more watercolors

Today I was going to tidy up the studio, but in the process I found some very soft and creamy, raw, cotton rag paper from I don't know where (no watermark). So I am working instead which is better. First I draw with graphite and then I smear some paint around, sticking to a limited palette of three colors: yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and indigo blue. This is almost the Velasquez palette which would have ultramarine blue instead of indigo.

lesson

I spend time watching people train horses. One of the things they often do is exercise the horse on a longe line. It easier for the horse to balance without a rider on his back. Trying to paint this includes thinking about how the muscles work and where the light hits the body. I also think about what is going on in the horses mind and try to capture that mood in the painting. This is a nervous young mare who is trying to trust a new trainer. She has lots of energy and I hope the painting conveys that.