Wednesday, March 3, 2010

The Old Horse Stables


The Old Horse Stables on Belle Isle are now used for Maintenance. They are lovely buildings and it is sad to see them decrepitating.




I have been fascinated with the living statues at the Renaissance Faire. I've taken lots of pictures of them. I decided to try to paint two of them, but ended up drawing one with Faber-Castell PITT artist brush pens (pigment markers) and then painting over the white parts with white gouache. I did the other in ball point pen. When I was all done, I decided that the living statues are a better subject for photography than art, because the pure whiteness of them doesn't seem as striking in the art pieces as it does in the photos--too late--they're already done. Click images to view larger.

15 comments:

Mason Canyon said...

The buildings are impressive. The paintings are wonderful. The statues may look better in a photo, but the paintings have a interesting quality to them as well. You're so very talented.

Marie said...

Very pretty drawings and photo, Mary. The stables look Russian :-)

Eric said...

Great color against the melting snow. I need to get to Belle Isle more often!

Lowell said...

Hi Mary...those don't look much like any horse stables I've seen - except in the movies at English castles! Wow. And it is a shame they're going to rot.

I really like your painting/drawing! Both are just excellent. I think my favorite it the pen drawing...there's something fascinating about it's starkness...

So many talents!

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Thanks so much Pamela, Marie, Eric and Jacob for your very kind comments.

Belle Isle is a fascinating place, but it is deteriorating badly--I wish some wealthy Person ---hugely wealthy--would take an interest in saving it.

I appreciate your kind words about my art. I consider myself a beginner, really.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Interesting, Marie, I've never seen Russian Stables.

My grandmother worked in an Italian Stables.

Rose said...

I love those buildings...its a beautiful shot.

Nice painting, or drawing, too.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Thank you so much, ROse! :-D

V said...

I love those paintings. They may not have had the exact qualities you aimed for, but I think they are very delicate, and very Renaissance-like.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Thanks so much, V! :-D

B SQUARED said...

Those horses lived well.

Wolynski said...

What pretty buildings.

I like the drawing on the left - reminds me of medieval statues on tombstones.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Thanks, the buildings are really beautiful, despite the decrepitude! And I hope the horses were treated well, they were available for hire to ride on bridle paths around the island. This, and the boats and ice skating have all fallen by the wayside.

Andree said...

I constantly wonder when cities will wake up and take care of their history. They could even make money off of it. This is gorgeous.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

All of Belle Isle is decrepitating and it all needs help--I wish rich people would step in and sponsor buildings, paint jobs, renewals etc.