New Blues

When I start blue horses, I cut a roll of 300 pound Arches French hand pressed paper into 6 foot lengths. I lay it on my studio floor and thickly brush on gesso on each panel. The next day I mount them on the wall and begin to find photographs from my library of books on horses. I choose various gestures for their dynamic quality, or their static, quiet beauty. I have several horses at my ranch near Glen Rose, Texas, and draw them regularly. Sometimes I use those studies, but mostly that field work informs my sense of the movement and muscularity of the horse. For the actual paintings, I usually use a photo which I draw in charcoal. Then I use various shades of blue latex which I have mixed to lay in the paintings. It is a free flow, full body expressionistic dance which I hope is apparent to those that view them.