Raleigh, Fourth of July

We are back in Raleigh, after a week at the Deep Run Horse Show near Richmond, VA, or as one woman at the show told me, "the Hotter than Hell Horse Show". Setting up on Tuesday and Wednesday, the temperature reached 98, with that wonderful southern humidity. But it was a good show. I taught a plein air painting workshop at a nearby farm one evening which was a great fun. I met with collectors who I hadn't seen since last year's show. Met others who I had seen at last week's show. And others who have seen my work or me working and decided that now was the time to aquire a painting.

Below is a painting of the schooling ring at Deep Run. Rocking chairs in the shade. What a civilized show...


This week we are at the NCHJA Horse Show in Raleigh, NC. I had planned to be at the Warrenton Pony Show, but a show near home was too tempting. We brought the camper to the show even though it is a 40 minute drive home. It is wonderful to be able to leave the show and sit and drink a cup of coffee in air conditioned comfort. Not to mention that it helps me get to the show earlier in the morning. We sat and watched fireworks being shot off at the State Fair Grounds across the street and got together with friends for a wonderful cookout/party. I have been working on a number of commissioned pieces while at this show, including the house below. It is newly built and I helped the landscaping out a bit.


The other paintings I am working on include two children at the beach, a horse, and two paintings of dogs. I will be adding these paintings as I finish them in the next few days. Including some of the Keswick Horse Show.

Charlottesville, Va Keswick Horse Show

Finished setting up at the Keswick Horse Show, near Charlottesville, VA. An old grandstand, oaks and cedars throughout, it is a beautiful setting. I finished a painting of the main ring, which will be in the silent auction held at the country club later in the week. Met again with old friends and new ones while we all suffered through the heat. An exhibitors party sponsored by BJ's Hunt Room was a great end to the day.

Thunderstorms last night, cooler today but cloudy and chance of rain. I will be working on a commission at our booth until the sun comes out.

Here is the painting I created while at the Upperville Horse Show. It is the view from a farm on Atoka Road in Middleburg. I set up my easel and canvas and blinded by the sun directly in my eyes. Then, in what seemed like an instant, the mountains turned blue and the sky lit up. Only a short time to paint. I went back a couple of evenings to paint. I worked on details of the landscape from photographs during the day.

Ashby's Gap, Sunset from Inisfree Farm

The Upperville Horse Show

It's been almost two weeks since I last posted any paintings. Theresa and I had been getting ready for, going to, exhibiting work, painting, meeting clients and leaving the Upperville Horse Show.

We finally got everything situated in the van and travel trailer. Theresa drove in the car with Rosie the Corgi and I followed in the van with the trailer. We arrived in Upperville late Saturday afternoon. The only campsite available was at the end, under the trees. Being the last site in the row, we were able to park sideways, with a view of huge old oak trees and Salem Farm from the front and the polo field in the back.

Saturday evening and Sunday morning were spent setting up tents and display. The rain picked up in the afternoon and the final touches had to wait until Monday morning. After all that was finished, I got back to work on the two Jack Russell's from Rose Mount. At this point, I was ready to paint and paint I did. There are no photographs of the progress of this painting, so here is the finished painting....

Jack Russells at Rose Mount, oil on canvas, 9 x 12

I don't think that it was hanging for an entire day, before a girl walking by did a classic double take, "That's our dog!" She was on her cell phone to her mom, who came later and bought the painting. The puppy is their's and the bigger dog belongs to her trainer, Winn Alden. The painting was hung in the tack room at the show.

Below is the view from our campsite at the show grounds, across John Moseby Highway to Salem Farm.

Salem Farm, oil on canvas, 9 x 12

Tomorrow I set up for the Keswick show, then start painting. I will have more from Upperville then, including a larger painting "Ashby's Gap, Sunset from Inisfree Farm"

Work in Progress

At the Start Here is a photo of a painting in it's beginning stages. I took photos of a couple of Jack Russell Terriers at the Rose Mount Horse Show in Spotsylvania to use for refernce. Starting with a toned background, the rough shapes where drawn in with a brush and ultramarine blue paint. (I came up with the idea of photographing this paintings stages a bit after the first stage, so no photo) I then blocked in the big shapes, shadows in the grass, the shadow side of the grooming box, the shaded areas of the dogs and the sunlit grass area. Check back to see how this turns out.

Upperville is getting closer and its time to start a loading plan. After the show, Theresa will be coming back home, and I will head to the Keswick horse show the following week. Tomorrow, I will be working on something completely different. 23kt Gold leaf lettering on a Fire Truck.

More Commissioned Paintings

We're back... Arrived back in Carolina late yesterday afternoon. Spent today catching up and getting ready for the next trip to The Upperville Colt and Horse Show.

Today's painting is a commissioned house portrait I created after the Keswick Summer Horse Show, near Charlottesville VA last summer. A wonderful afternoon working with easel set up in the shade under the trees.

A page to showcase commissioned paintings is in the works for the website, deadline tomorrow night.

Contact me through my website www.sfilarsky.com or ebay store ( a work in progress )

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Where we are now...

No painting yesterday or today. We were traveling from New York to home in North Carolina. A bit of a late start, we found a campground just south of DC on Mason's Neck. Driving to Pohicke Bay Regional Park, it was "deja vu all over again". I had been within a couple of miles of the park last fall painting a commission of the Rams Head Farm barn.



A plein air painting for trainer Ron Esposito served as a study for a larger painting of the barn for owner Kathleen Manafort.

Obviously, these paintings are not available for sale. However, you can visit my website
or ebay store ( a work in progress )

Visit My eBay Store: sfilarsky paintings

Vist My website: sfilarsky.com

Saratoga Cup Painting

Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Lou Dobbs

After laying in bed last night listening to rain on the roof, waking up during the night and hearing rain. After spending yesterday sitting in a booth in the rain, I anticipated loading and leaving in the rain this morning.

Nope, Sunshine, a perfect spring day. Sunshine, a breeze not wind. Warm in the sun but not hot, cool in the shade but not cold. I finished the painting above, Hillary Dobbs, winner of last Sunday's Saratoga Cup, which was presented to her by the St Clement's Horse Show. Since she also won today's Grand Prix on the same horse, I will be painting her on a different horse for the next painting.

Contact me through my website www.sfilarsky.com or ebay store ( a work in progress )

Visit My eBay Store: sfilarsky paintings

Vist My website: sfilarsky.com