Hopi Has A New Home

Last November I was invited to show my paintings at the Robert Kelly Gallery in Park City, Utah. Over the week-end I received a very nice email saying, "Hopi" had sold and had found a new home.  Hopi is one of my small herd of horses and the painting was made with great affection for this very special little Paint.

I found Hopi in a barn along with 30 other colts while visiting a friend in Missouri.  My friend's father had died leaving him a big herd of horses and the young ones were being shipped out to a Horse Trader.  Being a horse lover it was hard to see these young colts and fillies being sent off for who knew what?  Then near the back of the barn I saw Hopi and decided that she had to be mine.  When Hopi arrived at our farm she had not been handled except to be trailered twice and she was pretty wild.  She is still a bit wild but such a beauty.

"Hopi" 36x36 inches, oil on canvas, Framed by Ruth Andre

www.ruthandre.com

andre@ruthandre.com

Commission A Painting

A Painter's Cloth

Bay Watch

I grew up in the country and Sunday afternoons were spent in front of the television watching Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.  I did not have my own horse until I turned 12 but would ride with friends on their extra horses or ride double and usually bareback.  It was the best of times for being a kid.  We traveled the valley and followed old fire trails in the mountains surrounding Rainbow Valley.  Loving horses also had me stuffing my jacket pockets with carrots and apples to treat a few horses that I knew down the road.  They were owned by my father's good friend, Jess, and he was an old horseman who gave the okay to my horse visits.  These horses were the best of friends and loved seeing me arrive with their horse treats. This painting, "Bay Watch" reminds me of those times.  Remembering days of being a girl has made for, "A Painting Day".

"Bay Watch" 6x12-inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre ©

www.ruthandre.com

andre@ruthandre.com

Commission A Painting

Charlie I Completed & Work In Progress Charlie II

Maybe it is the same for you but this has been the oddest summers for time in the studio.  I am usually up and out the door and heading for the studio but this summer it seems there have been other things on the to do list.  I am not so good when I am not painting.  It is one of my loves and tonics to keep me going.  This morning I finally got the finishing touches completed for the painting, "Charlie I" and I am pleased and happy to send it on its way to the owner of this lovely horse.  The owner has seen the work in progress photo and said it was Charlie.  It is always good news to receive approval for a commissioned painting.  I also started a second painting of Charlie in a different pose.  This one will most likely stay with me so I am more relaxed and having some fun with the painting.  Painting Charlie has made for, "A Painting Day".

"Charlie" 12x12-inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre ©

In this photo you can see the beginning stages when the first layer of paint goes on the canvas.  It is at this time I always question if I can paint or what made me think I could paint?  This little battle goes on with most artists, always questioning themselves.  If I am lucky this painting will do what I call, "Turn the Corner" and it will start looking like the horse it self.

"Charlie II" 12x12 inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre ©  Work In Progress

www.ruthandre.com

andre@ruthandre.com

Commission A Painting

Sale Day Paintings

Eye Blanco

When I started painting years ago I only painted landscapes.  Then one day I looked out to the pasture and saw my horses and asked myself why I was not painting what I truly love, horses?  My first steps to teach myself to paint horses was to start with the eye of the horse.  I did a series of eye horse paintings and concentrated on the beauty of the horses' eye.  The painting today is "Eye Blanco" one of the first paintings in the "Eye Series".  To look into the eye of the horse is to see its soul.  Learning to paint horses made for, "A Painting Day".

"Eye Blanco" 10x10-inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre SOLD
A canvas print of "Eye Blanco" 10 x 10 x 1.5 is available $90.00

www.ruthandre.com

andre@ruthandre.com

Commission A Painting

Sale Day Paintings

Megan Noir & Moses Botkin Challenge

This is my third Challenge month with the Moses Botkin Challenge group.  It was also my turn to choose the March Challenge.  This may sound funny but I had never painted an image using a black background so I decided to Challenge myself by asking the group to paint an image on a black background and making it a must do for a new painting.  I chose to paint a little filly, Megan, that lives down the road.  Megan is older now and has been trained to ride and her owner says she is the best little mare.  So with true joy I painted Megan making for, "A Painting Day".

The Challenge member's paintings are below so please enjoy the show.

"Megan Noir"-4x6-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre © 2011
www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com
Commission A Painting
Sale Day Paintings

"Sweet Reflections"

Oil on hardboard, 4"x6"
©2011 Diana Moses Botkin 

http://dianamosesbotkin.blogspot.com/

"Blue and Pink"

 Vicki Ross

9x12 pastel - All Rights Reserved © 2011

http://vickiandrandyrossart.blogspot.com

"Glass Artists"

5x7 oil on clayboard

“Not So Crystal Ball” oil on canvas 20x24” - All Rights Reserved © 2011

http://robincheers.blogspot.com
www.robincheers.com

“Not So Crystal Ball” oil on canvas 20x24”  - All Rights Reserved © 2011
Sharman Owings
http://sharmanowingspaintings.blogspot.com

SUNNY SIDE UP ©
16x20" oil on board
http://suzanneberry.blogspot.com/

Mystery Girl

Mystery was the second horse to come to our farm in Missouri.  It was discussed that Angel needed company.  Horses being herd animals really are not happy all by themselves.  Just as I was in the thinking mode on how to find horse number two, Angel's original owner found us,  introducing himself and saying he had Angel's half sister for sale, if we would like to take a look at her.  We drove from Sikeston to Perryville and met the pretty Bay Fox Trotter, Mystery.  She was somewhat wild acting and ran all over the place.  She knew something was up and she had an idea it was about her.  After riding Mystery the deal was set and we planned to make the pilgrimage to pick up Mystery the following day.  Angel and Mystery had been raised together for several years so when we got the trailer hooked up we decided to take Angel along to welcome her sister to her new home.  We arrived to pick up Mystery and pulled down the window cover on the trailer and what a racket began between the two girls.  Oh my, they seemed so happy to see one another.  I do  not know what was said on the way home but once out of the trailer Angel let Mystery know she was the queen and Mystery was just a step child.  The two horses get along fine even though Angel is the head mare and Mystery is the smart one.  I honestly do not know how that works out in nature but there must be a reason for it all.  Meeting up with Mystery made for, "A Painting Day".

"Mystery Girl-6x6-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre
www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com
Commissions Welcome

Shenandoah

Shenandoah is the 4th painting for a series of horse portraits with shadows. I enjoy painting these intimate horse portraits. This is a friend's Quarter Horse, Diamond, and she lives just over the mountain on a small ranch in the Shenandoah Valley. Seeing Diamond made for, "A Painting Day".

Shenandoah-12x12-inches, o/c by Ruth Andre

www.ruthandre.com

andre@ruthandre.com

Ladies in Waiting

While waiting the eleven months for my mare, Angel, to give birth to her little filly, I read the book, "Blessed Are The Brood Mares" by M. Phyllis Lose. It was a book full of information about brood mares, and what to expect during the birth of the colt. I remember the April afternoon when Angel said this is it. I had the book near by and it was a good thing since the little filly was a little twisted around and needed a good yank to get her out into the world. Whew! It was scary and I said, I would never do it again. My mare was a good mother, so I too agree, "Blessed Are The Brood Mares". Seeing our mare and her new filly, made for, "A Painting Day".

"Ladies in Waiting", 30x40-inches, o/c by Ruth Andre

www.ruthandre.com

andre@ruthandre.com

Partners

This is a painting of a young man and his horse, as they were waiting for their number to be called for competition. The horse was as patient as can be and acted like he knew the routine and was in good hands. The two of them were partners and did well in the ring. Seeing this horse and rider made for, "A Painting Day".

"Partners", 5x7-inches, o/c by Ruth Andre

www.ruthandre.com

andre@ruthandre.com

Paint in the Wind

I love Paint horses. Their coats are always unique and their coloring interesting. They are walking art works. The painting today is Mickey, a Paint with a vibrant sorrel and white coat. He is standing out in the pasture and his mane is blowing in the wind. Seeing this handsome boy, made for, "A Painting Day".

"Paint in the Wind", 6x8-inches, o/c by Ruth Andre

www.ruthandre.com

andre@ruthandre.com

Side by Side

This little painting may need a few more swishes of paint but I am kind of excited about it and decided to send it out into the world. My good friend, Sarah, is leading my Paint horse, Hopi, for a little walk, side by side. Hopi is loving the attention and Sarah is enjoying this feisty little mare. Seeing Sarah and Hopi side by side made for, "A Painting Day".

"Side by Side, 7x5-inches, o/c by Ruth Andre

www.ruthandre.com

andre@ruthandre.com