You know, I’d been looking to get some new art for my place for ages. Just felt like the walls were a bit bare, and I wanted something with a bit of character, not just another generic print from a big box store. It’s harder than you think, finding something that really speaks to you.
My Search for Something Real
So, I started the hunt. Scrolled through countless websites, visited a few local art fairs, but nothing really jumped out. A lot of it felt… well, a bit lifeless, if I’m honest. Or it was so abstract I couldn’t make head nor tail of it. I wasn’t looking for a masterpiece to hang in a museum, just something that felt genuine and had a bit of soul to it.
I remember one afternoon, just clicking around, going down one of those internet rabbit holes. I think I was looking at old Western photography, and then somehow, I stumbled across a painting. It was a horse, and it just stopped me in my tracks. There was something about it.
Discovering Roger Daly’s Horses
I did a bit of digging, you know, trying to find out who the artist was. Turned out to be a guy named Roger Daly. And the more I looked at his work, especially his paintings of horses, the more impressed I became. It wasn’t just that he could paint a horse that looked like a horse; it was something more.
This is where my “practice” really began, not in trying to paint like him – I wouldn’t even know where to start – but in really looking and trying to understand what made his horse paintings so captivating to me. I spent a good amount of time just observing, making mental notes, sort of recording the details that stood out.
What I Noticed About His Horses:
- The Movement: This was the first thing that hit me. His horses never looked static. You could almost feel the power, the energy, whether they were galloping across a plain or just standing there. There was a dynamism to them that was incredible. I even tried, very badly, to sketch a horse in motion myself, just to appreciate the difficulty. It gave me a newfound respect for his skill.
- The Anatomy and Spirit: It was clear he didn’t just paint the idea of a horse. He understood their anatomy, the way their muscles worked, the turn of their heads. But more than that, he seemed to capture their spirit. Each horse felt like an individual, with its own personality. They weren’t just animals; they had character.
- Light and Texture: The way he used light was also something I paid a lot of attention to. How it would catch a flank, or highlight the mane. And the textures – you could almost feel the sleekness of their coats or the roughness of the terrain.
- The Eyes: Sounds a bit corny, maybe, but the eyes in his paintings often had a real depth to them. They seemed to hold a certain wisdom or wildness.
My Takeaway from it All
So, what did I “record” from all this? Well, mostly a deep appreciation for an artist who could bring such life to his subjects. Before this, I guess I just saw art as “nice pictures.” But looking at Roger Daly’s horses, I started to see the immense skill and observation that goes into creating something that feels so real and alive. It wasn’t just about accurate depiction; it was about conveying an essence.
It made me think differently about art in general. It’s not just about technique, though that’s obviously huge. It’s about seeing, really seeing, and then being able to translate that vision in a way that connects with someone else. I still haven’t bought a piece, mostly because good art isn’t cheap, and I want to get something I truly love. But that whole experience of discovering his work, and spending time really studying those horses, it definitely enriched my appreciation for artists who can capture that kind of energy on a canvas. It was a good reminder that sometimes, the best things are found when you’re not even sure what you’re looking for.
