My Favorite Things Part 2

Welcome back! This week I’m going to share with you the insights from Kim McElroy’s new DVD titled “Secrets of Drawing Horses” Level 1 – Connecting with the essence of horses.

The DVD was very good. It was a very different concept in drawing using pastels. Kim discussed the traditional methods of teaching art. It brought back memories of art class and how right on she was regarding the traditional drawing techniques from drawing circles and connecting with lines to drawing fruit baskets.

The DVD was relaxing, inspiring and easy to watch. I wanted go and buy the pastels and paper immediately! Her methods talk about drawing from within, drawing outside the lines and letting the lines flow naturally. Her choice of music was soothing. I can’t wait for the next DVD. I highly recommend this DVD if you have a desire to draw or paint horses.

Here are the topics covered:

The Girl Who Wanted to Be a Horse: Kim’s own story of how she became a horse artist.

Introduction: Kim’s philosophy of art

Drawing to Music

Drawing Feelings

Becoming a Horse Meditation

Drawing the Essence of Horses from Film

Drawing the Essence of Horses from Life

Drawing the Essence of Horses from Photos

Next Steps and Ideas.

For further information visit: www.spiritofhorseblog.com/pasteltips

I hope this inspires you to explore your creative side! Let me hear about your adventures! Just respond to this blog below or send me an email: Karen@nwhorsesource.com - Put “Drawing DVD” in the subject line.

My Favorite Things

Too much to do, not enough time or energy, how am I to get it all done? The horses stare at me as if I’m a stranger. The dog begs for attention. What am I to do?

I can go down the path of pity in a big hurry. So when I’m feeling lonely or sad I try to focus on the things that make me smile, give me hope, and energize me. I know that now is a difficult time. I feel as though I’m being tested. Perhaps I am.

To get back on track and on the positive I do the following:

1) Make a list of all I’m thankful for. Being grateful seems to melt the frustrations of the day.

2) Make a list of the things that make me happy.

3) Do something nice for someone else. Take the focus off myself.

4) Create a list of things I’d like to do but haven’t taken the time for.

When I was much younger my mom recognized a love and talent within me. She sent me to art school at a very long age where I discovered this talent and passion. I loved to draw and paint. I would spend hours reading horse books and then drawing all the fun things I was doing with my imaginary horse. I believe it’s one of the missing pieces in what makes me happy today. A talent or desire should be explored. I haven’t drawn anything in years.

I recently received a DVD titled “Secrets of Drawing Horses” Level 1, Connecting with the Essence of Horses with Kim McElroy. It’s been sitting on my desk for nearly two weeks begging to be opened. I haven’t even broken the seal. I’m so anxious to watch the DVD, yet I’m holding back as I feel guilty with so much work to be done and being so far behind. What a horrible thing to be so driven by guilt.

Here’s what I’m going to do. By next week’s blog entry I will have watched the DVD and share the contents with you. If you’d like a sneak preview of the DVD visit http://spiritofhorse.com/store/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=467

I look forward to exploring this silent desire within me and I invite you to do the same. Take a talent or skill and nurture it. See what happens. I look forward to sharing the Secrets of Drawing Horses, Level 1 with you next Wednesday.

Please share your hidden talents with me. I’d love to share your thoughts on our blog. After all, we’re a community of horse people! I’ll connect with you next week!

Karen

Seasons Change

How much do you see your horses this time of year? I find it challenging to spend much time with them because it’s usually dark and cold. Chores twice a day and a noon feeding ensure that I see my girls enough but I miss the grooming and quiet times just relaxing with them. An occasional trail ride always brings me great joy and a renewed, refreshed attitude.

My younger mare April has had many challenges herself in 2009. We were off to such a good start, showing at the March reined cowhorse show in Lynden, Wash. I had two great rides despite my nerves and she behaved exceptionally well. I’m still in awe of her attitude. After her bout with Polysacchride Storage Myopathy (a metabolic muscle disorder) things took a turn for the better. It was a long road back to recovery. I faithfully exercised her daily, carefully bringing her back to condition. After one fateful ride in October, she was done with her reining/cowhorse career. Her last ride was great; she was well behaved and gave me an enjoyable ride. It was the last time we would ride for the year.

After the ride, I sat and visited with a few others that had come out to ride with Allison Trimble of Coastal Equine. When I finished with April and went to lead her out of the arena, she was noticeably lame. It was quite apparent that something was seriously wrong. I took her to the vet for diagnoses a week later as she was not getting better. The prognosis was heartbreaking to say the least. The x-rays revealed navicular disease.

I couldn’t understand why she seemed sound during our last ride. My doctor explained that she has the desire to please and must have an incredible tolerance for pain. April will always have a home with me. She may be sound enough with proper shoeing to trail ride or light work. She is such an exceptional horse.

One of the good things that’s come out of this is the time I’m spending with my older mare, Dawn. She is 24-years-old now and semi-retired. She seems to enjoy the occasional ride and the extra attention.

I haven’t given up on April. Perhaps a little time off will do both of us some good. With a new website in the works I’ve had my focus in a different direction. It amazes me how the relationship with my horses is such an important part of who I am and the stability those relationships bring to my life.

If you have a story you would like to share with our readers please use our online form at: http://www.nwhorsesource.com/readerstoryform.php

Learning New Things ~ Please Be Patient

Today I’m not quite sure if I agree technology has made life easier. As owner and publisher of the Northwest Horse Source, responsibility to get things done ultimately falls on me. This is not necessarily a bad thing as I really should know every aspect of the business and be an integral part of planning how things should go. I’m just a very paper driven, hands on person. It’s why I believe print books and magazines will be around for many years to come!

Part of this process will be to ask you, our readers and viewers, to be patient as I wrap myself around processes that I’ve not done in a while. My late editor was a wonderful part of the team and I’m missing her already. She was very instrumental in setting up systems and working towards virtualization for our office. I’m in front of a computer all day but somehow I’m not very techie. I’ve always gotten by with only learning as much as I need to accomplish the task at hand.

I’m asking for your patience as I keep up with the old site, produce the newsletters and participate in the development of a new site. I’m at max learning capacity but the new website will be worth the wait!

I’ll continue to connect with you each Wednesday through the end of this month. The plan is to have the new site launched by the end of February.

So please be patient with our staff here at the NWHS. We have a new editor, Gavin Ehringer, who is bringing some real experience to the magazine. Our graphic designer, Heather, is off on maternity leave so we have a very qualified helper named, Charlie who will be designing ads for the magazine during the month of February.

Meanwhile, enjoy the mild weather and ride your horse!

Karen Pickering, Publisher NWHS