Website link: https://corneakkers.com/2022/01/04/hold-your-horses-04-01-22

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A Bit of Extra Fun

This graphite pencil drawing ‘Hold Your Horses – 04-01-22’ was a done deal in my head already during the live session. That was the same one spawning ‘Julia in pastel’. Unpredictable it is when you see one thing in another, as explained in an earlier drawing. In this particular case I saw horses galloping in her body right away. My initial plan was to draw her with soft gradients, pretty much in a realistic style like Tribute to Alma Tadema – 28-12-21. However, one thing did not exclude the other. I still could loose myself in smooth tonal transitions whilst adding a surrealist theme. The best of both worlds it seems: honoring a beautiful lady and a bit of pun for fun. The latter is encapsulated by quiet regions of tonality in the upper and lower part of the drawing. This places the focus on the midsection of the depiction.

Amazons

When I come think of it everything made sense to me. My last horse painting was my oil painting Una in Aliam – 01-09-19, including a Scythian theme. Julia originally is from the Ukraine and the link was easily made. It feels like as if my oil was some kind of a premonition. Everything fell into place: she being a strong woman and skythian female warriors, called Amazons. In total I was able to include 10 horses with or without female riders, exclusive one all-seeing eye. Can you spot them? Personally I think these days could need some more warrior women resisting the violence of men. There simply is too much machismo in the world anyway. Let love and women rule. I am happy to paint along under their rule for a change.

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Graphite pencil drawing (Sakura 0.5 mm, 4B) on Talens Bristol paper (21 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm) – A4 format)

Artist: Corné Akkers