It has been 4 months now since I posted. Time seems to slip away. We were busy creating a new site for windhorseOne Studios with many new services including creativity coaching with horses and also equine identity and branding services. Horses are our passion and we can't imagine life without them.
To see our awesome new site please visit www.windhorseone.com. Our Blog will be built in so we are saying good by to this Blog
We also have a new online shop that features my equine art work as well as equine art of other artists including fabulous jewelry! Check it out at www.windhorseone.com/shop.
There is something I love about the nomadic spirit the gypsy lifestyle conjures up for me. Brad and I just returned from an amazing 4-day road trip through Colorado. The open road is often a time of inspiration and new ideas for me. I can come home tired and overwhelmed from all the miles behind a windshield but this time I said "NO" to overwhelm and after I checked all the emails I sat down to work on this new Gypsy Vanner creation.
You see, we choose to create our realities and I often choose overwhelm and lack of focus; a sticky mucky place that feels familiar and yucky. Although I have many administration tasks talking to me and weighing me down like a ball and chain.......I choose to move into the unknown throes of creativity and joy for they never let me down. And that ball and chain.....today it is made of platinum and diamonds!
We left Denver last Thurs, returning last night after stopping in Pagosa springs, Durango, Ouray, Ridgeway, Grand Juction, Breckenridge and Idaho Springs! Oh my! We never know where we are going to stay or whom we will meet!
We were setting up a new account at Willowcreek Crossing, a fine furnishing store in Ridgeway when a young teen called Lori came in and was smitten with my work as we were unpacking the boxes! She fell in love with and purchased one of my Pegasus pieces, which the shop owners were not purchasing, and we are now Facebook friends. Lots of smiles here, can you see me grinning from ear to ear??!! Road trips can be tiring but it is life's little gems like meeting Lori that are the rewards of my work.
Today I am artist and creator of all things beautiful; and that means in all aspects of my life and not only my fine art creations. I choose to live today like the Magician, living my dream, and not fall into the archetype of the Orphan which can feel so familiar at times.
In All His Glory - The Quintessential Black Stallion
8 x 10 matted print, 11 x 14 frame, signed.......$95 Only 3 Available! Free Shipping + Free Note card
It is the dawn of time.........Darkness is ending, and the sun is about to rise as we hear the unmistakable vibrations of creation.....the four winds gently blow off the mountain and across the meadow...... ~Horses of the Wind~
I have always loved both black horses and white horses since childhood. Who hasn't read Black Beauty or Farley's "The Black Stallion"? Black stallions resided in the imaginations and dreams of many little girls for sure.
According to Native American lore, the black horse carries its rider through the Great Mystery of life and into the "Void".....a journey inside to Self. The black stallion is from this inner void where the answers reside.
When you seek an answer to something that seems to evade you, close your eyes and ride on the back of the black stallion. Know and feel that you will have access to the wisdom within..... you hold the golden keys that unlock the door to your answers. The black stallion is your talisman; initiating the journey into the mystery within.
If you would like to have a black stallion talisman for your self to support and carry you on the winds of your destiny please email me at susan@windhorseone.com and I will send you a PayPal link or we accept credit cards.
Or of course look at this piece, feel into it and embody this black stallion's energy!
I feel we are entering a new age of the heart and we are slowly allowing our minds to move aside and not lead us any more. Horses are moving into the role of helping us find our hearts while opening them and allowing us to hear the whispers that are the very essence of our dreams.
......to live the life that is our birthright we must seek not to "change the mind" but rather to "open the heart to Pure Love." ~ Nigel Taylor
Today is Valentine's day so lets open our hearts, feel the connection and experience all the love we have to offer and share with all the beings we share this beautiful planet with.
Happy New Year and all my best to you for a prosperous and healthy 2011! This beautiful white Arabian, Shazi, from my ancient wisdom series is blazing full speed ahead embracing his bright future. He represents "Illumination of Awareness".
I returned to visit my family back east and was delayed from returning home due to poor weather and flight delays. It provided me with an opportunity to reflect and have gratitude for 2010 and all the amazing people I have met and where I am planning on taking my journey of creation with horses.
There is a creative life force within each and every one of us and the more we can access our inner selves and face and know this self, the more we can gain access to this authentic creative self...... illumination of awareness......
Horses connect me to nature and unity and have been my not so gentle at times guide on my journey! It has been a mysterious and fascinating pilgrimage of sorts and has lead me to develop "The Art of Unity; A Journey of Creation With Horses". I learned last year how to combine equine facilitated learning with expressive arts and creative play through horses. When I realized how therapeutic my art creations were for people I wanted a way to share how they could learn creative expression through horses.
I am really excited about this work and will be sharing more with you soon! I am also having a new web site developed so stay tuned!
A strange stillness dwells in the eye of the horse, a composure that appears to regard the world from a measured distance.... it is a gaze from the depths of a dream. ~Hans Heinrich Isenbart
This is one of my latest creations and is an Andalusian stallion called TemerarioVII. His guardian is Kris Garrett of Grand Prix Andalusions and he is 29 years young!
Horses certainly live in dream realms and speak to our dreams and aspirations. They have an irrepressible spirit that touches our hearts and souls.
white horses.....ancient wisdom.....white flames that purify and illuminate your dreams.....with the wind gently whispering in your ear.... gently guiding you to your sacred vision.......
come join on us in a journey to discovery and powerful awareness..........
white horses.....ancient wisdom.....white flames that purify and illuminate your dreams.....with the wind gently whispering in your ear.... gently guiding you to your sacred vision......
Our dreams are all alive inside of us...we just sometimes don't know how to access them. Shazi and Amira are the essence of all of our dreams. As we learn to identify our passions and live authentically our dreams will unfold and manifest. When we surrender to the process our guides magically appear with grace and ease.
Shazi and Amira are magnificent beings who will allow you to unlock the your magnificence, passion and purpose.
They invite you to come play and set your self free........
This is one of several hundred shots I took of Anna Twinney and her mustang Excalibur or "X" as she fondly calls him. Anna is one of the ten authors in the Horse as Teacher book and we met this summer, post publishing, when she came to meet me at my art fair in Boulder.
Later that month I went to visit the Colorado Horse Rescue and while the director was showing me around a buckskin in a corral caught my eye from afar. I was transfixed by his presence. It turns out he belonged to Anna and she was at CHR teaching that day. X is a Spanish mustang from Wyoming and I can never seem to remember all the details.....sigh....must be a sign of age.
An internationally respected natural horsemanship clinician, animal communicator, and Reiki Master, Anna has been featured on television, writes for national and international magazines, and is the creator of the "Reach Out to Natural Horsemanship" DVD series. Formerly the Monty Roberts Learning Center's head instructor, Anna teaches people how to create genuine, trust-based partnerships with their horses. I have had the good fortune to watch her work her gentle magic during a round pen session.
Well to make a long story short I was so mesmerized by X and also the American mustangs I was itching to photograph him. Anna graciously accepted. While I have lots of great shots of X by himself I was so impressed when Anna hopped up on his back without an iota of tack I had to work on this first! Not even a neck rope!
I bet you think she has been schooling him for a while and several days a week.....WRONG! What is even more impressive is he is only three so this is a wonderful example of the willing partnership a person can have with their horse.
Dear Melisa, With the upcoming Core 4 weekend of your certification program, here is my tribute to Scooter -your beloved friend, partner and co-facilitator of "Touched By A Horse" - who so generously healed and transformed the lives of many wounded souls by providing them with the lighted torch and glimmer of hope and strength to carry on and find new beginnings and meaning in their lives.
With an agility to know when to perform, Scooter possessed the impish energy of the class clown with the ability to get down to the serious business of healing his clients
Scooter was a shining multi-faceted diamond who knew, like a sparkling prism, how to disperse, shower, and share the many colors of his light. He easily dialed into the frequency he needed and watching him do his work was certainly a miracle to behold. His passion for life was exemplary.
In my heart I know and feel there is a greater good, while not readily apparent at this time, that will bring new light into our world.
Thank you for the opportunity to photograph your horses - Scooter, QT, and Shadow. As I struggled to put words to relatively new creations of horse portraits, it was through your horses that clarity finally came to me. These are soul essence creations of our equine friends and partners and my new series Equi-esse has been born.
Yours in the dance, Susan
About the Work
Several weeks ago I photographed three of Melisa's equine co-facilitators. With no real deadline, I was granted the grace to create Scooter, QT, and Shadow when I was inspired. It was my desire to portray them as I intuited how they would fit with Melisa's holistic approach to her therapy and also be of benefit to her clients. I sensed the magnitude of the task while knowing the right time would graciously present itself to me. I started easing into the "work" two weeks ago, the magical mystical treasure hunt began and I created my 1st portrait of a horse named QT. A new palette of rainbow colors offered themselves to the work fitting of the nature for the work of a healer.
The weekend came and I had been driven lately, with a sense of urgency, to reorganize my office/studio space. Like the tendrils of a vine in a weed infested garden I had been feeling claustrophobic and overwhelmed by piles of clutter and unfinished business. Of course with my perfectionist manner that meant all closets and files need rummaging through and reorganizing.
Later in the evening I thought I would go to bed but the calling to create leaked into my consciousness. Miffed, I sat at my photographic files wondering why and what I should work on when all I really wanted to do was climb into bed with the chilly fresh mountain breeze cleansing my body and thoughts as I drifted off into sleep. But no....there I was sitting in the dark at my computer and I revisited the file called "Melisa".
Back and forth, on cruise control, I culled through the image files. I had left Scooter for last, starting first with a head portrait of QT and the another head portrait of Shadow. I had erroneously felt that Scooter, with his roany chestnut coat would be more challenging for me. Back and forth I went through his pictures, warmly remembering the events of that day. Occasionally thoughts penetrated my mind wondering which one might appeal to Melisa; they were quickly overridden by the freedom she was allowing me to choose what called to me.
There was a beautiful head shot that reflected the soul essence of Scooter. Perfect I thought. This will complete a trilogy of head shots and then I would move into full body and or action shots of all the horses. I sensed the body shots would require a deeper level of connection that I was not feeling in that moment. But then I heard "Do something different". You have a mastery with the head shots. By now I had come to life as I often do during the process of creating. Never mind that it was already well past 11 pm for I was in my essence and I loved it.
Back on my treasure hunt I went and I instantly knew what I was guided to work on. With a heavy sigh I assessed the image in front of me. Much work needed to be done to bring Scooter into the magical space where so many of my horses exist; a landscape privileged to the horses and Shamans. Sensing again the residual denseness of my busy day I wondered if I was up for the task at this hour. The heaviness of my hand soon lightened and I was transported with Scooter into the realm of the unknown.
I was right there with him as I unknowingly created his new home at the time he was leaving his earthly home. There was a sense of joy and elation as I finished up the piece.
Sunday morning dawned and as coffee was brewing, I opened my email to read the header "Scooter has died". In shock and sadness, with the encouragement of Brad, I shared my creation with Melisa, realizing the universal connectedness of all species we all share. A short time later I pulled the "Sorrow" card from the "Whispers From A Horse's Heart " inspirational card deck. Ugh, how inspirational I said to myself.
It was only later in that day, upon reflection, that I realized that to be fully alive and human we must experience all the polarities of our emotions and in creating Scooter's crossing I did indeed feel both joy and sorrow in a twelve hour span.
I have drawn much insipration and clarity from the loss of Scooter and I am unsure how it will feel to go to the barn but I know a piece of Scooter lives on in all of those who were blessed to be touched by this horse.
So here it is...the second tribute of three. Three is a special number for Melisa as well as myself. Also special to the Touched By A Horse certification program is Peggy M, one of our coaches who keeps us on track and holds a space for us at our "Core" training sessions while we learn, laugh, and cry. Scooter was our teacher who patiently (and sometimes not so patiently!) gave himself to us so that we could learn to become interns. Peggy and her husband Bob, also a TBAH team member, have become like friends and family to many of us in the program.
From Peggy:
Scooter was playful and serious at once. He was gentle and bold. A tease who stirred humor in my core, easing me into my personal Work. I knew that he knew my Being – often better than I. And I trusted his Knowing. Thus he became my friend, my teacher and my healer.
Scooter moved in the world with purpose. He was always ready to do the Work and “got his nose out of joint” when instead of him one of his herd mates was chosen to do a piece of healing with a client. He always wanted to be a part of the action!
His energy held me and gifted me with knowing how we beings are all connected. Everyone in his Presence became more aware of their oneness. And all who are blessed by Scooter’s life walk in the world with more purpose, holding space anew for all beings.
Scooter showed up in the world with an open and full heart. His spirit and energy are within me always -- to guide, to bring smiles and to inspire me to walk in the world moment to moment with abundant love and gratitude.
You will be missed by the herd Scooter but we know you will be always be watching over us and guiding us.
I didn't realize it had been 2 weeks since my last post! Whew, the summer is flying by. Life has been really busy the last few weeks as I was getting ready for Zuma's Rescue Ranch fund raiser last Friday night and also a fine art festival this weekend in Boulder.
I did manage to squeeze in a day of photography last Wed. at the Rocky Mountain Reining Horse Assoc. Summer Slide reining event. What a hoot! I met a few friends at the National Western Events Center down in Denver. I seem to be attending quite a few western events lately. Raised back east, I rode hunters but perhaps the CO air has something to do with it!
This golden mare really appealed to me and also my friends. She exudes grace and strength and perhaps I sense a bit of determination in her. Of all the horses I photographed that day, she was the only horse whose owner I was compelled to go down to the barns and find. I might add it took a bit of nudging and prodding but off I went.
I also photographed some mustang foals at Zuma's before I set up my display on Thurs. evening. Zuma's stepped up to the plate and rescued seven mustang horses from the recent Three-Strikes Ranch tragedy and some of them gave birth recently. Thank you to Jodi at Zuma's for working so hard to rescue abused horses and your work with foster children.
I had the good grace to meet a young teen there who loves photography and is so eager to learn. Her name is Felicia and she will be joining me when I go to photograph Melisa Pearce's horses at Lil bit North Ranch in a few weeks.
Life is good! Live, love, and share....one horse at a time, one human at a time, one day at a time.
In preparation for my workshop next week at Anderson Ranch I created this new piece. I used to do a bit of graphic design and really like a graphic look but I have been honing my equine photography skills over the last year.
This will be a big piece - 75" long and has symbols and text. The goal of the workshop is to combine painting, photography, text, and whatever else we want. My goal is to start creating one-of-a-kind pieces.
When I started this the only thing I knew was that I wanted it to somehow tie into the wild mustangs. After going on a treasure hunt for imagery this is what I came up with.
This is a return to my fine art studies where we were encouraged to make work that makes a difference in the world.
She's gentle and strong, generous and forgiving, a perfect mom and drop dead beautiful. Was this your mom? Maybe or maybe not. I am willing to bet that for many, the answer is probably not. I bring this up because of a recent workshop I attended where there was an amazing group of women who were brave and shared truths honestly about themselves in order that they could grow, learn, and provide a higher quality of service to their clients.
Did I forget to tell you this mother has long flowing hair, four legs and can run like the wind.......
I just love the energy of spring and all it bring; new growth and new foals! Like little children, foals grow and change so quickly. There is something about babies that brings a smile to everyone's face and animal babies are no exception.
With that I thought I would share a few new mare and foal pics. and share some joy! If we animals all share one thing in common I would have to say it is universal motherhood.
And splendid he is! I had the good fortune to photograph this special 21 year old Thoroughbred gelding called He's Splendid last week. You would never guess he is 21 because he is in fabulous condition. Splendid is a special horse with a very large heart and a ton of compassion. He seemed to possess the collective wisdom from his species.
Splendid came all the way from CA with his human Christie. I met Christie at Melisa Pearce's Lil Bit North Ranch at a workshop a week and a half ago. She and Splendid have quite a bond that didn't go unnoticed. I was touched and delighted that Christie asked me to come back later in the week for a photo session!
A little black cloud of rain and hail followed me down the mountain and to Boulder. I thought we would be rained out but I went anyway. Christie and I talked for quite a while in the barn and soon enough the sun came out. One thing about Colorado weather is it can change in a heartbeat and the shoot went well after all!
Christie gave me free rein to choose and work on any piece I wanted to. What trust! I was a bit nervous showing Christie the portrait because she was sooo close to her horse but she was delighted and went off to show it to Splendid, who we believe approved!
Splendid and Christie left for home yesterday and should be back in CA by now. Christie decided to leave the portrait with me so I could have it mounted on aluminum for her (She sent me an email already telling me she is counting the days until it arrives!).
Everybody at Melisa's was touched by this horse.....
Well here it is as promised - the third appaloosa piece. I like things in threes. Believe it or not I have had this image for about nine years and never worked it up! If memory serves me they are all brothers and also related to a filly I had either through her sire or her older brother. I am not sure I like the all white background but these spotty lads are pretty graphic so for now I am holding off on adding any more busyness. Who knows what tomorrow may bring!
Are you seeing spots before your eyes? Sorry -bad joke!
I always looked forward to the new spring arrivals at the farm back east. Some of the foals were highly colored like these fine fellas and others were few spot whites. My filly was black with a white star and seven white spots on her rump. Then the next thing I knew she shed out and was a blue roan with a white blanket, black spots and a new white mane and tail!
I am busily working on a line of note cards and I thought I would do 3 or 4 sets of six cards (each box will have 3 designs - 2 of each). I pulled out all my small visuals and before I knew it I was up to seven or eight sets! I have never been known to be really decisive.
Blue is a medicine hat paint that lives at the Medicine Horse Program facility in Boulder. The medicine hat is an unusual pattern where most of the horse's body is white, but the ears and around the entire top of the head is brown, black or roan. The horse looks like he has a hat on. Legend has it that Native American tribes, especially Plains tribes, called the spot a "Medicine Hat" or "war bonnet".
I took a fancy to him and had the opportunity to have an equine facilitated learning session with him last week. He is 2 1/2 years old and quite the looker.
He was a PMU foal that was brought to Medicine Horse and was saved from slaughter. PMU (pregnant mares urine) is used to make Premarin, a woman's hormone replacement drug. The foals are yanked prematurely from their mothers so that the mares can be bred again.
The program at Medicine Horse is called HopeFoal; at risk young girls are paired with these orphaned foals and both are given an opportunity to thrive. How beautiful is that?!!!
If horses could grin then these two certainly are. These two characters seem to hang out and have many conversations along the fence rail. Could be they are talking about ole Scooter since he isn't around. They don't always invite him to play with them.
You remember Scooter from yesterday's post......Zephyr wouldn't pass the stick or play nicely with him. Its tough when you are not one of the popular kids on the block, or paddock any way.
Today I went down to Denver to the Horse Expo and ran into a fellow horse photographer Carol Walker. She has done an amazing job photographing the American mustang in their native habitat and has a great book of her work called "Wild Hoofbeats America's Vanishing Wild Horses". Check it out at:www.wildhoofbeats.com. She and I both donate part of the proceeds from the sale of our work to The Cloud Foundation. To learn more about this admirable cause go to: www.thecloudfoundation.org/home.html. The Cloud foundation is dedicated to the preservation of wild horses on our public lands and the protection of Cloud's herd in the Arrowhead Mountains of Montana.
I am leaving for a road trip to Arizona tomorrow and won't be back for nine days. I don't take my computer but I will be taking my friend the camera and hope to have lots of new photos to work on and share with you when I get back!
Have a super weekend and I'll be blogging later! Susan windhorseOne Studios www.windhorseone.com
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!
This is a photograph of a mustang after it was gathered in a BLM roundup. He has the good fortune to have been adopted and has great health. Not all of the adopted horses end up so lucky. This image hung recently in a juried art show down in Denver. I am committed to portraying the plight of the American mustang after they have been gathered. There are so many good photographers who are currently documenting the horses out on their ranges. The series, After the Gathering, is intended to educate and touch the hearts of many.
Last year we traveled to California to support Return to Freedom's (http://www.returntofreedom.org) annual fundraiser and met a lot of people dedicated to helping preserve the mustang and its god-given right to remain free. They have done an amazing job to provide a sanctuary to preserve the wild horses while educating people.
Check out http://www.freedomforwildhorses.com, where you can purchase really great articles of clothing. These are a really wonderful group of women who have watched the Nevada herds diminish. Their intention is to raise funds for the preservation of these amazing animals.
It is also my desire to help organizations dedicated to the preservation of our wild horses so I will donate part of the proceeds from this series in an effort to help.
Call of The Horse; To Order your copy today click on the link below!
Free equine note card with each order!
This 3 CD audio book makes a great gift for a horse lover in your life! The retail price is $19.95. Place your order now to receive your copy and your beautiful free 5" x 7" note card of Excalibu ($5.00 value)!!
Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity Through Horses. To reserve your copy click on the PayPal link below
Free equine note card included with each order!
I am pleased to announce my book Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity Through Horses! I am a co-author along with nine other equine visionaries in a collection of poignant stories and photographs on how the horse has led us to lead an authentic life. My chapter is named "The Horses are Calling..."
Included authors are Stormy May (The Path of the Horse DVD), Kathy Pike (author and equine facilitated learning coach), Melisa Pearce (Touched By A Horse) and others! I have read the whole book and I am just amazed at the quality of the stories, the writing, and our kinship with horses.
Click on the image above or this link to go to my website (www.windhorseone.com) to learn more!
This book makes a great gift for a horse lover in your life! The retail price is $19.95. Place your order now to receive your signed copy and your beautiful free 5" x 7" note card of one of my prints ($5.00 value)!!
You may now purchase a boxed set of 6 beautiful high-quality 5" x 7" blank artcards of three of my popular prints for only $18.00! These cards are only $3 each and currently sell in stores for $4 to $6 each so the savings is substantial.
They come packaged in a clear box with a silver metallic ribbon.
Not only are these great for any event when you need a special card but they are suitable for framing!
"In the steady gaze of the horse shines a silent eloquence that speaks of love and loyalty, strength and courage. It is the window that reveals to us how willing is her spirit, how generous her heart" ~Author Unknown
Whispers from a Horse's Heart Inspirational Cards
Touched by a Horse: To order a set of these amazing cards click on the link below
Whispers from a Horse's Heart
You will be delighted reading the in-depth, prophetic messages of the horses from a beautiful herd. What is so different about these card decks, other than their beautiful artwork? The inspiration and guidance that is offered on the cards will encourage you to reflect upon your dreams, desires, and challenges. I just love them!
Every day, just pick one of the 52 cards that appeals to you in that moment and read its message.You will be amazed with just how appropriate the message is to what you are feeling or dealing with. They often provide you with comfort as well as reaffirm your actions and decisions.
Beautifully boxed, these cards are $29.95 and make a great gift!
To order your set click on the secure PayPal link below:
This is the BLOG spot of windhorseOne Studios and Susan Williams, a Denver area equine fine art photographer whose unique and distinctive imagery portrays the magical and powerful essence of the horse.
I am a photographer who primarily photographs horses and also dogs. I live in the mountains of Morrison Colorado. My mantra is "Portraying the powerful and magical essence of the horse."
My pencils and paintbrushes were given up for a camera many years ago however my photography is rendered in a very painterly style. I believe this yields the best of both worlds; a photograph and a painting at the same time. It also satisfies my need to add a personalized touch to the work
After The Gathering
After The Gathering: Number XXXX
After the Gathering is a series I have been working on about the wild mustangs after they have been rounded up and removed from the freedom of their home range by the BLM.
To see more from this series please visit my website: www.windhorseone.com. Or to learn more about America's wild horses and the danger they currently face visit some of my links listed below.
To become involved in the preservation and welfare of America's wild horses please visit some of the links below.
The horses are calling and need your help.
Save The Wild Horses
Become involved! Click to email Secretary of the Interior & the BLM
windhorseOne
windhorseOne Etsy Shop
Please visit my Etsy shop where you can easily purchase some of my beautiful prints. Just clink on the link above to be redirected to Etsy, which is set up to accept secure PayPal payments!
It has been 4 months now since I posted. Time seems to slip away. We were busy creating a new site for windhorseOne Studios with many new services including creativity coaching with horses and also equine identity and branding services. Horses are our passion and we can't imagine life without them.
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