|
Photographing Thoroughbred babies in Deauville, France
D. was born in Saratoga, NY, has lived in Idaho and Prescott, Arizona and now
resides in "The Horse Capital of the World" Lexington, Kentucky. A long
time professional horse trainer and competitor, she began painting when
she was 30. "I'm a late starter. It never even occurred to me to become an
artist when I was younger." Even then, her painting took a back
seat until about eight years later. "Life just kept getting in the way.
I had two small girls, and lost my husband to cancer in 2000. I have so
much empathy for struggling artists, you have no idea."
She enjoys painting all animals, as well
as the human form. "I can't limit myself to a certain subject matter, there are
too many wonderful things to try and paint. Much of the time it is all about the
light to me, but I also love to try and just capture a mood, a moment in time."
Very happily remarried to Tim, a widower
himself, they love to travel but also hang out (i.e. work) on the farm. "We
love the Bluegrass life!" They currently (current being the operative
word) own five Thoroughbreds, four off the track and one homebred.
She is committed to helping
ex-racehorses and animals in general, and has a list of causes she supports with
donated paintings.
She has been privileged to study with
“incredible artists" such as Morgan Weistling, Dan Mieduch, Dave Wade, Tom
Browning, Greg Beecham, Jim Norton, Gary Carter and Sam Savitt. "They are some of the
best, and have been huge influences at every stage of my journey. I know I only
retained a tenth of their valuable information, and I'm really hoping for some
repeats."
She has been a Quick Draw artist
(completing a painting in an hour) at the Phippen Art Show for seven
years, and the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival for five years in a row.
"I really enjoy it more and more. It's a great challenge."
"Painting is now necessary for me. I
don't always enjoy it, to be sure. It is a roller coaster ride of
disappointment, frustration, pleasure and satisfaction. I don't paint every day.
It can take me absolutely forever to finally get in front of the easel. Whether
that's my past of trying to squeeze painting in amongst work and family, or my
own lack of discipline I'm not sure. And once I get there, I'm easily
distracted. I wish I was an artist who could get lost in a painting and realize
they've been painting for hours, but I'm not. Art is such a great journey
of self awareness and I have accepted (finally) how I am, how I approach
painting, and how I don't. The only rule is there are no rules. That works
for me."
"If I could encourage anyone who wants
to pursue art, I would say 'Just do it.' That is what a sculptor (John Coleman,
CA) did for me when I was contemplating doing a sculpture. He waved aside all my
questions and doubts and said those words to me. He was so right. You just have
to love something enough to slog through the difficulties, that's what 'talent'
is to me."
Disciplines:
Oil
Bronze
- American Academy of Equine Art Fall
Show 2007 and 2008
- Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction, 2009
- 2007 Master Foxhounds of America Centennial Traveling
Exhibit
- 2005
Winner of the Southwest Art
Award, Phippen Fine
Art Show
- Associate Member of the
Oil Painters of America
- 2003 award winner Phippen Museum
Fine Art Show
- Award winner
Draft Horse Classic Art Show
- 2004 Scottsdale Best
and Brightest Show.
- 2004 Western States Horse Expo
- Represented by Galleries
West Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Gallery B Lexington, Kentucky
Donations: Organizations D. has supported
with donated paintings include:
Lexington
Cancer Foundation
Thoroughbred Charities of America
Woodford Humane Society
Bluegrass Conservancy
Commissions:
D. will sometimes do
commissions. References need to be agreed upon, price per commission
starts at $8/sq.inch.
Some of my former racehorses in their new careers with
me.
 With
Tim in Midway, KY
Greta
Max
23˚F!! Quick Draw on the Square, Jackson Hole, September 2006
Creating the record setting Quick Draw- Phippen 2007
|
