I loved my horse

I had wanted a horse from the time I was four. The main reason I learned to draw was because my parents could not give me a horse so I drew them. When I began working, I invested in some English riding lessons. It was wonderful. In 1981, my husband bought me an appaloosa mare. She looks a bit dozy in this photo but she had a very high action trot, a smooth ride and could turn on a dime. She also dumped me on a couple of occasions when she was spooked by sage brush. But for a brief while, she was mine and I enjoyed her greatly.

Negrita

I wanted a pony from the time I was old enough to know what a horse was. For a few blissful years, I owned a high stepping appaloosa named Negrita. She had an unfortunate tendency to shy occasionally and left me to walk home on rough roads in my stupid cowboy boots. But she also helped me fearlessly attack a coyote that was intent on eating my little sheltie (we charged him and scared him off). I had some wonderful rides on her and still miss her. And thankfully, I did finally get my "pony". So keep your fingers crossed, Aunt Peaches.

On guard

I ran off a bunch of these in the last day or two and will keep posting them until I get something more serious done.

I have company arriving, my brother and sister-in-law. That means I need to do some housecleaning...ugh. We will be celebrating American Thanksgiving. I have lived in the north 30 years now and Thanksgiving in October still feels, wrong, wrong, wrong!

Smiley Face

This is based on pictures of the Aqiskinuk horse band. I didn't notice the moon-eyed paint had a motif until I reviewed my photos. This photo could be better.

The Hitchhiker

Yesterday, an artist-in-residency I had applied for let me know there was no residence available. I also got passed over for a grant to study in Alberta. I'm feeling pretty discouraged. I'm in a workshop this week and feeling like I can't paint. Spring feels like it is never coming to this valley. I am going to go find some cheese to enjoy with this whine.

Summer Grazing

I love watching the reservation horses up near the Akisqunuk band land. They have so many pinto, appaloosa, roan and solid colors. They are very suspicious, only allowing me to take a few pictures before they move off out of my sight. I always hate parking along the highway to take my photos (I am phobic about traffic--too many family members killed in pedestrian/vehicle accidents). But the horses are too hard to resist. I hope to do a series about them.
I'm not satisfied with this painting yet.