Polo Match WIP XP A/W

[QueenBArt]

This is from a great ref. photo by Lady Carol. This is a piece I started a while back. I did my sketch for it back in Sept. I guess, and figured when I had a break from things I would start on it. I am half way tempted to take the sketch farther too as it is one of the better drawings I have done as far as size, proportion and correctness, especially the forehorse. I lost alot of the detail in the second horse and riders face in the transfer process, and see now that I also need to refine that horses neck as well, looks way too thick. His eye and nose is much better in the sketch, the transfer paper just made the lines go on too thick. A few other things need tweaking as well. But most of it I can take care of once the color is on and some definition begins to show. I did enlarge this from my original sketch so I could make it fit on my board as I wanted this to be an upclose and personal painting.

I probably will not reguarly update this one as I go. I started this one because my black board had not arrived at the time. It came yesterday, and I want to work on my Arabian series, waiting for my white transfer paper to come in first. So until that gets here I will dabble with this one. This is my first polo piece so I imagine it's going to be filled with challenges. I did not realize the complexity of tack until I started my sketch and did some research to make it accurate. Ought to be interesting! Thanks for looking!:wave:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/14-Dec-2007/69910-WIP_006.jpg

[pastellar]

Hi, Kristen, I shall be watching this with great interest! Looks like a great composition, and I'm sure you'll do a wonderful job with it. I did a polo rider a year ago, and the tack was really hard to fathom out, I had to get it right as the prospective owner was the rider, so couldn't risk getting it wrong! Best of luck!

Regards,
Diane

[Continental]

Excellent image, I can't wait to see what you do with it.

Be careful that the background horse on the left doesn't draw your eye off the canvas. I might tone that horse down some with the colors or values you use and let the main horse shine more as the star of the show.

[QueenBArt]

Pastellar: Thank you. Yeah I am going to have a time with it I can tell. Breath deeply, and excercise patience, that is my plan*lol*

Continental: You know I just responded to some conerns in AW over the back horse to the left, behind the main 2. I went ahead and took him out, and I think this carries the composition better. I also agree with your thoughts and plan on making the four horse a chestnut most likely, and the back two horses bay. In the ref picture the background is all trees. I am thinking about pushing those back and opening up some sky, but it's a tricky thing to think about, but I thought it may help make the foreground horse come through a bit more. I don't know, but I agree with what you said about color ranges.

Here is the update comp. without the far rider. I prefer this better, but I still appreciate your thoughts!
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/14-Dec-2007/69910-WIP_0061.jpg

[QueenBArt]

Okay here is an update. I originally planned for an open background, wanted to add the Blue Ridge mountains in the b/g, but I had some problems, and it did not work with the composition. Also the horse and rider I took out did not cover up well on the board, something I thought I might run into. So...in with the trees. I covered up the original open b/g so they are in the very basic stages of color and shape, as is the grass. I am going for the manicured look, as the fields I have seen show this. Of course divetts will be added! What is a polo field without divetts!
I will work more on this tonight and tomorrow, after that I hope to concentrate on my series in the works. Thanks everyone!

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/15-Dec-2007/69910-100_8198.JPG

[QueenBArt]

Okay worked more on the b/g, hate the trees, and didn't feel like working on the grass anymore so naturally I started on on of the horses. Very early stages but I was eager to start. I'll probably work on it again tomorrow and put it away for a while. I got more done then I thought I would.... who knows maybe I'll put my series on hold and finish this but I am eager to start on that too! Thanks!
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/15-Dec-2007/69910-100_8207.jpg

[QueenBArt]

So much for not reguarly updating this one*lol* Here is where I left it at 1:00AM. Heading back up to start again. Feel like I am moving fairly fast on this. Got all of the first horse formed, and worked on, he just needs the rest of the details, and I'll start finishing off the tack. Oh I am dreading the riders...I cannot do people worth anything....oh well we'll give a go! Thanks everyone!

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/16-Dec-2007/69910-100_8211.jpg

[QueenBArt]

Okay, so I am sticking with this one for now and really having a fun time with it too! Or at least until I get stuck and frustrated*lol*
I'm stopping for the night since tomorrow is a work day..ugh..
Spent more time on the horse, got him where I want him, and started working on the tack, and rider. Still have a ways to go on the rider but I felt I was in a good place for todays work. I hope I am not updating too much, I just like to post as I go and keep it fresh and show the small steps..at least it's what I enjoy seeing. Thanks for looking and as always all C&C welcome!

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/16-Dec-2007/69910-polowip5.jpg

[pastellar]

This is coming on really well, Kristen! looking forward to more...

Regards
Diane

[Ceci]

idem, Im watching this at the zoo. Nice
ceci

[QueenBArt]

Diane: Thank you! I am also happy with where this is going. Started horse #2 tonight.

Ceci: Thank you, and thanks for following in the zoo as well! Here is an update....

This is about an hours more worth of work. I tried to get some good shots showing closeups to help show the detail work. Still very early in the color basics, no real definition yet. But I also took in progress shots of horse #2's neck. When I explained the base layer (In the Zoo, thought I would share here as well) this is what I am talking about. Not very heavy, just enough to put some pigment down and give it a base. These pics are a bit bright, but you can still see where I am going with it. I also worked on the trees, I just blended them together (left side) and started putting hard strokes down, I kinda like it*lol* This is where I will leave it for tonight. C&C Appreciated!!!:wave:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/17-Dec-2007/69910-wippolo6.jpg

Closeup of horse #1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/17-Dec-2007/69910-polowiphead.jpg

Closeup horse #2
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/17-Dec-2007/69910-polowiphead2.jpg

[QueenBArt]

Here we go with two more hours worth of work. Horse #2 is blocked in and I started adding definition to the hindquarters.

FYI: I have had several requests asking how I do musculature. I will be posting a step by step in Animal and Wildlife showing this one as I go with notes on the process if anyone here is interested. Thanks for looking, C&C welcome!:wave:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/18-Dec-2007/69910-polowip7.jpg

[QueenBArt]

If I did not enjoy this I'm sure I'd of gone crazy by now...another two hours! This horse has nearly 7 hours worth of work into him and I know I have another 3 or four with the legs, hooves, wraps, flank and belly, tail, and tack to complete...whew it's a marathon!*lol* You'd think I worked in oils or something! Here's what I have to show for it. C&C welcome and appreciated!



http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-Dec-2007/69910-polowip8.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-Dec-2007/69910-wippolo9.jpg

[amandanator]

Kristen this is coming along beautifully. I really like the musculature of the horses. Your time and effort is paying off!

Looking forward to more updates.

Mandy

[pastellar]

Getting better and better all the time, Kristen! The horses are coming along really beautifully.

Regards
Diane

[QueenBArt]

Amandanator: Thank you so much! I am interested to see how much I will have left in me after I'm done with this one*lol* Thank you for your kind words.

Pastellar: Thank you Diane so much, I greatly appreciate your thoughts and encouragement!

Okay, another two hours worth of work. My focus was mainly on the rider putting together his upper and lower body, guards on the leg and boot. I worked a bit more on the horse, but very small little things. I always have issues with the hooves so I am holding off doing any more on them until I can know I will get them right. Not alot of forgiveness with hooves. Also need to work more on the white wraps. I had a bit of spill over from the green base I put down when I blended and the white gets muddy easily so I worked a bit more and then left them alone for now.
I'm getting so frustrated with taking photos at my easel. First chance I get I will take it outside or at least in better more even lighting, the camera picks up too much glare and bleaches alot out and makes other areas dark. I adjusted it a bit in a photo editor and tried to keep it as true as possible. Its still not picking up everything so I will include a close up of the rider to show what I have done with him as well.

Here is the closeup of the rider, not all of the color is coming out true but its close.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-Dec-2007/69910-polowip10.jpg

Here is the overall look. A bit bleached out, sorry.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-Dec-2007/69910-polowip11.jpg

[Artaholic]

I am really enjoying seeing this progress.Beautiful work. Is the forward leg of the back ground horse just a little bit short ? Maybe not I havent seen the photo so could be wrong.

[QueenBArt]

Artaholic: In the ref I wondered that too, but really after comparing other photos and knowing horses first hand it seems correct visually. I still look at it and wonder, and have asked other horse enthusiasts and they do not fault it, but I am glad someone else was curious. A horses stride can be a funny thing sometimes. Thank you for the kind words!

Okay, home strech ya'll!:clap: After two days of not having a chance to work on it I finally sat down and spent about 4hrs on it. Still alot more to do, but as you can see I have all the horses on, the far one still needs alot of work. The background I messed with a bit but really not much, and I added the preliminary shadows. Once I work more on the grass they will look better. Still have alot of finishing work overall, but it's close and getting closer!
Took this photo in better lighting conditions but had to use the flash so the white highlights show up a bit exaggerated, and the overall piece is a bit bright, but this gives you a better look at it overall. Hope to have this one done by the 31st!

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Dec-2007/69910-polomatch12.JPG

[Netty]

Really impressive Kristen, is this a suede matte board you are working on? The effect on the horses coats is really lovely , rich and smooth. YOu are doing a wonderful job here!!!

Annie:)

[QueenBArt]

Annie: Thank you so much! Yes this is suede board. Unfortunately pastels and I do not get along on any other type of surface; however we get along swimmingly on suede board. Thank you for the encouragement I hope to be done within the next few days.

[steph G]

Hi! This is lovely! I could hardly wait to turn to page 2 to see how you were doing :lol: What size is this??????

[Orchidacea]

wow! such a lot of energy and motion here! The horses are just filled with life. Your hard work certainly pays off with results like these!