Painting Horses

I like to work several horse paintings at a time. Using gessoed 300lb. paper (usually Arches) I draw the figures with charcoal - very much as gestures. Hoping to keep the movement and abstract quality of the shapes, I move from one to the next with gallons of latex paint. Several shades of blue, from midnight to lavender, I work quickly, leaving some of the gesso, charcoal and allowing drips of paint to splatter where they will. It is an exercise in balance - letting go and controlling the image spontaneously.