Family Day at Saratoga Race Track, (2019) 26″x 40″, Oil on paper.
I found inspiration wondering and watching at the Saratoga Race Track, in Upstate New York. One of my favorite activities in August is the trackside breakfast buffet, where anyone can watch the horse’s breeze, enjoy a nibble and drink tea. The sounds brought me back to being a child when my true love had four legs and a tail and I passionately groomed and exercised horses. As I sat there sipping tea and drawing, the smells of the crisp morning air and fresh horse sweat led me to feel nostalgic about family, time, community, and ease of fun. In that time I sketched, made notes, and thought- which turned into painting this piece. I would like to follow this piece up with two others making a series, but time will tell, as I have so many irons in the fire. I can always go back to these moments as they are captured in a sketchbook where the spirit of ideas rests safely for the future.