlZQtc5fnVBoEPpr2X5jXcPHxS3ZrzitjkPaKazodFAoruZ7mwyn0736RZL8TrzQI/s320/twilight+5-31-15+copy.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Twilight Reverie", oil painting in progress</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sound the trumpets! Ring the church bells! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am finally at long last back to work on paintings! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last year was a difficult year, and to tell you the truth, I am still recovering from surgery and the consequences thereof. But, I'm getting my mojo back and have worked on this painting for the past two days. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When last I worked on it exactly one year ago, I could see a few problems with it and wasn't quite sure what to do about them. And so it sat on the studio wall for months and months. My mind was just not in the right place to deal with painting problems - until now. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am back to riding after another long layoff due to a knee injury. I am back to gardening which was a near impossibility last year. The flower beds are cleaned out, and I'm ready to plant and fertilize and mulch. I can walk almost normally (although not far without pain). In short, I am back into a normal routine of being able to do the things I care the most about. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And one of those things is painting. With the thought of Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained, I resumed work on this painting yesterday and today. It is now back on the studio wall to dry before I tackle painting the final layers of the horse which is still in the underpainting stage. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were several things that needed correction. For one, the background trees on the right needed improvement. For another, the outline of the horse had "grown" during the initial painting stage, as often happens, and needed to be trimmed back. The rump was too rounded and plump. I did a few nips and tucks in other areas as well. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the biggest problem I could see was that the head was too large in proportion to the body. That could have been due to camera compression and distortion or it could have been due to the head growing as it was painted or it could have been both. At any rate, it got an over all trim and now looks more in proportion and in perspective. I am pleased. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What will I work on next while "Twilight" dries? There is that little lamb study I never finished, two cat paintings and another of a horse rolling. I am anxious to finish up paintings to fill up my depleted inventory and get started on some new ones. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am eager and ready. Sound the trumpets!</span>Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-91118333763285537322015-05-20T11:02:00.001-04:002015-05-20T11:02:34.156-04:00"Houseplant" Colored Pencil Drawing<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORyMZEbvjek88Dv8EzDYVIZLYWBSuMsQhAafMyqr3mKczUPZEkwy58XKgW_wiION2sJITdfWjPEWTXG5RPhVYS384bCKDkTq2Bou-i1w0Odk3tQwY6XFvQ7bZ2TH4SMTCTsoKgtZcnc0/s1600/houseplant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORyMZEbvjek88Dv8EzDYVIZLYWBSuMsQhAafMyqr3mKczUPZEkwy58XKgW_wiION2sJITdfWjPEWTXG5RPhVYS384bCKDkTq2Bou-i1w0Odk3tQwY6XFvQ7bZ2TH4SMTCTsoKgtZcnc0/s320/houseplant.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Houseplant" 5x8 colored pencil drawing</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a colored pencil drawing of a house plant that I did thirty years ago. It was drawn from life. I never finished it and, from time to time, come across it again as I leaf through this sketchbook. Each time I admire it and feel that it has potential. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe it's time to get out the colored pencils and actually finish it. Only one of the leaves has been burnished with a colorless blender. How will I complete the rest? That is something to ponder. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I no longer remember what kind of plant this is. I only know that it was one of the few houseplants that I couldn't manage to kill through neglect. </span>Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-27075121314574755282015-05-11T13:00:00.000-04:002015-05-11T13:00:15.513-04:00Figure Head Sketches From TV<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4UYdQe15W0NuMY4cjh1mYKzRtNHVPcVuK_4yKzy3tdNYLMY8V_98R3Aqkw9-eF0LmRidcfGIGhZBbhPsVT5JBVpYbNSfaTeebEBbdnTD7G9FPluwtAR0la6d1_mt8KKPKf-I463KWrw/s1600/sciutto-cnn-sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4UYdQe15W0NuMY4cjh1mYKzRtNHVPcVuK_4yKzy3tdNYLMY8V_98R3Aqkw9-eF0LmRidcfGIGhZBbhPsVT5JBVpYbNSfaTeebEBbdnTD7G9FPluwtAR0la6d1_mt8KKPKf-I463KWrw/s320/sciutto-cnn-sketch.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Jim Sciutto of CNN" thumbnail sketch</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday was Mother's Day. My kids never come home for this occasion because they come up for the longer Memorial Day weekend which is later in the month. That's fine with me. The weather is still iffy on Mother's Day and not much to do anyway. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, my husband took me out for a lovely brunch at The Blue Pelican Inn in Central Lake. We had a lovely meal and afterwards took the long way home just to get in a little drive, even though it was cloudy and sprinkling. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we got home, my husband busied himself with mowing the lawn for the first time and cleaning up tree debris from where we had two big beech trees cut down a week ago. Since it was MY day, I did whatever I felt like doing; I watched my Sunday morning shows on CNN and did a little sketching. The first sketch is of Jim Sciutto hosting "State Of The Union". Since I had recorded this show, I paused it at an appropriate pose moment and finished the sketch which I had already started "live" from the TV. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In another segment, he was talking to a White House advisor, and I sketched this fellow, too. Didn't pause the video for this one; just went for the gesture drawing. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7O2F4R_cTntfxEl4W0BFxw9zIoHPUs__vtUyPkMIFKwEq-1PopSoaejNN9edvlsQ2-1WGdSWBJq9n5hvs_2nV75uLnEDsStnFwLv9t0eW7IjvEW9dhMqjJFEXRHBc7mKuAtvf65cZdQU/s1600/advisor-cnn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7O2F4R_cTntfxEl4W0BFxw9zIoHPUs__vtUyPkMIFKwEq-1PopSoaejNN9edvlsQ2-1WGdSWBJq9n5hvs_2nV75uLnEDsStnFwLv9t0eW7IjvEW9dhMqjJFEXRHBc7mKuAtvf65cZdQU/s320/advisor-cnn.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"White House Advisor" thumbnail sketch</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This was a good exercise in observation and drawing quickly while the subject is moving around. I used a mechanical pencil for these sketches which are only about 2x2 inches so they are very rough. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I confess that I don't often draw people, and considering that, I am quite pleased with how these two little sketches turned out. I think I was able to capture the unique features of each man to the point that they could be identified by those who know them. I was able to capture the more chiseled features of Jim compared to the softer more rounded features of the advisor. They are not finished portrait quality by any means, but they work for what they are; thumbnail sketches of two different men. </span>Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-27746466605250852292015-04-29T13:13:00.000-04:002015-04-29T13:14:03.053-04:00SOLD! My First Horse Art Sale<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55RTWnrjLveACLbtmILHGujsGzsC4Y0afZkB1iNz7ZRqQdclJaxB9CqR-a7n6KD-GjriaB0QelG0KZqgBI08wVhGmHSyYoLtiVTAZkLecJbL3SmUwqFfND9XD7V1_lTTTtY5YP0WTVuo/s1600/Clinic+Master-new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55RTWnrjLveACLbtmILHGujsGzsC4Y0afZkB1iNz7ZRqQdclJaxB9CqR-a7n6KD-GjriaB0QelG0KZqgBI08wVhGmHSyYoLtiVTAZkLecJbL3SmUwqFfND9XD7V1_lTTTtY5YP0WTVuo/s1600/Clinic+Master-new.jpg" height="251" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The Dressage Clinic" 16x20 inch pastel, Sold</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pictured above is the very first work of art that I sold that wasn't a portrait. I'd been doing horse and pet portraits for years but had never managed to sell an original work of art before. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This pastel painting came about by way of an exercise in a color drawing class in art school. I liked the exercise of exploring lost and found edges of objects and thought it would be fun to explore using horses as subject matter. Before that I had done a couple with deer in them and sail boats but dropped the technique until years later. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After getting back into horses again and moving my horse to a new barn, I discovered dressage and a fellow boarder who was a dressage rider. One weekend, three of us from the barn went to a dressage clinic at Bay Harbor Equestrian Center outside of Petoskey, Michigan to observe. The clinic instructor was none other than Steffen Peters, a well known and accomplished professional dressage rider and Olympian. I took my camera and got a lot of pictures despite the poor lighting in the large indoor arena. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the best of those photos, The Dressage Clinic emerged. The process is a bit complicated to explain. It involves cut outs of horses and riders laid down on the paper and rubbed over with pastel dust along the edges. First, of course, you must arrange all the cut outs in a pleasing array of different sizes. After this stage was complete, I went on to add details to the figures with colored pencils, leaving some areas to be "lost" and some "found". </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those of you who are not familiar with dressage, a dressage test consists of riding from letter to letter spaced out around the dressage arena. The letters tell the rider when to transition from walk to trot or to canter a 20 meter circle or whatever the test calls for. That is what the letters in the painting reference. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This painting is far from my best work, even at that time, but it does mark a milestone in my advancement as a professional equine artist. I went on to create another better dressage clinic piece with a different color palette, but it would not photograph well, and I finally destroyed it. I haven't done any more since. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below is another pastel painting using the same technique. This one depicts a </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">foal playing. The title is Playtime, and this one also sold. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Wm_lcAbZ1TDBzy4fDdLpciyWeFlFKzwavUIJZIcjzbzdlA40k_ewbzeYgNSdOUq4z5EemBEt2jM6TiuhKNsC-f23pdNqvP6z6vC7F_5CI8U5beqCJ-AsZOHPttAtvoEryV05iRPQUbI/s1600/playtimenew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Wm_lcAbZ1TDBzy4fDdLpciyWeFlFKzwavUIJZIcjzbzdlA40k_ewbzeYgNSdOUq4z5EemBEt2jM6TiuhKNsC-f23pdNqvP6z6vC7F_5CI8U5beqCJ-AsZOHPttAtvoEryV05iRPQUbI/s1600/playtimenew.jpg" height="248" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Playtime", 11x14 pastel, Sold</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is an excellent exercise in manipulating shapes, sizes, harmonious colors and lost and found edges. Maybe some day I will do another. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PS A "lost" edge is one that disappears in the picture. Lost edges can be very important in a painting or drawing as they help to draw attention to the "found" edges and points of interest by deemphasizing other edges and areas. </span>Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-34835926998249239422015-04-18T16:04:00.000-04:002015-04-18T16:04:29.640-04:00"Scotch Bar Lochinvar"<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaIphvAgJVMsAzJfJAqetMt18qDdbtw-h6XcZhzlriOBcPni8g_5MbwYPxxeDJJahubDfTaz0g6uyRjxjf-1n8uDiYe4w3JAOn_pcAJ8CYxoV8-L5tt9ncXMHvA_lsRUVBg86IrdnI40/s1600/scotthead-1990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaIphvAgJVMsAzJfJAqetMt18qDdbtw-h6XcZhzlriOBcPni8g_5MbwYPxxeDJJahubDfTaz0g6uyRjxjf-1n8uDiYe4w3JAOn_pcAJ8CYxoV8-L5tt9ncXMHvA_lsRUVBg86IrdnI40/s1600/scotthead-1990.jpg" height="263" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My horse, Scottie</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My horse, Scottie, turned thirty a few days ago. That is a remarkable achievement for a horse, and considering how gravely ill Scottie was just two and a half years ago, it is doubly remarkable. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The picture above is one I took when Scottie was almost five. It has always been one of my favorites. In fact, I created a drawing based on it and then had limited edition reproductions made of that. See below. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3n22-IkEVMw9tK2h-Ctg5_Az0KK1dNW3asfKIl57er5GMoUJnmdLRsO683L0NMYTkK32QB1Gcmb4ZgwppCdu-wHcaQwmr0_-k-Mhn6Z4om3xVN174k4pPtwcNhyphenhyphenN3Myb3DoYSRlPjcqw/s1600/scotty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3n22-IkEVMw9tK2h-Ctg5_Az0KK1dNW3asfKIl57er5GMoUJnmdLRsO683L0NMYTkK32QB1Gcmb4ZgwppCdu-wHcaQwmr0_-k-Mhn6Z4om3xVN174k4pPtwcNhyphenhyphenN3Myb3DoYSRlPjcqw/s1600/scotty.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Scotch Bar Lochinvar" pencil drawing of a horse</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a thirty year absence from the horse world, I started taking riding lessons in my forties and bought Scottie a short six weeks later. The first day walking into that horse barn, I had such a strong feeling of coming home that I knew right then and there that I was meant to be in that world and vowed never to abandon it again. The sights, sounds and smells of that barn and the horses were all familiar, burned into my psyche from the years spent in barns as a youngster and a deep passion for horses for as far back as I can remember. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At that time I was a middle aged woman who was trying to conquer my fear of riding and a life long shame of being what I considered then to be a coward. It was a huge step for me; a make it or break it one. If it didn't work out, I would have lost nothing, but if it did I had the world to gain. I was lucky to find the perfect trainer to take me on that journey, one who understood my fears and guided me gently along the way with no admonishments to Cowboy Up or Just Do It. That was the last thing I needed to be told. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scottie, it turned out, was my lesson horse. Scottie was a four year old, slightly green, unregistered Quarter Horse (which is a story in itself). But his temperament was such that he was being used for lessons by the trainer. He was a perfect match for me, and as it turned out, he was for sale!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made a deal with my husband, and Scottie was mine! Little did my husband realize the consequences of his wife's passion, but he has been supportive all through the years.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Buying Scottie was just the beginning of immersion into the world of horses, and it led to my first ever horse portrait and the beginning of my career as an equine artist. So, in a big way I owe it all to Scottie and my trainer, Lisa, who helped me overcome my fears; not completely but enough to live in the horse world as an owner/rider and to meld my two life passions: horses and art. </span>Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-18173357810837644982015-03-21T16:51:00.001-04:002015-03-21T16:51:19.053-04:00"Feel So Fine" Frisky Colt In A Spring Pasture. Spring Sale Offering<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9tW0554nQXpYxJY89FiJUsxKUbCh33JeyCHO-647nEG7g5OcmM5FEWREjGnRa36PkoV3T0bDjbX2EK6Rg1SY9xCqrKLesXVl5FTyPB4heifiJAOfcqZRI7Toxw0BG-a_8trVpF34JpA/s1600/feelfine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9tW0554nQXpYxJY89FiJUsxKUbCh33JeyCHO-647nEG7g5OcmM5FEWREjGnRa36PkoV3T0bDjbX2EK6Rg1SY9xCqrKLesXVl5FTyPB4heifiJAOfcqZRI7Toxw0BG-a_8trVpF34JpA/s1600/feelfine.jpg" height="290" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Feel So Fine" Pastel Painting of a Foal in Spring</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today is the first official full day of Spring, and isn't it especially welcome this year? Never mind that it snowed here this morning.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For we horse lovers, signs of Spring bring thoughts of newborn foals in all their cuteness. This is a painting of a foal that I created several years ago which has still not found a home. I don't quite know why, but it happens. For some works of art, it just takes a little longer for the right person to come along and fall in love with them and take them home. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The subject of this painting is Bullet, a Morgan colt that a friend allowed me to photograph many years ago. He's a little flashy for a Morgan with all that white and he was so lively running around, bucking and kicking out, as he raced around the paddock. I put him in a Spring pasture to make a more Springlike composition to set the mood better. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Titled "Feel So Fine", this pastel painting is available for the special Spring Sale price of $205 framed plus shipping. It measures 12.5x14 inches and is double matted inside a brushed gold frame. If you're interested in purchasing this painting of Bullet, please message me to arrange for the sale. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This isn't the only time I've painted Bullet, though. On a second photo shoot at the farm I got more pictures of him and more foals. Now Bullet is all grown up, still handsome and still prancing around when turned loose for the day. The painting below is also a pastel on pastelmat and was sold several years ago. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTH3cfXZokGmrpwyToqcxK7MxP2I45kXAG854wrXX59zjrph5yv_x44tl2eyDSfqI84_MHBKwl5-xxoW-YjbSvrx3-BZKi_QLpjCVxebd7kNIbbv1ttT7C89l16aJdFxVilCD5cp6rQY/s1600/bullet-trot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTH3cfXZokGmrpwyToqcxK7MxP2I45kXAG854wrXX59zjrph5yv_x44tl2eyDSfqI84_MHBKwl5-xxoW-YjbSvrx3-BZKi_QLpjCVxebd7kNIbbv1ttT7C89l16aJdFxVilCD5cp6rQY/s1600/bullet-trot.jpg" height="219" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Bullet In Motion" Pastel Painting of a Morgan Gelding</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please visit my website, <a href="http://www.karenthumm.com/" target="_blank">Karen Thumm Fine Art</a> to see more of my work and see works in progress. I plan to be very busy in the studio this Spring and Summer creating more art for you to enjoy. </span></div>
Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923603786309877774.post-45314936894379135822015-03-04T11:09:00.001-05:002015-03-04T11:09:10.055-05:00Equine Art Candy for the Eyes<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjw-doeA43Uy6tMcegT5v-f6pt-ad0Mgbp62LLqEYMpg5If2g8nq6dy5K5hnvbi3N5uSwnGIo9CaA9vZL3YXe6GfY0ySiNSUbB_iTAcPghaYGbZ4G7SWtttdtS6wzQFvo1Y2k21YOkRc/s1600/scottie-medraw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjw-doeA43Uy6tMcegT5v-f6pt-ad0Mgbp62LLqEYMpg5If2g8nq6dy5K5hnvbi3N5uSwnGIo9CaA9vZL3YXe6GfY0ySiNSUbB_iTAcPghaYGbZ4G7SWtttdtS6wzQFvo1Y2k21YOkRc/s1600/scottie-medraw.jpg" height="244" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Scotty and Me" old graphite pencil drawing</td></tr>
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I have two entries in the Institute of Equine Artists online exhibition which opened on March 1, 2015. Both are older pieces, but I am hoping to get back to some painting very soon while I take breaks from working on income taxes.<br />
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It is a very fine show, so be sure to go through all the entries and let me know what you think!<br />
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<a href="http://www.internationalequineartists.com/horse-power-and-grace.html" target="_blank">IEA Power and Grace</a><br />
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Meanwhile, I've been in physical therapy yet again for continuing problems as a result of last year's surgery. The new dogs are also taking up much time.Karen Thummhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09382942794813706983noreply@blogger.com0