Red Sky at Night

Red Sky at Night • 8" x 8" x 2" • oil on board

They say there is a calm before the storm. And then the rain came in. Softly, slowly, drifting in and out throughout the day. Somehow it wasn't raining in the headlands and I was able to go for a ride. I started up the hill and came back down to the arena to practice dressage, surrounded by the soft hazy hills we drew perfect lines and circles in the arena sand. Lucky me, lucky Smokey.

Dapple Grey Horse Painting - cool colors

Grey Dapple • 18" x 24" • oil on canvas

I painted this stunning grey simultaneously with another canvas in warmer colors. I finished this one quite a few months ago and put the warmer version aside. Everyone has been enjoying this painting and complementing it. Yesterday I went to my studio and put another layer on the warm version, today another. I am not looking at this painting or the photo, yet, they are similar. It will be interesting to compare the two paintings side by side. Tonight I pulled this one up and it was interesting to see the areas I've been struggling with without a reference photo.

Tomorrow I will be riding a 17 hand grey warmblood so he has been on my mind. My daughter looks great jumping on him. It will be my first lesson in about 7 years. I have been lifting weights, running and doing yoga to get ready. It will be quite a different feeling than galloping through the beautiful California hills bareback.