After I interviewed Terry, she offered to paint something for me. The timing was uncanny because I had just lost a dog, so was quick to send one of my favorite pictures of her.
The result is absolutely beautiful and I am so proud of it. Terry did a fantastic job of capturing the personality of my old friend. I’m delighted and I wanted to share it with my readers.
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I’ve had so much fun collecting unusual horse art that I just keep going with it and collecting more. If you haven’t seen Part 1 & Part 2 of this series yet be sure to check them out too.
These posts combine several of my favorite things, horses, art, photography and of course the unusual.
Wherever possible I’ve added the artist info as well as the photographer source, but some of them were difficult to find.
If anyone can identify some of the art pictured here, please do leave the info in the comments so I can add credit for their work.
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As I interview more artists I come to realize that horses seem to be a universal subject. Artists of all mediums and walks of life can appreciate their quiet conviction and innate beauty.
So I shouldn’t be surprised when I run across even more horse graffiti that I haven’t seen. (Especially considering I have posts and posts of horse graffiti and horse street art already).
Here are some more graffiti artists worldwide who appreciate the masterful presence of our equine friends.
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My recent fascination with horse artists and photographers has led me to some pretty amazing individuals and organizations. One in particular I really like is Art for Critters, which several of the artists I’ve interviewed are connected with.
Art for Critters features artists from around the world who donate a portion of their art sales to help animal charities. Each donation goes to food, housing and medical care for an animal in need.
To learn more about artists who contribute to the cause be sure to check out their contributing artist page.
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My fondness for horse art grows with each passing post and artist interview, not to mention I’ve always had a thing for the offbeat.
Here is a collection of the stranger side of horse art, each artist showing us their vision of the mighty equine animal.
Some unconventional, some breathtaking and some are just downright weird.
A quick note about an upcoming exhibition for one of our featured artists Ophelia Keys.
Opens on Thursday July 2nd with celebration (come for wine and nibbles) and the exhibition runs through the month of July.
To be held at the lovely Evelyn County Estate, Kangaroo Ground.
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A Flemish Baroque painter, Peter Paul Rubens was a major player when it comes to Baroque style art. His work is bold and lively while giving the viewer a feeling of color and movement.
Although he didn’t seem to find the horse a particularly moving subject, they do make an appearance in a selection of his art.
His deep understanding of perspective and the ability to convey overwhelming emotion with his art make Mr. Rubens a master no matter what he paints.
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While largely celebrated for his surreal artwork, when Salvador Dali studied art in Barcelona and Madrid he dabbled in a number of artistic styles.
Interestingly enough, his surreal work was partly inspired by the writings of Sigmund Freud about the significance of subconscious imagery.
Being Spanish, his obvious love of horses makes perfect sense. Horses often make an appearance in his art. So many in fact that I couldn’t fit them all in this post.
I selected a variety of styles to show here, some of which may surprise you.
Vincent Van Gogh was born in Groot-Zundert, Holland in 1853, his father was a pastor so he was raised in a religious environment. Vincent was a high strung and self-conscious youth.
He decided to become an artist in 1880 after suffering a few failed relationships and and unsuccessful stint as a preacher in a Belgian mining town. He began his artistic studies in Belgium with the intention of inspiring happiness by creating beauty.
Although it is clear that horses were not one of his favorite subjects, they did make a guest appearance in his work now and then. Here are a few examples of how Van Gogh saw horses.
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Horse art on Saturdays seems to have become a habit and every week I look forward to seeing which artist is next on my list to use.
Francisco de Goya was a Spanish painter and printmaker who is considered among the last of the old masters in some circles and among the first of the moderns in others.
He was also a court painter for the Crown and a chronicler of history.
Francisco clearly had a sinister side and he battled mental illness late in life. As his sickness progressed he entered a dark period where his art centered on witchcraft, war, nightmares and the loneliness of mental instability.
The horses he painted reflect this darkness in him and are often shown in battle or the bull ring.
I’ve enjoyed the idea of looking back at some of the masters of the art world to see which ones were horse fans.
It’s no secret that the horse is a difficult animal to draw – perspective is everything. I like to think that some of the true talents drew them to hone their skills.
Eugene Delacroix was one of the important French Romantic painters. He was also a lithographer and illustrated for the likes of William Shakespeare and Sir Walter Scott.
He was inspired by Reubens and painters of the Venetian Renaissance who believed in an emphasis on color and movement in their art.
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Albrecht Dürer was a painter, printmaker and theorist and is generally considered the greatest German Renaissance artist.
Although he painted extensive portraits (and a great number of self-portraits) he was also a woodcut artist and some of his most well-known work are woodcuts.
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