High Spirits

If you are lucky, you will get the chance to have one great dog and one great horse in a lifetime - R. Harris

I paint horses, by themselves, in landscapes, with hounds, with or - preferably - without people. For the past year I have kept a folder on my computer desktop of paintings of horses that have been inspirational for me. Quite often, finding one painting led me to the artist's other work, horse related - or not - but invariably enlightening. That folder now runs the gamut, starting with horses, going on to include self-portraits of the artists, figure-work, landscapes, hounds, quotations. About two hundred pages of insights, references, work at my beckoning. Here, though, I wish to celebrate only the horse and the paintings, many of them, I find influential. My opinion only, open to other suggestions. I will start this with one of my own paintings, reserving the right to interject any painting of mine in the future that particularly pleases me!

This is Rowan, a thoroughbred mare bred by Rock Ridge in Virginia bought from the Frying Pan Sports Horse Sale in '94 and consequently fox hunted by me until 2005 when I lost her to rare cancer. For over ten years, she was my hunt horse, most of that time a whip horse. Opinionated, bossy and particular, she nevertheless carried me safely, giving much trust and enjoyment. She loved hunting: the hounds, the countryside, the whole job. Where ever Snowden Clark might be, I hope he realizes that while this mare might not have been just what he wanted in a breeding program, she turned into a wonderful ride and friend.

I gambled here, choosing to follow in the footsteps of George Stubbs and designing a "pendant" for Whistlejacket. Well, never fear!, neither the size of this painting or my talent approaches the originals, lol! Only Rowan's heart could contend in that arena. So, it is in her honor that this painting was done, my awe of the talent of Stubbs, my love of her. When I look upon this painting, I remember my fine horse.