Ex Arte Equinus II - Art Horse Magazine Competition

For the first time ever, I have had the privilege of receiving comments from the judges regarding my paintings. It's a rare thing to hear what other artists and judges have to say about your work so it's very exciting to read, and a great way to learn how I can improve or what I'm doing right! You tend to get very little feed back as an artist so all comments are greatly appreciated!

Here's what they had to say:

Director's Selection Award: #155_1: Alert, 2007 -This painting embodies all that I had hoped to see in this competition. The technical ability in using the medium is unquestionably expert. Although I am generally not drawn to work of such photo realistic expression, Ms. Lancaster has in this piece, and in fact in all of the pieces that she submitted, used the distortion in the photo reference to convey the expression and temperament of this horse in a way that is undeniable. In doing so, she has stepped way beyond what we expect in equine portraiture. I commend and celebrate her boldness, as well as her achievement.

Judge's Comments:2nd PLACE, #155_1: Alert, 2007, Acrylic on canvas, 18x14"-- The artist has created an interesting and innovated composition in "Alert" that shows a strong confidence in their use of medium and craft. I feel a disturbing element in the painting and can sense the horse's alarm at something that is out of the frame or is it maybe the viewer who is alarming this horse? The artist's use of negative space and use of a skewed viewing angle adds to the drama of this stellar painting.

7TH PLACE #155_5: The Stare, 2008, Acrylic, 18x14" I love this one. How often I have seen this very view of my horses! Sometimes after falling off! The image is well done. This artist is very confident of his/her medium and has great drawing skills and an interesting take on composition. I loved all the work submitted by this artist! This artist has something to say.

:-D

Art Horse Magazine - International Equine Art Competition

I took the decision earlier this year to enter lots of competitions and it turned out to be a good idea! A few months back I entered some of my paintings into the International Equine Art Competition held by the Art Horse Magazine and today I found out that my painting of Alert won the Directors Choice Award, it also came 2nd in the painting category and my painting of The Stare came 7th! They're also going to be including my painting of Meandering in the book that they publish after the competition and my images will be in their magazine!! Very exciting!! Click here to go to their competition page and also see the other amazing artists that I am very humbled to be amongst.

Still here!

Once again I haven't been posting on my blog in ages. I've been busy working on my Christmas commissions which I, of course, can't post on here.

What else have I been up to? I've currently got 3 paintings in an exhibition at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists which is running until 24 December. Then I will be starting preparations in the New Year for future exhibitions, including one that I will be running with some fellow equestrian artists in March during Cheltenham Gold Cup race week.

We have also recently moved house which did upset the painting for a couple of weeks so I'm desperately catching up, but hopefully will be done in time. Slowly settling into the new house although we did have to settle for a house which doesn't have an outside workspace for a studio so I will have to wait until next year some time before I can properly build and set up a studio. Meanwhile, any visitors coming to stay will have to make do sleeping in amongst all my art stuff in the spare room!