Art as Therapy. Also, Art as a Way to Win Things.

My first attempt at colored pencil and the horse that is Tanner.

So, I have been approached by a few different people now for art things and photo things. I always get a bit hesitant because trying to accomplish something as great as whatever that person has in their head is a bit overwhelming. And with my health difficulties, I never know when I will be able to finish a piece. Now doing art is like physical therapy for my tremoring hands. Sometimes it is just too hard.

One of my favorites, an acrylic of Petey.

Anyways, as quite a few of you saw on instagram or facebook, I finished a graphite drawing last week. It was of one of the racehorses we had in the barn, an arrogant asshole named Tanner. He was really fun to photograph though and fun to watch, just not fun to argue with. HorselessinHalifax requested a drawing of him, a fiery one, and I thought I had a nice photo to work off of to fit the bill.

The actual drawing I finished last week.

Much to my surprise, I finished it over a few days and hours. I did a different approach where I mapped out all of my details ahead of time and then went cruising through. My main problem with art pieces is I get waaaaay to impatient and usually get lazy and sloppy in order to finish it. I think this is one of my favorite graphite drawings to date.

One of my other favorites. Most of you know this handsome mug that belonged to the magnificent Cuna.

Also, I thought it would be very fitting for the Ogilvy Art Contest. Half pads, saddle pads and other swag is up for grabs so I figured I would go ahead and enter. Unfortunately, it is a contest where the likes count as votes. I hate those. Somehow it ended up in the Misc category and not the drawing/painting category, but I am not complaining because there are some awesome pieces in there that would kick my ass. There is a scratchboard in my category that is wicked awesome and I don't know how it doesn't have more votes. If you are bored and would like to vote for me, you can click here and like all of the entries you think are bomb.

The Ogilvy contest piece

I am going to sit and contemplate what to do for my next piece (a painting, where I am going to attempt an airbrushed background) and try not to think about all of the things that are extremely stressful in my life right now. By the way, meeting Niamh was freaking awesome.