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

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

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

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

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

Mustang Series: After the Gathering

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.

Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

The Creation of a Custom Portrait

I recently had the opportunity to create a custom horse portrait that was for a Christmas gift. I wanted to share with you a little bit about the creative process involved. The 2 horses in the photograph had been in the family for a long time and had shared a successful show career with both a mother and a daughter! It was the daughter's desire to capture an intimate moment between their cherished animals. We ran them around for a bit and then they finally gave me the shot I was waiting for. The first image is the actual photo. There are a few distracting elements like the wire fence and bright spots in the background.

What comes next is always fun since I work from intuition. It is important to me to add the element of human touch to my photographs. I wanted to create an elegant portrait with a magical and mystical atmosphere for the horses so I will paint in the background. I use a variety of techniques I have developed and the finished piece is between a sepia toned B&W with a hint of color. The final piece was printed on gallery wrapped canvas and ready to hang or be custom framed.












Bye for now,
Susan