Equine watercolour head portrait

Here's another equine watercolour. I have to say watercolours are fun! I like the more painterly effect and enjoyed painting this beautiful chap. The title is 'Waiting' as the pony was just waiting to be taken onto the pitch. Size is A4. I think there'll be loads of watercolours to follow... ;o)

Later today I'll try and finish the pastel of the young woman and her horse and work some more on the poodle. Plus I've got several cat commissions lined up. Phew! ;o)

First ever watercolour painting!

Now I am really excited about this! I am working on my first ever watercolour painting.

All my life - from the day I was able to hold a pencil - I have loved drawing. Yet I hardly ever liked art lessons at school as we would never actually draw but always work with watercolours...and I just couldn't do it - or thought I couldn't. My teacher didn't see my talent - just told me off for being messy with the paint and water and that kind of put me off 'painting' for about 20 years. However - knowing a lot of other pet portrait artists who create wonderful paintings with watercolours has inspired me and I am determined to face and conquer the negative feelings I have for painting. In fact, I have already made a start: I chose the photo of a polo pony that I took the other week. And guess what: I am enjoying it loads! I mean I don't really know what I'm doing but when I first started using pastels, I didn't either. I am looking forward to doing some more work on it today although I should really be working on the poodle and a pastel portrait of a girl and her horse. By the way, I have finished the portrait of Benji the Collie, just need to take a decent photo later. So maybe I can have some more 'me time' and get my watercolours out again...yay! And maybe at some point I'll be able to offer this medium to my clients as well. :o) Here's a scan of what I've done so far - not too bad, is it? ;o)

Polo anyone? :o)

A few weeks ago, I went to see my first ever live polo match. Mr Charles Burrell of Knepp Castle in West Sussex kindly invited my partner and myself after we'd had a tour of the castle. There's a herd of Exmoor ponies on the estate that I was particularly interested in. I took loads of photos and will also draw the Exmoors at some stage but it was the polo that really impressed me. So here's a charcoal drawing of Mr Burrell on one of his polo ponies.