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Saturday, November 30, 2013

June Dudley - An Apple a Day - Little Girl Feeding a Horse Print


Remember when you were that curious child, anxiously wanting to make a friend no matter the time or place? A little girl reflects that curiosity and desire in June Dudley's "An Apple a Day" print. As if it had just finished a long ride rounding up cattle or herding sheep, a beautiful Palomino accepts that young lady's generosity in a gentle manner that only a child and horse could share.

June Dudley captures that moment with her brush in perfect light. The details of the Palomino's muscle, grace, and structure are so finely illustrated, it's as if the artist had medicinal knowledge of the body of a horse. Just shy of touching the beautiful horse, the little girl, wearing an adorable little western hat, reaches to offer up a beautifully depicted ripe apple and the horse seems to oblige. The print background is settled on a farm blanketed with perfect green grass. In the background center is a large, wise old tree, with a picture perfect sky encompassing all types of shades and colors such as orange, blue, white and gray.

Finally, one cannot miss the beautiful detail depicted throughout this print, including the small plume of smoke billowing up in the background sky as if the artist were hinting to a campfire smoldering in the distance. From the glossiness of the apple that the little girl is handing to the horse, to the detailed golden color of the Palomino, it seems as if the print is an image of what is just outside your cabin window. All aspects of this print are simple, yet painted to the finest detail. From the red, slightly rusted fence to the horse blanket and saddle trim; June Dudley's "An Apple a Day" print would be the perfect focal point of any home.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

The Beauty of White Horse Pictures

If you are a fan of horses, then having some white horse pictures to hang around your home is a must. White horses are among the most elegant, beautiful creatures that are known. With their grace and majesty so stunningly visible, it is no wonder that pictures of them are a favorite.

So, what is a white horse? The answer is not as simple as one may think, because it encompasses more than just looking like a particular color. There are many horses that are commonly called white, but really aren't. A true white horse is actually born white and will remain that way for the entire span of their years. Most white horses have dark eyes, though at times they may be blue. The beauty of a pure white horse makes for a great picture. Depicted with a flowing white mane and tail, in a variety of settings from meadows to starry evenings on a beach, and striking poses that accentuate the magical look of such a regal creature, these pictures will be the talk of your collection whenever you have company.

There are also gray horses that appear to be white. This is because although the hair is white due to lightening with age, the skin underneath is actually pigmented and remains so without any lightening over time. Generally speaking, a gray horse will have dark eyes, though there is always a possibility of other colors being manifested. The white hair over the dark skin does not prevent stunning pictures of these horses, sometimes mistaken for true white due to the color of their coat. There is something very captivating about looking at a picture of one of these horses. Whether the picture portrays a wild stallion gallantly galloping through a field of grass, or a gentle mare nursing her newborn foal in the shade of an oak tree, they are stunning creatures to behold.

There is also a type of white horse known as the Sabino. These horses have white patches along with spots and splashes, but are known as Sabino white when almost the entire body is covered in white. Because of their white color, these make great pictures as well. Two horses nuzzling against the backdrop of a brilliant sunlight, with manes and forelocks tousled by a gentle breeze, they will make a great conversation piece for any room.

With so many beautiful variations to choose from, there is sure to be a painting that will fit your wall, displaying the splendor of this regal creature.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Capturing The Essence of The Spirit of the American West With Classic Paintings of American Cowboys


While many things in life have grown more modern, some things, and some ways of life never go out of style. There is little doubt that there are few things more classic than the life of an American Cowboy. Throughout American history there have been few times when manhood was celebrated in a way more personified than that of the American Cowboy. The courage, independence, ability to overcome adversity, and the drive to accomplish tasks of substance are the mark of a strong man. The cowboy era was, and is, one of those important American times.

Certainly, as history attests, the Great Wild West was won by some of these brave and courageous men. While it is a celebrated part of American history, being a cowboy is, and was, a difficult life. There are hardships out on the western lands that folks in the east scarcely know exist. But to a cowboy it is the only life. He doesn't mind getting his hands dirty, he doesn't complain if he doesn't have the greatest of human comforts. He has the land God made, he has his soul, his freedom and he makes his mark on life in his own subtle but profound way.

Being a cowboy was and is a lonely way of life at times. It is most often a life far away from the fray of the masses. It is a life where the stark beauty of the land, his ability to be master over it, and his masculine wilds are free to merge with nature as God intended. Whether going to a roundup, working the cattle drive, caring for the pastures and grazing fields, or finding that new stallion, having detailed pictures of their way of life inspire the mind, and set the heart free to a simpler way of life.

For the men who bare the cowboy spirit and the women that love them, capturing the very essence and spirit through paintings and pictures of a cowboy can be a great way to celebrate the great west and its lifestyle. Classic pictures of these brave men and their natural way of life can be a wonderful tribute to the very essence and spirit of these men. Depictions of them riding the open prairie by moonlight, grazing by the stream on a hot summer's day, or climbing the peaks and descending the valleys by horseback can bring out the cowboy in any viewer. Their way of life is, and was a profound part of American history.
As a fan of Americana, you should own something that takes your thoughts westward.

Through brilliantly detailed paintings, cowboys and their horses blend with God and the beautiful landscapes that surround them. The harmony that is often captured within the heart is shared every time such a piece is viewed.

During the holidays or any special time of year, people who love the cowboy’s way of life can find many of the best in cowboy pictures and paintings right here. Saddle up!

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Give the Art of Edward Aldrich for Christmas

In the wilds of Colorado, artist Edward Aldrich creates oil paintings on Masonite from his open studio making up a part of his home in a Denver suburb. He administers layers of glazing to convey texture which give the art of Edward Aldrich colors with depth and brilliance.

Artist Aldrich is equally well known and admired for his wild landscapes and for paintings portraying animals in their true environment. He also has gained a following for his animal portraits which appear to breathe life into his subjects.

Portraits are Edward Aldrich’s favorites because portraiture focuses the viewer’s attention and allows the artist to bring out the character of the animal who is the subject.

Rocks are a special passion of his. “I just love rocks. …they have as much character as any animal. They are a wonderful complement to animals.” he has commented. The talent and skill of reproducing various textures was a challenge accomplished and can be viewed in many pieces of the amazing art of Edward Aldrich.

Much of his process has involved determination, experimentation, and techniques he learned at the Rhode Island School of Design during the 1980s. Artist Aldrich attended Master Classes with Robert Bateman in British Columbia and has been to Africa several times to watch big cats in their own native element. He states, "My goal as an artist is to keep exploring the idea of putting life into my paintings." Artist Aldrich was juried into the Society of Animal Artists and his art is included in their annual exhibitions of "Art and the Animal". His work is in many national collections and displayed in prestigious galleries, including the permanent collection at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. "Ned", as he prefers to be called, has been accepted into their prestigious "Birds in Art" show on eleven different occasions.

It is typically problematic that most individuals who are artists or admirers of art are usually difficult to present gifts to on holidays. Giving an oil painting by Edward Aldrich would greatly please any person who has a passion for art and wildlife. Framed prints of artist Aldrich's birds, animals and wild landscapes would also certainly be cherished as significant and unique gifts. He has created many beautiful horse paintings that appear to gallop right off the canvas. When Edward Aldrich creates a portrait of an animal, he succeeds in infusing life into the canvas and oil paint.

The art of Edward Aldrich is mesmerizing and valued today, and its future is bright with promise of more Edward Aldrich creations yet to come.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Leonardo Da Vinci Horse Drawings

Leonardo Da Vinci's influence has enjoyed a truly broad reach. His genius and creativity has left countless many spellbound. His range was limitless. One of his greatest passions was in regard to the wonderful gift of the horse and how it came to the people of Italy.

Back in 1482, the Duke of Sforza commissioned Leonardo to create the largest horse statue the world had ever seen. It was during this time (about 17 years) that he also undertook many other artistic endeavors like-



• The Last Supper
• New Weapons Designs
• Castle Defense System
• Rhymes & Puzzles
• Milan City Plan
• Portraits of Various Italian Nobles

His horse was manifested as a clay model 24 feet high. It graced the landscape of a vineyard close to the Duke's castle. The clay was eventually cast in bronze.

Sadly, these were savage times, and the respect for artistic genius was not shared by all. In 1499, some French troops entered Milan, and the Gascon bowman accompanied them. Rather than seeing the beauty and majesty of the work, they reduced it down to a simple clay mound with their archer's arrows.

Then in May of 1519, Leonardo Da Vinci died. However, all was not lost concerning his beloved horse. There still existed working sketches, two collections of Leonardo Da Vinci horse drawings that were recovered many years later. The first was the 'Windsor Collection'. This was a set of notebooks that fell into the hands of the famed British Royal Family. The other was labeled 'The Codex Madrid II', and was discovered in 1966, in the ‘Bibliotheca Nacional’ in Madrid.

The Leonardo Da Vinci Horse drawings would be revived again much later, when they appeared in a National Geographic September issue in 1977. It was a revival of Leonardo's horse, and an inspiration to a man named Charles C. Dent.

Dent was an airline pilot and retired. He was also an artist and a collector, who was obsessed with Leonardo's horse. The beauty and the romance combined with the artistic genius captured his soul.

Charles Dent had long been a Da Vinci admirer, and took his collection seriously. He made up his mind that Italy was the rightful place for Leonardo's horse. As a gesture of appreciation on behalf of the American people, the horse was suddenly on its way back to Italy. Dent took up where Leonardo left off. He wanted to explore the possibilities of new angles, shifts in light, turns of positions, to see if he could properly interpret what the master intended for his beloved horse statue. He was fully aware that he would never be able to replicate the horse exactly as it had existed in Leonardo's mind, but he was determined to do it justice, creating a monument that was appropriate to the genius of Leonard Da Vinci.

The rest is history. It is quite remarkable how the destruction of the original clay statue underwent such a travel through time, ending in its resurrection. The reason it was possible was because of the Leonardo Da Vinci horse drawings, and the inspiration of the story and genius that was transferred to the soul of Charles Dent.

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Texas Longhorns in Photos

Few things evoke the Old West as much as the Texas Longhorn. Unlike most breeds of cattle, the Texas Longhorn is a naturally selected animal. In addition, they are the first American breed. Their ancestral past includes cattle that the Spanish brought over from the Canary Islands. These cattle originally hailed from Portugal. The closest relatives of the Longhorn are Iberian stock such as Alentejana and Mertolenga. This was just the beginning.

After the Spanish brought their cattle over, they left them to fend for themselves in the wilds of northern Mexico. One day this area would become Texas, and it was a harsh and unforgiving land. Weak and sickly animals, animals that could not defend themselves or those could not outwit the weather did not survive. For two centuries these animals lived by their own shrewd nature. The end result was a very hardy animal with the ability to eat things most other cattle will starve on and stay comfortable in temperatures that would kill any less hardy animals.

During the early years of the West, the Longhorn was the breed of choice. They were plentiful on the range. They weren't always to easy to round up as a more tame animal would have been, but the hardy nature of these beasts more than made up for the trouble. As the Texan ranges were settled, interest shifted to easier to care for and fatter breeds. Longhorn beef tends to be leaner then most beef cattle meat and at the time people wanted fatty beef and lots of tallow. Finally, the breed was reduced to a few small herds by 1927. It was barely saved by J. Frank Dobie as a historical curiosity on Texan state parkland.

Texas Longhorn cattle photos show this magnificent animal for what they are. The bulls can be as big as 2,100 pounds and the cows can be up to 1,800 pounds. The magnificent horns start to grow when the calf is around a month old. Both sexes grow these signature horns that can be up to 126 inches from tip to tip. As these cattle are a natural breed, they can be stocky or rangy in build. Individuals also show much more size variation then in more human controlled cattle breeds. Their coats come in every color and combination that can be found on a cow. Longhorn cattle in photos are often shown with striking spotted and mottled coats of red and white or black and white. Despite the wild and dangerous look, a well treated and pastured animal is a very gentle creature. Many people prefer them as riding steers for this very reason.

Today this iconic breed is in no danger of disappearing. Their hardy nature is again in demand as the west suffers drought after drought. Consumers are health-conscious so leaner meat has risen in popularity. Stock-men keep the bulls to improve their other herds and those bulls are best if full blooded Texan Longhorn cattle. Truly, and gladly, their presence will not pass from the range.     http://www.eleganthorsepictures.com/cattle-art.html

Thursday, November 7, 2013

The Beautiful Remington Horses

Remington illustrated his horses in various states of nature in the American West. He often depicted cowboys, Native Americans and U.S. Cavalrymen riding the horses in incredibly dramatic fashions. Remington also illustrated the horses without the company of riders. More often than not the horses are shown in mid-gallop with a cowboy on the saddle.

The Remington horses are so unique because they are the first widely lauded American art depictions of horses in motion. Remington's illustration of the horse in mid-gait was unique compared to the standard depictions of the time. The standard artistic portrayal of horses in the late 1800s was a galloping horse with its hooves pointed upwards and outwards similar to the aesthetic of a hobby horse. Therefore, Remington's images of horses in mid-stride broke the mold and quickly became his signature pieces. This style was imitated by many Western artists who followed in his footsteps.

Some critics claimed that Remington relied too heavily on photography and his horses looked too dramatic. It was said that their motions were exaggerated to please onlookers. In response, Remington argued that horses must be drawn to achieve the desired effect which was a pleasing visual aesthetic.

Some of his most famous prints include A Dash For Timber, The Stampede, The Scout, His First Lesson, Blackfoot Indian, Victory Dance, Shotgun Hospitality, A Cold Morning On The Range, Branding a Steer, Pony War Dance and Crow Scout.

Remington also depicted horses through sculpture. His bronze horse statues are considered to be the premier American sculptures of his time. The entire globe recognizes Remington's flawlessly unique portrayal of American West horses through sculpture. He is so widely respected that the White House has selected Remington horse sculptures to be presented as gifts for visiting international leaders. Some of Remington's famous horse sculptures include The Broncho Buster, Buffalo Horse, The Scalp, Achieve, The Wicked Pony, Rattlesnake, Outlaw and Trooper of the Plains.

Remington's horses are still replicated today by talented artisans. Imitation Remington horse prints and sculptures are often sold for hundreds to thousands of dollars per piece. His unique style and artistic flair will always be in demand.            

Frederic Sackrider Remington was born in Canton, New York in 1861. He became a famous artist whose mediums included illustrations, sculptures and paintings. Remington studied art at Yale University beneath the famous painter and illustrator John Henry Niemeyer. Most of Remington's artwork is centered around images of the American West in the late 1800s. His depictions of horses are specifically famous.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Bev Doolittle Prints

 When you see one of the signature paintings by artist Bev Doolittle, be aware that there is more to the picture than meets the eye at first glance. The viewer is drawn into a crisp picture of Pinto horses standing on a mountainside surrounded by patches of snow. The question that one must ask themselves is “What and how many pinto horses am I really seeing?” . The title of this piece is simply “Pintos”. But where exactly are they? 

Closer examination becomes crucial; try to count the Pinto horses, which are cleverly camouflaged. Immediately people are drawn into a puzzle-type of unique artwork that can’t be easily duplicated. Predominantly white horses with brown markings seem to disappear into the background of white snow and bare brown earth. The count frequently changes as yet another Pinto becomes more obvious and was missed the first time around.

Bev Doolittle prints are highly collectable with each one depicting life in the open air. Canyons, mountains, deserts and heavily wooded areas are represented with a palette of earth tones and using bright white to enhance the message. Native Americans are passionately depicted as the spirit is transformed to a peaceful, earth friendly existence. Hunting, hiding and stalking is camouflaged cleverly into the bowels of the painting where people are just as surprised to see it as they would be had they been greeted on a path or trail.

By capturing a moment in time, viewers of Bev Doolittle prints are held by the unusual style of her work. People become involved with the prints because the passion is so beautifully transformed from the image in her mind to each stroke of the artist’s brush. People become caught and sometimes trapped by the cleverness of the camouflage. The viewer can be appreciating the beauty of a scene and suddenly see a Native American hiding behind a tree or a bear in the bushes. The world melts away as the enthusiast convinces the brain that something is disguised or perhaps hidden.

There is a message within a message and a picture within a picture challenging people to take a moment and not only see the content but to become a part of the message. Life is moving at an incredible speed and most people welcome the opportunity to focus on an abject to give their minds something different to experience. Bev Doolittle has answered this increasing need by offering her artwork which can be displayed in any home or office. On a yearly basis a portion of the proceeds from Bev Doolittle prints are donated to environmental organizations and various causes anonymously. She is walking her walk by disappearing quietly into the background while sharing her talent.  http://www.eleganthorsepictures.com/bev-doolittle.html