Sunday 22 February 2015

Painting #49 Buzkashi

Buzkashi (literally "goat dragging" in Persian) or kokpar is the Central Asian sport in which horse-mounted players attempt to drag a goat or calf carcass toward a goal. It is the national sport of Afghanistan, although it was banned under the Taliban regime.

This is my first attempt at animals. It might not cut it as a painting but I think it is start upon which I can build. I wanted action with lots of dust and movement and nearly got lost in the crazy 'stampede.'

 Could have done with a much larger canvas so that I didn't have to tiddle-about with small brushes

I've put two pictures to show the discrepancy with the photos.



23 comments:

  1. I really love, like you painted fighting spirit and movement of these animals ... Bravo!

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  2. Well ... you really did not pick an easy subject, did you, John??? ... fascinating, action-packed, wild, but not easy :) Good for you!!!

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    1. I'm my own worst enemy ... I can't do practise pieces in any subject: straight in the deep end and learn to swim on the way down.

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  3. wow---what incredible energy...most impressive!

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  4. Could have lived a lifetime without knowing about this so-called "sport." Hate any type of cruelty to animals. But the painting is marvelous, John. I agree with Celeste about the energy!

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    1. Don't think the horses seemed to mind when I saw them, they seemed 'up for it' ... and the goat was long dead, before the game. But I know what you mean, Sherry

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  5. Your first attempt!!? It doesn´t show. You have captured the horses energy very well, and that must be the most important in this kind of painting, and the colours of the background are great adapted to the horses. The softer edges of their legs shows their energetic movement. You MUST make this on a large canvas. The power of the horses in this painting needs space. And I think that your first attempt is great and is worth doing again-LARGER. Congratulations!! (from a lover of horses!)

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    1. Thanks for the encouragement Catharine, you're very kind

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  6. I´ve seen this sport on tv, but without living goats. Anyway; I was looking at the photo in your other post, and it is such a beautyful spot to live in! I´m sure you will love it there :) Take care John.

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  7. Both of these look like paintings. Is one the reference? Or am I looking at two photos of your painting? I'm missing the discrepancy--between what and what?

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    1. Two photographs of my painting: one photograph seems to hide the dust and the other distorts the colours ... so somewhere between them would be the proper view

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  8. Wow, you really have captured a lot of movement here John! I definitely wouldn't want to be in the way of them, that's for sure! And what a horrible 'sport'! It's madness isn't it?

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  9. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this, John - so much action and intensity is conveyed in your looser brush work and the wildly spirited equine expressions!

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    1. Thank you, Susan, you are too kind. i think I've learnt a lot from this one

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  10. OMGoodness, John !! This is an action packed painting and I LOVE it!!! (You captured the dust beautifully).

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  11. Words of praise from Susan (above) are high praise indeed. She is the absolute master at moving horses.
    Me - I like the way you painted this...VERY MUCH!

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  12. Stunning John .... very dramatic with lots of energy and action. Yet another great 'first' from you. Isn't it frustrating how difficult it can be to take an accurate photo? No matter how much attention we pay to things like White Balance, accurate colour rendition is still a problem.

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  13. Wow, John, you never cease to amaze me with your talent. You certainly have captured the drama and action. Well done.

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