Icelandic Horse

Icelandic Horse 1

Hello there!  Yes we are on vacation and I told you I would not be posting for a while, but my niece

and her husband here in Germany have a scanner I can use . . . so here we are!   The drawings on this blog page are from iPhone photos of my drawings, however the printable versions are from the scanner so they are better quality.  Please click on the "Free Printable Downloads" button up above and then scroll down to the bottom of the list to print Icelandic Horse drawings.  

Icelandic Horse 1

The Icelandic Horse originated in Norway or at least the Nordic countries.  It is a small breed of horse but it is not a pony.  It is hearty and sturdy.  It has been called "the most useful servant."  It is considered the purest horse breed in the world since it has lived on the island in isolation since the Vikings settled Iceland.  In the year 987 a decree was made that forbad the importing of any more horses and so the Icelandic Horses came form the same original breeding stock.  

The one problem with this is that these horses are very susceptible to equine or horse diseases.  They are essentially too inbred an that means very little variation in the species.   SO if a disease hits the horses perhaps the whole breed would be at risk of dying.  So the law says that you can not take your Icelandic Horse off the island and ever bring it back.  Some breeders actually breed some horses for export though.  The law may seem extreme but this protects the breed from invasive disease. 

Photo of Icelandic Horse (Brown with Dark Mane)

Even though the inbreeding has problems for health,horse farmers or ranchers have bred for many coloring patterns in their horses.  In fact, the variety of color patterns ...including the manes, is truly amazing. They can be paint or multi-colored, and they can have manes of various colors.  There are over a hundred words in the Icelandic language for the different coloring patterns of the Icelandic Horse.  

Icelandic Horse 2

Icelandic Horse (tan with dark mane) Photo

I used this photo for these last two drawings.  This Icelandic Horse is from the town of Grindavik. It is located just south of the amazing "Blue Lagoon"

Icelandic horses are very hearty and with very thick fur and a heavy hairy mane so they can stand the bitter cold Icelandic winter. They have compact bodies with legs that are shorter than most horses seen in other parts of the world.  Just to show how hearty these Icelandic Horses are...Here is an example of a type of animal that did NOT make it on Iceland.   At one point musk ox were brought in to Iceland and they all died of the ever changing cold weather.  (While we were there this week in was sunny and rainy and snowy, all in the same day, nearly every day we were there.)   But it is an amazing country with spectacular scenery...and great looking horses.  By the way, the people of Iceland were very friendly to us.  We, my wife and I, having lots of health limitations, they were always very accommodating to us. l  .  and very kind to us as well.  

Icelandic Horse 3

Icelandic horses have an extra gait that makes riding them a very smooth experience.  This smooth four beat gait is called the "tolt" and it makes for a very comfortable ride. The horses are rather friendly too.  Breeders do not breed for speed but for other qualities.  The horses are not raced but competitions are based upon various gaits, horse and rider relationship, and of course appearance.  Remember that for around a thousand years the Icelandic Horse was the only means of transportation on the Island so they were vital to the survival of the settlers...and residents.  

All these drawings are of Icelandic Horses in the winter...or at least in November...cause that is when we were there.  I would love to go back to Iceland in the summer if my health holds out.  Maybe I could actually handle riding one since their gait is very smooth.  

Christmas and Thanksgiving Pictures to Color

Here is a Thanksgiving drawing.  Never forget that without the help of the Native Americans the pilgrims never would have survived in the New World.  There were Pilgrims and Native Americans that were good friends.  This includes my ancestor Penelope and the man she called her "Indian Father."  Yes there was terrible conflict and horrible mistreatment of the Natives by many European settlers...but not everyone failed to get along.  In fact, many of us people in America who appear to be Caucasian are actually part Native American.  I read that it is over 80% of us "white Americans" are part Native American.  I am part Iroquois.   I think I'll write here on my blog some true stories here . . .true stories, of my Native American ancestors.  .   .    .  but that will have to wait until December or so.   

Pilgrim with Native American Friend

I know it's just a little early, but here are some Christmas drawings from last year. 

Santa Claus and Reindeer

This drawing is from last year...I think I've gotten better...as an artists.

Younger Santa Claus

Mary and Baby Jesus

Leopard Shark

NOTE:  This is my last post for a while.  Although I might re-post some drawings for the holidays from previous posts.  No crisis just going to be busy.  OK, ONE of the things is surgery, but fun stuff first.   I'll explain when I come back to my coloring page blog in about a month or sooner.  Remember that there are many many blog posts and you just need to scroll down to the bottom and click on "Older Posts" and you will be able to read them.  ALSO...there are many drawings to print and color on the "Free Printable Downloads" button.

Leopard Shark

We went to the Living Planet Aquarium in South Jordan, Utah and we saw this amazing shark.  I took it's picture and drew it for a coloring page.  In nature leopard sharks live along the Pacific Coast of North America.  They eat mainly clams, various other shellfish, sea worms, and some small bony fish.   Their cool spots give them their common name of Leopard Sharks.  This spotted pattern looks like a leopard or maybe a cheetah in some individuals.  There are two species.  Like in the picture, they prefer being near kelp beds and more shallow water. 

Leopard Shark at Living Planet Aquarium

Jesus fue al montana

Jesus went up into a mountain.

El Senor Jesucristo le gusto' ir al las montanas para meditar y sintir el espiritu de su Padre en el Cielo.  Yo tambien creo que tenemos que visitar el mundo natural para escapar la vida.  Nosotros vamos a las montanas para pescar y escapar.   Aun cuando no hay muchos peces, todovia hay paz en las montanas. 

La inspiration para dibujar este era la estatua en las jardines de Thanksgiving Point en Lehi, Utah.

Photo de estatua de Jesus Orando a su Padre en el Cielo

NOTA:  Hay problemas con las manos de mi dibujo pero dicide' no cambiarlo.  Un artista usualmente no termina su obra de arte...lo que pasa es que tenemos que abandonarlo.  

A New View of Pteranodon

Click on the "Free Printable Downloads" button to get drawings to color.   These recent drawings are found at the bottom of the list of drawings.  It is a very long list.  Feel free to print for coloring. 

One of my Earlier drawings of Pteranodon Fishing

Pteranodon and other pterosaurs are often drawn with limited patterns.   Such as the older drawing I posted above.  Notice the un-ornamented wings.  I had an epiphany today.  I have rarely seen any pattern on pterosaur wings.  So, today I made some drawings of Pteranodon with patterns on the wings.

Pteranodon was a very successful pterosaur or flying reptile that lived at the same time as dinosaurs...that is the Mesozoic Era.  The Mesozoic Era is divided into three periods.  The first was the Triasssic Period...the second was the Jurassic Period...and the last was the Cretaceous Period.  Ptreranodons were not the very largest Pterosaur, but they were perhaps the most successful Genus 
and they were still pretty big.  Their wingspan was 20 ft or 6 meters.  They were toothless.... In fact the name "Pteranodon" means "winged" and "toothless".  It's Greek:  "Pteron"=wing and "anodon"=toothless.   Pteranodons lived near water...probably mostly ocean.  They ate fish.   The name "Pteranodon" is a Genus name so that means there are two identified species of Pteranodon.
They have found over 1000 individual specimens of Pteranodon.  So that large number of individuals getting fossilized indicates a very successful Genus. 

Pteranodon over a Lambeosaurus

This first new drawing is of a Pteranodon flying over a Lambeosaurus.  Lambeosaurus was a large duckbill dinosaur of the late Cretaceous Period.  Notice the pattern on the open wings.

Pteranodon evading Tylosaurus

The second new drawing is of a Pteranodon over the ocean.  He or she is evading a large marine reptile called Tylosaurus....a Mosasaur.  This Mosasaur is drawn with a tail fluke.  It is a fairly recent theory that some Mosasaurs may have had a tail fluke at the end of their snake-like tail.  The Pteranodon is drawn with a pattern similar to the first drawing. 

Pteranodon fishing over a Tylosaurus

The last of my new drawings is of a less striking pattern on a Pteranodon that is fishing in the ocean...Ok he or she is flying above the ocean but is about to grab that fish with its large toothless mouth or beak.  The wing pattern is reminiscent of butterfly wing patterns.  The Tylosaurus or Mosasaur is drawn in a more traditional way without a tail fluke.  Notice the giant kelp that is flanking the Pteranodon.   Kelp is very plant-like but it is actually in the Protista Family of living things.

NOTE:  These last three drawings are found at the BOTTOM of the "Free Printable Downloads" page of this blog.  Click on the button at the top of this page and scroll down to the bottom.  

Jesus went up into a mountain

NOTE:  Go to the above "Free Printable Downloads" and scroll all the way down to see the title for this picture so you can click on it and print it to color.  

Jesus went up into a mountain.

Stature of Jesus Praying

I was inspired by the "Light of the World" statue you see in the photo above.  This display of statues of the life of Christ is seen at Thanksgiving Point's Ashton Gardens in Lehi, Utah.  Note the prayer shawl that Jesus wears on this beautiful work or art.   We often forget that He probably would have worn such a sacred item of clothing when he was praying or speaking in the synagogue.   

Several times in the New Testament we read of Jesus going up into the mountains for seclusion. . . and to commune with His Heavenly Father.  Of course for Jesus His Heavenly Father was also the father of his mortal body. . . hence the title "Only Begotten".   Sometimes when Jesus went up into the mountains he was alone, and other times he went  with his 12 disciples.  He clearly felt close to His Heavenly Father when close to nature . . . especially up in the mountains.

I can tell you that I feel close to God when up in the mountains.  I had a friend years ago who told me that he felt the Spirit when he was high up on a ski run.  He was a ski patrolman and a very good man in many ways.  He was the scoutmaster and I was the assistant scoutmaster.

Living in a mountainous state I have often encouraged people to get up into the mountains and escape the hustle and bustle of the city.   My wife and I love going fishing in mountain streams.  Whether we catch fish or not, we love the feel, sound and smell of nature up by a mountain stream.  Even though the mountain canyons we fish are quite close to a major city, we feel like we are a million miles from any city and that we are closer to our Heavenly Father.  So again, for us, even when there are no fish biting, there is still peace in the mountains.

NOTE:  You might notice the hands could use some work but I decided to leave this as it turned out.  Remember, an artists never truly finishes a work of art, we just abandon it.  The flowers are based on "lilies of the field." 

Jorgi el Mapache

 Georgie Racclooney by a River in CO

Jorgi Mapuche por un rio en estado de Colorado.  CO = Colorado

Jorgi es un mapache, (peluche).   Su nombre verdadero es "Georgie Racclooney".   .   .  y Georgi (Jorgi) cree que el es un estrella de cines.   Aqui podemos ver que el esta' cerca de un rio.  El rio se llama Rio San Juan.  Se encuentra el Rio San Juan en el sur parte del estado de Colorado en los Estados Unidos de America.  Jogi le gusto' jugar en Pagosa Springs, Colorado.  El estaba muy dervitido cerca del rio.  Como artista, dicide' dibujar usando este photo de Jorgi.

Photo de Jorgi

Georgie Racclooney

Georgie Racclooney by River in CO

Georgie Racclooney went to Pagosa Springs Colorado.  He had a great time!  I drew him hanging out on a fallen tree near the river.  It is the San Juan River.  Georgie Racclooney fancies himself as a star!

Canadian Goose

Canadian Geese are an amazing animal.  Many migrate for thousands of miles, yet sometimes you  will see a local flock that chooses to stick around year round.  I grew up on a farm next to a reservoir and during those years a flock of Canadian geese decided to stick around.  I remember watching them paddling in the middle of the reservoir to keep the ice from forming around them.  I remember wondering how the geese could stand being in that terribly cold water.  Later on I learned that geese have very thick, hollow feathers called down.  This down keeps them warm in cold water and when they are flying at high altitude...where it is also very cold. 

Canadian geese live primarily in North America, however they have reached Northern Europe on their own AND they have been introduced to the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe by man.  They have also been introduced to New Zealand and parts of South America. 

There are seven species of Canadian Geese.  The size varies depending upon spececies but Canadian Geese range between 30-43 inches or 75-110 cm in length.  Their wingspan is 50-73 inches or 127-185 cm.  5.7-14.3 lbs is the range of weight for Canadian Geese.  That is a mass of 2.6-6.5 kg.