Below is the cover I did for The Chronicle of the Horse.  I was 22 when I did it and was in college at the time.  Back then, I would see a picture of a horse and if I really liked it, I'd have to put it down on paper.  I would sit for hours penciling the drawing and never get up until it was finished.  I can remember keeping track one time and it took me about 6 hours to do a drawing.  Once I finished, I'd hang it on my wall and stare at it for days tweaking little lines or shading.  I actually still surprise myself when I look at some of the drawings and it is my goal to frame them all slowly but surely. 

The picture below was one I was especially proud of because The Chronicle is such a respected industry magazine.  Even neater, I share the honor with people like George Stubbs.  Granted, I'm not George Stubbs but it is kind of like being part of a club to have your art grace the cover of such a magazine.  The horse was drawn from a picture in a catalog of a horse in the Verden (Germany) sales and his name was Gabun.  In Germany, as many people who might be reading this know, they first free-jump their youngsters to determine or spotlight jumping talent.  I had a whole catalog of pictures much like the one below to consider drawing but this horse in particular caught my eye.  He had excellent form, exhibiting such athleticism, and had such a keen expression. He seemed to be born to do what he was doing.  It looked easy for him. 

While I know it isn't right to toot one's horn, when I look at my drawings, it is as if someone else drew them anyway.  I haven't drawn anything since then.  For anyone not sure of the math, that would be 20 years ago.  1987 and the few years surrounding it ended up being a very bad time in my life and for some reason, the desire to draw has never returned.  But since it is my webpage, I will say that I captured Gabun exactly as he was.  While some of the quality is lost through scanning and through reducing the picture in size for the cover, I can assure you that every ripple, every dapple, every vein, that look in his eye, each tail hair, the ease and softness with which he jumped, I put it all in there.  Because actually, I'm just not creative enough to draw what is not there.  Which is why I got a D in Art at school the very semester I drew this.  My art teacher did not like when I drew a pot exactly as it was but instead wanted me to draw it in a way that actually was not there.  His way.  While that D didn't help my GPA, there is something to be said for believing in yourself and not giving a damn about what others say.  And no, once I could claim the honor of being a published artist, I did not wave the proof in his face.  I didn't need to.  I impressed myself and that was what mattered to me.

Peter Winants, the editor of The Chronicle at the time, named the picture.  I never named my pictures, I simply knew the name of every horse or rider I drew.  I really never intended for the picture to go to print, which is why the horse isn't even jumping a jump at all.  It's kind of funny if you think about it.  I sent a handful of pictures to the magazine and was thrilled and flattered when Mr. Winants called me asking me to visit the magazine in person.  It was a great experience, one I'm proud of and yet another little feather in my cap of things I just did on my own with no one suggesting it or holding my hand.  That's another thing I'm pretty proud of.  No one knows what you're capable of but you.  Me, I just assume if it can be done, I can do it.  Damn, it's fun to have your own brag page.