Debbie Dunbar Art

A New Year Beckons

2012-01-14T07:46:00.000-08:00

Well, that was a miserable failure! The blog petered out in April despite best intentions. My apologies to my followers. I did manage to keep up with my facebook page! But honestly...
I tend to convince myself that I don't have anything interesting to say.. maybe I don't...its certainly easier for me to write bite sizes comments about my work on fb that to commit my thoughts to a blog. I do know that my life is going through a time of considerable change.
Maybe it is something to do with getting older. I am starting to realise that experiences and opportunities are slipping by.
Its not a cliche that we do have to take what opportunities life sends us and grab it.
I don't intend to be looking back as an old woman saying to myself I wish I had done this or why was I not brave enough to go for that.. Okay maybe it is a mid life crisis!
Plans for this year are to continue to explore and learn. But most of all to make use of everyday.
Happy New Year Everybody!

Lampeter Stallion Show

2011-04-12T03:16:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to Lampeter Stallion Show on the 23rd! First show of the season for my art work. I am working away at the easel to complete another one. Hope to see some of you there, I will be displaying several of my paintings with White Hill Equine. I may be working on a painting "live" there at intervals during the day, depending on the weather, as I will have to work outside the stand as there is not enough space inside I don't think!Thats if I can tear myself away form the ringside! Come and say hello!

Fabian Perez

2011-03-29T05:11:00.000-07:00

Fabian Perez is an artist I have only recently discovered, strangely enough whilst looking for karate related stuff! ( Another thread to my life ) I love the narrative in his work which is reminiscent to me of Jack Vettrianos but not as dark and menacing as some of Jack's lesser known works. His site is well worth taking a look at www.fabianperez.com

Here is also a link to a You Tube video with some accompanying music. Very good..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM3Q5-L5s7w

Demise of common sense

2011-03-23T04:33:00.000-07:00

Saw this on a forum yesterday, amusing and depressing at the same time! It was published in the London Times in 2009

An Obituary printed in the London Times.........

Interesting, yet sadly rather true.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
Why the early bird gets the worm;
Life isn't always fair;andMaybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; by his wife, Discretion; by his daughter, Responsibility; and by his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

Fiasco

2011-03-14T09:44:00.000-07:00

I have been itching to paint this gorgeous Section D stallion Taraco Fiasco since his owner Tara Coppins was kind enough to give me permission a while ago! I could restrain myself no more and have immensley enjoyed painting this little 6" x 6" box canvas! Thanks are due to Tara for allowing me to paint this special horse, and he has quite a story to tell! http://www.taraco-stud.co.uk/articleparalysed.htm

Go to Tara's website http://www.taraco-stud.co.uk/ and have a look, there are also some great photos on there.

I don't think will be my last picture of Fiasco, he is a horse that is very paintable! If you are interested in purchasing this picture please email me! He will shortly be on my "Under £100 " list! But not until I have painted the sides of the canvas..

Welsh Pony and Cob Society AGM

2011-03-04T08:41:00.000-08:00

I will be at the Welsh Pony and Cob Society AGM tomorrow in Cardiff to present a painting of Haighmoor Glain to Julie Evans of Haighmoor Stud. This beautiful mare was overall supreme champion at the Royal Wesh Show in Builth in 2010 and the Prince of Wales Cup winner. As such she is also the winner of the painting below. I am always nervous presnting these pictures, so I hope they will like it! This time I have done a head study and included the foal she had at foot at the time who I liked very much who is by Trevallion Hooch.

(Fronarth Victor x Brynithon Magical Lady) 2002

The 2010 George Prince of Wales Cup Winner,
The Tom & Sprightly Perpetual Cup Winner &
The Royal Welsh Supreme In Hand Champion & Cuddy Supreme Qualifier

http://www.haighmoor.com

Now for something completly different ..

2011-02-20T03:59:00.000-08:00

Have been really busy this last month on commission work.. Hurrah! Usually this is a quiet time of year for commission pieces.

I am working also on new work for the spring - I am reliably informed it is on the way! - I am also working on the piece I present at the WPCS Annual General Meeting every year. This year it is of an outstansding cob mare, Haighmoor Glain who was the Prince of Wales CUp Winner at the Royal Welsh in 2010. I will post it up here after 5th March so I don't spoil the surprise for Julie Evans of the Haighmoor Stud!

Now for something completly different as they say! This is a painting I am working on at the moment of a fallow deer on a 6" x 6" box canvas. It will be one of my "Under 100" when it is complete.

Completely different because I have never attempted a deer before. I am not sure what I am doing with the background yet, possibly an outline of trees.. Once the underpainting is dry I will crack on. I love the way this deer was very bold but at the same time you could see in its eye it was constantly wary and alert and vunerable, I want to try and capture that look in this exercise. I will repost the completed painting soon.

New Beginnings..?

2011-01-07T10:01:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness, this really will not do... must try harder... much, much harder... life seems to continue apace and my contributions to my blog look to be at a polar opposite.

I have a busy year lined up as I intend going back "on the road" and exhibiting at various outdoor events such as agricultural and horse shows which is something I have not done since I got pregnant woith Alex about umm,... twelve years ago now! I just put it to one side, and never really got back on the horse so to speak. I definitely feel I lost the confidence to interact with people on a one to one basis about my work at this type of event and I have probably missed out on a lot of opportunities, but that is all in the past and I cannot recapture that lost time.

Don't get me wrong, I have continued to produce my art and I have learned a lot and done a lot, but I think I could have done so much more. I don't want to look back in five years time and be saying the same things over, so I had better get out there and do it! The photo below is of our mountain pony filly Faye, a real cutie and so full of naughtiness! I have already painted two little paintings of her. I am looking forward to watching her grow and develop and hopefully share a little chronicle of her life in paintings on the blog.

Phew!!

2010-06-13T12:11:00.000-07:00

Have not had much time for painting this past couple of weeks as I have been processing entries for the Society of Equestrian Artists Open Exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London in August.
Finally peeled myself away from the computer in time to go to Llanelli today to do the "Race For Life" for Cancer Research UK.
What a wonderful inspiration , 3000 ladies, young and old running and walking for this charity. Many people running in memory of loved ones, So many people have thier lives touched by Cancer and it was very uplifing to be there today. Ran with 16 friends, one of whom has just bravely fought breast cancer and won! Go Wendy! You are a wonderful woman. So it was a very emotional occassion for us girls, some tears were shed..
Back to the easel tomorrow - too tired to lift a brush this evening! LOL - the deadline for the Exhibition for Associates and Full Members looms and I still have work to complete for it! Will post one in progress soon.

Society of Equestrian Artists Open Exhibition

2010-05-19T03:43:00.000-07:00

The Open exhibition is promising to be very exciting with the anouncement copied below that we have a fabulous sponsorship from Denford Stud. Get your entries in!

'THE HORSE IN ART'
The Society of Equestrian Artists
International Open Exhibition
Mall Galleries
London
3rd - 8th August 2010
Admission Free
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm Sunday 10am to 1pm
Open Entries due by 29th May 2010 - All original mediums including sculpture

AWARDS UPDATE

The S.E.A. are pleased to announce that they have obtained sponsorship for a number of handsome cash prizes for this exhibition with a first prize of £3,000 for the winning art work (sponsored by Denford Stud) and runner up prizes of £2,000 and £1,000 respectively. Other notable prizes include:

£500 for the Cuneo Medal for the best body of work by an SEA Full Member
The Shadwell Stud prize of £1,000 to produce artwork for their 2011 stallion brochure
The British Sporting Art Trust of £250 for sculpture
The Banstead Manor Prize for the best sporting picture.

This together with the kudos of exhibiting in one of the finest London galleries will make the event one of the premier art exhibitions this year.

Images from 2008 and 2009 SEA Exhibitions

Spring!

2010-04-08T03:30:00.000-07:00

Well I think it has finally arrived! We have a glorious, and more to the point warm! sunny day here, for the first time in ages I have been able to ditch wearing the "Wooly Pully" whilst painting! :-)

Lots of work underway which I will share later in the month. In the meantime I have been working on building my Facebook page which I am really enjoying. Time now to give the website some badly needed attention! It has not seen new work in a while..Embarrased.
Exciting news is that the painting commission that I have donated to Team GBR has so far reached £800 on the bidding! Which is great because it means I am raising a decent sum of money which goes to support our Equestrian teams, including the Paralympic equine athletes, competing at the Olympics in 2012. The aution has a while to run yet so I am keeping fingers crossed for more bids! Check out the Team GBR site at http://auction.equestrianteamgbr.co.uk/

Fronarth Robben

2010-03-14T05:13:00.000-07:00

Here as promised is the Fronarth Robben painting.
He was Champion Section C at the Mecca for cob enthusiasts around the globe, the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show in 2009. This shows the traditional square pose used to show off the Welsh breeds.

Fronarth is a well known and respected stud and can boast that no less than 10 George Prince of Wales winners have been conceived at Frongoy:- 4 by Mathrafal after returning to Frongoy at the age of 17 years, 3 by Cahn Dafydd in his old age, one by Brenin Dafydd, one by Cyttir Telynor and one by Golden Sunshine.
Fronarth Stud

More Technology!!

2010-03-01T06:45:00.000-08:00

Have now embarked upon a facebook fan page, I will be showing new work on there as well as work in progress. Looking forward to getting to grips with it. I am now on Broadband after a long wait! - and it has made life sooo much easier! No fifteen minute waits to download a page or an image, Hurrah! It may just mean that I can get around to posting more regularly!I am very busy at the moment working on a collection for the exhibition and my submissions for the Society of Equestrian Artists exhibition! I have just completed the painting of Fronarth Robben to be presented to the Jones Family at the Welsh Pony and Cob Society AGM. Hope they will like it! It is very much a traditional type of portrait. Something that in general my work is now moving away from, but there is still a place for this type of painting, but I still like to try to keep the work fresh and painterly. I will post it after the AGM.

This is a logo I have ust completed for a freinds Wedding Carriage Hire business in Somerset.

Technology....Duhh..

2010-01-30T08:02:00.000-08:00

I can be computer illiterate at the best of times, so thanks to my friend Debbie of Tiny Treasures and Hericus Miniature Shetland Stud fame for explaining to me how to allow comments on my posts! Hopefully that feature is now working! Thanks Debbie!
Lots of work in the pipeline, but here is one I made earlier! These two are part of the new collection that I will be showing in my solo exhibition at Pendre Art in Cardigan at the end of April. Hopefully there will be around forty works for you to come and see.

This final pic is of Ant our Section D stallion - Panteryrod Royal Anthem - We are expecting his first crop of foals in June!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-14T03:41:00.000-08:00

Well its 2010, Happy New Year to my followers on the blog!
What a start to the year it has been! We have been snowed in here at Ganol since 3rd Jan. I think we are all getting a bit tired of it now and thankfully there seems to be a sign of thawing today, Hurrah!

Doncel has enjoyed cavorting in the snow...

....Unaware that us humans have had to carry every drop of water from the house for the last eleven days to twelve horses. Keeps you fit, I guess...

Finishing the last of my 2009 commissions this wek and working on a painting that will be presented at the Welsh Pony and Cob Society's AGM in March. This is an annual prize that I donate to the Society, and is awarded to the supreme Champion of each section in turn at the Royal Welsh Show. This time it was the turn of the Section Cs and I am very happy to be painting Fronarth Robben, Section C Stallion for the Jones family of Fronarth stud. I will post the painting when it is completed and has been presented.

This year is the turn of the Section Ds, the Cobs! So I will be looking for a spectacular action painting if possible.

Other work in progress includes work for my portfolio presentation at the Society of Equesrian Artists AGM in April, which is followed shortly after by a solo exhibition in Cardigan so I am going to be very busy!

We are starting to break in our section D stallion Ant (Panteryrod Royal Anthem) and are expectingthe first two foals by him in June.

Our little section A mare "Pudding" (Birchcourt Debutante) is blossoming and also due to foal June to our section A stallion Bolgoed Joyful Jester (Hamish) so a very exciting year in prospect.

I hope to hold a workshop in July/August so with luck there will be plenty of cute little models around for people to work from!

More on the SEA Open Exhibition soon.

I am still here... honest...

2009-12-08T06:17:00.000-08:00

Okay I know I have not posted on the blog for far too long, no wonder I don't have many followers yet! Embarrased....

I am pleased to say that I am fully booked with commissions at the moment, which considering the current climate has got to be a bonus. I know many artists have had very slow sales in the galleries this year (as have I!)

I have lots of work lined up for 2010, amongst which is submitting a portfolio for consideration to become a full member of the Society of Equestrian Artists... I am very nervous about it I must admit.....

I am also the exhibition Secretary for the Society of Equestrian Artist's Open Exhibition at the Mall Galleries next August. I will be posting details in January about this.

I also committed to several exhibitions and shows in a blase way, including another local solo exhibition at Pendre Art Gallery in Cardigan, to coincide with Barley Saturday in April. More on this with images of course, nearer the date!

November 19th saw the arrival of my long awaited Spanish Don! Here is a piccy of him the day after he arrived. He is settling in well and as you can see from the pic has loads of filling out to do. He is also going to be a rather big chap as he is already 15.2 hh at 20 months old! I have to keep reminding myself he is only a baby!

Handsome boy...... I have to thank Rachel and Paul at St Piran's Stud for firstly allowing me to purchase him, and secondly looking after him so well for the first 18 months of his life. I also have to give HUGE thanks to Pete and Lynette Luck of Luck's Transport, see their website at http://www.horsetransport.org.uk/ who did the most professional and horse friendly job of transporting him here to Wales. I would recommend them unreservedly, thanks guys.

Better finish with some art work I guess! This is a pencil sketch of a friend's arab.

And here are two of my none equestrian works, the first is called "Old Boys" and is of Welsh Mountain rams, it has been sold. The second is called "Eclectic Blue" and is of the mantel shelf in my friend's house in the beautiful Alpujarras in Spain. It is currently hanging in my hallway, waiting for the right person to see it! Just finally I will say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everybody, or if you like Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Da ( I think I spelt that right....)

Here's my boy..

2009-08-12T07:17:00.000-07:00

The nw racecourse at Ffos Las has its official opening meeting on Friday 28th August.
I am pleased to say that the racecourse is displaying some of my pieces in the owners and trainers area, there will be more racing paintings to follow as I start painting scenes at Ffos Las, exclusively for the course, which I am really looking forward to. You can take a look at the fantastic new facilities at the track and book tickets etc at www.ffoslasracecourse.com

Just time to pop in the latest picture of my handsome Spanish colt Doncel
Picture reproduced by kind permission of St Pirans Stud

Its been a while......

2009-07-20T06:04:00.000-07:00

Well, its been quite a while! I need a slap for not getting my behind in gear!

Quite a lot has happened since I last posted, the main one being that my other half Gordon had his leg broken (kicked by a horse, not the horses fault I hasten to add!!) so the last three months have seen me up to my neck in it... Oh well.. Gordon has finally recovered well enough to go back to part time work this week - thank goodness- Its a measure I suppose as to how bad the injury was that it took so long to heal as he has carried on working with various broken bones in the past.. Hey Ho..

So I have been busy doing quite a bit of the horse related work, including backing the lovely Sunny one of our home bred horses. He has now gone off to a really lovely home in Somerset where I hope he will be everything his new owner dreams of.

On the painting front, I was really excited at the beginning of the month to have all four of my entries accepted for the Society of Equestrian Artists Summer Exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London. The exhibition is open from 27th July to 2nd August. The pics accepted are reproduced below...

First up, "Al Kabir" a gorgeous pure bred arabian stallion owned by Val Price West of "White Hill Equine" Val sells horse supplements such as seaweed and garlic, as well as original equestrian art and a fantastic selection of cards and prints - including mine! - from her website www.whitehillequine.co.uk and her trade stand which visits shows throughout Wales. I recommend a visit to both!

"Al Kabir"

This next picture is called "Heads of Spain" These two noble horses were part of a parade in the middle of Granada in Spain, over one hundred and fifty ridden stallions filled the streets, a breathtaking spectacle, the Spanish riders wear traditional costume and many are superb horsemen (and women!) There are many more paintings in the pipeline of Spanish horses and their riders, I will post them as they are completed.

This next painting was inspired by a girl I saw working closely with her horse in Golega in Portugal.

"Girl with a Pearl Earring" The title is a nod to the master artist Vermeer, one of his most famous paintings has this title, the earring is much more obvious in Vermeer's picture though!

Finally, as always, I return to my cobs! This action painting shows threeWelsh Cob stallions with their handlers vying for the Judge's attention at Lampeter Stallion Show.

I will be back soon with up to date pics and news of my Spanish colt Doncel, who is growing like a weed and looks fab! Can't wait until November when he finally comes home to Wales!!

March into Spring!

2009-03-09T06:30:00.000-07:00

Well, I thought I ought to get a second post done! Its been a busy week, I have got one commission done and ready to send this week. Plus I present a prize of a painting at the Welsh Pony and Cob Society AGM every year. - This was presented on Saturday! - unfortunately I could not be there this year and sent the picture to the Society offices by post. Not amused to hear that it arrived with the glass smashed to smithereens As it was last minute the picture had to be presented without glass in it.. Arrgh..!
It has made me reconsider my packaging but I can't see a way of improving it and it was stuck all over with FRAGILE tape but this has not happened before and I must have sent dozens of pictures out in the past, so I guess I have to chalk it up as one of those things..

Onwards. I have lots to do, another commission of a lovely chestnut mare, and I am also doing new work for a solo exhibition in a local art gallery - Pendre Art - that views in April. More to follow here soon!

I will be working on my entries for the Society of Equestrian Artists Annual Exhibition in London too - I am an Associate Member - so I will also post those as they progress.

And also a mini exhibition down in the West of Cornwall at St Pirans Spanish Horse Stud. Who are hosting an open day this summer. I have special interest in the Spanish horses as I have just bought a superb foal from the stud this is him! With his mum Fraccion. He will be a year old in April and you will be hearing a lot more about him! His sire is the successful dressage stallion Enorme, from the Susaeta Stud near Madrid.

I had been looking for a Spanish horse for a long time and finally found him! Take a look at St Pirans website they are very special people and very special horses.

Hello World

2009-02-25T04:08:00.000-08:00

I finally got around to creating a blog (after a lot of nagging!) so that I can share some of my work as it is being created! I hope that my ramblings will give you an insight into the way I work and will, I hope at least sometimes, be interesting.

Its a new thing for me so bear with me as I get to know my way around.

...In the meantime, "here's one I did earlier!...."

This painting is called "Girl With a Pearl Earring" (tongue in cheek after the Vermeer painting of the same name! Yes she is wearing pearl earrings!) It was painted using reference material gathered at the Golega horse fair in Portugal. This week long Horse festival is an absolute must for anybody at all interested in the Iberian breeds, The whole town of Golega is taken over and every available space is turned over to stabling in courtyards and even rooms in the actual houses! From dawn to the early hours literally hundreds of magnificent horses are paraded and shown off by their owners, it is a jaw dropping experience and one I will never forget. In the centre of the town is in place of a market square a large areana with a dirt track all the way around it. Here the horses parade and competitions and displays take place late into the evening. I will certainly return one day!