Friday, January 9, 2009

Better Days Ahead

6 X 8 Oil on Canvas Board
Contact Artist for Availability
In the winter, my benchmark for when I need to start giving the horses more feed is Easy's rib cage. When I begin to see it a bit, it's time to up his hay rations. PJ stays fat year round, even on dead winter grass. And Dandy gets fed separately because she is still growing. Easy is an ex-racehorse and tends to stay on the leaner side naturally - even while PJ stays fat - so I need to moniter him a little more closely. He really isn't too thin - he actaully looks quite fit at this body weight. But it is still an indication that I need to try to get him a little more and/or make sure he's covered if the weather turns nasty.
This painting is in my more painterly style, and I kinda like it. My pasture really looked like this this morning - cold, damp and dark, yet lit by the promising morning sun. The title reflects my continuing feeling of optimism as the days get longer toward Spring. Now if it would only rain....
1 Samuel 15:22
But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

4 comments:

SiLa said...

I like this painting. You captured mood so well :)

dominique eichi said...

I really love your work. Your style is wonderful, how you capture the feeling of animal or man is great.
I also appreciate the scriptures you post with your work thank you.

Debbie said...

thank you - your words of encouragement are music to my ears!

Rick Nilson said...

In South Dakota, by the time you can see ribs showing the animal is usually frozen stiff!