"Andalusian Spirit" - equine painting

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 18"w x 24"h

I have always loved the beautiful Spanish breed of the Andalusian horses, because of their beautifully curved necks and extremely long and flowing manes. I searched extensively for the right inspiration, one that exudes fire and drama to bring out my own passion for horses. I had a short turnaround time because I wanted to enter it into an art exhibit and only had one week. So, I chose acrylics because they dry very quickly, yet also allow for blending, glazing and texture. To achieve the dappled gray effect on the body, I used sponging techniques with natural sea sponges. This is the first horse painting I've ever done, and what I hope to be the first of a long series of Andalusian equine paintings.

It will be on exhibit/sale at the Alliance show at Skye Restaurant in Glendale, AZ from Feb-July 2011.
This painting also won 1st Place in the Artist of the Month for Tempe Artists Guild in January 2011.