Thursday, February 26, 2009

Regal White

I have been working on developing a new technique which is coming along nicely. I base it on traditional darkroom techniques but do it on the computer. I guess the computer is my digital darkroom! I have to admit I do not miss the darkroom too much. I did like watching the prints develop on the paper but I certainly do not miss the muss and fuss. Not to mention the trips back and forth to the darkroom!

This print started out as a color image which I desaturated and then sepia toned part of it for a warm tone and selenium toned the rest for a cool tone. Some traditional dodging and burning really made the image pop and come to life. I have been fiddling with this technique for a couple of months now and I really like it. It doesn't seem to work well for all photographs but trial and error is such fun!

Bye for now,
Susan
www.windhorseone.com

Monday, February 23, 2009

Horse as Teacher Book - Part 2


"Horses have the capacity to teach us key life lessons. To experience this higher level of connection and communication, humans must accept the horse as a partner and be open and willing to receive their wisdom."

Horse as Teacher website: www.horseasteacher.com

Well as promised here is the cover of the book "Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity". In my last blog on this topic we were anticipating the release of the cover of the book which was designed by equine photographer extraordinaire Tony Stromberg (including one of his beautiful images). While none of the authors had input in the image that was used I think it is perfect and depicts the gentle, luminous, and welcoming eye of the horse that we all love. I didn't coin this but the eye is the window to the soul.

Writing the forward for the book is Mark Mottershead, who founded the Horse Consciousness website (www.horseconsciousness.com). Recently he headed up "The Path Seminar Series" featuring the teachers in Stormy Mae's (one of the co-authors in Horse as Teacher) DVD. Check out his website which features articles and tips from some amazing horse visionaries of our time.

I find that I want to know everything about working with horses as partners that it can become a distraction from doing my artwork. I want to be the best human guardian for my two colts as I can and ensure that they have the best equine/human partnership that exists! What I have come to realize is that by strengthening my relationship with with my horses, the depth of my artwork increases. The voice of the horse connects and communicates through me.

Our book is due to be released in May and has a list price of $19.95. At this time the shipping fee of $5.95 will be waived and all copies will be signed for all orders placed before the book release. Additionally 10% will be donated to horse rescue organizations. If there ever was a time for change it is now and what better way than through the human/horse connection?

Please contact me at susan@windhorseone.com if you are interested in learning more about Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity or to secure your pre-shipping copy.

Yours in the dance,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Of Horses and Dogs

Meet Foose. I can never remember if he is a border collie or Australian sheep dog mix. Any way I am not too sure it is important. He is absolutely gorgeous! All I know is that with horses there must also be dogs. At least there have been wherever my horses have been. Dogs have come and gone in my life and right now I am sad to admit I am dogless. With a busy art show schedule it is easy when your horses are boarded but it is not as easy to board your dog. Yes it easy in the sense that you can drop them off at a kennel but I have never really had the heart for that.

But on the bright side I get to see Foose and his girl Scout. Scout has had some leg problems lately and I do not have any photos of her but she is equally as spectacular! What I love about Foose is his wonderful vigor for life. When I arrive at the farm (I am from the east where we say farm but now I am in Colorado so I guess I should say ranch!) he comes flying down helter skelter to greet me. He loves to jump up to say hello but if it is muddy he is a gentleman when I tell him down. Foose found his forever home after a former guardian decided it was too much effort to continue to feed him. I guess I can't imagine somebody coming to decide something like that.

If there is one thing I have to say about Foose, it is that besides being an amazing companion, he takes his herding responsibilities quite seriously! And while he is very much the serious fella about this, sometime the horses think he is a pest and will chase him! He is quite the tenacious guy though and often his patience wins out. I have to admit that I love photographing dogs as much as I love photographing horses. Really, the two are inseparable!

As always, thanks for reading!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Boys will be Boys

These are my two young colts horsing around in the field a few weeks before I brought them to the mountains. Recently I was notified by Equine Wellness magazine that this picture was awarded 6th place and will be published in their March/April issue! Woo hoo, what an honor! The contest called for photos of people's horses. I know I am partial but I have to admit that they are way too cute. :)

They look like brothers but they are not related. The standing colt is called Kairos and the lad on top is Zephyr. They are both named after Greek gods. Zephyr is the god of the gentle west winds and Kairos is the god of time (Cronos is also a god of time and that is where chronological comes from). Kairos is symbolic for instances with small windows of time where there is an opening and one must act with gusto or lose the opportunity.

This was actually a pivotal point in these boys lives. Normally Kairos would be pestering Zephyr, who is so sweet and gentle. But Zephyr has decided he has had enough! And if you knew the two then you couldn't really blame him. They absolutely adore one another and are inseparable!

Bye for now!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Monday, February 16, 2009

Black Messenger

Once again it is late in the evening when I find the time to work on one of my photographs. It was just last year when I was exhibiting my work at the Art at the Classic at the Draft Horse Classic in Grass Valley, Ca. that I fell in love with the Friesian horse. As exhibitors, we were given a free ticket to an evening show. My breath was taken away when a team of six Friesians entered the ring. That was all it took and I was immediately hooked. Somehow I was immediately transported back in time to the medieval ages. It was an amazing site to see all six horses moving in sync!

We were busy at the show but I did manage to sneak out for about an hour and go back to the barns to take some photographs. I have read somewhere that the black horse is a metaphor for a messenger of esoteric knowledge. You have to wonder what this fine animal is thinking. There is such wisdom in its eye. The Friesian breed certainly is the horse of kings (and of course queens!).

Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Horse as Teacher Book

I recently had the honor and good fortune to become part of a team of amazing equine professionals, who partner with horses in their professions, for the book "Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity Through Horses". This is the first of a series of ten books about how horses transform people's lives and is due to be released this May.

The group is diverse and there are coaches, therapists, and natural horse trainers in the group. I am truly blessed as an equine artist to be included with these visionaries! It was humbling and daunting at the same time. I didn't know where to start but as of tonight my chapter is well on its way to completion.

Tonight we had our first teleconference where we all shared little pieces of ourselves and got to know each other. As one person put it, we were all members of a new herd! We also learned that well known equine photographer Tony Stromberg is designing the book cover and providing the picture. His beautiful books are Spirit Horses and The Forgotten Horses.

It seems there is a very large movement, being called horse consciousness, where people are teaming up with horses to better the lives of both humans and horses. Horses have an innate ability to mirror and reflect elements of ourselves right back to us if we are open to receiving the messages.

I can't wait to see the cover. It is scheduled to be completed next week and I will post it as soon as I have it.

Please visit www.horseasteacher.com to learn more about this amazing book. Click on the link Book Authors to see who the ten contributing authors are with links to their websites to learn more about their work with horses!

Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

The Fratsters

If horses could speak what do you think these two would be saying? This photograph is quite comical and during the process of photographing I did not even see it through the lens as it was happening! One of the things that is so special about photographing horses is that they are so animated and full of expression that you can never be sure about what you will have recorded until you get home!

One colt is nine months and the other is ten months. They are not even related, and really look nothing alike, but yet they almost look the same in this image. They were born on the same farm and they while their personalities are at the opposite ends of the spectrum they are connected in a really special way.

I have been busy collecting imagery of these two special boys and hope to put together a children's book or two. For some strange reason I am finding it more challenging to achieve the results I want and I am not sure if it is because I know these two intimately and perhaps have higher expectations from myself. Something to think about :)

Best,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Friday, February 6, 2009

White on White

I was looking through my archives of images tonight for a photograph to work on of my two colts when I passed by this one. I had to go back and revisit it. It seemed that she wanted to be noticed. Her name is Grace and she is not sure if she is a pony or a horse! A little of both perhaps! I don't know her well but I wanted to create a portrait that would give her an air of elegance just like her name. She has had a rough former life and I think with a name like Grace she deserves an ethereal setting. Amazing Grace!

Have a wonderful weekend!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

New Addition to Baroque Series

This past summer I had the good fortune to watch this Andalusian stallion strutting his stuff during an evening performance at a draft horse event we were exhibiting at. I took a break from the booth and to my delight he was at liberty in an outdoor arena getting some exercise and playing with his handler. I had never seen anything like it before.

I just finished the piece recently in time for another event we were attending called Horsecapades. It was a benefit for the Cowboys Up organization which uses horses for equine assisted psychotherapy. The event had a great lineup of costumed riders and horses performing to music.

My favorite was an Andalusian stallion called Acierto who does amazing maneuvers around his person/owner while at liberty. I can't wait to go through the photographs to see what I got. I am hoping for a good shot of him rearing.

Bye for now,
Susan