M a s e L u c a s
contemporary equine paintings
Color, composition and the manner in which paint
is applied to a surface--these are my first considerations.
The initial attraction is to the physicality of paint
itself--the viscosity of oil and acrylic; the spring
or resistance of the painting surface.
As far as subject goes, it can be anything at all.
For many years figures were my main interest
and I painted them almost exclusively. Click on
paintings. Eventually I moved on to textural
abstracts and equine themes. The horse paintings
have most clearly defined my career.
My aim, other than exploring the relationship
between paint and ground, is that of most artists--
to use the acquired skills of technique and medium
to convey a point-of-view. There's a theme that
runs through my work. It has something to do
with commonality and narrative. I don't strive
to convey it, but it's been there from my earliest
efforts.
The Horse Paintings
The horses in my paintings don't inhabit
literal environments. I leave out extraneous
elements which I find to be a deterrent to
making a solid painting. I also leave out
references to human influences and there-
fore rarely paint horses engaged in sports
or otherwise performing.
The studio is a converted hayloft above the horse
barn. During the day I can see the horses grazing,
playing or just hanging out in the fields. At night,
if the weather is bad, I can hear them in their stalls
below. The windows overlook a pastoral view of a
postcard-perfect rural landscape.
