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Report by Debbie Pengelly
There are painters who transform the
sun to a yellow spot, but there are others who with the help of their art
and their intelligence transform a yellow spot into the sun.
Pablo Picasso (1881 - 1973)
The above quotation always reminds me of the way that
Malcolm Coward is able to take a spots of bright colour and transform a
piece of old hardboard washed loosely with a medium tone of Burnt Sienna
or whatever else happened to be lying around, into the illusion of a horse
caught in light. It could be the outline backlit against the sun or broken
light from trees or an old barn.
We were lucky enough to have Malcolm as the tutor for
the first ever Windsor workshop.
The workshop was held at Flemish Farm in Windsor Great
Park, thanks to the support and generosity of the Honourable Artillery
Company and their associated Light Cavalry who keep their horses there.
They provided four different horse models over two days. This was also
their first participation in an artist's workshop, and they were very
willing to provide whatever we asked for. Our credibly started off well
when one of the grooms went to fetch a print of one of Mal's pictures and
asked if we knew the artist. They didn't really believe me when I asked
for us to have a horse held for us for the two days, but soon realised
this was serious and took turns in holding first Ben, a Chestnut New
Zealand thoroughbred Ben has a very fine coat and not a lot of fat which
enabled us to see his muscles, especially his 'poverty lines' so a good
chance to get to grips with some anatomy.
Then we had the challenge of a black horse in a dark
barn.
On the second day one of the troop of the Light Cavalry,
Mr. John Shoesmith, resplendent in his full uniform including sword, sat
for us in the sunshine on a large grey (white) Irish Draught, Murphy. We
had found a sunny spot tucked out of the main yard area with views to
Windsor castle and more importantly shade from the wind. Finally we had
Waterloo, a fine big brown horse with a coat that gleamed copper.
For three people it was their first workshop with the
equestrian artists, Pippa came down from Lincoln, and Kristine and Jenny
two ladies from within the Windsor group to make ten in total. A good
number. It was also a quiet group with everyone working hard each day and
producing some wonderful and varied work. For me it was good to see
everyone working so hard and getting a lot from the weekend. For the first
workshop it can be a little daunting as you look at what everyone else is
doing and think they are a lot better then you are. But we all feel this!
And it is about trying out new things and taking advantage of having a
horse stand reasonably still for much longer than you normally get and
most importantly, working from life.
Although many people take photographs, which can be used
for reference once home and winter draws in, having looked hard at what
you are painting/drawing you can fill in the missing parts from the
photographs and correct the flattening of form and dulling of light that
always happens.
Paul Allison, the yard manager also gave a talk on
anatomy, especially how the horse changes from a herd animal with a head
held high to a ridden animal that needs to flex its neck to engage the
back muscles so it can carry a rider. How this change affects the shape of
the neck and shape of neck muscles as the head is held in a lower
position. Ben didn't want to be the perfect horse to show this of course,
but we were able to see the top neck muscle take shape with Allie, the
black horse.
We were also lucky to have the HAC Saddle club chairman,
Mr. Edwin Seabrook come and take a turn at horse holding, and without his
support and the support of Paul Allison we would not have had such a
successful workshop. Edwin joined us for lunch the first day at a local
pub, the second day we stayed at the yard to make the most of the time
available.
The long distance prize goes to Ken who flew to join us
from Belfast, meaning we had two prizewinners from the annual exhibition
this year!
But the real test is that we have been asked back again
and more importantly people who came to the workshop wish to come back to
the next one.
A final thought…….
Painting: The art of protecting flat
surfaces from the weather and exposing them to the critic.
Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914), The
Devil's Dictionary
Debbie
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