Clifford's Book Signing at Borders Bookstore

It's not every day you get the chance to have a book about a horse signed -- by the horse! Clifford will be making his debut appearance to sign his own books -- and his first time at a real bookstore! Borders in Brighton Michigan is hosting a big birthday bash for Clifford (who turns 19 this month) on May 8th, from 2-4 pm. Stop by and wish him a happy birthday, and pick up a copy of his trilogy, "Clifford of Drummond Island", "Return to Manitou", and "Clifford's Bay."

Drummond Island Wildlife Print

I did this pen and ink drawing several years ago and it's the first time I ever had people standing in line to buy something from me. Although I prefer this in the original black and white version, everyone seemed to want theirs hand-colored, so I sat there coloring away while they waited patiently.

I have left out a few significant residents on the Island; including some that are special to me like the broad-winged hawk and kingfisher, and timber wolf. But there are always opportunities for future versions.

This is on eBay.

First Ride of Spring

Clifford was in rare form today, eager to hit the road. I had a lot of preliminary work to do, pulling the burrs from his mane, forelock and tail. It took over an hour. He endured it all pretty patiently, but when he saw me getting books and watercolors out, he started getting excited. I can think of few things this horse likes better than painting. At any rate, he was able to vent his artistic urges on six or seven books. I gave him a couple of peppermints and then said, "Come on," and he followed me back into the stall. When I went out, he turned around and tried to follow me back out. I slid the door shut and he pinned his ears! Man, he was mad! He just wanted to keep signing books. I took some pictures of a few of our pages and listed one on eBay. I may list more.



I went and got the saddle and put it on him. He was so fidgety and excited from all this attention that he could barely stand still. When I pulled out the camera, he did manage to stand still just for a moment, to strike a pose.

We went down the road. I've been a little concerned about his knee this year, but have started dosing him with StemEquine. He did feel a little stiff in the beginning, but as we went along I felt him loosening up. We walked a couple of miles, and sure enough, by the time we got back to the bottom of the big hill, he was ready to rock and roll. He at first tried to gallop up across the neighbor's groomed lawn, to their hilltop. I pulled him back and kept him on track until we got to our driveway. He was dancing around and started rolling his head. I was cracking up! "You are behaving so badly!" I said. But I had a twinge -- that twinge of complete happiness known as the peak experience. It has been a long while since I've felt that.

"Oh, all right." I let him go. We blasted up that hill. The arthritis, the winter fat, the years fell away from both of us, for those windblown, galloping moments.

Being together for seventeen years causes you to know someone so well, but there is still so much joy in these routines. I am grateful to have a long term friend like Clifford.

Today's Equine Art - Morgan Horses

I sometimes wonder if Clifford and Trudy know they are brother and sister. They are best buddies. Here they pause in a brief moment of mutual grooming. This rough sketch captures the movement and life in the portrait.

EBay link.



More "Color Horse" art, a Palomino Morgan in pastel on black, about 9x12".

Today's Equine Art

This piece will be framed and sold tonight (hopefully) at the Michigan Morgan Futurity Gala. If it no-sales tonight, it will go up on eBay tomorrow. This is pastel, 10 x 13" on black charcoal paper.

Blue Heron Watercolor

One of my favorites. Those of us who frequent shorelines and wetlands have certainly heard the familiar croak of this enormous bird. I've seen herons all over the country, from the rivers in Arizona to the rocky shores of my own Drummond Island Michigan. Natives and lovers of Drummond might be able to see the shape of the island camoflauged in the wing feathers -- to others it is just a nice watercolor of a big wading bird.

Ebay Link

Old Kitty Art

Last night while looking for some charcoal paper I came across a pad that still had this drawing in it -- from 1995! It's a portrait of red and ruddy Somali kittens. I drew this during my period of temporary insanity (when I was still married and showing cats.) I am not sure what I was going to do with this piece, but it's on eBay now.

eBay link

Today's Equine Art - The Color Horse

He started out as a Friesian, but just became more and more colorful the longer I worked on him. Now he resembles a sculpture or carousel horse.

Pastel on black charcoal paper, approx 11 x 15".

Ebay Link

The Horse Who Signs His Own Biography

Clifford cracks me up. He and Trudy came running in for dinner this afternoon. I had this proof copy of the new book, "Clifford's Bay", which I decided to put up on eBay today. I told Clifford I had peppermints. I set the book on the barn aisle floor, propping it open with horseshoes as usual while he watched from his stall. I had a sponge all ready with color on it and laid it on the open facing page.



I slid his stall door open and he walked out and went directly to the book, and began pushing the sponge around. "Good boy!" I said. I gave him a peppermint, and then he started painting again. He earned two more peppermints and then I decided that was enough. I said, "Come on," and I went back toward his stall. He turned around as if to follow me, but when he saw where I was going, he just stopped and stood there looking at me.

"Come on," I said. "Come in here. Don't you want another mint?"

I even showed him the mint, and he actually turned around and went back to the book and started painting again! He wanted to keep working!

Forsaking candy for the creative endeavor? I guess he really is a true artist. I wish I had more books for him to sign.

Ebay link.