Horsin' Around Again

My studio is turning into a stables again.  My manikin Michelangelo is ecstatically horsin' around trying to demonstrate his riding abilities to me.  I'm not impressed.  The buffalo has safely been removed off the easel, transported to the framers, and is carefully corraled at the printers awaiting a CD scan.  Here's a peak at him fresh off the easel:  

("Mr. Majesty"     17" x 22"    Charcoal/graphite)

We've opened the stable doors to having another horse on the easel.  Here's the first sketching on him:

Horses are irresistible for subject matter.  I love being around them, whether in the corral, the pasture, rounding barrels, or working hard in holding the rope taut with a steer at the end.  There's a beauty and nobility about a horse combined with a sensitivity and vulnerability.  At the end of the book of Job, God asks Job a series of questions to highlight the fact of God's all-powerful character.  I love the beauty in the description of the horse in these questions:

     Have you given the horse its strength

          or clothed its neck with a flowing mane?

     Did you give it the ability to leap like a locust?

          Its majestic snorting is terrifying!

     It paws the earth and rejoices in its strength

          when it charges out to battle.

     It laughs at fear and is unafraid.

          It does not run from the sword.

     The arrows rattle against it,

          and the spear and javelin flash.

     It paws the ground fiercely

          and rushes forward into battle when the ram's horn blows.

     It snorts at the sound of the horn.

          It senses the battle in the distance.

          It quivers at the captain's commands and the noise of battle.

                                                                   ----Job 39:19 - 25

                                                                   New Living Translation

What a vivid description of the horse!  If you are around horses much, you can just visualize what Job 39 is describing.

Okay, now here comes a little offer for you:  the first 5 people who guess what I'm going to draw between the legs of this horse will receive a free 8" x 10" print of the finished drawing.  

Currently I have 4 pieces of art hanging at the beautiful Jewish Community Center here in Omaha for the Silver Palette Show.  This show, sponsored by the Bellevue Artists Association of which I'm a member, goes until November 30th.  Here are a few photos from the reception this past Sunday:

Also, the 2015 Bonnie Patterson Fine Art Calendars are now available to order!  You can gift yourself or others this holiday season by clicking on the tab at the top of my web page to take you to the calendar page.  

Be brave and courageous!