Rescue Update, Day 3 'Boomer has a Friend!'

Everyone is settling in after the big upheaval of having a new horse. I got the biggest kick out of Ricco. He is my yearling and other than weaning and gelding, this has been the biggest event in his short life! He was quite 'spooked' at the sight of a white horse in the barn and paddocks. I thought maybe we should rename Boomer 'Casper' since in Ricco's eyes she must of looked like a ghost!

The horses are all being gradually introduced and they are working out the herd dynamics safely. I am especially pleased to see Boomer buddy up to my retired horse Flicka. Flicka has been on the verge of needing to be separated from the herd. She is arthritic and elderly and just not as mobile as she once was. I have a large enough pasture than there is more than enough room for all but I had been noticing that Flicka hung back and kept herself away from the others. I am sure she felt vulnerable but if I paddocked her to herself she would not walk as much and therefore get stiff and more sore. We were in a little bit of a catch 22 with her so I'd been keeping a close eye to monitor what arrangements were best.

Boomer is the kind of horse that is always on the bottom of the pecking order-- thats partly why she is in the shape she is because she just can not compete being fed in a herd situation. What has happened now very nicely is Flicka has a buddy in Boomer. They are every happy to have a gentle pasture mate and I am thrilled I do not have to paddock Flicka by herself. Horses are MUCH happier with a buddy! They also look cute together as one is black and the other white.

As some of you may know I am I the process of moving my art studio. I got a larger space and it is in a wonderful location at Second April Art Gallerie. I decided yesterday I would name my art studio "White Horse Studio" in honor of the reminders from the last few days since bringing home my rescue horse. Some of the things I want to remember is the spirit that enables us (collectively as living, breathing beings) to rise above difficult situations and keep trying. Art has been that kind of outlet for me by allowing me to concentrate on what is beautiful and interesting in life- bringing me out of difficult situations. I think this spirit is also symbolic for the times in which we live. It has been a hard winter for many and the gloom fed to us thru the media and news reports are discouraging. Maybe we all are starved for what is good in the world? As we enter into spring-a new season and a new 'space' I am wanting to be reminded how things change and grow and develop in their time if I can hang on to the beauty and hope in the world.

Now switching gears completely.... I am wanting so bad to bathe Boomer but the temps dropped and I thought it would be better to wait. Warmer temps are coming so I will have some new pics soon. My daughter has been spending time in the barn with Boomer too. She was feeling sad about her condition but I told her all the good things I saw- the spring in Boomer's step, the interest in her surroundings and her general good spirits. She is an arab and that 'bred for the desert' hardiness is definitely a big help to her right now. She is going to spring back very nicely I believe!

Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement.

Sue Steiner

equine and animal artist

My New Muse....

Day 1

I know with a title like the one above you were expecting some fancy, sleek steed from an animal and equine artist like myself! You watch! As an artist I can see beauty where others can't, so in my eyes this poor, pitiful being IS beautiful! Let me explain.

Yesterday I brought home for good a horse that I owned 2 times before. Two times I brought her back home from not so good situations. I am careful who I sell my animals to but this mare just had a run of bad luck-- a trailer accident as a 2 yr. old halted her 'halter show career' due to superficial scars on her hip that marred her appearence in the show ring. I found her as a 4 yr old pasture ornament, unbroke with the owners considering breeding her. An unbroke, broodmare has an uncertain future.

I got to see just how uncertain when I first laid eyes on the dam of the horse pictured above. I found the dam in a barn full of broodmares and a stallion with no food, no water, skin and bones, caked with manure, lame and in foal- as was the whole barn. I couldn't bring them all home but did get one. I raised her foal which is my new/old horse I will refer to as Boomerang because she keeps coming back! I feel especially responsible for her. The dam's life and now this horse experience is a very big part of why I will never raise another foal unless I intend to keep them forever!

After I brought Boomerang home the first time I got her trained under saddle, kept her for several more years and sold her to a suitable owner. Things were going okay until this past winter.

I will post occassional updates on my 'boomerang' horse's condition. This is what she looks like now. Fortunately other than rain rot, being very skinny and in need of a good farrier, dentist and worming program she is not 'ill'. She is alert and moving well-- just a sign of the times where many people are struggling. I don't fault her owners because I know what happened and I also know they are good people. They ran out of hay, ran out of money and ran out of options to sell lower end horses. They got stuck and so did this horse. But spring is here and she is getting help. I think you'll enjoy watching her blossom. I know what a beautiful horse she is so I am excited to share with you her progress.

If you want to recieve regular updates to this blog you can subscribe on the sidebar.

To see animal and equine art, pet portraits and farm animal murals please visit my web site at http://www.suesteiner.com/

Thanks!

Gallop! A Daily Painting

24 x 36 in oils on gallery wrap canvas

I spent most of this past week doing not so fun stuff like painting the walls of my new studio. I think I must of been saving up for this burst tonight when I got a chance to paint this large abstract horse in oils. It is on gallery wrap canvas and will be for sale at my new studio for First Friday.

This feels like a treat to myself for working hard! I hope the fun I had with it shows thru.

As you can see from the photos I sketched out the drawing in pastels and charcoal. I had a hard time deciding whether to do this in acrylics or oils or some mixed media combination but in the end decided to go with oils. Keep your fingers crossed it dries by Friday!! :)

Sue Steiner

equine and animal artist

Captain Butler has a Face!

work in progress oil painting by Sue Steiner






I am adding more detail now to my bull painting of Captain Butler, a rare breed of cattle called a 'watusi'. As you can see the colors are darker and richer in his face and neck since I am moving from that area over toward the hind end. Soon the rest of the body will match and I will add some glazes and highlights to bring it all together. Still a 'work in progress' but soon it will all come together!



At this stage the painting reminds me a little of my yearling colt as it goes thru its spurts of growth. Many of you may know how at this stage young horses grow in bursts where at times one body part looks out of proportion to the others. Right now my colt is 'downhill' because his rump shoot up faster than his front end! :) I could almost SEE him growing since it happened so quickly! He also has a neck that seems to go on forever! But I am confident in the end all the parts will flow and come together as they should! I can see the beauty in the out of porportion areas just as I visualize how I want to move thru a painting.



Thanks for being a part of this process. It is fun to share my creative process with you. I sometimes think how I impulsively throw things up on the computer in blogs, twitter and facebook at times realizing others can't necessarily visualize what I have in my mind- wondering if I should just hold back and wait. Bringing people in to this process is where it gets fun and exciting, though. As an artist I have to do much of my work alone but the flip side to being an artist is having someone SEE your art. I enjoy the interaction and feedback of allowing people into the process. At my new art studio in Canton I will have more room to do this kind of thing as I participate in many of the art events in that area including First Fridays. I am asking my husband to help build 'drying shelves' so I can put my work in progress paintings up on the wall. Not only is that helpful to me to see them over and over again as I am working on them or allowing a layer to dry it is good for people to see how a painting changes and grows-- like my leggy colt! :)

thanks for stopping by!

Sue Steiner

equine and animal artist

As a side note I am adding to my farm animal murals at Lehman's on a regular basis now. Check out the events calendar on their web site or go to my Amish themed art blog at http://www.kidronarts.blogspot.com/ to see my schedule.

Belgians in the Field, Daily Painting

Belgians in the Field, 12 x 24 oils on hardboard

by Sue Steiner

I painted this as a daily painting after watching my neighbors work up their field the day before. My favorite sight this time of year is to see the amish work horses in the fields. They are amazing to look at -- my hope is that I was able to capture even just a bit of that in this painting.

I will have this, along with other artwork at my new studio in Canton in time for May's First Friday. I am in studio #207 above Second April Art Gallerie.

thanks for stopping by!

Sue Steiner

Bull Painting 'Work In Progress'

Work in Progress Pics of an Oil Painting Commission

by Sue Steiner

I have the distinct pleasure the last few weeks of painting this unique and impressive animal! I love painting all types of animals-- I've done wildlife, pets, horses, a whole assortment of farm animals, birds, amphibians and dinsosaurs (I have a son who requested the last two!). I've painted life sized to little 4 x 4 in. squares. Each one is a challenge and a pleasure. I am maybe 80% done with Captain Butler. Obviously once I get the eyes in his face will look more 'normal'. He's got what looks like amber colored eyes so I want to retain the lightness in this area so am waiting to add the details to his face until later.

He is a rare breed of cattle that originates in Africa called a 'watusi'. He is owned by Rodney Barnhart from Workin' On it Ranch.

Thanks for stopping by. My goal is to complete this painting before my move into my new studio. Stay tuned for more updates!

Happy Trails!

Sue

I've Been Playing.....

I've been playing... probably because I soon will need to pack and move to the new studio. Demos are starting up this week and I have a commission I need to finish. So what do I do??? Play with finger painting!! I sound like my 12 yr old when it's time to do homework!

~In my defense though I did get 3 paintings shipped off this week! In my son's defense he actually is good about getting homework done.~

I will say there is value in finger painting. It is relaxing. It is freeing -- you can't get bogged down in details- you just go by feel and experiementation. And hopefully I have gotten the distractibility out of my system so I can paint walls, gather supplies, make lists, pack boxes, frame and mat. The next two weeks will be busy. I want to be ready to go for May's First Friday. I also would like to get my commission completed before then. So now you know and maybe by virtue of telling you I can get all that I need done. :)

If you are coming to First Friday stop by Second April Art Gallerie Studio #207 !

thanks!

Sue Steiner

New Studio!

Second April Art Gallerie




In just a few days I will begin to move into my new art studio in Canton. I am moving down the hall from the 'Annex' of Second April Art Gallerie to the 'Studios'. This is a wonderful location in a gorgeous art gallery in a vibrant active art community. Can you tell I am excited about this!!



My new studio address will be 324 Cleveland Ave. NW, #207 Canton, Ohio


My artwork will be on display and available for purchase anytime the gallery is open. With the added space I will be working in my studio more often and will certainly be there for First Friday Events, often doing a painting demo. If you've not been to a First Friday you need to! They are fantastic! Food, live music, activities for kids, live entertainment, art galleries, open art studios.... just a lot of fun. The plan is for me to be in my new spot for May First Friday! Hope to see you there!

Take care,
Sue Steiner

Daily Painting, Buggy Ride

I painted this today. It is 11 x 14 on canvas in oils. I am calling it Buggy Ride for obvious reasons. :) I always enjoy seeing the 'convertible' style of buggies out and about because then you know its going to be a nice day!

Sue Steiner

A Memorial Pet Portrait

This is a memorial portrait of a sweet little lap dog named Molly. My hope is that this may ease her owner's ache just a little.

To see more animal art go to http://www.suesteiner.com

Sue Steiner

equine and animal artist

Life Sized Animal Art

Read about my next project here!

http://countrylife.lehmans.com/2009/04/08/farm-animal-art-and-mural-painting/

Barn Horse, Daily Painting

This horse painting was painted this morning using oil paint and charcoal on hardboard. I used an old painting as the underpainting so there is all this lovely texture that doesn't show up on the computer screen. I thought it looked like barn siding, hence the name 'Barn Horse'. This will be offered for sale at my studio in Canton.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sue Steiner

Fenced In, Equine Art

I am finished with this one for the most part... may add some more lights and warm up some spots when this layer dries. I call this Fenced In because I enjoyed the white fence in the background being repeated again in the young colt's eye's. The wild tangled of mane gives a hint to the little bit of wildness retained in all horses! I enjoyed seeing that spirit and energy today in my colt, Ricco, when he was let out into the pasture today. Tail up and head high he flew around the field at a gallop, snorting and leaping! Ahh, this spring weather feels good!!!

Hope you get to enjoy some sun on your face today!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sue Steiner

Canton Repository and Art is Alive!

Last night was April's First Friday in Canton. You can see my studio at the end of the night after I completed a painting Demo of 'Captain Butler', a rare breed of cattle known as the 'cattle if kings' or watusi. I will be doing painting demos most First Friday night in my studio so please stop by.

I am primarily an animal and equine artists although I venture into other areas too. I have an assortment of artwork and am continually working on new pieces so stop in and say hi!

At the beginning of the evening a reporter for the Canton Repository stopped in and took this photo.


Thank you Canton and Arts in Stark for doing such a great thing for local artists and the community! Many, many happy people came by last night thanks to your efforts!

Canton Repository and