This handsome fella was a donation to the May 16, 2015 M.O.M. Live in Black River Falls, WI. The request was for a horse to match up with the America the Beautiful song. I had never painted a landscape before, much less on a horse so this was an interesting adventure!

Just like last year’s donation’s dapple attempts it was a lot of fun to work outside my comfort zone. The challenge to trying something I wouldn’t have otherwise is one of the reasons I try and fulfill all show donation requests. Well, that and I love supporting the live show hobby however I can since I don’t have the money (or energy) to run my own anymore. 🙂

Although he didn’t turn out quite like I’d imagined him in my head, he’s a pretty awesome little fella, from high-gloss sea to snow-capped mountain top. Sadly I couldn’t pull of the tiny bald eagle, so he had to settle for a 4-H clover cloud instead.

As always, there is a Facebook gallery showing all of the in-progress steps as I painted him and the photos below enlarge quite a bit when clicked!

Medium: Liquitex Artist Color Acrylics (Gesso, Ivory Black, Turquoise Green, Raw Sienna), Folk Art (720 Cobalt Blue, 476 Asphaltum, 504 VanDyke Brown, 944 Nutmeg, 2908 Real Brown, 420 Linen), Apple Barrel (21386 Arbor Green, 20530 Wedgewood Green, 20513 Bright Yellow)

Sketching out an American Landscape All the colors of the wind!