Unleashed - 9" x 12" oil on panel, framed. This painting is included in my "In the Presence of Horses exhibition at Gallery 408 in Camas Washington for the month of July. See the link for more details.
Alla prima painting means I get to squish around in wet paint—but I also remove about as much as I apply. I love working with staining, transparent colors. When wiped away, they create highlights, leaving behind a beautiful tint. It’s a tactile experience for me; removing paint has a sculptural feel, as if I’m modeling the form with my hands.
Last fall, while attending the American Academy of Equine Art Fall Show in Aiken, South Carolina, I had the opportunity to attend a few polo matches. It was an unforgettable experience—our first real glimpse into the fast-paced, highly skilled world of polo. I was captivated by the sheer agility and athleticism of the horses as they maneuvered at full speed with precision and grace.
Back in my studio, I began exploring how best to respond to that experience through my own artistic lens. I’m drawn to the purity of the horse’s form and often choose to strip away the riders and tack, allowing the horse itself to take center stage. In this painting, that approach felt especially fitting. The composition captures the energy and convergence of the horses in motion—twisting, stretching, and charging with a power all their own
