photo - horse's eye

Gunsynd - oil on canvas

Apologies if I've posted this before. It's a sketch for a portrait of Gunsynd - a legendary Australian thoroughbred. I really should finish it! He was the most beautiful grey, with a very light face.

lifedrawing

eeeek! Haven't drawn a human in a while! Lifedrawing classes are lovely though - such a hushed air - very meditative, and we had a wonderful model - 'desiree'.

(Art Spectrum black pastel on canaletto paper.)

ink painting

online exhibition 1

Here is a 'wall' from my 'Balios' exhibition, for those who couldn't make it. You may have seen some of them before on this blog. I will also put up some of my coloured ink paintings this week. Wish I could offer some nibblies and a glass of champagne online too, but you will just have to imagine.

Horse Skull, ink on acid-free paper. [sold]

Cat Skull, ink on acid-free paper. [sold]

Half-Pass (dressage), pencil on acid-free paper.

Arabian Headstudy, pencil on acid-free paper. [sold]

winged victory

chestnut arabian - oil sketch

A sketch of an Arabian horse on Colourfix paper.

The joy of red spots

Red spots are an artist's favourite thing! Actually, maybe second favourite. The favourite is having family and friends together and sharing your work. The photograph shows me and my grandfather, David Keys. We're discussing the merits of Liquid Spectrum Ink!

exhibition at the Yarra Valley in July

Exhibition: 'Balios'

July 2 - 31


I'm having an exhibition of horse paintings in July. I'm still finalising which pieces to include, but there should be a range of ink paintings, oil paintings and possibly pencil or pastel drawings.

The exhibition is called 'Balios' after the divine horse of the hero Achilles (yes, I've worked in a link to James' thesis!). It's also the title of one of the artworks.

Please join us for complementary wine and nibblies on Thurs July 2, 5-7pm

Or drop by any time throughout July to view the exhibition and enjoy some delicious food and wine!

Evelyn County Estate (Ph: 9437 2155)
55 Eltham - Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground. www.evelyncountyestate.com.au

nothing forced can be beautiful

(Above is an image (not mine) showing a horse in natural, relaxed collection and also on the forehand, as a horse might move without a rider. For the opposite of relaxed, see the 'rollkur' image below.)

Debate has been raging for some time in the (beautiful) sport of dressage. Many dressage riders and trainers (not to mention judges and spectators) are concerned that unethical training practices are being rewarded by some dressage judges. Personally I think we should never forget Xenophon's statement on horse training (from over two thousand years ago) that nothing forced can ever be beautiful.

Following is a link to a petition by rider and trainer, Philippe-Karl. Although not everyone will agree with all the points on the list, it's a great way to keep the dialogue going about modern dressage judging.

Philippe-Karl has made some suggestions for radical changes in the judging of dressage, including:
5. Overflexion (nose behind the vertical) in any movement to be punished with a mark of at most 3.
6. Blocked jaws, tongues pulled up or hanging out and grinding of the teeth in any exercise to be punished with a mark of at most 4.

To read more, and to sign the petition if you wish, go to:
http://philippe-karl.com/703



No idea what this is about? To read about a study into how horses experience 'rollkur', an extreme form of hyperflexion of the horse's neck, go to:
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2009/01/107.shtml


This might be comfortable for a few seconds. Standing still. Free to move when you wish. But running and for extended lengths of time? To read an article on rollkur by Classical Dressage trainer Uwe Spenlen, go to:
http://www.cyberhorse.net.au/cgi-bin/tve/displaynewsitem.pl?20060403uwespenlen030406.txt