A Cold Day for Painting Outdoors, January 27, 2010

Nocturne

Texas is expecting an arctic storm about any moment now.  The temperatures dropped sharply late this afternoon (while I was out painting in the field!).  Finally had to give it up.  For those of you following my “Hunt” watercolor, I finally began rendering the hounds in the foreground today.  Perhaps tomorrow I’ll have enough of them finished to post the picture afresh.

While I painted at Lyndon Acres today, I was continually distracted by a rescued thoroughbred on the neighboring property running like the wind.   He does that a lot.  I used to laugh to myself every time he did it, but now it brings sad recollections to the surface.  The watercolor sketch now posted is the very first time I ever attempted to render a horse in color.  His name was Nocturne, a 23-year-old Welsh Cob stallion with a mane that was fairy tale-length.   His black coat used to show so many amazing colors under a hot Texas sun, that I just couldn’t sketch him enough (in pencil) and photograph him.

Last year Nocturne had to be euthanized.  The day after he died, I went through my collection of photos, selected this one, and gave him my best shot.  He was a magnificent stallion, and I miss seeing him poking his head over the fence for me to walk up and scratch his muzzle.  The reason I brought up the thoroughbred next door is because of the hilarity of him racing like the wind in days gone by.  Every time he passed by, Nocturne would charge the fence, arch his neck and rear and kick.  Typical stallion.  As if to say, “Not in my neighborhood!  Stop buzzing my fence!”  I always laughed at his bravado.  Magnificent.  I miss him.  So, here’s to you, Nocturne.  Thanks for the memories.

Tags: Americana, cob, drybrush, farm, field painting, horse, nostalgia, Texas, watercolor, welsh, welsh cob