Monday, July 20, 2009

"Ben"

I spent the morning painting at Rancho del Sol Dorado the other day. I worked on two paintings. A landscape that I am doing some adjustment on in the studio and this painting of a horse that was tied up down at the stables. His name is Ben. Even though he was tied up I knew that he would be moving around on me and the background would stay the same. So as soon as I had my composition drawn in lightly I sketched in Ben while he was in the position that I wanted. He backed out into the sun and never went back to the original spot. Glad I sketched him in first. I had taken a photo that I later used to check my drawing of the horse. I only had to adjust the spacing between his front and back legs just a bit.



"Ben", 6x8" oil, Frank Gardner © 2009
$500. Framed. Available at Windrush Gallery, Sedona, AZ

15 comments:

Marian Fortunati said...

Love that little spot of sunlight on his butt!!

Fun!!

Barbara Pask said...

Sweet Frank, I was going to type what Marian did and say that I loved the sunlight on his butt, however I was going to say rump, lol.

Art with Liz said...

Me too, but I was also going to say rear end! Love the way you get that wonderful play between light and shadow - it's magnificent.

Unknown said...

Yes, the light on his gluteus maximus makes this lovely painting.

Anonymous said...

Great, now I can be redundant AND repetitious by saying that I love the hot spot of sun on the hiney. ( most of the other nouns were already taken ...)

Had you any idea that this one brush stroke would be the topic of your first 5 comments?

It's the first thing I fell in love with, after Bens' stance.

What a great painting this is Frank.

Frank Gardner said...

Thanks to all of you. I never ever thought that I would be getting comments like, " I like the way you handled his ass."
Gosh.
You see the power of putting on a stroke and leaving it alone?

Bruce Sherman said...

Hi Frank!....Guess I'll follow the crowd ...and make an "ass" of myself by noting that "red flag" on his flank!

Not only leaving the stroke alone...but the thoughtfully pinning it there strategically... for the effect you have most certainly achieved!
Bravo! Another winner!
Cheers!
Bruce

mike rooney studios said...

i like the horse trailer- ok.... i like to be different LOL

http://www.onpainting.wordpress.com said...

An enticing design. In an effort to be original I won't mention that spot of light.

Paula Villanova said...

I really like how you take a typical scene and emphasize the beauty that is not always evident to the average passerby. For example, the sunlight on the keister!!!!

Solvay said...

I said it already:
Perfect.

Just perfect.

Frank Gardner said...

Thanks Bruce.

Mike, glad you noticed the trailer. ha ha.

Thanks Bill.

Hi Paula. That's one of my jobs. Pointing out the beauty that is not always evident to the average passerby.

Thanks Solveg!!!

Solvay said...

...Girl On A Burro...made me come back and look at Ben again. So bright, these two paintings, and there's none of the usual manner of making things bright in them. I love that!!!
They are so beautiful.
Thank you.
Solveg

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

I love his 'ride' in the background :D

Frank Gardner said...

I liked that too Mary and had to include it.