Lester Piggott and the stallions he rode were by far the most prolific of Tom's subjects. His feel for the muscle and tendon, the sweat glistening under the sun was unsurpassed by any present day artist. I remember him standing over me in the studio trying to instil into me that same concept of light and shade, sweat is not just blue like pools reflecting the sky, sweat is water and oil and so reflects petrol colours, pinks, greens, oranges, mauves.
I can sit and stare at the portrait of Zino for hours. To me it lives and breathes. It was the first racing portrait he painted of that calibre and size. I was hooked and couldn't get enough of them, but it was always the single racers going past the post or stallions in their paddocks that impressed me most. His last, Rainbow Quest, again is truly magnificent. I can feel the wind in his mane and hear the soft thud of his hooves against the paddock turf. How I envy the Sheikh who owns him. Do you think he sits and wonders at this animal's nobility? I do know one thing though, his stable manager saw the painting and recognised him. He was so impressed that he asked to show the painting to his boss, the Sheikh. The Sheikh was pleased, he thought it a great likeness too and showed it to his brother, his financial advisor who said 'Yes it's very well painted, but he's an unknown artist, so it will not be a good investment!'
That just about sums up Tom's luck in life. What more can I say, except that at least he tried. We stood together and fell together and if I had to choose from all the things I have to thank Tom for in my life, I would choose this.
Thank you Tom for instilling in me the desire to paint a better picture and when I've finished that one, a desire to paint another one better than that. You can lose yourself in a painting, what better sanctuary than that.
To see an enlargement of any of the pictures, click on the appropriate image below, or use the fly-out menu from The Stallions and British Racing on the left. |
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