Galloping Mustangs

Three mustangs race across the grassy plains of the American West. On a cool November day, clouds drift through the cold blue skies over grass that has turned yellow and brown. Despite the chill in the air, these three wild paint horses kick up dust as they gallop freely across the prairie with the wind in their manes.

For this work, I was inspired by Edgar Degas's work "Jockeys in the Rain" which I once saw in person (though I can't remember at which museum). I liked the way the composition emphasized directionality of the riders and horses. I wanted to make a similar equine work, but I wanted a much more energetic scene featuring three very active horses (and no people), something more befitting of the American Wild West. I made the composition roughly in the shape of an arrow pointing to the right to emphasize the speed, motion, and direction of the animals as they cut through frame.

I created this image using CGI technology and digital painting techniques.

Thanks for looking!
Daniel Eskridge

Bringer of Fall

A pinto mustang with an overo patterned coat trots along a country road. Fall is in full swing and the forest that runs along side the road is bright with the reds and golds of autumn colored leaves. in the dry afternoon air, the horse kicks up rocks and dust as it makes its way through the scene.

In the Metro-Atlanta area, which is where I live, August is still very much in the middle summer when it comes to the weather. However, with school starting again for all the neighborhood kids, I found myself in an autumn frame of mind.

A few years ago, I had made a horse themed artwork called the "Bringer of Spring". In that one, the horse was galloping thunderously across a field with strong saturated colors all around. I decided to make this one as a follow-up. Here, the horse moves at a lazier pace and colors are more mellow. It represents the way autumn arrives here in North Georgia. Rather than coming in with thunder storms and wild temperature swings like spring does, fall arrives here more as the slow decay of summer. Rather than galloping in, it trots.

Thanks for looking,
Daniel

Wading Horse

A muscular brown and white horse with a black mane and tail wades into shallow forest pond and gazes at its reflection. Perhaps this wild mustang is about to drink or simply is watching the fish. Maybe it is lonely and looks to its mirror image as a companion. I, however, prefer to think that horse is sort of the equine version of Narcissus, the mythological Greek hunter who was in love with his own reflection (and the source of the word narcissist).

For this image, I started with the idea of a pine forest with a blue glow to it, hence, the background. It was later that I came up with the idea for the foreground horse after seeing someone riding a horse by a lake. I liked the idea of reflecting the horse in the water. Also, in this image, I like the way the brown spots on the horse's coat worked with the blue and green of the environment.

Thanks for looking!
Daniel Eskridge