An artist's blending of her art and horse showing

Starting the nostrils

2011-12-01T09:57:00.001-08:00

As I start the nostrils on the sorrel horse, I am going to begin with a base of Paynes Grey, Violet Grey and White. I add the base coat first and then work the wrinkles in with Paynes Grey and Violet Grey. I use a mixture of Yellow Ochre and White in the highlights.

Where the nostril blends into the rest of the face, I mix Mars Orange, Yellow Ochre and White to recreate the face color (which is now dry) and allow for the blending of the two.

The sorrel horse also has a white marking down the nose and into the nostril. I create this with Cadmium Orange and Permanent Rose, lightened with White.

Here we are so far

2011-11-17T12:03:00.001-08:00

Here are the two faces at this point

Mane and Blaze

2011-11-17T11:27:00.001-08:00

As I start the blaze on the sorrel horse, I use a mixture of Titanium White and Cerulean Blue while picking up bits of color from the face.

After that, I apply the mane on the brown horse with Paynes Grey and a mixture of Ultramarine Blue, Sap Green and Burnt Sienna to make black.

As I brush the mane on, my brush strokes mimic the same strokes that I would use if I were actually brushing the mane with a comb. I lift my hand as I finish each stroke so that it tapers to a point.

I add a little Mars Orange to the ends of the forelock where this horse's forelock has been sun-bleached.

I work a little Radiant Violet throughout the mane for hightlights.

Time to paint the eyes

2011-11-17T10:40:00.001-08:00

It is time to paint the eyes. First thing I do is switch to softer brushes so that I have more control. For the most part I am going to use a small synthetic round. (I prefer synthetic over natural because they are tougher!). I will keep a small dry synthetic flat brush for blending around the eye.

I start by laying in the pupil and the lids using Paynes Grey that I have darkened with Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna. As I develop the lids, I soften the areas around them with the dry flat brush.

After that, I work some Burnt Sienna into the top half of the iris. I also work it along the inside edge of the iris.
I add a little Cadmium Orange right under the pupil for a catch light. This helps the eye to glow!

Last but not least, I add a highlight of Cerulean Blue and Titanium White

Painting the face of the brown horse

2011-11-16T12:39:00.001-08:00

After the neck is established, I move on to the face. Just like the neck, I get the darker areas laid in first. I use the same mixture as I did on the neck - Mars Violet, Orange and a mixture of Burnt Sienna and Purple. I where the horse really show a lot of sheen, I mix Mars Violet, Violet Grey and White. As the horse changes to warmer golden browns, I add Cadmium Orange, Yellow Ochre, and White. I especially use this mixture above the nostrils.

Starting the dark brown horse

2011-11-16T12:16:00.001-08:00

As I start on the dark brown horse, I begin with a mixture of Mars Violet, Orange and a mixture of Burnt Sienna and Purple. This gives me several tones of rich brown to use as the base coat. There are MANY colors in the coat of a horse this color and so in some of the lighter areas, I will work a little Cadmium Red and Cadmium Orange right into the painting.

After I have established much of the dark area, I begin to work some of the highlights in the neck. For this I use Violet Grey and Thalo Yellow Green (yes Thalo Yellow Green, trust me it works!)

Here we are so far

2011-11-10T11:41:00.001-08:00

I am now adding a mixture of Cerulean Blue and Violet Grey in areas around the eyes. This will be the beginnings of the lids.

I will also add a mixture of Dioxazine Purple, Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna to the darkest areas inside the ears. I let this color blend to the outside of the ears and as it does I mix Mars Orange with it.

Here is where we are so far

Starting the face

2011-11-10T11:25:00.001-08:00

As I start the face I start in the areas of medium brown using the same mixture of Mars Orange and Cadmium Orange. The face has several lighters areas that I will develop with Yellow Ochre.
I always have a little dab of Liquin on my palette to help if the paint feels sticky.

After getting the majority of the face covered, I start to develop the bone structures. I do this by highlighting the top of the cheek bone with Radiant Violet (I LOVE this color) and along and under the bone I work Ultramarine Blue into the base color.

Starting the base coat

2011-11-10T10:17:00.000-08:00

After the background, I start to develop a base coat on the sorrel horses neck. For this I use a mixture of Cadmium Orange and Mars Orange. Mars Orange is not a color that most artists have on their palette, but I find it essential in the coat colors of most horses. For most of my paints I prefer Gamblin, but for Mars Orange and Mars Violet I use Holbein.

I will also mix the basic shadow color for the neck. For this I use Mars Violet and Thalo Yellow Green (only available from Grumbacher). Using a lime green in this mixture may sound a little bizarre, but I am a nut when it comes to color and this mixture works out perfectly!

Once I get my mixtures, I began to apply them to the horses neck and develop the neck muscles.
I am a number 6 filbert bristle brush.

As I develop the muscle, I blend up in the direction of the neck muscle and toward the top of the neck.

Background begins

2011-11-08T20:19:00.000-08:00

After the sketch is approved I give the owner some suggestions of back ground colors. Once that is decided, the background begins.

I am enclosing a photo of my palette. I lay my palette out the same way every time, one of the few things I am obsessive/compulsive about!! Colors are as follows - Cadmium yellow light, cadmium yellow medium, yellow ochre, indian yellow, cadmium orange, naphol red, permanent rose, quinacridone, magenta, alizarin crimson, thalo yellow green, sap green, thalo blue green, cerulean blue, violet grey, ultramarine blue, dioxazine violet, burnt sienna, indian red, mars orange, mars violet and titanium white.

In the next photo, I have started the background. I have used a mixture of sap green, yellow ochre and permanent rose in the bottom and then faded it into a mixture of cerulean blue and white at the top

First starts.

2011-11-08T18:35:00.001-08:00

This is a portrait commission that I have just started. The horses are two retired quarter horses.

When I start a commission I like to talk the owner and get a feel for the horse's personality. Many times the photos are sent to me and I never get to interact with the animal.

After getting an idea of what the owner would like in the portrait, I start with a sketch.

Since the last post........

2011-11-08T17:55:00.000-08:00

Well, no excuses, life just gets busy. I found that I could keep a Facebook going way easier than I could keep up a Blog. But truthfully, I just think I needed more to write about.

Alex is finally deciding that maybe, (just maybe) is ready to grow up. He actually stepped out this summer and took the state open show title in Hunter Under Saddle. Of course every day is a new day with him.

Anyway, I think what I would like to do is to take you step by step through my paintings. You may find it interesting, you may find it helpful to your own art, you may think I have now clue what I am talking about. What ever you think I hope you will comment and leave feedback.

So here we go................

Plugging away

2009-11-30T20:08:00.000-08:00

I love fall. Love, Love, Love It. Not that crazy about winter, but Love fall. My family and I were able to spend a wonderful few days in the Smoky Mountains this October. I couldn't wait to get there and bask in all the color. Especially since we had experienced days on top of days of rain here at home.

I'll have to admit that I was some what disappointed when the sun never came out. It fact it drizzled most of the time. But as we were hiking, I was suddenly aware of something a wise instructor told me once "flowers are more brilliant on grey days because they don't have to compete with the sun". The same goes for leaves. The grey light was absolutely beautiful and the light was consistent though out the day, allow for numerous photos.

This is one of the first paintings from that trip.

I love fall!

I'm back......

2009-11-17T11:17:00.000-08:00

Well the blog is up and going again! The studio is buzzing and I feel the need to get all the happenings public. Living in such a rural area, the computer is wonderful way to reach out and never leave my studio. You can now find me on FaceBook (be sure to become a fan of Roark Studios), LinkedIn and even follow me or Twitter.

My four legged side-kick Alex is off at school for a couple of months, so there will hopefully be several new pieces flowing out of the studio. I an posting the last one I completed. I was able to capture some of the first colors of fall in between all the torrential rain we have had. Enjoy..

Visit me on Facebook

2009-07-16T11:31:00.000-07:00

I have decided that I am just not good at keeping the blog updated. My time is so limited and I like to keep things fresh. It is easier just to update my Facebook, which is what I tend to do most. Therefore, if you like what you see here, join me on Facebook for all the very latest happenings.

Latest Piece

2009-05-04T19:31:00.000-07:00

I am doing my best to try and spend more time in the studio and I am doing better. Especially now that I have committed to a show at the Batesville Library in June and I only have 4 pieces available! Funny how I manage to ride without fail most everyday, but painting seems to get shoved in the background. I really need some new motivation!!

Anyway, this is the piece I am currently working on. This is a cypress swamp about 7 miles from my house just off of the Tallahatchie river.

The View From Above

2009-04-30T19:48:00.000-07:00

I never tire of the view from my hillside. If you have looked at many of my paintings, you have more than likely figured that out. We are currently perfecting our arena just up the bluff from our house. Anyway, while I was riding Alex I noticed how well you could see the small pond in the field across the highway and voila my new painting was born.

Back to blogging....

2009-04-28T19:22:00.000-07:00

Well it has been quite a while since I have updated my blog. Funny how time just seems to disappear! I have painted some, but not as much as I would like and hope I am getting caught up enough to change that.

Alex went to his second show in Tunica and was a very good boy. I think he may be making true headway. We are planning to go to several open shows, with our next big show being in Hattiesburg in May.

Now even though I haven't been painting a lot, I have been painting some. When I haven't had much more than an hour to sit down, I have taken that hour and done "hour studies" I am posting one of those tonight. It is a 6" x 12" egg study.

I hope to blog at least 5 times a week and give you a glance into what it is like juggle art, teaching, horses and motherhood. I hope you'll join me.

"Late Evening Drive"

2009-03-07T17:50:00.000-08:00

Whew!! Just finished a horse show day with 2 very determined 11 year olds. Luckily, I also finished another painting the day before. This is another view of the drive at Cathy's. I just loved the light that late afternoon!. It is 12' x 16 and is $350

"Cathy's Drive"

2009-03-04T06:51:00.000-08:00

I couldn't resist the late afternoon light at my friend and trainer Cathy Herron's drive. This will be the first of 2 studies of the same scene. Hope to finish and post the next one by Friday. This is a 12" x 16" oil and is price at $350.

New Ebay listing

2009-02-20T11:09:00.000-08:00

Here are the latest paintings that are on eBay. The first one is "Conversations" which has been posted on here before. The link to it is http://cgi.ebay.com/Conversations-equine-oil-painting-by-Carol-Roark_W0QQitemZ120381207164QQcmdZViewItemQQptZArt_Paintings?hash=item120381207164&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

The other one is an older landscape painted right next to my barn entitled "Late Summer Hillside". It's link is http://cgi.ebay.com/Late-Summer-Hillside-landscape-by-Carol-Roark_W0QQitemZ120381210541QQcmdZViewItemQQptZArt_Paintings?hash=item120381210541&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

I have a lot of new works going on in the studio. I will hopefully have them posted next week.

2009-01-21T06:31:00.000-08:00

Well, looks like the artwork will make it to the Dixie Nationals whether Alex makes his appearance or not. The piece "Look Judge" has been chosen as the cover art for the program. It has been a few years since I have done the cover so I am excited. It will be nice to have this painting on display and still be able to spend my time in the barn instead of a booth! I loved it when I did it, but 10 years was enough.

Anyway here is another photo of it and an updated photo of Alex.

"Conversations"

2009-01-12T12:14:00.000-08:00

Well, here is the finished product. I always seem to have the hardest time naming paintings, but "Conversations" just kind of fit. Look for it eBay some day soon!

Painting day 2

2009-01-07T07:46:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was another rainy day, so I spent more time at the easel. This painting is actually a lot of fun. .

This morning the sun peaked through and Alex got to go for a romp, so I thought I would include him on this post also.

Back to the easel!

2009-01-05T13:31:00.000-08:00

Well the kids are back at school, it is 34 degrees and raining which means no riding, so...........I painted! I have been really bad and have not painted since school let out for Christmas. It has actually been a nice break and I had a great time with my kids. Now it is back to work.

Today I started the painting that was in my last blog. Would love to paint on it another hour or so, but I have a class coming in about 30 minutes. Anyway, here is what I accomplished today.

I'm still here!

2008-12-10T12:00:00.000-08:00

Wow....it has been a month since I updated this blog. Sad part is it feels like a few days. Not sure where the time goes. I have been to bogged down to do anything in the studio but teach. Alex did make his first AQHA show debut. The first day was not too terrible, and the second day sent us back home with a lot of work to do. Starting a young horse is sooo frustrating, but when the pieces come together it is more than worthwhile.

I have sketched out a new painting. I hope to get some color on it in the next few days, but between school plays and field trips that remains to be scene.

It's Finished! "Look Judge"

2008-11-11T11:57:00.000-08:00

I was expecting to post a couple of stages of this little painting, but everything with it just seem to flow and after the initial sketch, I finished it in one sitting. It was so much fun!!

I think I had forgotten how to have fun with my art and I have been too bogged down with the "business" of art. These fun little studies have helped me remember why I paint, or more importantly why I love to paint!

From the beginning.....

2008-11-07T14:29:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be interesting to show a painting from beginning to end. This is the beginning sketch for my next study. I hope to begin adding color tomorrow. This is another white horse. I have to admit they are my favorite to paint because they are so full of color. Stay tuned.......

"Mid Day" on Ebay

2008-11-04T07:48:00.000-08:00

Here is a photo of the painting "Mid Day" which is currently on Ebay. Thanks so much to all of you who have looked and sent words of encouragement my way!

"Lunch Break" on Ebay

2008-11-04T07:45:00.001-08:00

Here is another photo of the painting "Lunch Break that is currently on Ebay.

Entering the world of Ebay

2008-11-03T20:10:00.000-08:00

I don't have a painting to post today, but I will have one up in the next couple of days. Tonight, however, I would like to invite you to my first Ebay auctions I have decided that it would be fun to put the small horse studies I have been doing on Ebay. The first two, "Lunch Break" and "Mid Day"are up now. It will be fun to see where the go and I like the fact that this gives everyone the opportunity to become an art collector. Check them out at
http://cgi.ebay.com/Equine-oil-painting-by-artist-Carol-Roark_W0QQitemZ120328528747QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item120328528747&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
and
http://cgi.ebay.com/Mid-Day-Equine-oil-painting-by-Carol-Roark_W0QQitemZ120328543153QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item120328543153&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Stay tuned for the next painting!

2008-10-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

Back to the horses......here is a very favorite team of mine, Ariel and her horse Madison. She is one of the hardest working young riders I know and always does it with a huge smile on her face. I was leading my horse back to the barn when I saw her walking to the pen. The late afternoon light was perfect and when I snapped several shots with my camera, I was hoping I had captured some of it. Luckily when I got back to the studio I had some great material to work with.

Keep up the hard work Ariel and I hope you are having a great Congress!

Getting outside!!

2008-10-16T10:25:00.000-07:00

The weather has been so great that it has been hard to stay in the studio, so once again this week I am posting a landscape. This was painted during an outing with my students yesterday. It is another view from my hillside, this time of the soybeans as they are beginning to turn right before harvest.

I thought it would be interesting to include the view along with the painting, so that you can get the full effect. It was a challenging class for my students, but they handled it well and I think we all had a great time.

Latest painting "The Red Barn"

2008-10-09T10:05:00.000-07:00

Just in case you haven't noticed this is not one of my horse studies. This is actually a landscape that has been in the works for a few weeks. There was not enough time in this week to accomplish a weekly painting, so I thought I would post it since I did manage to finish.

The reason for the shortage of time is that I was able to make the trip to Alabama and bring my horse Alex home. He has really learned a lot and I think we will make our first horse show outing in the next couple of weeks. While I was at the farm, I was able to get some great late day shots of some of the students and I will be working on these in the coming weeks.

Now back to "The Red Barn". There is just something about red. Everytime I use it in a painting I like it. This is an old mule barn a short drive from our farm. When I saw it on this gray day, I was captivated at how the gray sky complemented the red in the barn. There is nothing like painting out in the field and I am so glad we are finally getting to the cooler fall weather so I can get out and get busy.

Latest equine oil painting "How'd you do...?"

2008-10-02T10:30:00.000-07:00

This study was quite challenging because it involved people I know. It was really hard to stay focused on colors and shapes and their relationships without worrying to much about the faces. I loved the composition of the figures and the way they interacted together. This was a cloudy morning, so the light was not as strong, but I think the subjects keep the painting interesting.

Latest equine oil painting "Back To The Barn"

2008-09-26T05:58:00.000-07:00

The scenes in this painting and the next few are from the AQHA Region 9 show held in August. Alex and I were just there for practice, but I was also playing the role of "stalker artist" photographing unsuspecting competitors. If any of you recognize yourselves, please tell me I did a great job!!

I love the walk way at the Jackson Fairground from the warm-up arenas to the barns across the street. There is always plenty of activity with horses going to and from classes or to and from practice. These two guys just came from the mid-day practice and once again I loved the lighting in this scene. I have also been asked when I was going to include some western horses in my studies, so here they are.

New equine oil painting "Between Classes"

2008-09-18T10:13:00.001-07:00

You know, people who show horses have a fashion sense all their own. Of course to those of us who do show, this exhibitor doesn't look strange in the least. In fact, like me, I would feel most would only notice the handsome guy walking beside her.

I was so captured by his eager expression and there was no doubt that she was proud of her partner. The bond shown here is one that means so much to me. These four legged wonders are just that - our partners and the relationship can magical. It is sad to see those who have forgotten that this is what it is all about.

I have really missed my young new partner while he has been away "at school", but I can't wait for the fun (and many times challenging) days ahead of us.

The view from my studio

2008-09-15T10:14:00.000-07:00

Wow, woke up this morning with the temperature below 60 degrees! When you have just ended August in Mississippi (although this year wasn't too bad) this is like your first breath of fresh air in weeks. Everything on the farm seems to have twice the energy that it had yesterday, which can zap all the energy I think I have!! I am dying to get my gelding Alex home from the trainer so we can get to work.

It has also been a great morning to paint. I thought you might like to see a big part of the inspiration for many of my landscapes. The photo above is what I wake up to everyday and is the view from the bluff overlooking the Mississippi Delta. It is hard to beat!

Hope to have a new painting up in the next few days.

Newest equine oil painting "Congress Scenes"

2008-09-11T10:09:00.000-07:00

To those of you in the quarter horse show world, the title of this painting makes perfect sense. To the rest of you, the All American Quarter Horse Congress is THE ultimate horse show. It is the largest one breed horse show in the world. It lasts approximately 3 weeks and is fun, intense and utterly exhausting! If you can place here, you know you are at the pinnacle. This is just one of the many scenes of congress. There is activity 24 hours a day and for an artist, there is unlimited subject matter.

I haven't been able to attend Congress in quite a few years and this painting evolved from photos I took on my last trip. Now that my girls are a little older I hope to hit the road more and I would like visit Congress again in the near future - hopefully with my horse in tow!

New Equine Oil Painting - "Mid Day"

2008-09-08T05:27:00.000-07:00

I photographed this guy at Oaklawn race track in Hot Springs. Since then, I have painted these two several times. I don't know what catches my attention more the red cooler on the horse or the groom. I also love the color relationship between the cooler and the blue green barns.

I would like to thank everyone who came out to the show at Cottonlandia in Greenwood on Sunday. I enjoyed meeting you all.

"Lunch Break" Weekly painting #1

2008-09-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

Here is the first of my weekly paintings. There is nothing like outdoor horse shows in the spring and fall! The atmosphere is relaxed everyone (including the horses) is enjoying the weather. This young rider caught my eye taking a rest during the lunch break. What a great pony -willing to just "hang out". I LOVE painting white horses, because the colors are endless and the light on them is always captivating.

Well, here goes nothing.....blogging day one.

2008-09-03T07:49:00.000-07:00

This is a first, so bear with me. I have decided creating and maintaining a blog would be fun and a great way to expand my artwork to a bigger audience, so I am giving it a try. This is a good time to begin this, because I am venturing into a new place with my art. Having gone from being a strictly equine artist, to becoming more of a landscape artist, I am now attempting to merge the two. I am going to do this with a (hopefully) weekly study which I will post here.

I am very passionate about my art, but I am even more passionate about my horses. In fact, the art career started as a way to pay for entry fees at the horse shows. Over the years, my art career has grown and my interests and styles have changed. I started focusing more on landscapes, studying light and color a few years ago and I LOVE being out in the field with my easel engrossed in a painting. I realized though after losing my wonderful show horse June of 2007 that I missed my horse paintings and even more, I missed the horse shows. I have a new show prospect now and I am beginning to step back into the show scene. This is what is inspiring these latest paintings. So I invite you to visit my blog often, follow me on this latest journey and give me lots of feedback!