I’ve been drawing since before I knew there was a specific word for making marks with a pencil. I fell in love with horse when I was 5. Art making is my primary passion; horses are a close second. Getting to combine the two is something I’m grateful for. It’s also funny to me that I was drawing horses when I was 5 and here I am now, still drawing horses.
Sovereignty on Oklahoma | 14 x 17" oil on canvas
I didn't realize until I sorted my photos that I'd caught Sovereignty working out. My work focus is more on the people and horses we don't see much of but I loved the energy of the photo and decided to have fun with it and paint this powerhouse despite his celebrity.
Trainer & Rider Exiting Oklahoma | 16 x 16", oil on canvas
I'm very interested in observing relationships on the backstretch. This trainer focuses on a small number of horses; the exercise rider is the only rider for his horses. This bay was bred and raised by the trainer. I didn't hear the conversation but their expressions reflect their good working relationship, especially with this particular horse, who's nicknamed after the exercise rider.
Outrider | 16 x 11", oil on canvas
This is Page, one of Saratoga's outriders, on her paint on a cold morning in early May. The outriders are a combination of traffic cops and first responders. There's a team on the track anytime there are horses working on the track. They can correct or even fine bad rider behavior, round up riderless horses, and are ready to help if a rider needs it. They ride two or three of their own horses in rotation. The outrider horses I've met are either quarter horses or thoroughbreds. In my limited observation, outriders ride Western. On race days, they wear white pants and shirts to distinguish them from the pony escort riders, who wear red shirts and tan pants.
Nine Horse with Escort | 30 x 24", oil on canvas
I love the contrast between the young jockey and old pony rider, as well as between the calm pony and the hot thoroughbred. The loft of the colt, plus the various color contrasts really made this one fun to paint.
Exercise Rider, Saratoga | 30” x 20” oil on canvas
I like this image for the focus of the rider and the alert interest of the horse.
Chip Check | 26” x 22” oil on canvas
The paddock is a great place to hang out on race day. There's a lot to see - the horses, of course, the connections that come into the paddock with most of the horses, the conversations between jockeys and trainers - it's all there. I watched the steward check the microchip of each horse as they entered the paddock in a small but important moment. This was bought at a silent auction benefiting Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga.
Bath | 42" x 30", oil on canvas
The horses are bathed after every workout, as far as I have been able to see. How they deal with it is interesting but I also enjoy watching the people giving the bath. They move efficiently but also with care. I loved the sunlight on this chestnut's coat and the soap bubbles falling away.
Mr. Flashy | 29” x 42” oil on canvas
The horse here is beautiful, as they all are, but it was the tack and the rider which made this painting for me. I loved and was amused by the leather chaps with the red suede fringe and how everything was red and black.
Canyon de Chelly | 24” x 31” acrylic on canvas
The outfitters were testing out a new horse. Cade, the guide here, is on Charlene, ponying another mare. Charlene's ear clearly show her opinion of the arrangement, which was amusing to me since I didn't have to deal with her expressed irritation towards the gray. I added our Navajo guide in the distance on his stout horse riding towards an old Hogan.
Monument Valley | 18” x 24” acrylic on canvas
Phantom & Ghost, Aviles Street | 12” x 12” oil on canvas board
Phantom & Ghost were regulars on Aviles Street, where the gallery showing my work was (pre pandemic). This was a January day so it was quite cool with the low sunlight shining through the fence of the Father Miguel O'Reilly House Museum. The bright pink harness padding really livened this scene up.