‘Spirit Horse Pass’ Watercolor by Debbie Flood

                  

                   Spirit Horse Pass 15 x 18 Watercolor. $1,400.00

The image above, is my latest completed watercolor Spirit Horse Pass.
There was a lot of unexplained things going on, while I was creating this painting.

As many of you know, I had gone out West during the Summer of 2011. While I was in Arizona, I did as much site seeing and photograph taking as I could. What entranced me most about the place was the outcropping of rocks.

Those rocks held magical shapes and Spirits for me. I could see shapes of hands, some looked like mittens others like bare hands reaching up out of the earth, reaching to be free of their stone encasement. Other shapes took on the look of Tribes, mothers carrying children, wearing drapes of blankets and clothing over their heads, all marching towards the horizon. I felt as if I was walking on sacred ground, and the past of the West was all around me. There is so much History there, and for me, the stones, boulders and rocks were telling me a loud story.

Several weeks ago, I was flipping through my images of riders and horses, and also going through my Arizona trip photos. There was those rocks, and I knew I had to start using them in backgrounds of my paintings.
The boulders in this painting, Spirit Horse Pass, are those of Prescott, Arizona. I had gone to visit the Phippen Museum of Western Art. As I arrived a little early, before they opened, I set off on a landscape adventure. And there was those rocks with the hands and mittens.

Here at the studio, I found the image I wanted from my files, and sketched out the rock's shapes for this painting. I transferred them onto the watercolor paper, along with the rider and horse, reference photo taken at a local horse show. I didn't have a lot of planned out things for this painting, as I got the image transferred and ready to paint. This rider and horse are the same team I had used in the watercolor Moon shine run.

As I started to lay down color onto the front of the horse, I could visualize an Appaloosa. I grew up with Appys and the love and bond I had with them came forward.
So, I had my horse color, and as I painted the horse, the hand print on the shoulder showed up. Wow, I thought, and I continued on that theme.
Then I thought, I would like to keep the background the same colors as the horse and stay along that 'spot' theme. I thought "snow". So I proceeded to lay in rock color here and there, leaving the paper white, where the snow would be. I worked it all, so it would have a pleasing flow.

When a good amount of rocks and snow was built up, I stepped back and took a look at how it was coming along, over all.  Wow! What did I see?! I saw horse head shapes emerging from the rocks and snow. Some looked like race horses with blinkers on, others looked like horse head skulls, others were partial face, nose, arched necks and so on. I was totally amazed and dumb founded at what was happening with this painting! Believe me, none of this was planned.

As I kept working on the rocks, I just painted and let my subconscious take over. I didn't want to "try" to paint horse shapes, I just let "what will be, will be". And sure enough, there was more Horses in the rocks. I then had my title for this painting, Spirit Horse Pass. This painting came from a place that I cannot explain. It was not planned, it was not foreseen.

The rocks and landscape spoke to me, out there in Arizona, and are still speaking to me, through my art.
Pretty darn cool, if you ask me.

So, take a look, and see how many horse heads and pieces you can find, in the rocks and snow. I found around 20. There is no right answer, it's all in what you, as an individual, are open to seeing.

I am now taking names, to be on a waiting list for Professional Limited Edition Prints of 50, for Spirit Horse Pass.
15 x 18 Limited Edition Print $100.00 Hand signed and Numbered by me.
Approximate size 10 x 12 Open Edition Print $45.00 signed by me.
Ships flat and shipping fees are extra. Also there is a Maine Sales Tax, for Maine Residents.
You can email me at debflood@debfloodart.com if you would like a Print or two, or more.

~Debbie Flood

http://www.debfloodart.com

Technorati Tags: Spirit horses,appaloosa,western,western art,southwest,watercolor. Hidden shapes,horse heads,painting,Debbie Flood,Arizona,Phippen museum,Cowboy

Appaloosa, Cowboy and Snow on the Rocks. Watercolor in Progress by Debbie Flood.

 

 

 

I’ve got a new Watercolor in progress. This is an Appaloosa being ridden through some canyon rocks covered in snow, that has melted and re-froze.

I wanted to keep the same theme of the horse color with the background and this is what came about. Sometimes I have a background planned out, but once I get painting, something else takes over and so I just follow my brush and get lost in the process of creating. I don’t try to be the Boss of my creations and tell them what to do. Things go wrong with the painting when I do that.

The background rocks are from a bunch of rocks that I photographed in Prescott, Arizona.  I loved the shapes of them and they work well for this background.

Enjoy.

Debbie

http://www.debfloodart.com

Technorati Tags: Appaloosa,Horse,Cowboy,Western Art,Southwest art,Southwest,Arizona,Debbie Flood,Watercolor

Purchase Debbie Flood Western Art Prints from the Blog

You can now purchase Debbie Flood Western Art Prints with Paypal buttons. Easy, Fast, Paypal, and you do not need a Paypal account to purchase using these buttons. Major Credit Cards and e-checks accepted.

The Prints are listed with more info, images, and pricing and Purchase buttons by clicking on the link in the top of this Blog "Purchase Western Art Prints" or follow this Link:

Debbie Flood, Studio happenings: Purchase Western Art Prints

 

Thank you and enjoy!

~Debbie

 

Moreno Valley Arts Council Membership and Winter Exhibit, Watercolors Accepted by Debbie Flood.

 

Last week I was invited to become a member of the Moreno Valley Arts Council in Angel Fire, New Mexico. I graciously accepted and then I was told I was eligible to enter the Juried Competition of the Winter Exhibit.

COOL! I entered three Watercolors into this exhibit and I’m pleased to announce that all three were accepted!

Moon shine run 20 x 16 Watercolor

Here is a photo of Moon shine run in it’s new frame:

The photo is tinted a little too much on the pink and yellows! But the painting looks fabulous in this frame package.

Riders of the storm 14 x 19 Watercolor

This will be going into a 3 inch wide, weathered, Barn wood frame.

Minor adjustments 15 x 18 Watercolor

This painting will also be going into a 3 inch Wide, weathered, Barn wood frame.

The exhibit dates are February 14 – 21, 2012 The Atrium in Centro Plaza, Angel Fire, New Mexico.

http://www.angelfireartspace.com for more info.

Debbie Flood

http://www.debfloodart.com

Technorati Tags: Angel Fire,New Mexico,Moreno Valley Arts Council,Winter Exhibit,Western Art,Southwest,Horses,Cowboys,Ranching,Debbie Flood

‘Double trouble’ Hereford Calves and a Cowboy in Watercolor by Debbie Flood

 

I finished Double trouble today. 16 x 20 inches on 300 lb Arches Watercolor paper. $1,400.00

I found a good solution to all that sage brush in the background. I created shadow from the mountain onto the top of the brush back there, which sent it further back there and hazed from the morning mist and cool air. To better push this feeling home, I created breath coming from the animals and cowboy, to show the coolness of the morning.

I got up early that morning, to go photographing in Taos, NM. The air was cool and crisp. I loved it! But by the time I was photographing thee cute Herefords, it was very hot, and the sun was baking down. I love remembering what that cool morning was like, so I recreated that time of day.

Enjoy,

~Debbie Flood

http://www.debfloodart.com

Technorati Tags: Hereford,Cattle,Calves,Beef cattle,Quarter horse,cowboy,southwest art,watercolor,Debbie Flood

Update progress on the watercolor ‘Double trouble’ Calves & Cowboy by Debbie Flood

 

                       

Here is today’s work on the Double trouble watercolor.

Today, I realized just how much sage brush is in this painting! Ha ha. It stretches all the way to the top of the painting. But, I think I will improvise just a little, and put those pretty New Mexico Mountains back there.

There are effects in that sage, that I can’t really get with a brush alone. So I have implemented a couple Watercolor pencils to give a dotted-sparkle effect in the bushes. Once I rough that in, I go over it some with a wet brush, to soften a few edges. So far, it has given a really nice effect.

Today I was featured on another artists blog. Mary Hone calls it Artsy Fartsy Tuesday. It’s a really cute little blog, and fun! And of course she is a very talented artist herself! Desert Raven Art.

Thanks for stopping by and looking.

Please share with your family and friends if you would like.

~Debbie

http://www.debfloodart.com

Technorati Tags: Calves,Hereford,Cattle drive,Quarter Horse,Cowboy,New Mexico,Sage brush,watercolor,southwest art,western art,Debbie Flood

‘Double trouble’ Hereford Calves and a Cowboy on Horse Back, Watercolor in Progress by Debbie Flood.

Yes, I’ve started another one! ha ha. I like having a lot of paintings going on at once. Many times, the paper needs to dry, so while waiting for that, I can work on another one. Also, I get such a high from painting (No, not from paint fumes, but the pure joy of creating art) that when one is completed, it’s a bit of a let down, for it to be over. With another one still in progress, I don’t have that let down feeling. I simply move on to the next one. I guess you could say I am addicted to painting. Guess there are worse things to have an addiction over, huh?

Aren’t these little Hereford calves cute?? I photographed them in Taos, NM. They were peeking in and out of the gorgeous sage brush. The colors sent my senses on an explosion! I tell ya, I have so so many images from my trips that I want to paint. It was a “painting subject matter” over load!

The horse and rider in this painting, is from an image I took here in Maine. Gathering those ‘cowboy’ images around here in my local areas, are great for sticking into paintings like this. They help to play out a story in the painting.

This watercolor is 16 x 20 inches on 300lb Arches Watercolor Paper. I’ve lovingly titled it Double trouble.

I hope that the start to your 2012 is going great!

Happy Trails,

Debbie

http://www.debfloodart.com

Technorati Tags: cattle,calves,hereford,white face cow,red cow,bull,beef cattle,Taos New Mexico,Southwest art,Debbie Flood,Cowboy,Cowgirl,Quarter Horse,Cow Horse,Roundup,cattle drive

New Watercolors in Progress, Pistols, Calves, and a Roping Cowgirl! by Debbie Flood

Well, the year is winding down, but I sure am not! I’m getting ready to ring in a fantastic 2012!

My commissions of 2011 are all finished, 2 have been shipped off and have arrived at their destination. The 3rd painting is packed up, and will ship out to New Mexico the 1st week of January 2012.

What’s on my studio watercolor table???

It’s a watercolor of a Pistol, Cowboy Hat, Holster, and an old black and white photo of a cowboy and horse. The pistol is a family member (so to speak, ha ha) and I was given some great reference images of it. The hat is from some of my own photos I have taken, and the barn board walls are from my memory of what the old boards look like. The old photo, is thrown in for some story telling nostalgia. Notice the coffee ring stain on the corner of the photo?

Now, Onto some others that are works in progress:

This watercolor (above) is Learnin` the ropes. I took the reference image for this painting in Sedona, Arizona. I went there, with a couple other artists for a day of horse back riding, eating some awesome cowboy breakfast, and learnin` to rope! I was surprised at how stiff the roping rope is. One definitely needs gloves when working seriously with this rope.

Most of the progress on this painting was done on the right side of the painting, back there in the mountains and distant landscape.

Another work in Progress is this very fresh new start:

This is the bare bones of this painting. I have sketches, two different ones, that I am moving around and working with to create a pleasing composition. The calves, are Hereford. Pretty red and white calves, nestled in the sage brush. I took reference photos of them, while I was in Taos, NM. The horse is from a photo I took here in Maine, back in 2010. A great example of East meets West! I’m looking forward to this painting, with the complimentary colors of sage brush and the reds of the animals.

And, some other works that are still on my table, waiting for my attention:

This is a fun watercolor, with running and jumping wild horses, and the cowgirl can sit and watch in delight. In her mind, she’s got the best life, and this is how she enjoys her down time.

Thank you for taking a look and reading what I’m up to in the studio.

I wish for you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Happy trails!

Debbie

http://www.debfloodart.com

Technorati Tags: Pistol,gun,western pistol,Holster,Hereford,cattle,calves,Western art,southwest art,Debbie Flood,cowgirl,cowboy,wild horses,equine,watercolor