DAY 28 30/30 days
30 Paintings in 30 days
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 28
Grand Entrance
Day 28
‘Grand Entrance’ – by Roxanne Gooderham
28.5cm x 20cm
Watercolour, pencil and charcoal on watercolour paper.
RESERVED
Email: roxygooderham@hotmail.com
I’m really enjoying exploring watercolours with pencil and charcoal at the moment so for tonights piece I decided to use the medium again. I’ve wanted to use this photo of Jane’s for ages and have finally got around to doing something with it. Jane took a series of photos of the ‘Equicirque’ in London. They are a company who put on magnificent equestrian shows and tour around the world with their productions. This particular horse and rider were from an act called ‘Los Rios’ and apparently the girl was only 15 years old!
By using a limited colour palette and being quite bold with the paint application, the image has been simplified which I think works well. The horse is actually grey but because i forced myself to use just a few colours I have re-created it in my own way. The angle of the horse and rider makes it an interesting piece and adds that element of mystery.
DAY 26 30/30 days
Medieval Beauty
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 26
26th August 2013
Day 26
Ethereal Grey
‘Ethereal Grey’ – by Roxanne Gooderham
28.5cm x 20cm
Watercolour, pencil and charcoal on watercolour paper
AVAILABLE – £50 + p&p
Email: roxygooderham@hotmail.com
For day 26 I decided to use another fabulous photo of Lorenzos grey horses taken by Jane but this time I didn’t want it to look exactly like the photo. I wanted to stylise the horse and make it my own. The photo itself is very ethereal and as I am a huge Pre-Raphaelite fan i looked to Burne-Jones for a little inspiration. I am always drawn to his watercolour studies and the way he uses those rich, and sometimes subtle, blues and warm earthy colours.
Limiting my pallette, I feel, works well for this piece. i kept the painting quite loose and i let the drips go wherever they wanted to go. I love this way of working and working ‘with’ the paint rather than going against it. Working with it can lead to some unusual and unique paintings.
DAY 24 30/30 days
Medieval Beauty
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 24
Repose
24th August 2013
‘Repose’ – by Roxanne Gooderham
30.5cm x 25cm, 12″ x 10″
Oil on canvas board
AVAILABLE – £85 + p&p
Email: roxygooderham@hotmail.com
Today has been a ‘finishing off a painting day’ for me. I’ve had this painting sitting in my studio for months and was in the very early stages of progress. I thought it was about time I got around to completing it so I have used the painting challenge to help push me forward with it.
This gorgeous Spanish stallion is owned by a Facebook friend of mine and they kindly gave me permission to use their photo. The peacefulness of the horse attracted me to the image straight away. It has that medieval feel to it which I am always drawn to. I could have gone into detail and defined each and every wave of the mane but I didn’t want it to look exactly like the photo so I changed it and blended the yellows and the blues together creating more of a blurred effect, which I feel gives more of an ethereal quality to it.
DAY 22 30/30 days
Medieval Beauty
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 22
22nd August 2013
‘Medieval Beauty’ – by Roxanne Gooderham
30.5cm x 25cm, 12″ x 10″
Oil on canvas board
RESERVED FOR OWNERS VIEWING
Email: roxygooderham@hotmail.com
The Medieval period!…sigh! I am absolutely OBSESSED with it! The horses, the romance, the clothes, everything! Like the Civil War, I have been interested in all things medieval since I was a child and again, it stems from when my dad used to take us to look at old ruined castles where there would be re-enactment groups which brought the history to life. I guess it has all just remained with me ever since.
A Facebook friend of mine has very kindly allowed me to use her wonderful photo of her and her horse. Both horse and rider look absolutely stunning and I couldn’t resist painting it. I’ve been meaning to get around to creating a painting such as this for months and this challenge has allowed me to make a start on what will be an ongoing project. I’m really enjoying these swirling backgrounds and each time I do them I feel they are becoming more effective. I will keep experimenting with the idea.
DAY 20 30/30 days
30 Paintings in 30 days
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 20
Duchess
20th August 2013
Day 20
‘Duchess’
Oil on canvas board
SOLD
I just can’t believe it is day 20! Time has flown so quickly! Today i have finally got around to painting this gorgeous shire x, Duchess, whose photo was donated to us on our facebook page by her owner. I really enjoyed painting her bright bay coat. I could see pinks, purples, blues, ochres. It’s amazing just how many colours you begin to notice once you start to ‘look’ more at something. Colour used to scare me but now I have so much more confidence and want to learn more about the subject. Again, I have tried to experiment with the background with this one to make the painting a bit different and to add a little atmosphere and interest. I’m really liking using this technique.
DAY 18 30/30 days
30 Paintings in 30 days
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 18
Prepared For Battle
18th August 2013
DAY 18
‘Prepared for Battle’
Watercolour and graphite pencil on watercolour paper
27.5cm x 19.5cm
AVAILABLE – £55 + p&p
Reference photo courtesy of J.Daniels.
Email: roxygooderham@hotmail.com
I have been interested in the English Civil War for as long as I can remember. My
dad was always taking my brothers and I to English Heritage sites which were linked
with that particular era and having one of these sites situated near my home, I
feel a strong connection with the subject. I have wanted to produce a series of
paintings based on the Civil War for some time and after seeing Jane’s photos
she took the other week, it spurred me on to try and paint something. I have a
few friends in the Sealed Knott and they have been kind enough to allow me to
use their photos for my work. I created a few pieces based on the Civil War for
my 100 day challenge two years ago but now I feel I am more confident with
paint I believe I can, at last, begin to do the subject justice.
Today’s piece is in watercolour and pencil and is slightly more detailed than
day 12 but also retains that looseness which I love when using this medium.
I’ve limited my palette in order to help prevent getting too detailed. I have
also experimented with the background to see whether that same dream-like
effect I use in oils can be achieved in watercolour an it most certainly can!
Here, the tension mounts as both horse and rider are alert and ready for
battle!
DAY 16 30/30 days
30 Paintings in 30 days
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 16
Evening Call
16th August 2013
Day 16
‘Evening Call’ – by Roxanne Gooderham
30cm x 30cm
Oil on box canvas
AVAILABLE £90 + p&p
Email: roxygooderham@hotmail.co.uk
Todays painting is all about experimenting and looking at light. I took this photo when I went on a weeks painting workshop with the Society of Equestrian Artists this year. This horse was one of our models and I spent a lot of time with them in the evenings taking lots of photos. I love the way the evening sun shines through his tail like liquid gold. I’ve never really portrayed light like this in a painting before and I have to agree with Jane that painting light is so satisfying. I still have a long way to go but think I’m slowly getting there in achieving the effect.
In this painting I’m also beginning to look at combining the figurative with abstract. The houses in the hills in the background have been simplified and are represented by creating abstract block shapes. I’m also starting to look at different effects I can create using the oils which can be seen on the left hand side. I have used this effect a few times during the challenge and I believe it gives a dream like quality to my work which I’m really enjoying using. I think I could take this further. The way I have portrayed the horse is also a lot softer than some of my other pieces and as a whole I think it all works well.
DAY 14 30/30 days
30 Paintings in 30 days
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 14
Day 14
14th August 2013
‘Rikki’ – by Roxanne Gooderham
30.5cm x 25cm, 12″ x 10″
Oil on canvas board
SOLD
This photo was donated to Janey and I via our Facebook page. I recognised him straight away! He has the most unique eye I have ever seen. I had previously been commissioned to do a pencil drawing of Rikki by his owner so I jumped at the chance to try and portray him in oils, just to see if I could do it.
I am so pleased with the outcome. I particularly enjoyed creating the light on his coat which helps highlight all the veins on his face. I also decided to make the background slightly more different rather than just blocking it in with one colour.
Email: roxygooderham@hotmail.com
DAY 12 30/30 days
30 Paintings in 30 days
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 12
Side Saddle Study
12th August 2013
‘Side Saddle Study’ by Roxanne Gooderham
Watercolour pencil, charcoal and graphite pencil on watercolour paper
AVAILABLE – £35 + P&P
Email: roxygooderham@hotmail.com
I knew before I began this challenge that there would be days when I couldn’t physically get to my studio and produce an oil painting. Today is one of those days! Unfortunately the day job has had to take priority and I have had to go on a training day so in turn have lost a full day painting.
I know you’re all probably thinking “but that’s a black horse not a grey or a bay!” Well you’d be absolutely right. I have wanted to paint this beautiful Cob for a while and hope to paint her in oils in the future and seeing as though I only have a black and sepia watercolour pencil at home along with a pencil and charcoal, I have had to use what I have so have opted to paint her for today. I adore using mixed media in this way. I really feel like more of ‘me’ is coming through. The style is loose and steps away from the photographic paintings I have recently been producing allowing me to explore a different feel and style. I hope to apply this method of working more into my oil paintings
DAY 10 30/30 days
30 Paintings in 30 days
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 10
Lustitano Pair
10th August 2013
‘Lusitano Pair’ by Roxanne Gooderham
30.5cm x 25cm, 12″ x 10″
Oil on canvas board
AVAILABLE – £85 + p&p
Not only one horse today folks but TWO in one painting! I have come to the conclusion that I must be mad! Anyway so these beautiful Lusitanos are taken from yet another photo by Jane Lazenby taken at the Great Yorkshire Show. They are just two of many horses owned by Lorenzo. I am always so in awe of this stunning breed. The way they carry their heads, the way they move. They are just magic to watch! I haven’t been lucky enough to see Lorenzo for real but I definitely hope I get to see his spectacular display one day. And when that day comes I’ll be there armed with my camera!
I really enjoyed creating this piece. I like the contrasts between the grey on the left and the fleabitten grey on the right. I have again introduced subtle blues, purples and yellows and even red into the fleabitten grey. Maybe in my next grey horse piece I could make these colours more vibrant maybe? I know this one is photographic in style again but I find that doing this kind of work now and again does actually help me to understand how to apply oil in a more ‘traditional’ way. Learning from this method of working then allows me to push forward with my more experimental pieces.
Email: roxygooderham@hotmail.com
DAY 8 30/30 days
30 Paintings in 30 days
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 08
Best In Show
8th August 2013
‘Best In Show’ – by Roxanne Gooderham
30cm x 30cm
Acrylic and Oil on box canvas
AVAILABLE £90 + p&p
Email: roxygooderham@hotmail.com
As you all probably know by now i have a soft spot for heavy horses. I adore everything about them! So for Day 08 I couldn’t resist painting another. Would you believe that this Clydesdale is the exact same one i painted for day 02?! I had left out the sash on my first painting of him and his mane was so wild you couldn’t actually see his head dress. Taken from another one of Jane Lazenby’s photos from Emley Show, Huddersfield, here he appears much calmer. Although he didn’t win the class in reality, from this painting he looks like he could have had all the qualities of a ‘best in show’ entrant if he had not gotten over excited as he did!
For me this painting is the best one I have produced so far in the challenge. Here I’ve had to deal with light and the shine on the horses coat, something I have struggled with in the past but appear to be slowly getting to grips with the introductions of colours I wouldn’t have dreamt of applying before.
DAY 6 30/30 days
30 Paintings in 30 days
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 06
Emerald Superstar
6th August 2013
DAY 06 – ‘Emerald Superstar’ by Roxanne Gooderham
30.5cm x 25cm, 12″ x 10″
Oil and mixed media on canvas board
RESERVED
Email: roxygooderham@hotmail.com
For todays painting I felt like letting go and trying to find myself a little more. Painting in a tight almost photographic style as I have been doing lately, I find can restrict my inner self expression at times. I’m at a stage now where I’m wanting to find out what can actually be achieved with oil paint. I want to push it and see where I can go with it. To find my own way with the medium I’m asking questions like, what effects can be made when it’s wet, when it’s dry? Can I use mixed media with oil? At the end of the day it’s all about experimenting and testing these ideas out which is what I am now beginning to do.
I chose to paint this particular image as i was drawn to the movement of the animal more than anything else and not necessarily the fine details, so I opted to make this piece looser to show the fluidity of his gait. With a love of drawing I also tried incorporating pencil and charcoal which I’m finding suits my method of working.
DAY 4 30/30 days
30 Paintings in 30 days
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 04
A Moment
4th August 2013
‘A Moment’ by Roxanne Gooderham
30.5cm x 25cm, 12″ x 10″
Oil on canvas board
£85 plus p&p
Email: roxygooderham@hotmail.com
I’ve always been drawn to images of mysticism and atmosphere and with this particular photo taken by Jane Lazenby, it ticked all the boxes for me. There is a feeling of calm about this little pony. He seems relaxed and in a world of his own. The sense of depth is also key for me and helps create narrative. To me this little fellow has just emerged from the woods behind and into a clearing where he takes a moment to stand for a little while.
Having only ever worked in graphite pencil, I am now having to deal with the subject of colour which can be tricky. However, I am particularly pleased with this piece as I am now beginning to look beyond what is there. Here I have introduced cool blues and purples which helps create those shadows
DAY 2 30/30 days
30 Paintings in 30 days
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 02
Spooked
2nd August 2013
‘Spooked’ by Roxanne Gooderham
30.5cm x 25cm, 12″ x 10″
Oil on canvas board
£65 inc p&p
Email: roxygooderham@hotmail.com
After seeing Jane Lazenby’s photos of the beautiful Clydesdales she took at the Emley Show, Huddersfield, I knew I had to paint at least one of them. I absolutely adore heavy horses and decided to make this one my first painting of the challenge.
I was instantly drawn to the expression and movement of the horse. The tossing of the head, the sheer energy of the animal and that look of excitement in his eye. Jane had told me that he was just a yearling and was extremely excitable in the trot up in the ring, so much so that he nearly ran into the judge! Unfortunately he didn’t get placed in the class but boy isn’t he stunning!
Rantings, ravings and paintings 