Horses in particular and foals specifically have always been fun for me to do and since I am a horsebreeder I always have lots of models to work with, new ones every year.This image has always been one of my absolute favorites. I love the pose and have actually used it as a *template* for a number of portraits of different foals over the years. The Arab/ Welsh Pony look is particularly apparant in this portrait, but I have done very baroque warmblood foals in this pose as well. I think, however, one portrait of an appaloosa foal with lots of rump spots was the most fun of any of them and I'd love to do another. Unfortunately, appaloosas are the only color pattern I do not raise though I've owned several in my life and have liked them very much.
This was also the first of my experiments with adding touches of color to my pencil studies, using colored pencil and I have definitely liked the effect. As I've worked more with the technique, I've found a number of people who have commissioned portraits have asked that something be added. Racing people, in particular, have liked the idea that their racing colors can be added. Many people also seem to like the idea of being able to add color in the portrait, combine this with the matting and coordinate with the color scheme of the room where the portrait will hang.
