Horses are as characteristic as humans, but for me they manifest a more genuine spirit to the outside world. As a child horses meant pony clubs and attending horse shows. Today horses are my natural tranquilizers. Their very presence can lower my blood pressure and improve my mood. Whenever I grieve over a loss or feel miserable from a bad day at work, my horse Shelby is my savior. She will come over to me and stand quietly while I weep. Her quiet emotional support gives me strength to move on. When I enter the barn Shelby’s welcoming nicker never ceases to thrill me. I love that animal. She’s my best friend. These powerful animals, especially Shelby provide inspiration for my art. My intention in my paintings is to capture the horse’s quirky personality and paint perspectives that aren’t often seen in horse paintings. Horse’s numerous roles have been depicted in paintings countless times through military art, which portrays horses in battle and the cavalry of knights, through horse racing, and through the art of the American West and its famous Native American tradition of cowboys. It wasn’t until around the 17th century that it was considered normal for a horse to be the entire focus of a work of fine art in Western Europe. Presently, most horses are companion and therapy animals, meaning humans greatly value their relationships. Horses can display many different attitudes and emotions. With Shelby in my paintings, I show a range of gracefulness, goofiness or puppy likeness seen in some horses. My emphasis is Shelby in the painting, so working on wood panel keeps the background raw and soft. This background paired with vibrant pastel colors it then enhances Shelby’s presence in the painting. I begin with blocks of color leaving the eyes empty until the final touches brings her alive. There is something about the gentle wisdom in a horse’s eye that can put even the most troubled soul at peace. When I was a child, I dreamed of owning my own horse and I painted imaginary horses to transcend my current reality. Today, I own my personal horse and I paint for the same reasons; they both transport me into a different reality.