‘Wendell’ 8×10, oil on Canvas Pad

Click HERE to purchase via Daily Paintworks.

This study was created using Oil Sticks. Essentially oil paint, in bar form. I’ve been playing around with this new-to-me medium for a few months now. One thing I am loving about the sticks is the abiliity to really work into the surface by rubbing the stick on the flat edge or with the end tip. Once the media is down I can use my gloved finger or knife to manipulate the pigment as I wish. Moving the pigment around creates texture and adds depth to the surface.

My model for this work is a beautiful, dappled grey gelding named “Wendell” by Westporte, that modelled for me at CountryLane Farm in Delta, BC last spring. The work is on a loose Fredrix Canvas sheet. Would need a backing behind it to frame, or could be hinge taped to matt board then framed.

‘Young Hunter Stallion” 6″x6″ oil on panel, unframed

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Finishing up loose ends in my studio as my sublet is ending in June 🙁  how time flies!! I’m on the hunt for a new space in Portland. Completed this smaller work completed in the studio today and uploaded to Daily Paintworks. My model is from my session with the young hunter stallion Centre Pointe, standing at Countrylane Farm, Delta, BC.  (Holsteiner, Chambertin x Vanda III by Cassini I)

6″x6″ unframed on panel.

“Electro-Static” 12″x16″ oil on cradled linen. 7/8″ depth.

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Longtime collectors of my work might remember my earlier works were incredibly detailed with a high level of realism. Over the years, I’ve worked to loosen up my strokes with a few strategies. Bigger brushes, different grips, speed painting, distance from the work, standing vs. sitting….etc…That said, I’m learning that realism can still play a role in the work I produce, in fact, some days it’s necessary. I think of detail days as recovery sessions. Workdays where I regain energy and mental focus until another painting session when I feel the exciting momentum to loosen up, paint free and with intuition. Perhaps for some painters they are able to do this all the time, but for me, its a gut feeling when I enter the studio, I know when i’m ready to bust it out, or linger with a little more patience in the details.

This painting begins to explore the idea of the two combined. I wondered If I worked on a piece over a longer period of time to allow days of recovery (the detailed bits) and expression (the loose bits) Where would this go? With Electro-Static, the detail is with the body of horse itself, but creating a sense of impulsion with her leg movement. She is static, but moving.

My model is the fantastic Dutch warmblood mare, Freedom by Zion, Sisters, Oregon. (minus one white sock, added to balance the painting – for art’s sake ????)

“Oil Bar Trot Study”, 12″x16″ oil bar on canvas panel

Lastly, I’ve had some requests to make my studies available for purchase, so I’ve uploaded an oil bar study to Daily Paintworks Auction. Click HERE to bid.

“Favada”, 22″x28″ oil on gallery depth canvas

Favada is a broodmare bred for dressage, from Island Farm in Victoria BC (Wynton/Darwin/Flemmingh bloodlines). I visited her and her foal Mandala, last spring when I was on a road trip gathering new inspiration. I had a clear vision for this painting as I started. I felt I could express a fairly simple pose but manipulate it in a way to make it more interesting.

I knew I wanted her head to be in full focus, but the rest of the image to fall away gently, and in a subtle abstracted way. I used my handy rubber dough scraper to pull the paint into, away and across the image. Thus the slightly ‘pixelated’ effect.

I’m really quite thrilled with this painting. It’s been several years since I have worked in larger format. Viewing in person, she literally jumps off the wall, making her quite the presence in my studio. 🙂

This painting is available, inquiries may come to me jennifer@jenniferprattartist.com

Exubérance, 24×30, oil stick + panel

I’m pleased to introduce the first of several larger scale paintings I’ve been working on in my studio. These works have utilized my recent discovery of a new-to-me medium; oil sticks. Essentially, oil paint in bar form. By allowing myself to play without expectations, I’ve discovered wonderful some possibilities with free-flowing sketch lines (longtime readers might recall older works of mine using Watercolor pencil in a similar manner) with painting further detail into certain sections I feel fit. Embracing a trial and error process of navigating a new medium, I’ve toyed around with sketching, painting into, drag around and mushing to blend with a gloved finger. A rubber spatula easily wipes off any areas I’m not happy with, or moves it around creating interesting patterns as it blends with other colors.

Detail, hind end

When I allow myself to be physically engaged in the process I can feel the movement of the horse, action of the legs, mane and tail and draw in what I really feel is happening with that animal is if it were moving.

Front end detail

As the oil bar is dragged or pulled with a tool it leaves some texture behind, adding another dimension to areas of choice. I am enjoying the immediate effects as well as some of the forgiving qualities. When I am  fully involved in the process mentally it is easier to let go any thoughts of doubt, fear and use the medium courageously.  I am excited to see where these explorations take me.  I have several larger works in progress in the studio and eager to add to my original inventory as these new works are called complete. As always, thank you for your support as I continue to ever evolve as an artist and painter. ❤

Exubérance is unframed, shipping price includes full value insurance and signature required upon delivery. For more purchase information, please click HERE

‘Freedom’ 8×10, Oil on Panel, unframed

Available via Daily Paintworks

It’s been two months of working in the new studio in Central Eastside PDX. Over this time, I have developed a regular routine of going to a place of work, instead of trodding out to the backyard studio. I have so many paintings in mid-creation I’ve lost count. It’s a wonderful feeling to have an abundance of inspiration, motivation and focus. So far, all of the paintings in progress are bigger than the 6″x8″ panels I’ve been creating and selling on Daily Paintworks auctions for the last couple years.

Scaling up to larger surfaces has presented new unique challenges to work through, such as quantity of paint, size of brushes, working distance to and from the canvas and scaling my initial drawing layout. It’s a process I’m working through and learning to enjoy the ride along the way.

As I went into the studio Monday morning, I felt the want to be able to start and (hopefully) finish a painting in one go, Alla Prima! I decided to work a little smaller once again in order to do so. As a result, the above painting was created. My model with the extravagant movement is a ‘Freedom’, a Dutch warmblood, combined driving mare, by Zion JC, residing in Sister’s Oregon.

“Boyish Curiosity” 6×8 oil on panel

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I recently participated in an Art Therapy class called “Mothers in Mid-Life”. The class was geared for women transitioning from the parenting years to another chapter, one where find ourselves we gaining independence as our kids become more independent. For some women, including myself, it’s been so long that we’ve worn the parent role, we forget how to use this time for ourselves. The class opened my eyes to emotions I was experiencing, but did not know how to describe or coin a term to. Above all, I was happy to know I was not alone. I met a group of wildly creative and vivacious women. All of us adoring our kids, but ready to unleash the tether of allowing ourselves to be on-call for all their needs, more than giving ourselves the gifts of realizing our own dreams. How do we do both?

During class we did a great deal of free writing. Just letting thoughts or the subconisous leave your hand to the paper. Streams of words. I discovered things about myself in these free flowing words, and reconnected with my former self in BC times (Before Child) There are parts of ‘BC’ her I would like back, but I also know I am far more mature, experienced and wise today than I was back then.

I’ve begun to incorporate free writing as part ritual in the studio. Today, I let the words flow about why horses and what do they mean to me. I’ve been asked so many times over the years Why Horses? Meaning why do you paint horses instead of people or landscapes or…blah, blah..if you are a fellow horse artist, you know exactly the question and how often you’ve heard it!  As usual the words surprised me, they were equally weighted between pure curiosity about their ridiculous beauty and amazing people I’ve met over the years, contrasted by utterly horrible experiences I’ve had with the animal and some rather unscrupulous horse people. Much like parenting it has not been all roses and rainbows, there were hard times too, but I still love them dearly and they continue to capture my imagination and drive my passion to this day, even after all these years.

‘Centre Pointe’ 6×8 oil on panel

Hi Friends, some great news!! I am writing to you from my new studio in inner SE PDX! I am feeling so wonderfully positive about this move for so many reasons. It’s only been a few short weeks since I began this new chapter, however I’m already feeling a greater connection to my artwork and a drive to create. Having a separate space to travel to means I have somewhat of a ‘workplace’ to go to. I’m seeing new faces in the neighborhood along the way here, but once I’m holed up in my space, I can have the solitude to create. No more journeys into the house from the backyard studio and risk of being distracted by a pile of dishes in the kitchen sink along the way. I had no idea how much creative bandwidth this was stealing from me, until I left it at home.

Since this marks a new chapter of moving forward, I’ve made some decisions on how I wish to proceed. I’ve spent the last few years working small paintings, it’s been a great exploration to explore and develop my style, but I’m feeling the want to push into larger format. I still plan on selling some small studies on Daily Paintworks on occasion, but in the background I have several larger pieces that I wish to spend more time developing and honing until I release them to the website. I have so many ideas in my mind, but I also know myself well, that patience is also key so I don’t become too frustrated with myself.

The painting I just posted, Centre Pointe is the young Holsteiner stallion standing at Country Lane Farm in Delta BC.  They were the last of the three farms I visited back in the spring in my search for new material. This is my little thank you gift to them for their time and effort presenting and holding the horses for me, so I could have some great new material to work from. Now, I’m feeling complete that all three farms have their thank you gifts. I can move forward with all their models they gave me as fantastic inspiration in my new space. 🙂

thank you – JP

“Freedom by Zion JC” 6×8 oil on panel

Back in June I had an invitation to travel to Sisters, Oregon to meet a Dutch Warmblood breeder by the name of Kanoe Durdan Godby. Great reason to make a weekend out of visiting beautiful Central Oregon! We had incredible light with the mountains as a backdrop and I felt incredibly lucky to have some exquisite horses model for me. Kanoe breeds Dutch Harness horses, it was a great experience to learn more about driving and breeding for driving (I know little!). These horses are not only flashy, but exceptional movers with dynamic action.

“Freedom”

Kanoe has a number of homebred horses, which I will introduce as time goes by, but it was apparent to me during my visit. that her mare Freedom (Zion JC x Flemmingh) and Kanoe shared a unique bond.  This painting is my thank you gift to her, for reaching out to me, teaching me about her driving horses and giving me the gift of inspiration through sharing herself and her wonderful animals. Thank you Kanoe!  There as a few more shots from my farm shoot on my Facebook page HERE

“Freedom” by Zion JC

“Sweet Gina” 8″x6″, oil on panel

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Gina, (Doc Pacheena Cat) is another resident at Jessica Kellner’s Island Farm that captivated me. As an amateur rider with some extensive injuries, I no longer crave those unpredictable, full of themselves kind of horses. I want sane, stable, don’t dump me kind of rides. The kind of horse you can ride on a loose rein after a school in the grassy field, perhaps with a few deer darting about, maybe even throw in a wild turkey calling from the thick brush beside the fence line – without dying as result. These horses are worth their weight in gold. Don’t you just get that from her eye expression? 🙂