Shades of grey

Tammy Nielsen · 08-27-2002, 11:27 AM

As Chris, Mike and Michael were talking about squares and composition, I thought I'd post a 4ft square acrylic painting I did that I thought worked pretty well because of the three horses. Any other thoughts on this square painting?

Thanks,
Tammy

Sandy Barnes · 08-29-2002, 07:28 AM

Tammy,

Four feet? That is big. I am sure it is an impressive piece in life.

I like the composition but am confused by the horizontal line (rail?) that is in front of the two horses on the viewer's right, but seems to pass through the fella on the left. I am also missing the right leg of the horse on the viewer's right.

In the resource photo it is probably obscured somehow.

Overall, I do like your composition, and the limited use of color gives it a nice cool effect. I have two square canvases over which I have been procrastinating. Thanks for the inspiration!

Sandy

Rebecca Willoughby · 08-29-2002, 10:48 AM

Tammy,

Am I correct in saying that there is a fourth horse that is not shown on the viewers right? Also I think the "rail" is actually a metal bar that is part of the hitch. It doesn't pass through the horse on the left. It stops before it gets to him/her.

I am a country girl. When I was a child we went to the store in a wagon. I am only 35, but when you grow up in a little community called Pumpkin Center, Louisiana, that is not out of the ordinary.

Rebecca

Tammy Nielsen · 08-29-2002, 03:42 PM

Hi Rebecca,

These were three horses of a five horse hitch if I remember right. The horse on the left may have been in training. That's why "the rail" doesn't go through or it could be for another reason. I drive my horse in a cart, but am not familiar with the big hitches. And as you can see from the source photo, the horse on the right is a figment of my imagination. I made him shying at something to spice it up a bit.

Thanks, Sandy.

I'd just finished a mural on a barn and I'd never painted so big, but found I liked it. So I went home and cut a piece of mason board in half and painted this and two others. Big and square can be fun. I remember worrying that it would look funny square but it doesn't bother me and the other didn't either. Thanks for comments.

Tammy

Tammy Nielsen · 08-29-2002, 03:51 PM

Actually the horse on the right appears to be shying at something but I just changed it because the diagonal line of his face gives the whole piece movement.