Wild Mustangs

Wild Mustangs / 18 x 24 / oil on canvas panel

Painted using several reference photos that I recently took of wild mustangs. These two posed so beautifully for me!

Watercolor? Oh, my!

Combining 2 of my wild mustang photos in an attempt to find a composition that pleases me, I decided to try my hand at watercolor after a long hiatus - about 10 or 11 years! I dug out some watercolor paper and found a few tubes of paint stored in zip-lock baggies that were not completely dried out. Not remembering much at all about watercolor, I just dove in with a devil may care attitude.  I painted this piece upright on my easel as I would paint in oil - and you can see I have a few rivulets that are obvious mistakes, some blooms here and there and various smudges and undefinable watery things! Nonetheless, I am not totally displeased. It was fun and kind of freeing to try my hand at a new medium today and I must say I was not a little bit inspired by the many masterful watercolor artists who are kind enough to follow and comment on my blog. Looking at their work gave me the impetus to try this out and I thank them!

Here is a close up and thanks for looking! :)

Wild Mustangs!

Today I went in search of the elusive wild mustang. Having seen them recently in captivity at the Board of Land Management facility where they were stripped of all dignity and majesty, I had to see them in their natural habitat. A neighbor suggested a drive along USA Parkway just west of Reno so that is where we headed today. And were greatly rewarded! We must have spotted over 40 wild mustangs and were able to get close to some and got some great photos to share. The gorgeous stallion above was all alone and let me and my camera approach him to about 100 feet. He looked so strong , so healthy and, well,  he looked so wonderfully free!

 

He showed no real fear of me but nonetheless kept a predetermined "cushion of safety" between us.

He let me take quite a few shots before turning tail and leaving me behind.

We next came across several larger bands of horses with babies - they were a little further away but if you click on this photo to enlarge it, you will see that the pinto baby in the background is nursing.

Later I went  back to the area where I had seen the chocolate stallion to find that he had returned with a friend. This second stallion was the most amazing color - perhaps a grayer shade of mauve? I think he is astoundingly beautiful - and he had no problem with letting me and my Sony get to within about 40 feet. What a beautiful, beautiful boy and a breathtaking experience for me - a city girl from San Diego with cowgirl blood in her veins!

Not a typical Memorial Day but I do want to say a word of thanks to all of our veterans for their service to our country. You are honored and deeply, deeply appreciated. Thank you.

The Fragility of Life

A short time ago I had occassion to visit the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Wild Mustang facility outside of Reno. It was horrifying, heartbreaking and completely senseless. I left with a great saddness in my heart. The magnicient mustangs were robbed of all magnificence, dignity, heart and spirit. They were crowded into large holding areas or tiny, filthy pens. I have no idea why this is done or what really happens to these incredible horses. I am afraid to know. I wanted to paint something that shows how fragile life is and how this kind of behavior might lead to the complete eradication of wild mustangs in the United States. The animals in my painting are loosely based on extinct horses - probably more imaginary than anatomically correct. Nonetheless, they no longer exist and I find that so very sad.