Not Fade Away

This painting was created to be expressly donated to the 2012 HeART of the Horse  gala dinner and auction to benefit Save A Forgotten Equine (SAFE) Horse Rescue based in Monroe, Washington.

Here is what my painting was intended to mean: “The title “Not Fade Away” was suggested by my husband after the painting was finished. It was the name of one of Buddy Holly’s songs and perfectly describes what I was trying to convey when painting this.

 The two horses depicted are actual Thoroughbreds who were being rehabilitated at the end of their racing careers, given a second chance and placed into caring adoptive homes. I met them at the New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption Society, Langley, British Columbia.

 I did one head in graphite with just the eye being featured in color and a bit of color on the halter and cheek to show that some horses “just fade away”, being abandoned, abused, forgotten. The other head is fully painted – the lucky horse who did “not fade away” and found a kind, decent owner, is well looked after and loved, and who has a renewed purpose in life.”

Here is what SAFE said about it:

This unique equine portrait shows two horses, one of which is drawn in lightly colored graphite in the background, while the other is a fully-colored acrylic portrait in the foreground.

The foreground painting includes more detail, and depicts a chestnut ex-racehorse, with a white blaze, wearing a reddish leather halter.

Both horse’s eyes are deep, dark brown, full of intelligence and warmth, showing their good breeding and loyal nature.