Running with the Cows

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

Obviously, this is not the NYC Marathon or Boston Marathon :-)  This is in the Himalayas.  It must have been disconcerting coming around the bend and seeing a cow in your path.  Especially one with horns... Loose and fun little painting.  I so love doing these!  Hope everyone out there is having a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. 

Huffing and Puffing

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

This man must have wisely listened to Michelle Obama's message about getting up and moving.  He was running the marathon and getting into shape.  He should be an inspiration to all the couch potatoes out there....

One Lane Bridge

8 x 10 Oil on Gessobord

Again, the Himalayas.  This is the bridge the marathon runners had to cross, and the monks that were crossing had to make way.  There would be no way I would lean out like that, but I guess they are used to it.  This was in Punakha.  The flags are not for decoration, but are prayer flags to keep away bad spirits and are all over the countryside.  I'm thinking this painting is a study for a larger one, if and when I get to it.  It's pretty loose in spots.  I'm also thinking I might hang some flags around here...Good Karma for my artistic endeavors.

Bhutanese Boy

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

What fun I had painting this!!  My son and daughter-in-law just returned from Bhutan in the Himalayas.  They were running in a marathon there as well as sightseeing.  If I could go anywhere and didn't mind heights, that is where I'd like to go.  I have to give credit for the image that inspired this painting to a wonderful photographer, Jay Farbman.  He took lots of photos of the marathon and the people in the countryside and was kind enough to allow me to paint some of them.  There are so many great shots that I'll be happily painting for quite a while.  Of course, my daughter-in-law, Katherine (KK's Photo Friday), took great pictures as well, so lots more to come :-)

"Rabbit Run"

8 x 10 Oil on Gessobord

"His hands left of their own and he feels the wind on his ears even before, his heels hitting heavily on the pavement at first with an effortless gathering out of a kind of sweet panic growing lighter and quicker and quieter he runs.  Ah: runs.  Runs."  Wonderful words from one of my favorite authors, John Updike.  It fits this painting, don't you think?!  Long, thin limbs;  Long, long hair .....

Marathon Stretches

12 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

This started as a study of figures in different movements and poses but turned into one of my new favorite paintings.  My son runs in marathons, and this was before one of the races as the athletes were getting ready.  The figures are simple, with little detail, but what I was going for was for the viewer to feel as though he or she was catching them in mid stretch.  It's always a surprise which paintings will actually please me, and this one was no exception.

Finish Line, Half Marathon, NYC

8 x 10 Oil on Linen Board

Five Runners and one woman looking very official at the end of the recent NYC Half Marathon.  I enjoy painting on  linen boards, but have noticed that the photos I take of the paintings are not as clear or sharp as they are when photographing paintings on smooth gessoed boards.  So, this is close, but not as sharp as the original painting.  I hope you can feel the movement in this piece.  That was what I was going for...as well as capturing the exhaustion of the second woman from the left :-)  She seemed totally spent.