New pencil drawing captures Somebeachsomewhere as the individual he is, says MacGrath

TRURO - Somebeachsomewhere majestically flies through the air heading for the finish line in a new drawing by artist Robb Scott.
The Greenfield native was commissioned by two of the horse's owners, Brent MacGrath and Garry Pye, to complete the artwork earlier this year. The finished product, the largest piece Scott has ever done, was unveiled yesterday.
"It took two months and 150 hours to draw," Scott said yesterday. "It turned out amazing."
The original, which measures two-by-four feet, will be displayed at Pye Chev Olds on Prince Street while prints will be located at Toyota dealerships in Truro and Amherst.
The very detailed pencil drawing was done from a photograph taken by The Canadian Sportsman's Dave Landry while the horse raced in Lexington, Ky. It shows driver Paul MacDonell in the bike.
MacGrath said he was looking for a piece of artwork of the famous horse and was leaning towards a painting.
But Scott worked on MacGrath for a couple of months to convince him that a pencil drawing would set it apart and he was the one for the job.
"I couldn't be happier," MacGrath said. "He captured 'Beach as the individual which was important to me."
Somebeachsomewhere exploded onto the harness racing scene in the summer of 2007 and during the next 17 months went on to win 20 of his 21 lifetime races. He set four world records, garnered more than $3.3 million in purse earnings for Schooner Stables and several industry awards, including the U.S. Dan Patch award for horse of the year in 2008 and the Canadian O'Brian award for horse of the year in both 2007 and 2008.
He was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame this year and is now retired, providing stud services at Hanover Shoe Farm in Pennsylvania.
Scott, who works part-time for Pye's managing the car company's website, is a self-taught artist has been working in the business for eight years. He hopes the latest project shows his ability to people across the country with prints expected to be placed in some Canadian racetracks and breeding farms.
"Some influential people in the industry, hopefully, will see them and it will give my career the boost I have been waiting for," Scott said. "This is the type of opportunity that I have worked so hard for."
One hundred limited-edition prints have also been produced for sale. A framed two-by-four-foot print goes for $850, an unframed print for $450, a framed 16-by-20 inch sells for $350 and an unframed 16-by-20 for $200.
They can be ordered through Scott's website (www.robbscottdrawings.com), MacGrath or Pye's.
MacGrath has a photograph of Somebeachsomewhere in his office, a painting outside his office and the new pencil drawing will be placed in the showroom.
"I think the customers will enjoy it, the staff will enjoy, I know I certainly will," MacGrath said.

jmalloy@trurodaily.com