Pastel on Tinted Canson Pastel Paper, 19 in. x 25 in., Private Collection

Creme Fraiche was the 1986 Belmont winner. He was trained by the great Hall of Fame trainer Woody Stephens and owned by Mrs. Betty Moran. She commissioned me to paint his picture after he won the Belmont. I was still wet behind the ears and just marched up to Woody’s barn in Saratoga and announced I was there to paint Creme Fraiche and could they please get the horse ready. Woody wasn’t quite sure what to make of me, but he grabbed a groom walking by, put a halter on the horse and told me I had exactly five minutes! Fortunately for me, the groom knew exactly how to pose the horse and I got the photos I needed to complete this paintigng.