BAY HORSE PAINTING by OLGA WAGNER

I found the reference photo for this painting on wetcanvas.com. It was one of those photos that I think was meant just for me. It spoke to my heart as soon as I saw it!... It reminds me so of my well-aged mare (Shelby)... She turned 28 this march and is living a happy retired life in Chapel Hill, NC. She has been part of my family for the last 21 years and truly deserves her happy "Sunset Years".

I took a slightly different approach with this painting. I used almost entirely 100% transparent colors on this beauty. On my palette, I had Indian Yellow, Trans.Orange, Trans. Red, Trans, Brown, Purple, Ultramarine  and Magenta (love the magenta!) - an I used ALL of them for this painting.. I did a lot of wiping with q-tips/paper towels and also used the 'colour shaper' tool to scrape the paint and get the highlight effect!  Love...Love...my Colour Shaper - it lets me create texture and definition in my paintings.

SUNSET YEARS

12" x 12"  -  Oil on Panel

Available 325
www.olgawagner.com

As, always...I start with the transparent orange to draw out the shape...I freehand it with a smaller brush  and plenty of medium to make  the paint flow.

Here I am starting to layout the colors. To build up the darks takes several layers of paint...Once all layers are done, the darkest darks will have a a bit of Trans. Brown, Purple, Magenta and Utramarine in it. The light areas are mainly indian yellow and trans. orange wiped off to make it brighter and also some areas have been scraped using the silicone tool.

This is a close-up of the face. You can see the scrape marks to give definition and texture. Also, you will see the only few areas that contain Opaque Paint. I used Ultramarine and white to add a small number of highlights...Only what you see here... 

This is Shelby, when she was about 9 years of age.  She is now 28 - and I really need to get some more recent shots of her...I am a bad mother!!

This is the Colour Shaper tool that I use. You can get these through JerrysArtarama or any other art supplier. Here is the description from Jerry's website: "Colour Shapers are a unique tool made from silicone. The tip will not absorb any material, and so is great for applying, removing, scraping and moving color. Used alone or together with your existing tools, Colour Shapers will give you the opportunity to develop new and exciting effects. Made by Royal Sovereign in England"

If you have never tried one - you must! It will open doors to new possibilities...I promise...

BLOG: www.catclawsstudio.blogspot.com 
WEBSITE: www.olgawagner.com

FACEBOOK PAGE: Olga-Wagner-Studio
Contact: olga.t.wagner@gmail.com

ABSTRACTED EQUINE - Palette Knife

Found some time to finally finish this boy. I enjoyed the previous painting and continued using the "Buttocks" perspective... I am really loving the palette knife and what it allows me to do with the paint, but one of these days, when my brain gets out of it's chaos mode I will definitely go back to the brushes.

SEX APPEAL
24 x 30 Oil on Stretched Canvas
Available www.olgawagner.com

Inspiration Photo

DRAMATIC HORSE IN PALETTE KNIFE

Last night, I decided to start a series of a few small paintings, mainly to try out some new and interesting color combinations.

This dramatic little beauty was created with a very limited color palette. I used Chrome Yellow, Cad Red, Ultramarine and a touch of white. Originally, I started with Naples Yellow, but the drama was not there, so I bumped it to Chrome Yellow and VOILA -I LOVE it!

For the next version I was thinking of trying greys with yellow and purple ...

CRIMSON DRAMA
6x6 Oil on Stretched Canvas
Available $100

BLACK HORSE in COLOR

This is one large boy! It 24" by 48 " and looks really WOW on the wall...I have been experimenting with some new oil paints - picked up a few colors of the Lukas 1862 and so far I am thrilled with the saturation of pigment and buttery consistency of the paints. Perfect for Palette Knife paintings.

"IN RETROSPECT"

2ft x 4ft Oil on Stretched Canvas

Please email for availability: olga.t.wagner@gmail.com

Closeup of the nose

BLACK HORSE IN PALETTE KNIFE

What a day...It started with a dentist visit to get a crown and ended with creation of this little beauty!

I was not going to paint today, as I got home pretty worn out and with a throbbing side of the face. Aftre dinner, I did go into my art studio to cleanup and rearrange a few things. While moving some stuff I came across a 12 x 12 canvas that was toned light blue. I picked it up and MOJO took over and let me create this totally fictitious horse. I LOVE the color scheme on this boy!!!

O' SO PRETTY
12 x 12 Oil on Stretched Canvas
Please email for availability: olga.t.wagner@gmail.com

Close-up of the snout!

BLOND PONY - PALETTE KNIFE

Another palette knife painting. I found this cute photo (see below) on wetcanvas image site and could not resist to use it.

BLONDIE

16" x 20" x 1.5 Oil on Stretched Canvas
Available $$395

Blondie - Muse for this painting

DRESSAGE HORSE AND RIDER - SOLD

Here is an interesting crop of a dressage rider in a competition ring. I have no idea who the rider is. I took a bunch of photos at couple of the horse shows last year and never kept track of who the partnerships was. It's better this way - less pressure if you are working anonymously.

I think I will try this crop on a larger scale. maybe 30" x 30" ???

DOWN CENTERLINE
8x8 Oil on Panel
SOLD

Framing Example

WHITE STALLION in PALETTE KNIFE

Submission, as most dressage riders can attest, is an important part of the dressage training as well as competitive dressage. This guy looks like he is ready to listen and cooperate. I know..I know...The stallion in my painting is way over bent in the neck - but after all it's just ART!

SUBMISSION
12 x 12 x 1.5 Oil on Stretched Panel
Available $295

BIG BLUE HORSE - Palette Knife

It has been over a week since I posted. Sorry...

I spent the last 7 days (12 +hrs per day) at the Raleigh Horse Hunt Complex running a horse show. Days were long and very HOT, but all involved had a BLAST being there. With all these hours away from my home, I did not have time to get into my studio - "much'. This boy was created over a period of several semi-sleepless nights. I think this one was my first one on a canvas that was 2" deep. It really make a statement on the wall!

BIG BLUE
20" x 24" x 2" Oil on Stretched Canvas
On Hold

The 2" inch sides are painted as a continuation of the painting

PALETTE KNIFE HORSE

Horse Show on the brain equals one wild PONY!

I painted a similar horse few days back, only much smaller and with brushed. This one is 20" by 20" and is done 100% with palette knifes - Fun...Fun...Fun...

If you are in Raleigh next weekend and want to watch some great horse competition, swing by the Hunt horse Complex and say hi... Here is the website for the event www.cdi-raleigh.com.

MANE EVENT
20 " x 20" Oil on Stretched Canvas
Available $495

Painted White Pony

I know...I know... I went a bit wild on the hair - must be my hair envy....

PAINTED PONY
6x6 Oil on Panel
Available $100

Dressage Horse

Here is another dressage mount from the Raleigh Dressage Horse Show.

"Job Well Done" - 6x6 Oil on Masonite

Available

Attired for Dressage

The photo reference for this one was taken couple of weeks ago at a Dressage competition in Raleigh NC. I don't have any detail on this perfectly turned out rider/horse combination - The horse number must have been on the other side.

"On Deck" - 6x12 Oil on Masonite

Sold