Karen McLain Studio

BLM Sponsored clean-up day at Sand Wash Basin

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:55:00 +0000

The BLM will sponsor a clean up the weekend of Aug 24 and 25 at the Sand Wash basin, home of a wonderful herd of wild horses. Last month, "Greasewood" was humanely euthanized by the BLM due to severe leg injury caused by barbwire. Greasewood was a magnificent stallion that took great care of his mares and spent most of the summer near a waterhole at one of the range entrances. That is where I met him. I saw him as the sun began to set and he walked right toward me to check out his new visitor. After looking me over, he moved his mares on, in the direction of the setting sun. It is from that setting that I have painted him several times since then.
One of those paintings was accepted into the Empire 100 show in Tucson. I also did a small painting depicting him looking back at the viewer as the sun sets. He is surrounded with light. I have posted this image on my Fine Art America site and a portions of all Gresewood sales will go to the Sand Wash Basin Wild Horse Club. They are in the process of becoming a non-profit group. It is local members of this group, the Snake River BLM office, and many folks from out of the area that will be participating in the range clean up. Please plan to join us in the clean up on Aug. 24-25. If you are unable to make it, please consider a purchase of a print, poster or note-cards or direct donation to support the Club.

Western Artists of America at the Pearce Museum

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:28:00 +0000

"Wild Beauty" Oil 20x24

"Essence of Freedom" Oil 24x36

"Icons of the West" Oil 30x40

The Eighth Annual WAA Show and Exhibition begins March 30-31 at The Pearce Museum in Corsicana, Texas. I am pleased to be a part of this talented group of artists. Events of the two days include meet and greet, artist lectures, reception and autograph signing. The reception and sale will be March 30th, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Events will continue on the 31st with a breakfast meet and greet, sculpture demo and awards ceremony in the evening.
Please preview the work that will be included in this Exhibit and contact Holly Beasley, Director of The Pearce Museum at 903-875-7438 for scheduling or purchase information.

Quick Whiteboard Sketches

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 14:13:00 +0000

Napping.

"What are you doing?"

Movie Night-The Black Stallion.

Recently I started doing quick line sketches on a whiteboard to improve my skills at seeing and accurately drawing gestures. I wanted this to be fun and fast paced, so I settled on what I call, "Movie Night". I watch a movie, with the dry erase marker in one hand and an eraser in the other and cover the board with images from the movie as it progresses. One of my "rules" is that I don't pause the movie.
When I did "The Black Stallion", I never thought that Mickey Rooney would end up with a copy of the result, but my friend Pamela Glasner had the opportunity to present him with a copy while working with him on her documentary, Last Will and Embezzlement. It is wonderful to see the expression on his face as he looks at the images captured from the movie.
I also sketched my horses, which has also proved to be great fun.

"Blaming the Victim" Guest post by Pamela Glasner

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 14:29:00 +0000

In my sophomore year of college, I took a sociology course entitled Blaming The Victim. Exactly as the moniker suggests, the course focused on the propensity of society to take the easy way out and — rather than dedicating the manpower and resources necessary to alleviating a complicated and oftentimes insidious problem, which could very well have included going through the expense and difficulty of prosecuting those who preyed on the weak and vulnerable — instead, it rebuked, blamed, and essentially re-victimized the members of the community whose biggest crime was their reliance on a promise that help would be there if and when it was ever needed.

I attended the classes, completed the required assignments, aced the exams, received a good grade, and congratulated myself on my newfound understanding of social injustice.

Thirty-something years later, all I can say is, I understood nothing!

I found this last summer on my return trip from Florida, where my crew and I had been filming a segment of Last Will and Embezzlement, a documentary film which examines the financial exploitation of the elderly. Though the impetus behind the film was the unspeakable exploitation of my elderly parents by a stranger who managed to insinuate himself into their lives when no-one was noticing, my family’s story is just a minor part of the overall project — because the issue is much, much bigger than just my family. It’s global. Wherever there are humans and money, people who are weak and others who are strong, there will always be snakes and vultures and other creatures of prey, laying in wait for the first opportunity to exhibit the worst humanity has to offer.

While awaiting my flight, I found myself chatting with a fellow traveler and, as I’ve done numerous times before and since, I mentioned the film and the events that sparked its creation. And that’s when it happened. This man, claiming years of law school and courtroom experience, launched into a series of accusatory declarations, berating me — the daughter — for not having done a better job of protecting my parents (as if I haven’t already said that to my mirror a hundred times!).

“There’s no WAY you have a case!” he pontificated. “If you were so damned concerned, lady, where were you five years ago? How come you didn’t put their money in trust?”

The pain of self-recrimination kept me from responding. All I could do was sit there and tell him, “I really don’t want to argue with you.”

In retrospect, there are a lot of things I might have said, first among them being that the operative phrase in his diatribe was their money. Taking away your parents’ rights — and their dignity in the process — is not something lightly done.

And, of course, it didn’t help that this came on the heals of a detective’s refusal to enforce Florida law and arrest the man whose actions are at the foundation of Last Will. She, too, laid the blame every place but where it belonged: “If you’d been closer to your mother, then you’d be the one with her money, not (this man, whose name I will not print).” The fact that my 91-year-old father is still alive and the money should actually be his — not mine, and certainly not this stranger’s — seems to have escaped this woman completely.

My second retort could have been that my family’s failure to put safeguards in place which might have prevented a theft that none of us, in our wildest dreams, would ever have foreseen, should not negate the perpetrator’s guilt, and my lack of prior planning should not exonerate him. Leaving the keys in one’s car, while careless, is not an open invitation for anyone walking down the street to slide in, drive off, and assume ownership.

But my critic was on a roll. It was my fault, plain and simple.

The elder law expert interviewed for the film, Attorney Ira Wiesner of Sarasota, Florida, made a point of saying it’s a fairly common occurrence for the adult children of elderly victims to blame themselves for their lack of foresight and their inability to prevent these types of crimes or protect their parents. We all face this, don’t we? As the generation before us ages, then becomes frail, our roles reverse, and suddenly we are thrown — untrained and unprepared — into the position of parenting our parents. And though we’ve all heard of instances where embezzlement and exploitation have taken place, it seems unreal and far removed, not something that could ever touch us directly. Not until it does.

The agony of watching my 91-year-old father, my hero, being transformed by the perpetrator from ‘larger than life’ into ‘nothing more than a pawn and a means to an end’, has been worse than what I lived through nearly twenty years ago when I was a cancer patient. At least then I had faith that everything would be okay.

But now, as a victim’s daughter, caught up in the woefully inadequate — indeed, pathetic — excuse for a law enforcement system which simply will not even attempt to make this right, there is no faith. Only loss.

Oh, God still watches over us. My dad’s Alzheimer’s has progressed to the point that he has no knowledge whatever of what’s been done. And I suppose in its own way, that’s a blessing. But it seems to me that after a lifetime of work — after having defended this country on the beaches of Normandy — my dad’s government owes him a bit more than remedy by dementia. It owes him some respect — and some justice.

Pamela S. K. Glasner is a published author, filmmaker, historian, and social advocate. Her website is www.starjackentertainment.com . She can also be found on Facebook.

Painting Picasso

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 13:45:00 +0000

Painting Picasso. There is no way to "pose" wild horses, which really puts an edge to the feel and experience of working from life.

"Picasso in the Wind"
Oil
24x24

In July, I traveled to Craig, Colorado to visit the Sand Wash Basin Herd Management Area. The SWB herd is located on 160,000 acres of public land in northwest Colorado. They share the range with elk, deer and a sheep graze lease during part of the year. There are several bands that make up this herd, and during the course of three days, I was able to observe them. There were family groups that ranged from newborn foals, to long time band Stallions in their twenties. I watched as they protected their young, played and sparred, and witnessed bachelors that were trying to steal some mares for their own band.

As well as taking almost 4000 photos, I had the opportunity to paint three quick oil studies. In addition to the experience of painting the landscape from life, I find painting horses from life to be not only challenging but vital to the life that I put into studio paintings. When painting a landscape from life, we don't need to worry about the landscape moving, (only the sun moving), when painting a human from life, we can pose the model, when painting a domestic horse from life, we can tie them to a hitching post, but painting a wild horse from life has none of those constraints. Somehow, the lack of those constraints symbolizes the freedom inherent in the wild horses. That energy, freedom and life is part of what I put into those studies.

The quick studies and photo reference is what I work from when I get back to the studio. It was a great thrill and honor to be able to paint a well known band stallion, Picasso. He is an immediately recognizable stallion that has touched the hearts and imagination of people around the world that have visited him on the range or on the internet. There was certain symmetry to being able to paint the wild paint horse, Picasso. The study I did of him as well as the two other studies helps me remember the color, value and feel of what it was like out on the Sand Wash Basin. I hope to bring that into the homes of collectors that may never make it out to the Range, but will be able to feel the life, freedom and power of the Wild Horses.

I have been asked about the difference in painting wild and domestic horses from life. Wild horses don't need us and that relationship of dependence is not there. So their focus is not tied to me while painting. I am able to study their interactions without the factor of human influence. There is always a story they share within those relationships, which is profound to watch.

Filmmaker, Ginger Katherns, creator of the documentary series, following “Cloud”, the Stallion in the Pryor Mountains of Montana has years of field experience with the wild horses. She expresses so fully how I feel about the wild horses. “I think that those of us that have seen wild horses-they change you. I think they renew you spiritually. They are a symbol of the Wild West. So they are part of our history and culture.” “And to see them wild speaks to a time long ago when there was total freedom, And I think we identify as Americans with freedom and they renew us, they give us hope.”

Freedom is the essence of wild horses. There is something fundamentally pure and powerful in that. That feeling of being renewed is part of what I want to express I want to visit every HMA I can. Paint every horse until I have said everything there is for me to say, share the most beautiful thing I know in the only way I know how to share it.

Painting a Slice of Western Life-from life

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:22:00 +0000

Waiting to get new shoes.

Getting a trim.

The sketch.

A quick shot before I picked up the brush.

Jeremy Cluff, giving a clinic. This was a hard to catch colt that also had a tendency to kick.

This horse was new to the saddle.

Jeremy, taking his time, allowing the horse to get comfortable, gave me time for some quick oil sketches.

This is a glimpse into living with horses and the activity that is still common in rural Arizona. Whatever I'm doing I try to get out and paint it as it is happening. The horses getting trimmed, or watching my trainer work with a new horse, or the behind the scene activity at the rodeo, this is a glimpse of western life in my area.

Visiting and Painting Wild Horses

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 14:16:00 +0000

Painting Picasso, the famous Sand Wash Basin paint.

The vast area that these horses call home, is absolutely beautiful!

Being able to see the way the light effects the coat, and knowing that the horse will move anytime, really forces me to look intently and live completely in the present.

In June of 2009, I was on my way home from a workshop with Cowboy Artist of America, Jim C. Norton, when I first visited wild horses. It was the Onaqui herd located West of the Salt Lake area in Utah. At that time, I had no idea the profound impact they would have on my heart, and the important way they would change my painting.
Seeing wild horses changed me. I felt like I was a voyoueer to something scarred, almost forgotten. Watching them in the vast landscape with all of the power, risk and freedom that is inherent living in nature, not dependent on humans for anything captivated my interest. I have been drawn to seek out opportunities to visit wild horses on public and private land, each time learning something new from the way they interact with each other.
In July, I traveled to Craig, Colorado to visit the Sand Wash Basin Herd Management Area. The SWB herd is located on 160,000 acres of public land in northwest Colorado. They share the range with elk, deer and a sheep graze lease during part of the year. There are several bands that make up this herd, and during the course of three days, I was able to observe them.
There were family groups that ranged from newborn foals, to long time band Stallions in their twenties. I watched as they protected their young, played and sparred, and those bachelors that were trying to steal some mares for their own band.
As well as taking almost 4000 photos, I had the opportunity to paint three quick oil studies. In addition to the experience of painting the landscape from life, I find painting horses from life to be not only challenging but vital to the life that I put into studio paintings. When painting a landscape from life, we don't need to worry about the landscape moving, (only the sun moving), when painting a human from life, we can pose the model, when painting a domestic horse from life, we can tie them to a hitching post, but painting a wild horse from life has none of those constraints. Somehow, the lack of those constraints symbolizes the freedom inherent in the wild horses. That energy, freedom and life is part of what I put into those studies.
The quick studies and photo reference is what I work from when I get back to the studio. It was a great thrill and honor to be able to paint a well known band stallion, Picasso. He is an immediately recognizable stallion that has touched the hearts and imagination of people around the world that have visited him on the range or on the internet. There was a certain symmetry to being able to paint the wild paint horse, Picasso. The study I did of him as well as the two other studies, help me remember the color, value and feel of what it was like out on the Sand Wash Basin. I hope to bring that into the homes of collectors that may never make it out to the Range, but will be able to feel the life, freedom and power of the Wild Horses.

Painting Adventures

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:02:00 +0000

My trip to Wyoming for Jim Norton's workshop was a travel painting adventure. I stopped along the way to do some small paintings in Monument Valley, Bluff UT, Meeker CO, and of course the Sand Wash Basin Herd Management Area.
If you ever get the opportunity to visit any of the HMA's and observe wild horses, take it! I have been blessed with the opportunity to visit several of them and I have been thrill every time. Part of the adventure is never knowing what will happen. But in my recent visit to the Sand Wash Basin in Colorado, I was able to observe, photograph and paint wild horses in the vast open space of the West. I had Nancy Roberts as a knowledgeable guide, and the company of photographer Jim Westin. These two added so much to my visit and I was grateful to meet both of them. Thanks to both Nancy and Jim for taking some photos of me while out painting!
The opportunity to learn from Jim was another excellent growth experience. In addition to the workshop, I enjoyed the fellowship of other artist as well as wonderful Dutch oven cooking. I will post more on this adventure as I have time. Since I've been back I have been busy working on commissions and getting back outdoors to paint!

Western Artists of America membership

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:52:00 +0000

I am privileged to announce that I am a member of Western Artists of America. This prestigious group of professional artists is dedicated to the genre of cowboy, Indian, pioneer, cattle and horse subjects. It is an honor for me to be part of this talented group of artists that I respect and admire. The annual exhibit at the Pearce Museum in Corsicanna, Texas will be next Spring, and I hope to see collectors and friends at the reception.
As I get ready for my trip to Wyoming, via Colorado, I will be looking for place to paint along the way. I know some of these small paintings will be sources for inspiration for larger works that will be destined for the exhibit. I look forward to sharing my adventure with you!

Wildest Dreams-Painting and Wild Horse Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Wed, 18 May 2011 14:53:00 +0000

During the past two years, I have been living my dream. In June of 2009 I was returning home from a workshop with Cowboy Artist, Jim C. Norton when I visited the Onaqui Mustangs. While observing and photographing this herd I was deeply touched, and knew I would paint them. This series, “Among the Mustangs”,displays these iconic symbols as I saw them, thier interaction with each other and the land. This series began a soul-searching quest into each horse's spirit and relationship with the herd, allowing an intimate glimpse at the powerful, yet peaceful existence of wild horses in their natural environment. I began a quest to see as many of them as I could and express their beauty through paint. Some of the paintings from this original series are still available. Several are at the SunDust Gallery in Mesa, and several are on display at the Apache Junction City Office Complex.

This July, I am returning to study with respected artist Jim C. Norton. The intensive workshop, "Learning to See", will focus on painting the horse, landscape and figure from life. Norton describes painting the horse and figure as some of the most complex and challenging this to paint accurately. Therefore learning to paint them from life is one of the best ways to see what is happening with shapes, light and color in the subject.

Fulfilling one of my dreams, I will be stopping in Colorado at the Sand Wash Basin HMA to observe, photograph and paint this popular herd. I will be painting throughout this trip, capturing on canvas the inspiration and beauty. During that trip I will be meeting up with Nancy Roberts who maintains an insightful and informative blog about this herd. If you are on facebook, check out the variety of photos and stories posted about the herd.

Through my paintings, I hope you feel as if you have experienced the freedom and beauty of these iconic symbols of the American West.

Living my Dream. Thank you for your support!

Painting Horses from Life

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 22:09:00 +0000

Koda SOLD

Belle
Oil
6x8
$40.00

Zoom and Luke
8x10 Oil study
$75.00

It was a beautiful day, with the temperature near 70, perfect outdoor painting weather. So I grabbed my gear and headed out. Koda is sold, Belle 6x8 is available, Zoom and Luke 8x10 is available. I didn't have much time with Zoom and Luke before they left, so at some point, I will do a painting in the studio based on this and the photo reference I took.
Seeing the subtleties-Small works from life.
I recently began a personal challenge paint the landscape and horse from life on a small scale, with a focus on seeing subtleties and expressing them in a painterly style. These paintings are on Fredrix Canvas pad and are offered for sale at reasonable rates.
These small works will be sold to the first person that contacts me about them. I will rely on email for that information. They will be priced as marked, plus $4.00 shipping.
Email: karenmclain@Qwest.net

Painting the Landscape and Horse

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:59:00 +0000

Seeing the subtleties-Small works from life.

I recently began a personal challenge paint the landscape and horse from life on a small scale, with a focus on seeing subtleties and expressing them in a painterly style. These small works are offered for sale at reasonable rates.

"Sunday Morning String" Oil on Fredrix Canvas pad 6x8
SOLD

I wanted to capture the feel and attitude of the horses standing at the hitching rail with the morning sunlight hitting their coats. Each horse had it's ears, tail and body positioned in a very expressive way.

"Superstition Mountains-West End"
Oil on Fredrix Canvas pad
6x8
$40.00

The West end of the Superstition Mountains holds an air of mystery with the large spires reaching out. I wanted to catch the cool colors in the morning light.

SOLD

These small works will be sold to the first person that contacts me about them. I will rely on email for that information. They will be priced as marked, plus $4.00 shipping.
Email: karenmclain@Qwest.net

Painting horses from life

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:46:00 +0000

SOLD

Painting outdoors can be challenging. Painting horses from life adds another level to that. Unlike a human model, "posing" a horse with the expectation of them staying in that position for 20 minutes is not possible. Plus, the light is changing every seven minutes. My goal in painting horses from life is to capture the essence of the horse, the feel of light, and be as anatomically correct as I can get. There is nothing more invigorating than painting from life, and living in the moment is where horses live. If I can connect to that horse and make a statement with paint, I can remember that and take it into the studio when I work on commissions and don't have access to a live model.
When I approach a commission I consider the feel of the horse, within the context of light and the surrounding landscape. Bringing the personality, spirit, and essence of the horse to life is my goal. It has been an honor to paint each horse that I have, because the final spark in the chain of inspiration is connecting with the viewer.

Outdoor Painting Weather has Arrived!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:12:00 +0000

The Fall weather signals a time to get outdoors in the desert. This is my favorite time of the year, the light, changing leaves, and the cool temperatures beacon me to grab my paint and "take it outside"! I have been able to get out the past couple of weeks and have been treated to sightings of coyotes, fox, javalina, and raccoons. This is the time of year when painting horses and the landscape from life is what I enjoy the most.

I also have several paintings at the SunDust Gallery in downtown Mesa. If you are in the area, please stop by for a visit. They can also be viewed online, and shipping can be arranged.
Today is also the start of the Plein air class I am teaching through Central Arizona College. I enjoy teaching, meeting new friends and making the painting process fun!

Auction to benifit Jeremy Cluff's Project Cowboy event

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:32:00 +0000

"Arizona Cowboy" Oil 16x20

Arizona horseman, Jeremy Cluff has been training my Percheron/TB cross for the trail. I had heard several friends talk about how much Jeremy had helped them with their horses so I gave him a call. He has done a great job with a big horse that could be challenging at times.

During one of Comanche's training rides, Jeremy told me about entering Project Cowboy, a competition event for trainers. The event held in Fort Worth, will require expenses of travel, entry fee, food and lodging. I told Jeremy that I would like to participate in sponsoring him. To this end, I am offering an original oil painting of Jeremy, titled, "Arizona Horseman". This 16x20 original painting is framed and ready to hang.

Auction terms: Starting bid is $100.00, with incremental increases of $20.00. Bids will be placed on the comments section of this blog and the ending time will be Friday, Oct. 1st, 8:00 p.m. mst. Payment is due within 72 hours at the end of the event, so funds will be available for Jeremy's trip. I am splitting the amount of the winning bid 50/50 with Jeremy Cluff. Please help me in support of his event and tell your friends too!

Mustangs, Plein air painting and new friends

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:02:00 +0000

Last week I traveled to Salida, CO via Cortez, CO to attend a workshop with Gabor Svagrik and Susan Diehl. On the way up, I stopped in Disappointment Valley and had the chance to observe, photograph and paint the Spring Creek Basin Mustangs. Thanks to TJ Holmes for the information on this herd. After leaving Cortez, I went through Del Norte and met up with Karen Bonnie. She is an artist I really respect for bringing color and life to her work.
The workshop was a wonderful time for learning and meeting new friends. To be able to paint outside this time of year was a treat. (It is way too hot to paint right now in AZ). Team teaching by Gabor and Susan was a delight that was infused with energy and information. I would highly recommend taking the opportunity to learn from these two modern masters.
With all of the beautiful reference I gathered, and new tips and tools acquired, I look forward to the paintings that will result from this week of Mustangs, Friends and painting!

Plein air at the Lower SaltRiver

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Tue, 04 May 2010 23:20:00 +0000

Plein air painting on the Lower salt River.

Eagle in flight.

The two white specks in the center are Bald Eagles.

When I went out to paint this morning, I hoped to catch a glimpse of the small wild horse herd that lives along the Lower Salt River. I had my painting backpack, tripod and camera ready to go. After walking up and down the bank in the places that had a large quantity of sign, and seeing none, I looked for a place to paint. Although it had been several weeks since I had last been out to paint, I was surprised to not see any sign. The only footprint was from a raccoon.
Setting up with the sun at my back, I was looking down stream, and noticed a white speck on the brush. I got my camera out, and was delighted to see a Bald Eagle! There are a couple of nesting pairs in the area, and it was a treat to see not only one, but two just down stream from me. It seems like I spent more time watching the Eagles than studying the landscape, but i got a quick painting done despite the distraction. As I was packing up to go, one eagle soared overhead and gave me a nice in flight display. I am always rewarded with incredible beauty when out painting, and today was another unexpected blessing.

Bruce Greene workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 20:48:00 +0000

Kenny, our Cowboy model.

The quick12x16 oil sketch of Kenny.

This past week was packed with intensity. The Bruce Greene workshop was full of painting, lecture and demos. Our class of 11 students, was a very talented group, yet I could see improvement in each one as Bruce pressed us to be the very best artist we could be. Working from live models, we had time to warm up with gesture sketches and follow that with quick oil paintings. Although we planned to use Adobe as our Equine Model, we got rained out that day.
In addition to improving our painting skill, Bruce really challenged each of us to pursue our own professional development at a more focused level. This involved three areas. One was to clearly define our goal. Two was to practice basic skills and develop new ones. Three was to be aware of our state-of-mind. As artists, being mindful of what it will takes to daily focus on our art and make a determined effort to keep focus despite alluring distractions or inconveniences is no small task. How do you stay focused and keep your spirit ready to create?

Up coming workshop with Bruce Greene

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 02:17:00 +0000

The week of April 19th I will be attending a Workshop with Cowboy Artist Bruce Greene. This is a juried workshop offered by Scottsdale Artist School, and promises to be a great time for learning. This week, the SAS is hosting several of the Cowboy Artists as instructors. Harley Brown, John Coleman, Mehl Lawson, Oreland Joe and R.S. Riddick will also be teaching workshops. The week will really start on Sunday with a Reception for CAA Instructors, SAS Board members and registered CAA students. It will be a great opportunity to meet these artists that I admire.
The workshop with Bruce will involve painting both horse and human models. I am pleased to be the host for the Equine Model. Bruce's top pick is my Palomino Quarter horse, Adobe. I have spent the last couple of weeks getting him used to umbrellas, being tied up, and being closely scrutinized. (For a horse that had surgery/chemo on his nose, sometimes he isn't too sure about that). I'm sure when he realizes that everyone want to portray him in all his beauty, he will quickly get used to the paparazzi!

Vibrant growth and new challenges

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:25:00 +0000

I made a commitment to improve my blog and make it inviting and easy to read. So I signed up for the Blog Triage class with Cynthia Morris and Alyson Stanfield. I will be posting my assignments here, so feel free to comment or make suggestions.
I would like to extend an invitation to artists, horse lovers and collectors to stick your head in and say "Hi", and to re-post to this to friends in your network. I write about my Studio and Plein air adventures to share my art world with you. But, in addition to that, I like to make the very personal connection to how I see painting and horsemanship as they reflect each other in my world. I would also like to make this a place that is interesting and inspiring for readers. So some of my future posts will be guest posts that I find inspiring and want to pass along to you as well. The inspiration for my artwork is, "The Heart of the Horse", please join me on my journey!

Panting and Horsemanship, a personal connection

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:18:00 +0000

Painting is what I "do". Being an artist is very much a way of being, seeing and living. That is also true for me in the way I view Horsemanship. It is a way of "being, seeing, and living". The Elements that make a painting successful are also inherent in horsemanship. Harmony, movement , rhythm, balance, and feel. Living in the moment and being aware of the reflective nature of horses and painting is part of what I want to express in my work.

The Horsemanship Connection. I have been thinking about the process of making the right thing obvious when teaching a horse something new. The best example I could think of was teaching Comanche to pick his feet up. When I got him, at 15 months old, he did not know how to balance and pick his feet up. I wanted to set him up to succeed, and teach him as much as I could. So, I taught him to back up one step at a time. I then picked up the foot that was poised to come off the ground next. This way his weight was already shifted onto his other three legs and he is set up to balance. Comanche is willing to pick up his feet for me without being pulled, pushed or jerked around. I know this concept of release will also translate into requests to pick up his feet while under saddle.

Painting a Mule Study from Life

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:31:00 +0000

This was the first really nice day we have had in a while, and I got out to Mammoth to paint horses from life. The second quick study I did was a portrait of of mule, "Charlie" is his name. He had wonderful color transitions around his nose, eyes and jaw area. Plus, there is something beautiful about mule ears. Curious and engaging at the same time. His rider had to leave before I was able to finish, but I enjoyed the time I was able to work on the study. (In the first photo, you can see him on the left.)

Arizona Horse Expo

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:08:00 +0000

Ginger Kathrens, producer/Cinematographer of the PBS series on Cloud, the Wild Mustang along with Michael Blake, author of "Dances with Wolves" were the keynote speakers at the first Arizona Horse Expo. In addition to these advocates for the Mustangs, there were quality trainers giving demonstrations in a variety of disciplines. The weather was perfect for those that Exhibited and the crowd was large enough that it will be held at a larger venue next year.
It was a special honor for me to have some time to talk with Ginger Kathrens about the her experience chronicling Clouds herd and the status of the Mustang herds. The herds are currently being rounded up and put into holding pens at an alarming rate, and at great expense. Without an independent audit on the herds population and the BLM's fiscal mismanagement, Americans Mustangs are in grave peril.
Most of you know that I had the opportunity to observe and photograph the Onaqui herd last June with Gene Praag. This was a deeply moving experience, and became the basis for a series of paintings, "Among the Mustangs". Please visit The Cloud Foundation's website for updated information on round-ups, the role of the Ruby Pipeline, and who you can contact.

Painting Horses from Life

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:36:00 +0000

Painting horses from life is challenging and rewarding. I am frequently asked how I make them stand still. Well, I don't, and that is part of the challenge. The movement of the horse and the constantly changing light also add to my emotional response to the painting. I strive to see not only the conformation and individual characteristics of each horse, but also the way natural light effects a living being. Each painting is an opportunity for me to see, learn and grow in my horsemanship insight and painterly skills. Everything I learn, I take with me to the next painting, and I want to fill them all with the heart and life of the horse.

Mustangs are headed to Gold Canyon

noreply@blogger.com (Karen McLain) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:35:00 +0000

On January 23, from 9:00-3:00, the Canyon Arts Festival will be held in Gold Canyon, AZ. (Space number T-23). I will have a booth there and have some of the paintings from, "Among the Mustangs" available. The Canyon Arts Festival is at the corner of Alameda and Kings Ranch Road in Gold Canyon,AZ. I hope to see you there!