24×36″ Wild Mustang Horse Art in Encaustic Wax on Wood Panel.
ABOUT THIS HORSE ART
I intended this horse painting to have 2 purposes. The models I used are real mustangs with a single owner and while I wanted to honor her mustangs, I also wanted to tell a new story. While there’s the real story of these three, my made up story is that these boys are all part of the same wild band, and they’re meeting and discussing, perhaps the topic of succession since most wild stallions would rather fight than discuss anything, or be a part of the same band for long. Usually the stallions are cast out once they reach a certain age to start a family of their own.
The main exploration here was to push the boundaries of encaustic painting into the realm of an oil artist. While this is 100% painted with wax, the realism makes the viewer wonder how it could be hot wax, and not oil.
Artist Statement
I love to paint horses and I love the challenge of painting horses in Encaustic Wax. For this horse painting, I use traditional painting methods, this is not a photo encaustic, this is 100% drawn one stroke of wax at a time. I enjoy the challenge of painting with as much realism as I can with this tricky and frustrating medium. I use traditional brushes as well as a hot stylus which allows me to draw very fine lines of hot wax as you would with a quill or fountain pen. This ability for detail allows me to draw the faces with a great amount of detail and life.
I love to mix a lot of colors and make it rich. Encaustic paintings are notoriously difficult to photograph and are infinitely more breathtaking in person. Please take the time to watch the below video where you can better see the details up close. Wax paintings have a polish and depth of texture to them and are some of the most archival and long-lasting paintings in history, some dating as far back at 5000BC.
Growing up I rode horses every day and owned a rescued wild Mustang. I rode dressage, jumpers, and even western. I have a deep love for wild horses and wish to see them remain healthy and free, whenever possible. If freedom isn’t an option, as I know starvation and climate change are a real thing, then at the very least well-loved as I did with my pony. I commend the efforts of those out saving these horses and preserving their habitats.