windhorseOne Studios: Equine Fine Artist susan Williams

windhorseOne; Horse Photography ~ New Site

2011-08-18T23:09:00.002-06:00

It has been 4 months now since I posted. Time seems to slip away. We were busy creating a new site for windhorseOne Studios with many new services including creativity coaching with horses and also equine identity and branding services. Horses are our passion and we can't imagine life without them.

To see our awesome new site please visit www.windhorseone.com. Our Blog will be built in so we are saying good by to this Blog

We also have a new online shop that features my equine art work as well as equine art of other artists including fabulous jewelry! Check it out at www.windhorseone.com/shop.

I hope you are enjoying your summer!
Susan
www.windhorseone.com

I Graduate!!!; Touched By A Horse Certification

2011-04-26T12:11:00.005-06:00

April 29th at Lil Bit North Ranch
6PM
Please join me for my Touched By A Horse Certification Graduation!

I am stepping out Beyond The Lens!

What a journey life and the horses have taken me on the last 3 years. It was approximately 3 years ago I became part of the Horse as Teacher Project where I contributed a chapter called "The Horses Are Calling" about my journey as a fine art photographer that led to my mission to help the wild horses. My chapter was the portal to me learning what my passions and mission are, leading me down life's trail to Melisa Pearce, CEO of Touched By A Horse and founder of the only Equine Gestalt Coaching Certification Program in the US.

I moved from colleague and co-creator with Melisa to having the honor of being the creator of the equine artwork for her web site and later home. She became my mentor through her certification program where I took the journey with her and her magical horses; a journey where I learned more about myself and how I show up in the world. I grew, I stretched beyond my comfort zone in more ways than one and now I show up in the world in a more authentic way.

With Melisa's blessing, at her workshops, I have seen how my equine work touches the hearts and souls of people. I further learned how to bring my unique approach to her TBAH program's solid foundation and create programs of my own; creative expression through horses.

I have met many amazing women on a similar path who through my journey, mentoring and apprenticeship with Melisa have led to joint co-creations and workshops to empower and help people identify and rekindle their passions, joy and dreams. With horses!!!!!!!

Cindy Hartzell, from Horses Helping Humans and I teach "Living Your Dream" and "Journey to Joy" workshops. We solidified our friendship at Melisa's Lil Bit North Ranch.
Cindy and I are also excited to start co-creating with Devon Combs, from Beyond The Arena, and also a recent graduate of Melisa's TBAH Cert program. We have all been "touched by a horse"!!!!!!

I am stepping up and stepping out beyond my lens and art in a big way to also help people create and brand their businesses so that their unique voices don't get overlooked or blend in with the pack. Not only do I get to photograph and create art of horses I am now sharing my marketing, web design and creative identity system with people!!!!!

Today I choose not to allow myself to go into overwhelm with all the creative ideas I have but allow myself to know that everything is unfolding with MAGIC, EASE, JOY and PASSION just as it is meant to be.

I would love for you to stop by this Friday!

Big Hugs,
Susan
www.windhorseone.com

Gypsy Soul & Spirit; More Magic

2011-04-25T10:15:00.005-06:00

Gypsy Soul & Spirit

There is something I love about the nomadic spirit the gypsy lifestyle conjures up for me. Brad and I just returned from an amazing 4-day road trip through Colorado. The open road is often a time of inspiration and new ideas for me. I can come home tired and overwhelmed from all the miles behind a windshield but this time I said "NO" to overwhelm and after I checked all the emails I sat down to work on this new Gypsy Vanner creation.

You see, we choose to create our realities and I often choose overwhelm and lack of focus; a sticky mucky place that feels familiar and yucky. Although I have many administration tasks talking to me and weighing me down like a ball and chain.......I choose to move into the unknown throes of creativity and joy for they never let me down. And that ball and chain.....today it is made of platinum and diamonds!

We left Denver last Thurs, returning last night after stopping in Pagosa springs, Durango, Ouray, Ridgeway, Grand Juction, Breckenridge and Idaho Springs! Oh my! We never know where we are going to stay or whom we will meet!

We were setting up a new account at Willowcreek Crossing, a fine furnishing store in Ridgeway when a young teen called Lori came in and was smitten with my work as we were unpacking the boxes! She fell in love with and purchased one of my Pegasus pieces, which the shop owners were not purchasing, and we are now Facebook friends. Lots of smiles here, can you see me grinning from ear to ear??!! Road trips can be tiring but it is life's little gems like meeting Lori that are the rewards of my work.

Today I am artist and creator of all things beautiful; and that means in all aspects of my life and not only my fine art creations. I choose to live today like the Magician, living my dream, and not fall into the archetype of the Orphan which can feel so familiar at times.

Joy to you on your journey!
Susan
www.windhorsone.com

Magical Garden; Gypsy Vanner

2011-04-20T21:31:00.004-06:00

Inside the heart of a horse is a world full of magic. Inside the human heart is a world full of magic. We have the capability to take the muck in our world and turn it into gold. I know it sounds easier said than done!

I have found that if I am stuck in the muck it is often the time to slow down, turn inward and listen quietly and low and behold the muck turns to gold.

xoxo Susan

Animal Totem: Raven

2011-04-18T10:48:00.003-06:00

Raven

The Raven, like the black stallion, is a great resource to teach us about the great mystery of our life. Have you ever noticed the iridescence sheen on black? If I look real closely at the fine black hairs of my horse's coat I can see the dance of iridescence in the light.

Iridescence is generally known as the property of certain surfaces which appear to change color as the angle of view or the angle of illumination changes. Iridescence is commonly seen in things such as soap bubbles and butterfly wings.

On black, iridescence has a magical quality and according to the animal medicine cards, Raven carries the medicine of magic! the color black is a meataphor for seeking answers and not a black hole of dark negativity. Quite the contrary! Black holds all the energy, answers and color of our creative source.

Today - honor the magic that lives within you! I had a lot of fun creating this piece and it contains many layers and dimensions. Enjoy!

Xoxo Susan
www.windhorseone.com

The Black Stallion Within

2011-04-13T10:49:00.006-06:00

In All His Glory - The Quintessential Black Stallion

8 x 10 matted print, 11 x 14 frame, signed.......$95
Only 3 Available!
Free Shipping + Free Note card

It is the dawn of time.........Darkness is ending, and the sun is about to rise as we hear the unmistakable vibrations of creation.....the four winds gently blow off the mountain and across the meadow...... ~Horses of the Wind~

I have always loved both black horses and white horses since childhood. Who hasn't read Black Beauty or Farley's "The Black Stallion"? Black stallions resided in the imaginations and dreams of many little girls for sure.

According to Native American lore, the black horse carries its rider through the Great Mystery of life and into the "Void".....a journey inside to Self. The black stallion is from this inner void where the answers reside.

When you seek an answer to something that seems to evade you, close your eyes and ride on the back of the black stallion. Know and feel that you will have access to the wisdom within..... you hold the golden keys that unlock the door to your answers. The black stallion is your talisman; initiating the journey into the mystery within.

If you would like to have a black stallion talisman for your self to support and carry you on the winds of your destiny please email me at susan@windhorseone.com and I will send you a PayPal link or we accept credit cards.

Or of course look at this piece, feel into it and embody this black stallion's energy!

XOXOX-
Susan
www.windhorseone.com

Magical Garden; Snowy Egret

2011-04-03T09:43:00.004-06:00

I have really been influenced lately by a few mixed media artists and it is my plan to start adding paint to some of my more recent wildlife and floral art. I have also been feeling the desire to branch out from my equine work and see what creative expression evolves and where it takes me.

Not to mention the horses have been to fuzzy!

This beautiful bird lives downtown close to Denver in the Belmar area. It is amazing how wildlife have adapted to communities being built around them. If you look closely you will see the ripples on the pond.

XOXOX Susan
www.windhorseone.com

Magical Garden; Poppies

2011-04-02T11:12:00.002-06:00

Show season is coming up and I have been experimenting with wildlife and now I am transitioning to florals. Flowers often have such a short presence...they bloom and smile at us for short periods and then wither and die. They teach us about impermanence and to live in the moment.

Enjoy!
Susan
www.windhorseone.com

Wildlife Art; Fox Animal Totem Two

2011-03-03T08:53:00.004-07:00

Fox Totem Two

Foxes are very clever and blend well into their surroundings. They come out at dusk as the light is changing from lightness to darkness. The fox is highly attuned to his world and has a knack for preparing in advance. Although the fox's ears are small they are highly dialed in.

When our inside worlds don't match our outside worlds it is time to quiet ourselves and listen to and trust our intuition so we can anticipate and create our future!

~S

Wildlife Art; Fox Animal Totem

2011-03-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

Fox Totem One

This beautiful little soul would come to visit every night a couple of summers ago. We didn't feed him, he was following his daily trail of least resistance along our driveway. We live at the top of a box canyon surrounded by other folks property so we are blessed to have our own sanctuary where bear, deer, fox, and sometimes elk and eagle pass to say hello.

If fox has entered you path then it may be time to experience life with joy and purpose. it may be time to dig deeply, hop on your windhorse to journey and discover what excites you! Enliven your senses and LIVE .... Be your "foxy" self and step out of your camouflage and into the playground of imagination and dreams!

XOXOXO
Susan
www.windhorsone.com

Denver Gift, Home, Jewelry and Resort Show = FUN!

2011-02-26T22:15:00.003-07:00

For the next 4 days I get to spend time at the Denver Gift, Home, Jewelry & Resort Show as both an exhibitor and a buyer. While I love to meet new people and have my notecards (AKA little messengers) go to new accounts I think it is more fun to go out on a hunt for all things equine!

We saw some of our favorite accounts today; Robert from Buckskin Books in Ourey. Ourey Colorado is one of my favorite places to visit. And Wendy from Silver Horse in Golden stopped by.

I will be at the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo from March 11th - 13th with lots of fun new "Spirit of Equus" merchandise created by other artisans. I was working with a web designer to launch a new store but he went AWOL on me........ those creatives.... ;)

All the artists for the art exhibit at the Expo have been chosen and friends and colleagues Melisa Pearce and Anna Twinney will be at the expo this year along with The Holistic Horse Care Coop!!! Should be a super good time!

Melisa Anna and I will be hosting a 2 hour round table discussion on our new 3 CD book "Call of the Horse".

Stay tuned for the details!

Wildlife Art; Wolf Animal Totem Two

2011-02-24T09:22:00.005-07:00

Wolf Totem Two

As a child I was primarily drawn to horses however wolves were significant for me also. A year ago somebody felt I should not just focus on horses and had I ever considered other wildlife??? I couldn't think of ever creating anything other than horses but a year has passed and I have had time to think about my position..... all animals have so much to share with us.

Wolf is also a guide and like Elk, slow and steady is part of the message he delivers. Slow and steady and you will get the prize! What is your prize? To know your truth? To live authentically? Perhaps to live like wolf.

Wolf will travel great distances in search of Truth and Knowledge and return to the Pack to teach and share their Medicine.

xoxoxo
Susan
www.windhorseone.com

Wildlife Art; Wolf Animal Totem

2011-02-23T10:20:00.006-07:00

Wolf Totem One

Wolf is the pathfinder, the forerunner of new ideas who returns to the clan to teach and share medicine. A true family member yet embodies a strong sense of uniqueness and individuality.

Wolf aligns with the moon, its power ally. Moon represents the unconscious that holds the secrets of knowledge and wisdom.

The wolf empowers the teacher within us all to flourish and come to the aid of all beings on Earth and help shed light in understanding "The Great Mystery" and Creation....... Life

~S
www.windhorseone.com

Wildlife Art; Elk Animal Totem

2011-02-22T12:48:00.007-07:00

"A human being is part of the whole, called by us "Universe," a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole [of] nature in its beauty. ~ Albert Einstein 1950

We can learn a lot from Einstein, widening our compassion......learning to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.

I am have decided to start creating wildlife art from some of my photographs and create animal totems, weaving them into my journey of creative expression with horses.

Elk represents stamina and the ability to pace oneself. Sometimes we feel so unbalanced and feel like we will never meet our goals. Elk shows up when you are about to hit your stride in life; don't give up, have endurance for the long run >>>> DETERMINATION!!

If we balance our pragmatic "to do" lists with our passions, our life will fall into place easily and effortlessly! When we do too much we tire, become frustrated and disappointed - all negative energies. When we dream and fly around in creation we often can't get anything done for life is a high. So BALANCE the two and see what happens!

Trust the journey,
xoxoxox
Susan
www.windhorseone.com

An Abundant Heart; White Horse Wisdom

2011-02-14T09:40:00.008-07:00

An Abundant Heart

I feel we are entering a new age of the heart and we are slowly allowing our minds to move aside and not lead us any more. Horses are moving into the role of helping us find our hearts while opening them and allowing us to hear the whispers that are the very essence of our dreams.

......to live the life that is our birthright we must seek not to "change the mind" but rather to "open the heart to Pure Love." ~ Nigel Taylor

Today is Valentine's day so lets open our hearts, feel the connection and experience all the love we have to offer and share with all the beings we share this beautiful planet with.

XOXOX
Susan
www.windhorseone.com

Zumas Rescue Ranch & Big Dogs Huge Paws Spa Day Feb 19th 2011

2011-02-08T12:35:00.009-07:00

Join me at Zuma's Rescue Ranch on Saturday Feb 19th from 11 am - 3 pm. Iwill be there taking photographs of the dogs as part of the fundraiser.

The ranch is beautiful, their mission is wonderful and so are the folks Jodi and Paul M! To learn more about this fun doggie spa day please visit:

http://www.zumasrescueranch.com/media/3fd 784b4942a7954ffff816affffd524.pdf

Call 303-346-7493 to register in advance; limited to 50 dogs.

Photo Sessions
Bake Sale & Lunch
Agility Course
Petting Zoo
Washing Station
much more!

From Zuma's site:

In today's fast paced world the voiceless members of society, children and animals are falling through the cracks and finding themselves neglected and or abandon in some way or another.

At risk youth are landing themselves in prison after leaving their group homes, foster care homes or family homes. We as a society have become so busy we are leaving the children to raise themselves. We want a quick diagnosis for behavior issues and medication to sedate the child rather that taking the time to parent and nurture.

Horses are helpless to mans reckless breeding practices and brought into this world with no plan for a future, many of these horses are neglected from the day they hit the planet. Pregnant mares are left with no care during the pregnancy and the foals are often sent to slaughter in utero as breeders decide they have more horses than they care to feed and nurture.

For these children and horses bouncing from home/herd to home/herd is normal place, these children and horses never learn to bond with other beings. Consistency is so important in any young impressionable children or horses.

At Zuma's we pair these wayward souls in a nurturing healing manner and together they learn to trust and love one another. Once trust of the horse/ child pair is accomplished we can move into learning to love and nurture themselves and others.

Only with trust and love developed can we begin teaching the basic life skills necessary to succeed in today's world.

XOXO
Susan
www.windhorsone.com

2011 Rocky Mountain Horse Expo; Call for Entry - Equine Artists

2011-01-11T23:30:00.008-07:00

Prospectus ~ Rocky Mountain Horse Expo 2^nd Annual Art Show

2011 “Equine Art in the Park” Art Exhibit celebrating the equine spirit through art

Denver Rocky Mountain Horse Expo

March 11^th -13^th 2011

National Western Complex, Denver CO

Equine Art in the Park is a fine art exhibit celebrating the spirit of the horse. The art show will feature contemporary work including paintings, drawings, photography, pottery, pastel, sculpture, digital, and mixed media.

The Rocky Mountain Horse Expo was developed by the Colorado Horse Council, Inc into one of the largest equine events of its kind west of Ohio and we are pleased to announce our 2nd equine art show “Equine Art in the Park”.

The Colorado Horse Council, Inc. is a grass-roots, all-breed, non-discipline specific organization dedicated to linking the horse owners and the horse industry of the State of Colorado into a powerful, common voice in order to protect their common equine interests through legislation and education.

Artwork sales: Artwork must be for sale during the exhibit with a 35% commission to the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo and 65% commission to the artist. The exhibit area will be manned by RMHE staff to facilitate sales of artwork.

Entry Fee: $25 for up to 3 images submitted on a CD

please contact susan@windhorseone.com for a prospectus

New Beginnings

2011-01-09T23:53:00.005-07:00

It's not the things we get but the hearts we touch that will
determine our success in life.
~Mac Anderson

I don't think there is anything as sacred as young babies; human and animal alike. This is my first piece of the new year and it makes me think about new beginnings.

A lot of people I have talked to are very excited about the new year. There is a feeling that people have that amazing things are going to happen. I felt this too as the new year changed..... for some unknown reason I feel it is going to be a special year for all who embrace it as a new beginning.

Like this foal there can also be new growth with a new beginning. New growth can often be painful but often leads to new discoveries.

When we journey with horses we are led to new connections within ourselves and also with others.

Enjoy new beginnings in this new year.
Hugs,
Susan
www.windhorseone.com

National Western Stock Show; windhorseOne Studios at Rustic Ranch Relics & Colorado Horse Council booths!

2011-01-06T20:35:00.009-07:00

It is time for the exciting 22 day National Western Stock Show in Denver! I am pleased to announce that windhorseOne Studios' line of notecards and small prints can be found in three locations.

Rustic Ranch Relics will have two booths. One in the performance coliseum and also the main exhibit hall.

Rocky Mountain Horse Expo Poster ~ Available at the NWSS

Stop by and pick up last years poster for the Rock Mountain Horse Expo....maybe I will be there signing them. They are 18 x 24 inches and printed on a beautiful felt paper. The Colorado Horse Council is located in the education hall and sales of the poster benefit the council.

It has been a lot of fun seeing this poster pop up on otherColorado horsey folks web sites and even their newsletters because they will be exhibiting. It always gives me a little jolt of recognition and then puts a smile on my face. :)

I am also coordinating the 2nd annual RMHE contemporary art exhibit. email me at susan@windhorseone.com for a prospectus.....did I spell that right?!!

~S
www.windhorseone.com

Call of the Horse - Audio Book CD

2011-01-04T21:37:00.016-07:00

Take a journey with five of today's top equine professional women as they share their personal journeys and the life-changing experiences they have had with the horses.

3 CD Audio Book
$19.95
Shipping this Jan 2011!
Order pre-shipping and receive Free US shipping AND
Free 5x7 Notecard, suitable for framing, of Excalibur - Spanish Mustang and Reach Out to Horses ambassador and our cover boy!

BONUS Interviews:Coupled with these personal accounts are fascinating interviews with the authors, conducted by Equesse CEO and Publisher, Leah Juarez. Leah is renowned for her commitment to enriching women’s lives through sharing their passion for horses. AND our music is by Templeton Thompson....."A Horse That Can Fly". Yeee haaaw, as Tempe would say!

About The Call of the Horse CD

Horses have been at our side for thousands of years. Since the dawn of civilization they have literally carried us on their backs into a brighter future. But only recently have we begun to understand the gifts, the true partnership we have with these majestic beings, and their role as teachers in our lives.

Our equine companions effortlessly lead us down the path toward our own Souls, showing us the way to fulfilling and heart-led lives. They act as our mirrors, reflecting back to us the courage to carry on in our darkest hour, the authenticity to speak our truth, and our own true nature, to live in the moment, joyously celebrating the miracles that surround us every day.

The Spirit of the horse continues to answer the call of every heart that cries out for freedom, connection and love. Let these stories from Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity with Horses, read by the authors, carry you back to your own True Voice, your own Spirit. Explore the depth, the meaning and the profound lessons our horses have waiting for us, if we are only willing to listen.

The Horses are Calling - written and read by Susan Williams (me! ;0). An artist's inspirational memoir of transformation and commitment as her soul journeyed life's rocky trail while finding its true meaning and artistic expression through the calling of the horse.

Another Chance - written and read by Anna Twinney. The gift of a second chance and the joy that can be found even in the darkest of moments.

Whispers from a Horse's Heart - written and read by Melisa Pearce. Four key life lessons the horses have taught me.

Teaching the Wisdom of the Horse Ancestors - written and read by Wendy Golding. From the horse's perspective, THOR explores this magical journey of horse/human connection opening to a higher consciousness for both.

Crossing the Silly Bridge - written and read by Lisa Arie (Dee). The story of crossing the bridge into the unknown and what happened when Lisa dared to take the journey.

The Art of Unity; A Journey of Creation With Horses - Illumination of Awareness

2011-01-02T19:59:00.010-07:00

Illumination of Awareness

Happy New Year and all my best to you for a prosperous and healthy 2011! This beautiful white Arabian, Shazi, from my ancient wisdom series is blazing full speed ahead embracing his bright future. He represents "Illumination of Awareness".

I returned to visit my family back east and was delayed from returning home due to poor weather and flight delays. It provided me with an opportunity to reflect and have gratitude for 2010 and all the amazing people I have met and where I am planning on taking my journey of creation with horses.

There is a creative life force within each and every one of us and the more we can access our inner selves and face and know this self, the more we can gain access to this authentic creative self...... illumination of awareness......

Horses connect me to nature and unity and have been my not so gentle at times guide on my journey! It has been a mysterious and fascinating pilgrimage of sorts and has lead me to develop "The Art of Unity; A Journey of Creation With Horses". I learned last year how to combine equine facilitated learning with expressive arts and creative play through horses. When I realized how therapeutic my art creations were for people I wanted a way to share how they could learn creative expression through horses.

I am really excited about this work and will be sharing more with you soon! I am also having a new web site developed so stay tuned!

Big hugs!
Susan
www.windhorseone.com

Equine Angels; Ray of Light Farm

2010-12-24T10:58:00.005-07:00

Equine Angel ~Petie
Equine Angel Rescue Sanctuary & Ray of Light Farm

The horse is a holy creature
sent to this earth to remind us of the Divine
He is uniquely connected to us.
He is our benevolent companion
and our guide
to the beingness we have forgotten.

His four strong legs carry us when we are weak
from the burdens of life.
His beauty inspires us
when our eyes are weary from crying.
His spirit uplifts us when our hearts lie dormant.

Let us not forget. Let us not abandon him
or any of his kind.
Let us not relegate him to a beast of burden
but acknowledge his unselfish gifts.

Let us always care for him
as long as his legs touch the earth and beyond.

He is our reminder of what grace is
He is our return to grace.

Only by awakening to the true awareness of the horse
can we ever expect to understand him.
He speaks to us in the language of the heart, not the mind.
His true self is only given to those who seek to comprehend.

Only those who ask
rather than demand
will receive his undying loyalty and generosity of spirit.

Awaken
to the message of the horse . . .

by Kim Royal

2010-12-23T10:04:00.007-07:00

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through! ~Author Unknown

It is time to look back at the year and reflect and honor our journey. It is also time to look forward with excitement to the new year and see where our journey takes us for "The soul rides on the feathers of the wind" `Meister Eckhart

Horses, for me, represent a bridge to nature and all creation. They are nature in all her glory here on earth while they also invite us to journey and connect with our intuitive higher selves.

Is there any where in your life that you may feel stuck? Like the windhorse, horses have the ability to lend us the wings we need to soar and take flight with the wind while allowing us to overcome the obstacles we may be facing.

May joy and well being be yours this holiday season.

XOXO Susan

www.windhorseone.com

Depths Of A Dream

2010-11-22T10:33:00.005-07:00

A strange stillness dwells in the eye of the horse, a composure that appears to regard the world from a measured distance.... it is a gaze from the depths of a dream.
~Hans Heinrich Isenbart

This is one of my latest creations and is an Andalusian stallion called TemerarioVII. His guardian is Kris Garrett of Grand Prix Andalusions and he is 29 years young!

Horses certainly live in dream realms and speak to our dreams and aspirations. They have an irrepressible spirit that touches our hearts and souls.

Have a beautiful day!
XOXO Susan

www.windhorseone.com
Living Your Dream; Helping you to define and live your dream through horses
http://windhorseonestudios.wordpress.com/

Power of Intention, Horse Wisdom

2010-11-17T13:27:00.005-07:00

In a world older and more complete than ours they moved finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and travail of the earth.

~Henry Beston

Enjoy the pairings of my equi-esse art with great inspirational thoughts!
~Yours in the dance; always remember the horses are calling.......
Susan
www.windhorseone.com
http://windhorseonestudios.wordpress.c om

Arabian Beauties

2010-11-17T13:08:00.004-07:00

white horses.....ancient wisdom.....white flames that purify and illuminate your dreams.....with the wind gently whispering in your ear.... gently guiding you to your sacred vision.......

come join on us in a journey to discovery and powerful awareness..........

to learn more click here

Love & Light
Susan
www.windhorseone.com
http://windhorseonestudios.wordpress.com

Your Living Your Dream Workshop Equine Facilitators

2010-11-15T20:50:00.010-07:00

Shazi & Amira

white horses.....ancient wisdom.....white flames that purify and illuminate your dreams.....with the wind gently whispering in your ear.... gently guiding you to your sacred vision......

Our dreams are all alive inside of us...we just sometimes don't know how to access them. Shazi and Amira are the essence of all of our dreams. As we learn to identify our passions and live authentically our dreams will unfold and manifest. When we surrender to the process our guides magically appear with grace and ease.

Shazi and Amira are magnificent beings who will allow you to unlock the your magnificence, passion and purpose.

They invite you to come play and set your self free........

XOXO

Susan

http://www.windhorseone.com/

Living Your Dream Workshop:

http://windhorseonestudios.wordpress.com/

Living YOUR Dream Workshop in Franktown Colorado

2010-11-14T22:43:00.009-07:00

December 4th & 5th 2010 Workshop
On Track Horsecare, Franktown Colorado

Would You Love to Find Your Authentic Voice?
Would You Love to Return to Wholeness?
Would You Love to Listen to Your Heart?
Are You Currently Living Your Unique Dream?

There has never been a better time to find passion, purpose, and creativity through horse soul wisdom. You will have the opportunity to indulge yourself in many contemplative and creative activities for two days as you explore and allow yourself the freedom to play. Come join us andhear what your unique soul has to tell you!

Live a life of authenticity by receiving the inherent wisdom and healing medicine of the horse to find your passion and honor your voice. We all come into the world with our own unique DNA and therefore unique soul with its own vision and voice; we just seem to shut it down along the way. Learn to embrace and infuse the gentle guidance, messages and horse wisdom offered to each one of us to find your own special truth.

During the Living the Dream workshop each participant will experience, discover and create.
Sessions with horses that will connect you to your true inner and creative self.
An awakened self-awareness and a personal horse soul tribute to keep and cherish – a special memento to gently reconnect you to your soul while guiding you on your individual journey.
New and exciting ways to speak and live through your authentic voice and creative self
A mission statement about your soul’s unique journey based on your core values

You will learn about why the horse is such a powerful and metaphorical transformational guide for your journey. Working with equine art, mandalas, guided meditations, journaling, and animal intuition, Cindy and Susan combine their unique equine experience and talents to integrate personal mandalas, the Tibetan windhorse, and the Native American medicine wheel into a powerful personal piece.

Each modality embraces the concept of unity and “Oneness” of all creation; illuminating the path for a balanced and empowered life while helping you to achieve your goals and dreams. Additionally, you will learn to start to put together the pieces to identify and create your own passionate vision and listen to your heart.

To learn more and register visit: http://windhorseonestudios.wordpress.com/

We hope to see you there!
Susan and Cindy

Aspen Fine Arts Festival - July 17th & 18th

2010-07-13T12:49:00.007-06:00

Black Stallion

Summer has been busy with the Denver Fine Art festival and a weekend workshop I co-facilitated called Journey to Spirit Through Horses with Anna Twinney, from Reach Out to Horses and Melisa Pearce, from Touched By A Horse. Lots of "Spirit of the Horse" love here in beautiful Colorado!

This weekend I will be in Aspen for their 8th annual fine art festival with some new work and I hope to see some of you out there!

http://www.artfestival.com/events/visitorsShow/23/1/8th_Annual_Downtown_Aspen_Art_Festival_(Aspen,_CO.).html

PS - this piece is available and the size is 28" x 40"

Best,
Susan

Powerbar & Downtown Denver Fine Art Festival; May 28 -31 2010

2010-05-25T10:38:00.007-06:00

Well...lots has transpired since my last post and it is my goal to be back in the saddle again! We have traveled to 2 Equine Affaires and also have been to the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo where I curated the 1st annual Equine art exhibit. All equine artists - look out for 2011's prospectus in September! I have made lots of new friends - artists and folk who stop by to enjoy my art. My life has been enriched!

This week I will be exhibiting downtown in Denver for the second year. It is the official start of the fine art show season! Woo hoo!

Powerbar

But now for more exciting things....... I am pleased to introduce some new work of mine that has a new look all its own. I have called it "He arrived as Equus". I am fascinated with indigenous culture's relationship to Horse. Many feel the horse transports human's between worlds and this series certainly feels this way to me.

This aging stallion is so unassuming in his paddock yet his life force came alive in front of the lens as he circled the arena searching for his messages.....the scents left behind by those who preceeded him.

Well, I hope you can stop by and see me and say hello!

Bye for now,
Susan

X-mas Commission

2009-12-14T22:52:00.003-07:00

Nick and Bali

Nick and Bali 2

It seems like it has been ages since I have done much of anything with social media! A waxing and waning like the moon if you will.

Nick and Bali are brother and sister and only a few weeks apart in age. Here is the interesting fact..... they both have the same mother and sire but are not twins. In fact they were carried by two different mares so their mother could continue her training. This is certainly a first for me!

They are three coming on four and have dressage in their future so lets just say it was a bit of a surprise when I showed up to photograph them and I saw a western saddle on Bali! It was her second day of training with a natural horseman.

Another first for me is that the print is going to be 54". To date 40" has been as large as I have done so I can't wait to see it when I pick it up from the printers this Friday!

I just returned from a trip to Conn. to photograph some PMU foals that were rescued from a potential kill buyer purchase so I should have lots of stuff to Blog about in the upcoming weeks!

Be back soon,
Susan

Horse as Teacher Books: Book 2, The Path to Relationship is Here!

2009-12-13T18:58:00.008-07:00

In Time For The Holidays!

$19.95

The new Horse as Teacher book featuring the Path to Relationship is here! This is the second of three books in a series and the cover features my image!

To order this wonderful compilation of ten stories (and receive one of my equine art cards valued at $5 for FREE!) please click on the secure PayPal link:

click here for US orders

click here for international orders

To order Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity with free art card click these secure PayPal links:

click here for US orders

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Holiday Special! Order both books and Receive Free US Shipping Plus 2 Art Cards!

To order both of the Horse As Teacher books with 2 free art cards click here:

click here for Free shipping on US orders for both books

Living The Dream Workshop: Castle Rock CO

2009-11-30T10:18:00.013-07:00

January 2 & 3 2010 Winter Workshop in Castle Rock CO

There has never been a better time to find passion,purpose and creativity through horse soul wisdom. You will have the opportunity to indulge yourself in many contemplative and creative activities for two days as you explore and allow yourself the freedom to play. Come join us and hear what your unique soul has to tell you!

Find Your Authentic Voice

Return to Wholeness

Listen to Your Heart

By the end of the workshop each participant will go home with an awakened self-awareness and a personal horse soul mandala to keep and cherish - a special memento to gently reconnect you to your soul while guiding you on your journey.

Cindy and Susan combine their unique equine experience and talents to integrate personal mandalas, the Tibetan windhorse, and the Native American medicine wheel into a powerful personal piece. Each modality embraces the concept of unity and “Oneness” of all creation; illuminating the path for a balanced and empowered life while helping you to achieve your goals and dreams.

About Cindy & Susan:
Partnering with her gentle and wise horses, Cindy Hartzell, a horse guardian for over thirty years, supports individuals who seek to rediscover their inner strengths and purpose. In addition to working with a team of Psychotherapists, Cindy has been developing a private practice of her own in the field of Equine Assisted Coaching for the past two years. She is certified in the following areas: Equine Experiential Learning and Coaching, EAGALA horse specialist, Reiki Master, and animal intuitive. Always seeking new modalities to enrich the lives of horses and her clients, she is currently working towards certification as a “Touched by a Horse” coach, while concurrently completing her Parelli Natural horsemanship level II student certificate. To learn more about Cindy and her work visit www.horseshelphumans.com

Join Susan as she shares her vision and artistic creative process into the souls of our equine friends and partners. As a visual artist and published author, you will have the opportunity to expereince some of her artwork and hear excerpts from her writing, including her new “Equesse” soul portraits, while learning about the healing and inspiration her art creates.The evocative and inspirational art work of equine fine-art photographer Susan Williams portrays the powerful yet magical equine essence; the horses she photographs bare their souls, granting her access to their infinite expressions and moving intimate moments.Through a heart-to-heart and soul-to-soul connection, the horses reveal themselves to her in ways that are unavailable through the camera alone and then Susan breathes life into them.Recognized nationally and internationally in the field of digital cameras, Susan taught workshops across the country for Olympus America. Her work has been exhibited around the country and also published. Collectors across the country seek her award-winning images of horses to grace their homes and businesses while others commission her to create custom pieces. To learn more about Susan visit her website at www.windhorseone.com

To learn more please visit The Living A Dream website : http://jettagain2.wordpress.com/

Excalibur and Anna

2009-09-30T23:24:00.006-06:00

Excalibur and Anna

This is one of several hundred shots I took of Anna Twinney and her mustang Excalibur or "X" as she fondly calls him. Anna is one of the ten authors in the Horse as Teacher book and we met this summer, post publishing, when she came to meet me at my art fair in Boulder.

Later that month I went to visit the Colorado Horse Rescue and while the director was showing me around a buckskin in a corral caught my eye from afar. I was transfixed by his presence. It turns out he belonged to Anna and she was at CHR teaching that day. X is a Spanish mustang from Wyoming and I can never seem to remember all the details.....sigh....must be a sign of age.

An internationally respected natural horsemanship clinician, animal communicator, and Reiki Master, Anna has been featured on television, writes for national and international magazines, and is the creator of the "Reach Out to Natural Horsemanship" DVD series. Formerly the Monty Roberts Learning Center's head instructor, Anna teaches people how to create genuine, trust-based partnerships with their horses. I have had the good fortune to watch her work her gentle magic during a round pen session.

Well to make a long story short I was so mesmerized by X and also the American mustangs I was itching to photograph him. Anna graciously accepted. While I have lots of great shots of X by himself I was so impressed when Anna hopped up on his back without an iota of tack I had to work on this first! Not even a neck rope!

I bet you think she has been schooling him for a while and several days a week.....WRONG! What is even more impressive is he is only three so this is a wonderful example of the willing partnership a person can have with their horse.

Take good care,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios

Find Your Path To Authenticity: Colorado Horse Rescue - Oct 9th

2009-09-27T11:50:00.002-06:00

Find Your Path to Authenticity

Please join me, Anna Twinney (Reach Out to Horses), and Melisa Pearce (Touched By A Horse) on October 9th at the Colorado Horse Rescue, in Longmont, from 6-9 PM. To learn more about Anna please visit her website www.reachouttohorses.com and to learn more about Melisa please visit www.touchedbyahorse.com.

We will be sharing our collective experiences on how horses have touched our lives and also speaking about our new book - Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity Through Horses.

All proceeds will benefit the Colorado Horse Rescue organization! Tickets are $20 in advance and $30 at the door. Space is limited so reserve your spot today! For more info or to purchase a ticket contact Stacey Couch at info@chr.org or call 720.494.1414

I hope to see you there!

Yours in the dance,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios

Our Tribute To Scooter: New Found Clarity

2009-09-16T11:13:00.006-06:00

Dear Melisa,
With the upcoming Core 4 weekend of your certification program, here is my tribute to Scooter -your beloved friend, partner and co-facilitator of "Touched By A Horse" - who so generously healed and transformed the lives of many wounded souls by providing them with the lighted torch and glimmer of hope and strength to carry on and find new beginnings and meaning in their lives.

With an agility to know when to perform, Scooter possessed the impish energy of the class clown with the ability to get down to the serious business of healing his clients

Scooter was a shining multi-faceted diamond who knew, like a sparkling prism, how to disperse, shower, and share the many colors of his light. He easily dialed into the frequency he needed and watching him do his work was certainly a miracle to behold. His passion for life was exemplary.

In my heart I know and feel there is a greater good, while not readily apparent at this time, that will bring new light into our world.

Thank you for the opportunity to photograph your horses - Scooter, QT, and Shadow. As I struggled to put words to relatively new creations of horse portraits, it was through your horses that clarity finally came to me. These are soul essence creations of our equine friends and partners and my new series Equi-esse has been born.

Yours in the dance,
Susan

About the Work

Several weeks ago I photographed three of Melisa's equine co-facilitators. With no real deadline, I was granted the grace to create Scooter, QT, and Shadow when I was inspired. It was my desire to portray them as I intuited how they would fit with Melisa's holistic approach to her therapy and also be of benefit to her clients. I sensed the magnitude of the task while knowing the right time would graciously present itself to me. I started easing into the "work" two weeks ago, the magical mystical treasure hunt began and I created my 1st portrait of a horse named QT. A new palette of rainbow colors offered themselves to the work fitting of the nature for the work of a healer.

The weekend came and I had been driven lately, with a sense of urgency, to reorganize my office/studio space. Like the tendrils of a vine in a weed infested garden I had been feeling claustrophobic and overwhelmed by piles of clutter and unfinished business. Of course with my perfectionist manner that meant all closets and files need rummaging through and reorganizing.

Later in the evening I thought I would go to bed but the calling to create leaked into my consciousness. Miffed, I sat at my photographic files wondering why and what I should work on when all I really wanted to do was climb into bed with the chilly fresh mountain breeze cleansing my body and thoughts as I drifted off into sleep. But no....there I was sitting in the dark at my computer and I revisited the file called "Melisa".

Back and forth, on cruise control, I culled through the image files. I had left Scooter for last, starting first with a head portrait of QT and the another head portrait of Shadow. I had erroneously felt that Scooter, with his roany chestnut coat would be more challenging for me. Back and forth I went through his pictures, warmly remembering the events of that day. Occasionally thoughts penetrated my mind wondering which one might appeal to Melisa; they were quickly overridden by the freedom she was allowing me to choose what called to me.

There was a beautiful head shot that reflected the soul essence of Scooter. Perfect I thought. This will complete a trilogy of head shots and then I would move into full body and or action shots of all the horses. I sensed the body shots would require a deeper level of connection that I was not feeling in that moment. But then I heard "Do something different". You have a mastery with the head shots. By now I had come to life as I often do during the process of creating. Never mind that it was already well past 11 pm for I was in my essence and I loved it.

Back on my treasure hunt I went and I instantly knew what I was guided to work on. With a heavy sigh I assessed the image in front of me. Much work needed to be done to bring Scooter into the magical space where so many of my horses exist; a landscape privileged to the horses and Shamans. Sensing again the residual denseness of my busy day I wondered if I was up for the task at this hour. The heaviness of my hand soon lightened and I was transported with Scooter into the realm of the unknown.

I was right there with him as I unknowingly created his new home at the time he was leaving his earthly home. There was a sense of joy and elation as I finished up the piece.

Sunday morning dawned and as coffee was brewing, I opened my email to read the header "Scooter has died". In shock and sadness, with the encouragement of Brad, I shared my creation with Melisa, realizing the universal connectedness of all species we all share. A short time later I pulled the "Sorrow" card from the "Whispers From A Horse's Heart " inspirational card deck. Ugh, how inspirational I said to myself.

It was only later in that day, upon reflection, that I realized that to be fully alive and human we must experience all the polarities of our emotions and in creating Scooter's crossing I did indeed feel both joy and sorrow in a twelve hour span.

I have drawn much insipration and clarity from the loss of Scooter and I am unsure how it will feel to go to the barn but I know a piece of Scooter lives on in all of those who were blessed to be touched by this horse.

Our Tribute to Scooter: A Great Friend

2009-09-10T22:40:00.004-06:00

So here it is...the second tribute of three. Three is a special number for Melisa as well as myself. Also special to the Touched By A Horse certification program is Peggy M, one of our coaches who keeps us on track and holds a space for us at our "Core" training sessions while we learn, laugh, and cry. Scooter was our teacher who patiently (and sometimes not so patiently!) gave himself to us so that we could learn to become interns. Peggy and her husband Bob, also a TBAH team member, have become like friends and family to many of us in the program.

From Peggy:

Scooter was playful and serious at once. He was gentle and bold. A tease who stirred humor in my core, easing me into my personal Work. I knew that he knew my Being – often better than I. And I trusted his Knowing. Thus he became my friend, my teacher and my healer.

Scooter moved in the world with purpose. He was always ready to do the Work and “got his nose out of joint” when instead of him one of his herd mates was chosen to do a piece of healing with a client. He always wanted to be a part of the action!

His energy held me and gifted me with knowing how we beings are all connected. Everyone in his Presence became more aware of their oneness. And all who are blessed by Scooter’s life walk in the world with more purpose, holding space anew for all beings.

Scooter showed up in the world with an open and full heart. His spirit and energy are within me always -- to guide, to bring smiles and to inspire me to walk in the world moment to moment with abundant love and gratitude.

You will be missed by the herd Scooter but we know you will be always be watching over us and guiding us.

Our Tribute to Scooter: A One in a Million Horse

2009-09-09T23:00:00.007-06:00

Recently I shared a blog about the fun and excitement of photographing the horses at Melisa P's Lil Bit North Ranch with my friend Molly. I asked her to be a guest blogger and share a bit about her experiences with Scooter since she met him last fall at a retreat for women and was able to experience the magical and powerful therapeutic healing from him...she was "Touched by a Horse".

Well....it is with a deep sense of sadness and loss that Melisa and Touched by a Horse unexpectedly lost Scooter in the wee hours of Sunday morning. She told me it was love at first sight when she saw first laid eyes on Scooter, immediately purchasing him to become her world class reining partner and then future co-facilitator of their very important healing work. People travel from all over the country to experience Melisa's work.

This is the first of a trilogy of blogs that we are dedicating to Scooter, a horse who has touched the heart and influenced many of our lives.

Dear Melisa,

It sounds so flat -but I will miss Scooter so much. It is hard to think of working in the arena without him there. Scooter was my first horse-healer, my patient "horse body language" teacher, and my first catch, bridle and lead horse. He was the first real horse I ever got to love thanks to you. He will always be my horse-angel anchor, my inspiration and the foundation for all the speaking, writing and personal equine supported work I will ever do in this world. Because of Scooter and you, Melisa, I can fully engage in the realm of horse supported coaching. He helped me transmute personal pain into forgiveness in one remarkable healing session, he made me laugh when he knocked on his stall when he wanted to "work", he made me smile when he snuffled and nibbled on my hair, he amazed and delighted me when he did his chakra clearing work, and he never, ever let me drift from the present moment when I was with him. He reinforced my now ingrained pattern of grounding myself before entering his safe, wonderful bubble of energy, always responding by coming to me when I went in his stall to ask if he "wanted to go to work for Mom". I treasure all the moments you allowed me to be with him. I will never forget Scooter's kindness, his mischevious nibbling of clothing, those great yawns of release, his smiling at all those 13 year old girls, and his noises of joy at the short bursts of amazing speed I got to witness at the photo shoot with Susan. He steadied me and gave me the confidence to proceed with the Certification Program as I built upon my seemingly hopeless zero horse knowledge. Through Spirit and his picture, he gave me the name of my business which is how I will forever think of him....with Unbridled Gratitude. The only way I can honor his memory is to do the best work I can and to tell the most people I can about the miracles of human/horse healing. I feel a call to action from his passing and renewed confidence to go on with the support of his guiding spirit. I am sure he crossed over in his prime to be the great Recruiter of Healing Horses and Willing Human Participants--who better to know just what and who you need for your work? I feel he will be our spirit guide to being in just the right place at the right time always for the connections with horses and humans who will help us take this work to the world.

I'm sending you Love and Light and great Gratitude for caring for and sharing Scooter with me and so many others. His passing brings us all to a new beginning of sorts, a space to take a deep breath and go forward with a clear vision of what a necessary gift this work will be to the world.

Molly

Meet the New Addition to the Herd!

2009-09-06T00:50:00.006-06:00

Meet Syche's Sweet Serenade aka Seri. She is a new addition to my herd and is such a doll baby! She has already seen a bit of the world for her young age and these pics were taken at her Oldenburg inspection a couple of weeks ago. I just love the little braids!

I was looking at a 1/2 sister to Zephyr who was down in Texas. She was also a sweet little thing but a bit far awawy. Little Seri lived only a few miles down the road from me and she had the pinto thing going that I just love.

She has two heart shaped patches - one near her girth and the other on her neck. One for Kairos and one for Zephyr, although I have to tell you that they were not to pleased when we brought her home. Worse yet was little Scooter who just seemed to glare at her when he wasn't trying to bite her through the fence.

Just wait Scooter, she is almost as big as you already!

Touched By A Horse: QT's Portrait

2009-09-03T23:51:00.003-06:00

I just wanted to take a moment and thank everybody for adopting my artwork for your homes or businesses last month! My horses love finding appreciating homes where folks dote on them....and they don't eat much! HA! LOL!! :)

Well... I finally was able to start working on this piece of QT for Melisa Pearce and her Touched By A Horse biz at good ole Lil Bit North Ranch. This is actually a side of QT I have never experienced except through the lens of my camera. He is often busy doing experiential round pen work with his clients. He is a great horse to use if people need to better their leadership, communication, and assertion skills. He just loves to run circles around them with his cute little nose rudely pointing away from them! To connect with QT you must first gain his respect.

QT has such amazing presence and energy. He certainly caught my eye the first time I saw him. Perhaps it is the look of eagles that he has in his eye.

Take good care and until next time.......
Susan
windhorseOne Studios

Spirit of the Horse: New Equine art cards at Pine Country Feed

2009-08-23T00:13:00.008-06:00

New Artcards!

I was busy dropping off my new artcards, Horse as Teacher book, small prints and also large editioned mounted prints today while getting my new account set up in the boutique section of our local tack and feed shop. Sometimes I have to wonder why it takes such a fire under me to get these things going!

The cards have been extremely successful at all the fine art festivals this year. What I realized on the way home was that I never created the opportunity for you to buy some beautiful cards here on my blog. They will not be available on my web site. I had to sit down and do a bunch of graphic work this evening so why not continue on and create PayPal buttons.....fun stuff for a Sat. evening. I bet you want to party with me! LOL!

There are three different sets of cards; each box contains 6 cards, 2 each of three different prints. They are 5 x 7 so they pop easily into little frames and make a great gift for the horse lover in your life! Additionally they are printed on the highest quality of paper.

To purchase your set please go to the right hand side of my blog. I hope you enjoy them!

Susan
windhorseOne Studios

HorseConscious and Horse as Teacher Book Unite!

2009-08-18T22:19:00.004-06:00

By gosh I am excited! Here it is...hot off of the press from the Horseconscious website. Click on the above image if you would like to read about the union of two great horse projects! So here it is...your official invite to sign up........ You are the first to read my invite before I have even sent it to my email list.

I am delighted to announce that I am taking part in a brand new teleseminar series that is coming up at the end of September. And the really good news is that it's absolutely free for you to listen to and attend! All you'll need is a telephone or a computer and internet connection, so let me tell you all about it.

It's called the Horse as Teacher Teleseminar Series and will comprise 4 calls featuring all the authors from the first Horse As Teacher book. The series is being hosted by Mark over at HorseConscious.com, who was responsible for the highly acclaimed Path of the Horse Teleseminar Series earlier in the year.

The theme of the Series is naturally based on the book and also it's subtitle, 'The Path to Authenticity with Horses', because that's what horses can do for you when you embrace what they naturally and beautifully reveal. Although the authors come from a variety of horse backgrounds, we all agree that these magnificent animals have the power to help us peel back the layers to reveal who we truly are. They raise our consciousness, teach us authenticity and give us permission to shine once more.

As well as discussing the impact horses have had in our own lives, we will be telling you how they have inspired us to help others and the amazing results we have witnessed. The calls also give us an opportunity to really put something back by answering your questions.

If you have a question for one of us or have hit one of life's roadblocks or just want to help us spread the word about the power of horses to heal, then I invite you to join us at the end of September for what promises to be a very exciting event.

You can find out more information and submit your question by going to the following page:
http://www.horseconscious.info

Please forward this on to anybody who you feel may benefit!

Yours in the dance,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios

Horse as Teacher Book: 4 Week Horseconscious Tele-seminar Series

2009-08-16T22:48:00.006-06:00

I wanted to start tonight's blog by personally thanking everybody who has purchased my book and it is my hope that it touched your heart the way it has mine! Apparently, based on feedback from lots of people, it is advisable to keep a box of tissues close at hand!

There have been all sorts of amazing synchronicities occurring lately from being a contributing author. I posted a while ago how I was promoting the book to an upscale "cowgirl" boutique when Lisa Dee walked in. Well there are a couple more Lisa Dee stories but I will move on to the next. Last Thurs. I was visiting the CO Horse Rescue to donate a signed copy of the book and lo and behold who was there but Anna Twinney! Anna managed Monty Roberts ranch in CA and is an amazing horsewoman.

To make a long story short, I never had met these women before but the book seemed to bring us together. And to add to this little gem, the office manager asked Anna to sign my signed copy and she looked up at me and informed me that she wrote the exact same thing in her books as I did. SO...she only signed "and Anna" after what I wrote. Then I signed "and Susan" after what she wrote in her donated copy. How cool is that? LOVE IT!

And now for something completely different! All ten authors were contacted by Mark Mottershead from Horseconscious (www.horseconscious.com) to do a tele-seminar series. HorseConscious promotes a way of being with horses where the primary focus is on understanding and honoring the horse. He did a highly successful 4 week series on Stormy May's "Path of the Horse" DVD. There will be four dates and all you have to do is connect to the link at the appropriate time to hear the series live. I am stoked to be able to reach all those people with our messages.

The first date is Sept. 30th and co-founders Kathy Pike, Coaching With Horses, and Marilyn Schwader, Clarity of Vision, will be speaking about the project. My day is Oct. 14th! I am nervous already.... :)

Well, have a wonderful week and may the horses bring much joy into your life!

PS - I am still including a complimentary 5" x 7" note card with each signed copy of the Horse as Teacher! You can order from my blog or website!

Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Molly Thanks Scooter or is it Vice Versa?

2009-08-14T22:56:00.004-06:00

Yesterday I had the great fortune to have my good friend Molly assist me while I photographed Scooter, QT, and Shadow. It was quite a surprise to find her at the barn when I arrived! Melisa asked if it would be OK if she tended to some paperwork while I photographed the horses. Not only was it OK it was great!

There seems to be a synergistic flow between Molly and me. While I only met her a short three or four months ago it feels as though she has been a friend all of my life. Without her assistance yesterday the shoot would have been challenging.....it was hot and humid and the horses all dropped their heads immediately to pick and chew on weeds. She kept their energy up and they all expressed their true spirit in many different ways.

Molly has been graced with experiencing the healing power of each of these three horses and maybe I will see if she would write a guest Blog about them. This shot was taken at the end, back at the barn where we thanked each of the horses for sharing their spirit with us.

I can't tell if Scooter is smiling or kissing Molly!

Have a super weekend!
-S

QT, Scooter, Shadow: Melisa Pearce's "Touched By A Horse" Boys

2009-08-13T23:52:00.007-06:00

This morning was spent photographing three former champion reiners who now have new jobs in life. And yes I do take normal photographs! I once handed a client her proofs and she just stared quietly at them, finally looking up and saying softly..."These don't look anything like your work". LOL!

But back to these amazing guys, who are not old and retired but average aged that have experienced career changes in life that they embrace and love. Career changes are not just for people!

Scooter

Each one of these handsome boys have become a therapeutic healer. Melisa is a psychotherapist who uses horses extensively in her work. These are her personal show horses who no longer perform at World championships but work their magic on her clients and other folks who show up from all over the country to participate in one of many equine experiential learning workshops she offers at her Lil Bit North Ranch in Longmont CO.

Shadow

I have been very fortunate to share and sell my art at her workshops. People leave the ranch wanting to bring home a "horse" to solidify their experience so Melisa and I felt it would be more powerful and meaningful if they were able to bring home a representation of her horses whom they worked with. This is a fun and exciting project! I also photographed Kathy Pike's horses (Coaching With Horses) a couple of weeks ago for the same purpose. This is a very worthwhile project that may continue to help people with their healing process when they leave the magic of the ranch and return to their mainstream life.

I will continue to share more about this artwork as it develops.

Enriching the life of humans and horses one day at a time......

Yours in the dance,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios

A Horse and Their Person AKA Zephyr & Brad

2009-08-12T23:05:00.004-06:00

Smile....you are on candid camera! I am not sure what Zephyr is up to here but I could tell you a little lie and say that on the command of "cheese" he gave me his best horsey smile! :)

This is a piece I created for a portrait submission and it is quite a departure from my usual work. I culled through quite a few of my photos for this little gem and with a bit of cropping, this was what I came up with. I have to admit I was quite pleased!

The piece will be judged by world class photographer (and famous) Mary Ellen Mark. She taught a class to the photojournalists at school while I was busy doing the fine art thing in a class room next door. That is not at all to say that PJs are not artists but their photography has more of a traditional look and a documentary flair. PJs are always on the hunt for that great shot and a story that nobody has ever taken before.

Sort of similar to my approach with the horses..... striving to create equine fine art photography that sets me apart from other horse photography colleagues. It is not about being in competition with them but working from my heart and instincts to create work that is unique because it comes from me.

Other things going on in my horsey world (is there any other world??? - well not for me) is that a fellow author from the Horse as Teacher book has asked to use six of my creations to make a promotional video. You may have heard of her - Stormy May. She is the producer of the Path of the Horse DVD. If you love horses and are interested in their welfare then this is a must see. She sold her ranch to travel the world and film several equine visionaries. It is not only beautiful but incredibly moving.

Time to sign off. Tomorrow is a busy day with a photo shoot and a visit to an equine rescue facility. Oops and I forgot.....dropping off a mounted print to a customer in the same neck of the woods.

Bye for Now!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios

August

2009-08-08T08:49:00.004-06:00

It is already well into the month of August and I can't believe how quickly this year has moved along! I haven't had much time or energy to any art work lately. I am surrounded by work that needs to ship to New Hampshire, Texas, Minnesota and locally from the shows I have been at but I took a little time to do some much needed work (for me!). This piece turned out to be a challenge and it took a bit of perseverance to get it to where I wanted it.

This is a portrait of August, a Canadian mare. I had never heard of the breed before I met Ingrid - the caretaker of my two boys. The Canadian Horse is a little known national treasure of Canada. This hardy breed descended from horses originally sent to the “New World” by King Louis XIV of France in the late 1600’s. These Norman and Breton horses were felt to be of Arab, Andalusian and Barb ancestry – traits of which can still be recognized in the Canadian Horse today.

There is quite an unusual lot at Ingrid's with this Canadian and her colt Echo plus the Peruvian Pasos and then my Friesian/colt crosses.

August is the alpha of the group and has quite a mind of her own! She is often standing near the gate gazing towards the house door or towards the forest. She is a horse who demands and commands respect.

I am glad to be home now for a while with no shows until mid-September! I have become enamored with a buckskin Friesian/paint filly in San Antonio. She is half sister to one of my boys and I can't seem to get her out of my mind..........Perhaps more on that later!

Have a super weekend!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios

Beaver Creek Art Festival: Aug. 1 & 2nd

2009-07-29T23:55:00.002-06:00

Come see me at Beaver Creek this weekend! Hope to see you there!

RMRHA Summer Slide Show at the National Western Events Center in Denver, Colorado

2009-07-27T22:21:00.004-06:00

I didn't realize it had been 2 weeks since my last post! Whew, the summer is flying by. Life has been really busy the last few weeks as I was getting ready for Zuma's Rescue Ranch fund raiser last Friday night and also a fine art festival this weekend in Boulder.

I did manage to squeeze in a day of photography last Wed. at the Rocky Mountain Reining Horse Assoc. Summer Slide reining event. What a hoot! I met a few friends at the National Western Events Center down in Denver. I seem to be attending quite a few western events lately. Raised back east, I rode hunters but perhaps the CO air has something to do with it!

This golden mare really appealed to me and also my friends. She exudes grace and strength and perhaps I sense a bit of determination in her. Of all the horses I photographed that day, she was the only horse whose owner I was compelled to go down to the barns and find. I might add it took a bit of nudging and prodding but off I went.

I also photographed some mustang foals at Zuma's before I set up my display on Thurs. evening. Zuma's stepped up to the plate and rescued seven mustang horses from the recent Three-Strikes Ranch tragedy and some of them gave birth recently. Thank you to Jodi at Zuma's for working so hard to rescue abused horses and your work with foster children.

I had the good grace to meet a young teen there who loves photography and is so eager to learn. Her name is Felicia and she will be joining me when I go to photograph Melisa Pearce's horses at Lil bit North Ranch in a few weeks.

Life is good! Live, love, and share....one horse at a time, one human at a time, one day at a time.

Yours in the dance,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios

Zuma Rescue Ranch Open House Gala: July 24th

2009-07-13T13:45:00.006-06:00

Gosh there are few times I wish there were two of me but this week is one of those! It is also one of those amazing times of serendipity that I love so much. A few weeks ago a friend thought I might like to go to visit Zuma Rescue Ranch because I love supporting organizations that help horses and better yet organizations that help horses and humans.

Just last week I was thinking to myself that I should give them a ring when low and behold I received an email from them about their fundraiser this Friday. Unfortunately I will be away that day at the Aspen Art Festival but I will be there in spirit. Please click the above invite so that you can read about all the details! It is through the generosity of individuals in the community that organizations like this can grow and thrive.

Zuma's Mission

To rescue cast off horses and pair them with troubled children and families. Together, with the help of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy we will teach both horse and child how to live, love and trust again.

Horses sense the needs within children and provide and unconditional acceptance. Equine Assisted Psychotherapies open the locked doors of human minds.Once the door has been unlocked the healing can begin.

Michael Blake, author of "Dancing With Wolves" will be there signing his new book "Twelve the King", a tribute to his wild mustang. To learn more about this wonderful event please visit www.zumasrescueranch.com

Yours in the dance,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Pretty in Pink

2009-07-10T22:52:00.003-06:00

Here is another shot from the Snowmass rodeo. This team was in the barrel racing competition.

I just love how this young girl's shirt matches her horses reins. The horse probably had pink leg wraps too!

Horses are kindred spirits for many girls and women. I know they are for me. A harmonious partnership with your horse is very beautiful and is cause for celebration.

Take a moment to pause and reflect and give gratitude for all the horse has given to us.

Have a great weekend!
Susan

Colorado Photographic Arts Center: 2009 Juried Exhibit

2009-07-06T15:20:00.007-06:00

Spiritus One

HI! I forgot to blog about this piece and the show comes down this Sunday. This is one of my favorite pieces and anybody in the Denver metro area may be interested in taking a peek. I am always tickled when one of my horses is accepted into a non-equine show.

I was driving down the road, with trusty camera in hand, when I saw this Percheron with 3 birds on her back. Who could resist! For some reason I felt the urge to add the egret, which I photographed in another location. It is the only horse piece I have in my current published work where I have added another element. Go figure.

Cheers,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

7th Annual Downtown Aspen Art Festival: July 18 & 19

2009-07-06T13:44:00.005-06:00

Saturday - Sunday, July 18 - 19, 2009

Come see me at the Aspen Art Festival located at Wagner Park, Aspen, CO.

I will have a booth there. Think sunny skies! We have had rain almost every afternoon and it poured several times at the Downtown Denver Art Festival. The next weekend I will be in Boulder and finish up at Beaver Creek.

I hope to see you there!
Susan

Snowmass Rodeo Western Wednedays: Snowmass Village Colorado

2009-07-05T22:09:00.004-06:00

I returned home Fri. eve. from 6 days in Snowmass and Aspen Colorado. I attended a photo/painting hybrid class at Anderson Ranch. What a blast! So much happened in the last week I still have not stopped spinning!

While we were there we went to the Snowmass Rodeo Western Wednesdays which is held every week during the summer. I haven't gone to a rodeo in quite some time and I hoped to get some cowboy shots. But being an avid horse photographer I am happy to say I did manage to get some liberty shots. Nothing makes me happier than watching a beautiful horse run around freely without any tack.

Meet Hannah Montana, a beautiful bay mare. They let Hannah run loose in the arena while they told the crowd a little bit about the bucking horses. You see, Hannah is a bucking bronc and while it may appear so - I was not in the arena with her!

I don't believe she ever came out of the chutes that night which I was grateful for. I want to remember her like this and not with the whites of her eyes showing and her mouth wide open as she thrashes about wildly to remove the man on her back. I read in Monty Robert's book that broncs are prize animals that are well cared for and actually love their jobs. You can see by the pic. that she is in fabulous shape but you could have fooled me about the loving their jobs part. Well maybe the part about unleashing the cowboy!

Susan

More New Work: Saving the Mustangs

2009-06-26T00:05:00.004-06:00

And now for something totally different!

In preparation for my workshop next week at Anderson Ranch I created this new piece. I used to do a bit of graphic design and really like a graphic look but I have been honing my equine photography skills over the last year.

This will be a big piece - 75" long and has symbols and text. The goal of the workshop is to combine painting, photography, text, and whatever else we want. My goal is to start creating one-of-a-kind pieces.

When I started this the only thing I knew was that I wanted it to somehow tie into the wild mustangs. After going on a treasure hunt for imagery this is what I came up with.

This is a return to my fine art studies where we were encouraged to make work that makes a difference in the world.

Art at the Draft Horse Classic

2009-06-24T22:40:00.004-06:00

I just wanted to share this image with you from the Draft Horse Classic out at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley CA. Every year they have an art show while all the gentle giants strut their stuff. This is one of my submissions that I worked up recently.

It was at this event last year that I fell in love with the Friesian breed. I am not sure but I think this is a Percheron horse. Please correct me if I am wrong! I would love to go back and exhibit again this year but we have decided to stay in CO this year. Boo Hoo! I loved it there.

Well this blogger has had about enough writing for today. I was busy reactivating and communicating on my new windhorseOne Studios Facebook page and I am throwing in the towel!

Thanks for reading!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

New Work

2009-06-22T22:48:00.003-06:00

I have been working in some new colors and also with heavier brush strokes than normal. Call me crazy but I half woke up in the middle of the night and felt like I was being instructed to add color to my work! So I have been experimenting and having a blast!

This weekend I am taking a class at Anderson Ranch in Snowmass CO where I will be working large scale and adding text and painting on photographs. My goal is to start making large one of a kind pieces.

Additionally I created these two bull pieces which I will make large 40" prints of. This is a first for me so I am excited to see how they fare. I will be showing at the art festival in Aspen in mid July so I will introduce them there. Heck, this is a cattle state and some people love cattle as much as they love horses. I don't normally photograph cattle but I took this bull when I was in Andalusia, Spain.

Now I have to come up with a generalized name for this new work.........

Touched by a Horse: Whispers From A Horse's Heart by Melisa Pearce

2009-06-22T00:18:00.006-06:00

I just had to post about these amazing equine inspirational cards - Whispers From a Horse's Heart. How beautiful is that??!!!! There are 52 large cards in the deck and each one has a special inspirational message. Melisa Pearce, founder of Touched by a Horse, wrote the messages and Jan Taylor is the artist. Both are from good ole Colorado.

These are just 2 examples of these beautiful cards. What is so different about these card decks, other than their beautiful artwork? The inspiration and guidance that is offered on the cards will encourage you to reflect upon your dreams, desires, and challenges. Every day, just pick a card that appeals to you in that moment and read its message.You will be amazed with just how appropriate the message relates to what you are feeling or dealing with.

At the start of each week I pick a card and reflect on it and it is always uncanny how accurate the information usually is!

Melisa is one of the co-authors in the Horse As Teacher book and I have come to know her well in the past few months. I am delighted she has allowed me to share her beautiful cards with you! If you are interested please check the right hand side of my blog where you will find more information.

We have all partnered together to make the world a better place for humans and horses!

Mare and Foal Magic; Universal Motherhood

2009-06-20T10:07:00.005-06:00

She's gentle and strong, generous and forgiving, a perfect mom and drop dead beautiful. Was this your mom? Maybe or maybe not. I am willing to bet that for many, the answer is probably not. I bring this up because of a recent workshop I attended where there was an amazing group of women who were brave and shared truths honestly about themselves in order that they could grow, learn, and provide a higher quality of service to their clients.

Did I forget to tell you this mother has long flowing hair, four legs and can run like the wind.......

I just love the energy of spring and all it bring; new growth and new foals! Like little children, foals grow and change so quickly. There is something about babies that brings a smile to everyone's face and animal babies are no exception.

With that I thought I would share a few new mare and foal pics. and share some joy! If we animals all share one thing in common I would have to say it is universal motherhood.

Yours in the dance,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

He's Splendid!

2009-06-16T21:30:00.002-06:00

And splendid he is! I had the good fortune to photograph this special 21 year old Thoroughbred gelding called He's Splendid last week. You would never guess he is 21 because he is in fabulous condition. Splendid is a special horse with a very large heart and a ton of compassion. He seemed to possess the collective wisdom from his species.

Splendid came all the way from CA with his human Christie. I met Christie at Melisa Pearce's Lil Bit North Ranch at a workshop a week and a half ago. She and Splendid have quite a bond that didn't go unnoticed. I was touched and delighted that Christie asked me to come back later in the week for a photo session!

A little black cloud of rain and hail followed me down the mountain and to Boulder. I thought we would be rained out but I went anyway. Christie and I talked for quite a while in the barn and soon enough the sun came out. One thing about Colorado weather is it can change in a heartbeat and the shoot went well after all!

Christie gave me free rein to choose and work on any piece I wanted to. What trust! I was a bit nervous showing Christie the portrait because she was sooo close to her horse but she was delighted and went off to show it to Splendid, who we believe approved!

Splendid and Christie left for home yesterday and should be back in CA by now. Christie decided to leave the portrait with me so I could have it mounted on aluminum for her (She sent me an email already telling me she is counting the days until it arrives!).

Everybody at Melisa's was touched by this horse.....

Take good care,
Susan

Horse as Teacher Book: Status Update

2009-06-09T19:18:00.013-06:00

Signed copy of Horse as Teacher Book
plus free 5" x 7" equine note card: $19.95

I want to start off by thanking everybody who ordered a copy of the new book Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity. I have been touched by many of the thoughts that you have shared with me.

When I arrived home from my vacation I was surprised to find the shipment had arrived and was waiting right inside the door. I have since sat myself down and read all the other contributing author's stories and I am amazed with the quality of each and every chapter. I don't know why I should be but I tend to be a bit of a critic and the only criticism I have is WOW!

I want to share part of the foreword with you. It is written by Mark Mottershead, the founder of HorseConscious.

"The stories in this book are a perfect illustration of today's spirit of the times. Yes, on one level they are simple stories of love, trust, and honesty, which will make you smile, laugh, and cry in turns. At the same time, they tell of the transformations that are now taking place on a personal and global level. Each person within these pages that took the leap of faith with horses to a brighter future is a trailblazer and role model for us all. Their evolution is our evolution. Their story is our story....They have become a human herd, where the group mission is as important as any individual's message. The power of community is clearly demonstrated in this collection of authors."

So there you have it! I couldn't say that quite as eloquently and why reinvent the wheel when Mark did such a fine job!

For a limited time (and who knows what limited time means!) I will be including a free 5" x 7" note card of one of my beautiful prints, suitable for framing, with your signed copy of the book. This makes a great gift for any horse lover in your life or yourself!

Place your US order via secure PayPal by clicking here now!

Place your INTL order via secure PayPal by clicking here now!

Other Horse as Teacher News!!!

Remember the series I created for a relationship project? Well I certainly do. I don't think I gave away that it was for the second HAT book on leadership. If you remember, I submitted 4 or 5 images and my favorite was the black and white horse. Kathy Pike, co-founder of the HAT project, called me last week to tell me that they were going to use one of my pics! Woo hoo! The HAT project has made me an author and also now I have my first book jacket. Can you see my smile? I am just grinning from ear to ear because I believe in this book with 100% of my being. I just love being part of a progressive visionary group of people who are working to make a difference in our world.

This project has turned out to be much more than I could ever hope for and I am forever grateful for the amazing assistance I had from Kathy Pike (Coaching With Horses) and our editor and co-founder Marilyn Schwader (Clarity of Vision). Thank you ladies for your tireless efforts!

Without the team, err I mean herd, effort this project would have been impossible. Imagine keeping ten of us organized. HA! LOL!! Glad it wasn't me. Imagine all the ear pinning and neck snaking needed to keep us on track! :)

Yours in the dance,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Touched By A Horse Workshop & Melisa Pearce

2009-06-08T21:31:00.008-06:00

This weekend I participated in an Intuitive Awareness workshop at Melisa Pearce's Lil Bit North Ranch in Niwot Colorado. I recently met Melisa who founded Touched By A Horse; programs inspired by relationships with horses combined with her background in psychotherapy. The programs integrate time with horses and also deep personal exploration. Melisa is one of the ten authors in the Horse as Teacher book which is how we met. Check out her wonderful website at www.touchedbyahorse.com.

As we all know, horses are highly intuitive creatures and rely heavily on their senses for self preservation. While we humans have intuition, we rarely trust or listen to it! One of the fascinating aspects of this weekends workshop was being able to watch the horse/human dynamics and how the same horse related to different people. I will be returning later in the week to photograph a participants horse and also some of Melisa's amazing animals. She loves Paints and has a three time World champ. This woman is amazing and does it all!

Melisa also graciously allowed me to bring some of my work to show and sell to the participants. It gave people an opportunity to bring home a horse they identified with that would help them savor and warmly remember the event. Thank you Melisa for your generosity!

I felt the image above is a good representation for this blog. There is somewhat of a mystical and contemplative quality to it. After seeing so many women's hearts being "touched by a horse", who said horses aren't mystics!!!

Yours in the dance,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Western Art Show: Artist Talk

2009-06-03T21:38:00.003-06:00

Center for the Arts, Evergreen CO

The opening of the Center for the Arts juried Western Art Show last Friday had a fairly full house. This was their first exhibition devoted entirely to artwork that is representative of western culture and heritage, sponsored by Southwest Art Magazine. It featured a combination of cowboy themed art, Native American portraits, Native American still life, western wildlife art, and western landscapes. This exhibition will coincide with the Evergreen Rodeo, which is June 19 th-21 st. It was fun to have a rep. from SW Art mag. there however they don't acknowledge photographers!

I have to share something fun with you but you must promise to keep a secret..... the image I have hanging there right now of the two horses playing are actually dressage horses and not western horses. It must have been the appie with the blanket!

Well today was fun. I returned to the gallery to give a brown bag lunch talk with two of the other artists. At first I wasn't sure what I was going to talk about since I really don't consider myself a western artist but an artist from the west. Once I started talking about my mustang work the rest was history and time flew by. I just love meeting other artists and hearing about their process and just plain sharing with other people in general!

The Spirit of Andalusia

2009-06-02T00:11:00.006-06:00

I have been home for two weeks now from my trip to Europe. Every year my mother takes me and my sister on a cruise around several amazing countries in Europe. This year it was Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, and France. Mom lost her leg to melanoma 4 years ago so she needs my help to tour the cities. You don't see me complaining! But if you ever see somebody pushing a wheelchair at warp speed (to keep up with the guides) down the cobblestone streets of Belgium - then it may be me!

There was an amazing trip to Andalusia to visit a villa where they raise famous bulls for bullfighting and also world class horses, also for bullfighting. I learned that when a matador is standing that means he probably comes from little to no money. When the matador is mounted they have come from wealth and if there is any goring going on it is probably the poor horse that takes the hit. Think about it - the price of these animals is amazing. Well I have to admit I am not a fan of bullfighting so I missed a good part of the tour to photograph the horses. What a pitty! LOL!!

The white stallion was tied in his stall and had probably already been ridden. The manners on these animals are amazing and we were allowed to enter the stall. The owner of the villa is associated with the Spanish Riding School so all the horses are trained in classical dressage.

This amazing stallion was tied up outside in a cobblestone courtyard. He is also an Andalusian but is an uncommon bay color. What a surprise awaited us...... We continued on the tour and visited an indoor arena where they train the bulls to become more aggressive. We then went on to the indoor arena where the horses were ridden and we were treated to a demonstration of how a horse is trained and prepared for bullfighting by this fine horse and the owner of the villa!

The tour continued for a tapa lunch complete with a Flamenco dancing show followed by a tour of a sherry winery. What an amazing day! I can still feel the passion of the horses and the dancers.

I will post some mare and foal pictures soon and maybe a pic or two of the villa so you can get an idea of what this place was like. Also, if I can find my note paper I will tell you the name of the villa.

There is something about the baroque horses that has me captivated.

Bye for now!
Susan

Magic in the Rainy Day Art Festival

2009-05-25T21:53:00.006-06:00

I just returned from a 3 1/2 day art festival in downtown Denver. It stormed off and on the first 2 days and then rained most of today. It rarely rains so steadily in Colorado. Anybody who shows their work at art festivals knows it is not fun when it rains! Zip up, zip down! Scurry quickly to bring the print bins in and cover up the art. While the weather was dreary there was no shortage of lovely little girls who were delighted to spend time in the booth. "Horses!" they would squeal. Many were pulled away by their arms by their moms, while the said "Please mommy, please! I want to go in there." "NO you can't was the typical response" or the "We don't have the money...."

I was one of those little girls once and I was able to give away a few of my new notecards to a few who were not pulled away too quickly. I was sorry I could not have given away more. I could see the longing on their faces and hear it in their voices. There is something about the heart of a horse that is good for the heart of a little girl.

Today something pretty amazing happened. At least I think so! I was busy chatting with a local artist (not from the art fair) who was in the process of buying my new book Horse as Teacher. It turned out we had a lot in common but better yet it was somebody a friend of mine, several months ago had told me I should meet. Small world! My friend and I stopped by her gallery but she was not there at the time. While we were busy yakking when I heard a voice say "I just bought that book...." Of course I stopped in my tracks to address the voice. Curiosity had me in its grips as the book only shipped 1 1/2 weeks ago. Better yet, it turned out she had just read my chapter that very morning! I returned to the woman buying the book and she slipped quietly out of the booth. I had wanted to talk to her more but it is difficult to be attentive to two people at the same time.

Well... she returned several hours later and purchased one of my small prints. It is one of 3 horses running across the prairie. She told me that it is her intention to have 3 horses one day and she wants to be a student of one of the other authors. She was going to set her intention by looking at my print every day. Geeez! Small world strikes again! I just love the whole process of connecting with people that this book and horses are creating. At the end of this rainy day I had less than $100 in sales but my heart was touched by the young girls who tried to visit with my horses and also the good fortune of meeting these two women.

Here is another magical thing that happened.....on Fri. eve. a neighboring artist stopped by the booth for a hello and a chat. She looked at me very seriously and said "I smell horses". I quickly looked at the bottom of my paddock boots but they were squeaky clean! She thought I had somehow planted the aroma! We heard the same thing for the rest of the event. I thought that was pretty special that the power of my horses could somehow trigger their scent! I swear this is no lie!

Later that day, as we were dismantling the booth and wrapping the art it looked about to rain yet again when an angel called Jack, in the body of a homeless man appeared and asked if we needed a hand. Three hours later as we finished packing the van it was just starting to pour. I was as grateful for his help as much as he was for the opportunity to work for a few hours.

There were times today when the thought crossed my mind that art festivals are too much work for the unpredictable financial gain when mother nature doesn't seem to be on your side - especially during this economy. A month ago it was dust storms that covered my work with a gritty film. Ugh! My thoughts however had changed and as we headed toward home I was feeling enriched inside for the new connections I had made today and also the small difference we had made in the life of a homeless man and a few little girls. I wouldn't have it any other way and I am immensely grateful for today.

Yours in the dance,
Susan

Spirit of the Horse: spiritus Three

2009-05-19T10:09:00.008-06:00

Gosh lots happened when I was away! When it rains it pours. This image has been very well received by the juried art world and I wanted to take a moment and talk a bit about it. It is an archival pigment ink print on artist's watercolor paper in an edition of only 35 (called spiritus Three) and it is from my Spiritus series. To read more about this series please visit my website at www.windhorseone.com!

It is one of three entries I submitted to a "Spirit of the Horse" juried competition and art show currently showing at PS Zask Art Gallery in Rancho Palos Verde CA. Please stop by and see it if you are in the area. I mentioned in an earlier blog that they accepted all three entries which absolutely thrilled me! While I was away I received notification that it had won first place. They also used it on their website (www.pszaskgallery.com/CURRENT_SHOW.html) and for the brochure. Woo hoo - I love it when somebody loves the work. For me it is not about selling the work but the spirit of being able to share it!

I also love fund raisers and this is a benefit for the Return to Freedom wild horse sanctuary (www.returntofreedom.org) and the Portuguese Bend Pony Club. As you know am a supporter of RTF so this was a perfect venue to appreciate my work! The Portuguese Bend Pony Club, located in Rancho Palos Verde, is dedicated to educating local youths on horse care management and equine sports.

This piece also was accepted and sold last year in a prestigious "All Things Horses" juried photography show at the Center for Fine Art Photography in Fort Collins Colorado. There were thousands of entries and only 60 photographs were chosen for the exhibit.

AND....I just received notification that this piece was accepted into the Center for the Arts Evergreen's Western Art Show (all mediums). While I consider myself more of a contemporary artist I decided to enter for giggles. You just never know and voila!

In any event....I never know what I am going to enter and often while my heart may want to enter something that speaks to me more, I often make a decision based on the juror and of course the topic. My decision to return to this piece was purely based on how quickly they needed the piece and my current inventory. Not to mention I do like it but it has already done well and I like to share other work. Lets just say living in the mountains does not lend itself to visiting my printer and then the framer very easily!

I hope this babbling has not seemed too self-serving and the point of it is because I am a supporter of Return to Freedom I would like to offer this fine print to the community and I am fully prepared to donate 25% from the sale to Return to Freedom. Additionally I will include free shipping and a box of 6 of my new note cards which includes this piece and has a value of $20. Is that a deal or what??!!

The details are:
Size: 11.5" x 20"
Price: $350

The print comes museum mounted on archival foam core and can be shipped in one week after receipt of the order. For your convenience I have created a secure PayPal button. I also take all forms of credit cards, please contact me at susan@windhorseone.com if you would like to use your plastic.

As a service this print is also offered flush mounted on sleek aluminum (I love this presentation!) and floats off of the wall. It is also offered with frames used for canvas art so that the print is not covered with glass - this also floats freely off of the wall. Please contact me for more info on this.

Thanks in advance!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Come See Me @ Downtown Denver Arts Festival: May 22 - 25th

2009-05-17T21:40:00.005-06:00

For all the horse lovers in the Denver metro area, I will be showing this upcoming weekend at the Downtown Denver Arts Festival. Please come and stop by my booth, say hi, and visit with some of the horses I have been moved to photograph. The details are as follows:

Dates: May 22-25, 2009

Times:
Friday noon-8 PM,
Saturday 11-8 PM
Sunday 11-5 PM
Monday 11-4 PM

Location:
Denver Pavilions
500 16th Street
Denver, Colorado, 80202

For more info. click here!

Another on Relationships

2009-05-17T11:45:00.003-06:00

Hi Everybody!
I am back from over 2 weeks in glorious Europe where I was able to visit a villa where Andalusian horses are raised in the beautiful country side of Andalusia Spain. What an honor an a privilege. I also became quite a fan of passionate Flamenco dancing, also from that region. More on that in a future blog....

Here is another portrait from the series I submitted on the relationship project. This one has more of a narrative quality to it. One of the things I love about horses is that they have the ability to be mirrors to our own humanity.

This is also true of art. We become engaged with a piece of art because of our own stories. Each person may have a different dialogue with a piece of art which is why I choose to give my work generalized names. It is my desire that each person experiences the work however they choose!

That is all for now! I am still trying to regroup from yesterday's long travel day. I am glad to be home and have lots of news to share!

More on Relationships

2009-04-29T23:48:00.003-06:00

Well we all know good relationships depend on communication and it appears that these two are indeed communicating. While we know horses don't speak in human language they sure have a language of their own!

These two seem very at peace with each other and there certainly is a yin and yang effect with the black and the white.

I sent off five images tonight with the hopes that one of them will work for the project. Keep your fingers crossed!

"Horses speak in silence, never forgetting to listen." Carolyn Resnick

Exploring Relationships

2009-04-28T22:31:00.003-06:00

I was recently asked to submit four images using horses that best represented the concept of relationships. Part of the challenge for me is that the work needs to be in a portrait format and much of my work that satisfied the request is in landscape format. There is an urgency to this, leaving no time to photograph so off to my archives of images I went!

A relationship is normally viewed as a connection between two individuals and as far as I am concerned the two individuals may be two horses, two people or a person and a horse. While people are not always clear about their relationships the good news is that horses are! Because horses are herd animals and also prey animals, it is imperative that they know how they relate to one another for the sake of survival. Horses also like to have consistent relationships and leadership from their humans.

I decided on head shots for the task because I felt the closeup gave a sense of intimacy, which may or may not be part of a relationship. These two horses enjoy the company of one another immensely and seem to respect and relate well to each other. All the key ingredients of a great relationship I would say!

Be on the lookout for the next equine relationship!

windhorseOne Studios: News & Ramblings

2009-04-27T22:37:00.003-06:00

Well it has been a while since I have blogged. Lots has happened including a four foot snow storm a little over a week ago! Power was out for three days and the phone and internet were out for four. What a goopy mess it is up here.

I have been receiving lots of good news back from the assortment of juried shows I have been busy entering. PZask Gallery in CA is taking three of my pieces for an exhibit called Spirit of the Horse. I was really happy about that! They were shipped out and hopefully will find happy new homes!

Saturady I received news that one of my pieces was accepted in the fine art division of the Equestrian Photographers Network Equine Ideal contest. This one really excited me because my work tends to look more like paintings and most of the work in the contest is traditional photography. The photography is really great so I advise checking it out. There is an amateur and professional division and you can vote for your favorite photograph. Check it out and click here! After the voting is complete I will find out where my image, baroque Three, placed amongst the ten.

Today I learned that the one piece (spiritus Seven) I entered into the Western States Horse Expo Equine Dream Art Show was also accepted. The jury fee was $35 per image - YIKES - so I only entered one and kept my fingers crossed. spiritus Seven was also one of the three that just shipped to CA. Good thing we photographers have editions of our work or I would be out of luck on that one!

Last week all my new note cards were finished and they look great. The hard part is deciding how I want to box the sets. I am thinking of 6 cards, 2 of 3 different images....

My summer schedule is starting to fill in with art festivals we will be attending. We decided to stay in CO this summer. So far we will be at the Denver Fine Art Festival, Boulder 29th Street, Beaver Creek, and Aspen. I will post the dates when I am not too lazy to look them up!

The horses are shedding so I will be gearing up to do some commissions soon. I can't wait!

I think that is it for what this artist has been up to lately!

Bye for now and thanks for reading!
Susan

The Equinest: Featured Artist

2009-04-15T22:31:00.004-06:00

I am both honored and delighted to be a featured artist on the Equinest web site. Working with Paige was just a delight! She has created a great site for lots of interesting horsey articles. All I know is she must not sleep much to be able to produce the content that she does. Thanks a million Paige for a job well done!

To read more about things like my creative influences click here!

So I wonder what is up with Kairos, Zephyr, and Scooter these days?!! There hasn't been a peep out of them lately. Rumor has it they have all been getting along famously and don't have too much to say right now (if you can believe that! Ha LOL)

windhorseOne Studios: New Work

2009-04-12T23:10:00.006-06:00

Original Workup

I hope everybody had a happy Easter! I was sooo busy prepping all my new note cards today so I can run down to the printer tomorrow that I forgot it was Easter until later this afternoon!

Last night I started on this piece. I rarely create imagery with people in it but I am prepping some work for the Coors Western Exhibit held in Denver each year at the annual National Stock Show. They only take 2 photographers and they seem to rotate them out. They also take very few contemporary artists but YES they do accept them. This is an amazing show and much of the art sells on the red carpet opening night. I do have working stock horses in some of my work I can use but I dug this photo out of some folder on my hard drive and decided it was perfect.

This was taken last fall out at Return to Freedom at their annual fundraiser. I was exhibiting there and they had all the exhibitors in a circle around the show so we were able to watch. There were some amazing performances. They have a similar image on their web site so I cruised on over to check it out and I saw the man's name so I googled him. Turns out he his name is David Midthunder and he is an actor! It was a public event with all sorts of press and I never thought I would be using this image so of course I never asked for a model release! The good news is he has an email on his site so I can email him about using the picture.

I did some cropping to remove his identity and low and behold I think I like this version better! It leaves so much more to the imagination.

Workup Two

Here is a third version with some different cropping.

Workup Three

Let me know if any of these tickle you more than the other!

Have a great week!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Horse as Teacher Book: Status Update

2009-04-10T22:54:00.007-06:00

Today has been a most frustrating day....I decided to create a Facebook listing for windhorseOne Studios and I ended up making multiple pages on one email address. Ugh! I am normally pretty software savvy and it was only after a whole day of making entries I realized I had made a "friend" listing and not a business listing so now I have 2 FB pages under one email.

Well, on to other things as I am a bit punchy right now! My new book Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity Through Horses was sent off to the publisher this week. It is right on track for a mid-May delivery. Yeah! I am really excited about being an author of my first book.

This book is coming out with a wave of other equine spiritually related books like Kathy Pike's Hope: From the Heart of Horses and Mark Rashid's new one too (Whole Heart Whole Horse; Building Trust Between Horse and Rider). Both are from Colorado too by the way!

The chapter I contributed was about how my life paralleled the lives of the wild mustangs in both their native habitat and also captivity and how the imagery I captured mirrored and transformed my life. When I woke up and realized it!

I would like to share a few excerpts from my chapter "The Horses Are Calling...." with you:

"Meanwhile the horses had waited patiently in that darkness, waiting to be unleashed with all their creative unbridled energy. They were on call, ready to assist me. I could leap onto their backs, to take off on my pilgrimage of reawakening and wholeness harnessing their strength while infusing their energy. Truth be told, it was time to allow, but even more than that, time to trust myself and give myself permission to be guided back on my life's journey; reclaiming my creative birthright by rekindling the ash-shrouded, softly-glowing embers of my passion for the horses.

Leaving the fancy jet-setting marketing career behind took courage, but the horses long corralled and buried in the past were anxious to emerge and share their messages. The images that evolved in the Windhorse series had been hidden in my memory and were now appearing as guides; courage, destiny, spirit, and others. What unfolded in the upcoming months was a sequence of events where my Windhorse would fly down from above, grab me, toss me onto her back, and I would return to my path of the horse with such intensity I would be spinning.

The artwork that evolved was laying a solid foundation for the powerful and rich excavation of my soul that was yet to come. And while I naievly thought I was done healing, this was just the beginning. If there was one thing I was sure about, it was that I wanted to create and share with the world beautiful works of art with the voices of the horses that would elevate people's levels of consciousness; the gift the horses had given to me. To fully reflect this in my creations, I had to be in union with my true self and listen to my heart, which connected intimately with the horses. In this connection there is an awareness of the timeless essence of the universe within and without, while simultaneously networked to all other beings like a gossamer web. Sharing this with the world through my creations was extremely important to me, and I hoped that the Windhorses would help others find the infinite silence within themselves and heal. My burning desire was to help both horses and people with my artwork. But I was still lacking much needed clarity."

There are 9 more poignant and touching stories from women about how horses have touched their lives - each a life lesson shared and to be learned.

The price of the book is $19.95 and I am offering free shipping as well as signed copies for any order placed pre-release. In addition I am including a free 5" x 7" notecard with envelope of one of my beautiful prints that has a retail value of $4.00. This makes a great gift for any horse lover in your life! or of course yourself!

To order your copy now click HERE on this secure PayPal link

Thanks! and bye for now,

Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Appaloosa Family

2009-04-09T21:54:00.002-06:00

Well here it is as promised - the third appaloosa piece. I like things in threes. Believe it or not I have had this image for about nine years and never worked it up! If memory serves me they are all brothers and also related to a filly I had either through her sire or her older brother. I am not sure I like the all white background but these spotty lads are pretty graphic so for now I am holding off on adding any more busyness. Who knows what tomorrow may bring!

Are you seeing spots before your eyes? Sorry -bad joke!

I always looked forward to the new spring arrivals at the farm back east. Some of the foals were highly colored like these fine fellas and others were few spot whites. My filly was black with a white star and seven white spots on her rump. Then the next thing I knew she shed out and was a blue roan with a white blanket, black spots and a new white mane and tail!

I am busily working on a line of note cards and I thought I would do 3 or 4 sets of six cards (each box will have 3 designs - 2 of each). I pulled out all my small visuals and before I knew it I was up to seven or eight sets! I have never been known to be really decisive.

Well that's all folks. At least for this evening!

Chau,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Spiritus Series

2009-04-07T21:46:00.003-06:00

I was busy today sorting through a lot of the images that I have created lately wondering where they belong in the different bodies of work I have created. Sometimes it feels like I have started a whole new series before really completing an existing one. That is the great fun of being an artist! I always follow my inspiration and rarely have a preconceived notion of what the finished piece is going to look like.

This piece was patiently waiting in one of my many folders. I have worked on it off and on again for about nine months and was never quite satisfied with it but today I was able to bring it close to completion.

The traveling art show season is about to begin and I have lots to do to prepare for it. I start off the season at Dressage for the Cure in Colorado Springs this month. The show runs from April 24th to the 26th.

There are also plenty of juried exhibits all clustered around this time. I wish there was some sort of standardized size for these things! It is tedious resizing the images all the time. It is a good thing I never tire of looking at the horses I create!

Cheers,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Meet Blue

2009-04-06T22:38:00.006-06:00

Blue is a medicine hat paint that lives at the Medicine Horse Program facility in Boulder. The medicine hat is an unusual pattern where most of the horse's body is white, but the ears and around the entire top of the head is brown, black or roan. The horse looks like he has a hat on. Legend has it that Native American tribes, especially Plains tribes, called the spot a "Medicine Hat" or "war bonnet".

I took a fancy to him and had the opportunity to have an equine facilitated learning session with him last week. He is 2 1/2 years old and quite the looker.

He was a PMU foal that was brought to Medicine Horse and was saved from slaughter. PMU (pregnant mares urine) is used to make Premarin, a woman's hormone replacement drug. The foals are yanked prematurely from their mothers so that the mares can be bred again.

The program at Medicine Horse is called HopeFoal; at risk young girls are paired with these orphaned foals and both are given an opportunity to thrive. How beautiful is that?!!!

Thanks for reading!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Adventures of Kairos and Zephyr: Class Portrait

2009-04-05T22:01:00.002-06:00

We have been back to winter months with 18" of snow the other day and about 12" last night. Kairos turned one on April 1st. What an appropriate birthday for him!

Believe it or not Kairos and Zephyr managed to jump out of this paddock. They did take down two rails with them but still! They left poor Scooter inside running around while they had a bit of a gad about.

Some days they say two is company and three is a crowd but they seem to be all getting along here.

Medicine Horses; Equine Experiential Learning

2009-04-03T20:14:00.004-06:00

I just finished a week long equine experiential learning program at Medicine Horse Program in Boulder Colorado. Their mission is to enhance the mental health and life skills of youth, adults, families, and groups through therapeutic interaction with horses.

The six day program (EFLC Level One training) was taught by Kathy Pike, founder of Coaching With Horses. She is an Epona certified instructor and also a career coach from Carbondale CO. Kathy is also a co-founder and one of the ten co-authors in my new book Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity Through Horses.

All I can say is wow! The transformational power and magic of the horse to teach and heal is nothing short of amazing. One of the powerful tools I learned was how to use my senses like a horse. I left the workshop feeling as though new doors had been opened. One of my goals was to deepen my connection to horses and transfer it to my art. Lets see what happens!

Have a great weekend!
Susan
windhorseone Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Second Image for B&W Contest

2009-03-26T21:17:00.003-06:00

Today we had 18 inches of snow! I love the spring storms and we really need the snow this year to help lower the risk of fires. I didn't get out to see the horses today but I was told they were running around like nut balls!

This is my second image for the juried B&W show I am going to enter. I like the pensive quality of this horse. The deadline is tomorrow so how about that for waiting until the last minute!

Bye for now,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Same Image - Two Workups

2009-03-25T23:07:00.005-06:00

I am working on a couple of pieces for a juried B&W photography competition and the deadline is this Friday! After checking out the previous years winners it was apparent that they seem to like contrasty images. To achieve this you need to have a true black in your image and almost 100% white. This is tricky because you don't want to have your highlights blown out and losing the details. That means they want to see all the little hairs in the white mane and also the subtle detail in the shadows.

The upper picture is close to finished. The lower picture was also worked up in B&W but sepia toned to get the brown color. I left the pink in his muzzle while accentuating the blue gray. I think I like this workup better but unfortunately the contest is traditional B&W!

Save America's Wild Horses: Get Involved!

2009-03-25T10:57:00.005-06:00

Stop the Mass Murder and Imprisoning of Thousands of Wild Horses & Burros

Normally every morning I start out my day catching up on emails and doing all the marketing stuff I need to do (when I would rather be with my horses or working on my art!). Alas it is true, a good percentage of time is spent doing things we would rather not be doing! But I am writing this out of my own passion and desire to help our wild horses and their history.

Today I responded to a call to get involved in the future of America's wild horses by emailing Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, and the BLM to stop the slaughter and confinement of America's wild horses and burros. I encourage all horse lovers to get involved also.

Madeline Pickens, wife of billionaire T. Boone Pickens made a proposal last year to adopt all of the 33,000 horses contained in pens (prisons) by the BLM. She has currently reached a snag in her proposal and is looking for support. There is an email to Salazar that is already drafted with a small area where you can add comments if you like. It only takes a few minutes of your time and I encourage each and every horse lover to join this noble campaign.

To take action click on the image above or this link:http://capwiz.com/madeleinepickens/issues/alert/?alertid=12943361&type=AN.

To read more about Madeline and her cause please visit her website: http://madeleinepickens.com/

To quote Madeline: "The horses need your help."

Many thanks for reading!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Adventures of Zephyr and Kairos

2009-03-24T21:37:00.003-06:00

During one of the last adventures of Zephyr and Kairos, Zephyr would not play nicely with Scooter. He pretended to pass the stick but then ran off, keeping it all to himself.

It appears the stick game has finished and Scooter has Zephyr's attention. He seems to be leaning towards Zephyr perhaps because he has a secret to tell him. Maybe he is saying "Lets go hide from Kairos behind a tree and then we can jump out at him!"

I don't know for sure but judging by the expression on Zephyr's face I don't think he is buying into Scooter's idea.

Photography Masters Cup Nominee

2009-03-23T08:47:00.004-06:00

I just received news that I was a nominee in the third International Color Awards Photography Masters Cup Wildlife category! I don't know how many entries there were but I do know they had so many that they postponed the announcements from Dec. until March so they could jury all the submissions from all over the world. The judges were from pretty lucrative publications so this is very exciting for me!

Check out this link:www.worldphotographicarts.com/photoshow/colorawards/3rd_gala/presentation/nominations.php?x=p&cid=54 to see some amazing wildlife photography from all corners of the world.

The fees were high because I missed the early entry so I only entered one image and it made it in! Woo hoo!! I did do my homework and look at the type of images that made it into the past years events.

This unusual image was pretty much as shot except I darkened the background a bit. The pony had just rolled and was getting up which is how I was able to capture the mane standing straight up and the clumps of dirt flying. If you look closely you will see he has one blue eye.

Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Back from New Mexico and Arizona

2009-03-22T20:04:00.002-06:00

Where do I start? Today was a long road trip from Durango to Morrison but the scenery was glorious! It is too early to go to sleep and I am too tired to read and I had no idea how I wanted to return to blogging. After a nine day road trip into New Mexico and Arizona I have returned weary but quite content.

This piece is a bit of a departure for me and I am not sure how I feel about it. I don't normally choose to work on pieces that have so many horses in such close proximity.

I started working on it a while ago and I am not certain if it is finished but I wanted to post it as a tribute to my road trip and New Mexico artist John Farnsworth. He paints amazing oils of horses on larger than life-size canvases and there are always many horse heads close together. It was a pleasure to visit his gallery in Taos which made me think and dream that one day maybe I will have my own gallery too! Not to mention giving me the inspiration to post this piece.

Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Adventures of Kairos and Zephyr

2009-03-13T23:31:00.005-06:00

If horses could grin then these two certainly are. These two characters seem to hang out and have many conversations along the fence rail. Could be they are talking about ole Scooter since he isn't around. They don't always invite him to play with them.

You remember Scooter from yesterday's post......Zephyr wouldn't pass the stick or play nicely with him. Its tough when you are not one of the popular kids on the block, or paddock any way.

Today I went down to Denver to the Horse Expo and ran into a fellow horse photographer Carol Walker. She has done an amazing job photographing the American mustang in their native habitat and has a great book of her work called "Wild Hoofbeats America's Vanishing Wild Horses". Check it out at:www.wildhoofbeats.com. She and I both donate part of the proceeds from the sale of our work to The Cloud Foundation. To learn more about this admirable cause go to: www.thecloudfoundation.org/home.html. The Cloud foundation is dedicated to the preservation of wild horses on our public lands and the protection of Cloud's herd in the Arrowhead Mountains of Montana.

I am leaving for a road trip to Arizona tomorrow and won't be back for nine days. I don't take my computer but I will be taking my friend the camera and hope to have lots of new photos to work on and share with you when I get back!

Have a super weekend and I'll be blogging later!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Adventure of Zephyr & Kairos: Boys Games

2009-03-12T23:06:00.009-06:00

Like most young boys these colts are no different - they love to play with sticks! Meet Scooter. He is a little Peruvian Paso who tries to play with Zephyr and Kairos. Just like children, sometimes they exclude him from the fun. Today Zephyr has a stick and seems to want to try to pass it to Scooter.

Kairos is minding his own business behind Scooter which is very unusual for Kairos. He is Mr. Mastermind the busybody. Scooter is starting to approach Zephyr. You want to play with me? he seems to say.

Turning quickly Zephyr says if you want it come and get it. Ha, Ha fooled you! What a tease that Zephyr is. And little Scooter seems a bit displeased. I can't say I blame him.

This is a close up where you can see Scooter is saying Hey, play fair!

Stay tuned for more on the next adventures of Kairos and Zephyr!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Almost an Appaloosa!

2009-03-11T23:58:00.003-06:00

Today was almost a wash for working on any images. The whole day up until an hour ago was spent working on my website; adding PayPal buttons on a Flash site is a wee bit challenging if a person wants to have a shopping cart. Every time I went back to create a new button in PayPal it had logged me off. Quite annoying but for my own security I suppose. And then there was dealing with the folks at PayPal which was a bit frustrating. Lots of time on hold while they searched their databases for an answer! I do like being able to work on my own site for the simple reason the turnaround time is as quick as I want it to be!

Mid-afternoon I did escape and go spend time with the horses. Always refreshing!

I received news yesterday that I was accepted into Denver's Downtown Art Festival this year. It is held in May and this year is its 11th year. This will be my first big juried show and also non-horse event where I am showing my work. In April I will be at Dressage for the Cure in Colorado Springs and in June at Polo for the Cure in Littleton. Lots to do to get ready!

My other website features dogs, horses, and graphic design. It is a bit of a hodgpodge and I wanted to update some of my dog work. I particularly like this dalmatian with the patchy snow in the background. It plays nicely off of his coat. This piece has sat unfinished for a while but tonight it seemed to all come together.

Well I must say it is late as usual and I can tell the sandman is arriving so until next time!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Adventures of Zephyr and Kairos

2009-03-10T11:47:00.003-06:00

I am thinking of branching "The Adventures of Zephyr and Kairos" to their own Blog but for now they will remain here. While I am relatively new to this whole social media thing (and it is a blast!) it still requires a fair amount of time and effort to set all these things up! And like most artists I would rather be creative than a techie. Most of my life has been in the tech industry and I thought I had left software (other than Photoshop, Flash, Dreamweaver, and Painter) behind for ever! What a rude awakening! OK enough of the diversion.

Colorado weather can be really extreme but I wouldn't have it any other way. This day started out warm, and bright and sunny. There was a 50% chance of snow and it blew in with vengeance. Within minutes there was an inch and it stuck to everything. I love that the horses seem oblivious to it and while I walked around brushing myself, Kairos just watched with curiosity. Where was Zephyr? Zephyr is Greek for the gentle god of the west wind. Perhaps the weather was too much for gentle Zephyr...... Well, that isn't really true. Kairos is Mr. Curiosity and needs to be a part of everything and everyone. He just loves to inspect the camera, or anything else for that matter. I thought I was done for the year with snow and winter shots but ya never know which is why my camera is a constant travel companion. There is nothing more rewarding than watching and documenting these fine young windhorses grow up! I have to admit I found a Friesian/paint filly on the internet and I have not stopped thinking about her. I do not need another horse but boy would it make the adventure even more fun than it aready is!

Anyway, it wasn't long before all the horses were running around bucking and playing with each other. It also wasn't long before the sun came back out. I almost couldn't believe how quickly it blew in and out and Spring had returned in all her sunny glory!

Thanks for stopping bye,
Susan
www.windhoresOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity With Horses Book- Part 3

2009-03-08T23:57:00.005-06:00

After The Gathering: Number XXX4

I have finished my contributing chapter for "Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity" and it has been edited and returned to me for final approval. Everything is right on track! I had to choose an image to go with the chapter so I chose this one. It is called After the Gathering: NumberXXX4. ATG is a series about the gathering and tragic captivity of America's wild horses. XXXX is symbolic for the number tag that hangs from the horses neck.

There are so many photographers who are doing a fabulous job photographing the mustangs in their natural environment that I decided to turn my lens to the horses who no longer have their freedom

The gaze of this horse meets you eye to eye, soul to soul for the eye is a portal into the soul. The chapter I wrote is one of contemplation and personal transformation resulting from the horses mirroring my psyche back to me. Pretty powerful and amazing stuff if we are open and receptive to it!

Happy Monday!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Appaloosa Portrait: Number Two

2009-03-06T11:54:00.004-07:00

Here is my second appaloosa portrait using similar colors to the first. I am working with a bit of blue again and I think it has really enhanced the horse. I will probably do at least one more.

This picture was taken last year at a roundup in Craig Colorado. Every year the Sombrero ranch brings the horses in from their winter wonderland to prepare them to go back to work. The horses are leased out to various dude ranches and outfitters until their season is over. It is truly an amazing site to witness! There is dust flying and horses whinnying and there are about 100 photographers who go to take pictures. The horses just run by and around us and I know that I was so in the moment that I could have been bumped and trampled at any time!

There is something about running horses that mesmerizes people. I think it is because there is such a feeling of freedom and power that accompanies a running horse. We can hear the hooves pounding and the wind on our face even if we have never ridden before. Many people who buy my art do not have horses yet they are so captivated by the archetypal energy associated with the horse.

Tonight I am going downtown to Denver for the First Friday opening. I haven't done that for a while so I am really looking forward to it!

Have a super weekend!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Adventures Of Zephyr and Kairos

2009-03-05T13:42:00.004-07:00

Everyday when I need a break I go out and visit my two colts Zephyr and Kairos. We go for short walks together which is giving us time to develop a strong bond and relationship. I have had people ask "Wouldn't I rather be riding?" and while the answer is yes I would love to be riding I have found it very rewarding to bring my own horses along very slowly. Riding is one of the many benefits we share with our equine friends but there are so many other rewarding activities we can do with them. I have been horseless for about seven years now and somehow these two seemed to have found me. I wasn't in the market for one horse and ended up with two!

It is amazing and fun to watch how their personalities develop. Little Zephyr on the left, (he is not so little!), always was very quite and has an amazingly sweet eye. He is more food motivated than Kairos and out runs him to come collect his good-bye treats. He has also become very animated lately and uses his mouth quite a bit to perform. I sat and watched him sticking his tongue out for quite a while and finally had to tear myself away, but not before taking a few photos. I left grinning from ear to ear and as always re-energized. Horses have a way of doing that to us don't they?!

Bye for Now,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Appaloosa Portrait

2009-03-03T21:29:00.001-07:00

I started working on a series of Appaloosa images this week. I have always had a soft spot for appies as I used to have an appy/TB cross. I had always wanted a black app with a white blanket and black spots. What I bought was a black app with about seven white spots and a white star. She was only seven months old. What I didn't know was that she would get lighter! By the time she was three she was a silver grey with a white mane and tail, a white blanket and black spots.

This image is a bit of a departure from my normal work. I decided to try some color. The color is subdued but nonetheless there. It is not that I am afraid of working with color but that I was primarily a B&W photographer for years so most of my work seems to be predominantly monochromatic.

This was a bit of an experiment and quite fun. I have to admit I am a bit all over the map lately but it seems that if I just go with the flow and allow the image to evolve on its own then it seems to work out in the end! I am not sure if I am finished with it. Normally I let them sit for a day or two and often find I can enhance them further but I liked this enough to post.

There is another one I will post when it is complete.

Hmmm, I just noticed my last three posts are all pointing to the left.....wonder if that means anything? LOL!

Thanks for reading!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

The Windhorse

2009-03-01T22:52:00.000-07:00

I have always been drawn to horses with unusual markings and blue eyes. There is something very surreal abut blue eyed horses and dogs for that matter. There is a mystical quality to this horse and I imagine him carrying a Shaman or Native American medicine man. That is just what popped into my head as I was writing this. This could possibly be the start of a new body of work since I am not sure where it fits in with my other work. New directions; I love it! The creative process is such an adventure and I never know where it is going to take me.

This week I have been reading "She Flies Without Wings; How Horses Touch a Woman's Soul" by Mary D. Midkiff. It is a beautiful book with stories about how horses capture the hearts of young girls and women. It explains so eloquently the mystery and process of how many of us who are horse artists and equestrians alike have identified with the horse. We all know there is a special connection but there are several aha moments in the book. It took me back to my horse crazy childhood.

Happy March! Spring is on its way and along with that the large CO spring snowstorms. It has been a dry winter here so I hope we get some good storms to keep the mountains moist and the fires away.

Susan
www.windhorseone.com

Regal White

2009-02-26T21:56:00.000-07:00

I have been working on developing a new technique which is coming along nicely. I base it on traditional darkroom techniques but do it on the computer. I guess the computer is my digital darkroom! I have to admit I do not miss the darkroom too much. I did like watching the prints develop on the paper but I certainly do not miss the muss and fuss. Not to mention the trips back and forth to the darkroom!

This print started out as a color image which I desaturated and then sepia toned part of it for a warm tone and selenium toned the rest for a cool tone. Some traditional dodging and burning really made the image pop and come to life. I have been fiddling with this technique for a couple of months now and I really like it. It doesn't seem to work well for all photographs but trial and error is such fun!

Bye for now,
Susan
www.windhorseone.com

Horse as Teacher Book - Part 2

2009-02-23T23:11:00.000-07:00

"Horses have the capacity to teach us key life lessons. To experience this higher level of connection and communication, humans must accept the horse as a partner and be open and willing to receive their wisdom."

Horse as Teacher website: www.horseasteacher.com

Well as promised here is the cover of the book "Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity". In my last blog on this topic we were anticipating the release of the cover of the book which was designed by equine photographer extraordinaire Tony Stromberg (including one of his beautiful images). While none of the authors had input in the image that was used I think it is perfect and depicts the gentle, luminous, and welcoming eye of the horse that we all love. I didn't coin this but the eye is the window to the soul.

Writing the forward for the book is Mark Mottershead, who founded the Horse Consciousness website (www.horseconsciousness.com). Recently he headed up "The Path Seminar Series" featuring the teachers in Stormy Mae's (one of the co-authors in Horse as Teacher) DVD. Check out his website which features articles and tips from some amazing horse visionaries of our time.

I find that I want to know everything about working with horses as partners that it can become a distraction from doing my artwork. I want to be the best human guardian for my two colts as I can and ensure that they have the best equine/human partnership that exists! What I have come to realize is that by strengthening my relationship with with my horses, the depth of my artwork increases. The voice of the horse connects and communicates through me.

Our book is due to be released in May and has a list price of $19.95. At this time the shipping fee of $5.95 will be waived and all copies will be signed for all orders placed before the book release. Additionally 10% will be donated to horse rescue organizations. If there ever was a time for change it is now and what better way than through the human/horse connection?

Please contact me at susan@windhorseone.com if you are interested in learning more about Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity or to secure your pre-shipping copy.

Yours in the dance,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Of Horses and Dogs

2009-02-22T22:37:00.000-07:00

Meet Foose. I can never remember if he is a border collie or Australian sheep dog mix. Any way I am not too sure it is important. He is absolutely gorgeous! All I know is that with horses there must also be dogs. At least there have been wherever my horses have been. Dogs have come and gone in my life and right now I am sad to admit I am dogless. With a busy art show schedule it is easy when your horses are boarded but it is not as easy to board your dog. Yes it easy in the sense that you can drop them off at a kennel but I have never really had the heart for that.

But on the bright side I get to see Foose and his girl Scout. Scout has had some leg problems lately and I do not have any photos of her but she is equally as spectacular! What I love about Foose is his wonderful vigor for life. When I arrive at the farm (I am from the east where we say farm but now I am in Colorado so I guess I should say ranch!) he comes flying down helter skelter to greet me. He loves to jump up to say hello but if it is muddy he is a gentleman when I tell him down. Foose found his forever home after a former guardian decided it was too much effort to continue to feed him. I guess I can't imagine somebody coming to decide something like that.

If there is one thing I have to say about Foose, it is that besides being an amazing companion, he takes his herding responsibilities quite seriously! And while he is very much the serious fella about this, sometime the horses think he is a pest and will chase him! He is quite the tenacious guy though and often his patience wins out. I have to admit that I love photographing dogs as much as I love photographing horses. Really, the two are inseparable!

As always, thanks for reading!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Boys will be Boys

2009-02-19T23:28:00.001-07:00

These are my two young colts horsing around in the field a few weeks before I brought them to the mountains. Recently I was notified by Equine Wellness magazine that this picture was awarded 6th place and will be published in their March/April issue! Woo hoo, what an honor! The contest called for photos of people's horses. I know I am partial but I have to admit that they are way too cute. :)

They look like brothers but they are not related. The standing colt is called Kairos and the lad on top is Zephyr. They are both named after Greek gods. Zephyr is the god of the gentle west winds and Kairos is the god of time (Cronos is also a god of time and that is where chronological comes from). Kairos is symbolic for instances with small windows of time where there is an opening and one must act with gusto or lose the opportunity.

This was actually a pivotal point in these boys lives. Normally Kairos would be pestering Zephyr, who is so sweet and gentle. But Zephyr has decided he has had enough! And if you knew the two then you couldn't really blame him. They absolutely adore one another and are inseparable!

Bye for now!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Black Messenger

2009-02-16T23:32:00.000-07:00

Once again it is late in the evening when I find the time to work on one of my photographs. It was just last year when I was exhibiting my work at the Art at the Classic at the Draft Horse Classic in Grass Valley, Ca. that I fell in love with the Friesian horse. As exhibitors, we were given a free ticket to an evening show. My breath was taken away when a team of six Friesians entered the ring. That was all it took and I was immediately hooked. Somehow I was immediately transported back in time to the medieval ages. It was an amazing site to see all six horses moving in sync!

We were busy at the show but I did manage to sneak out for about an hour and go back to the barns to take some photographs. I have read somewhere that the black horse is a metaphor for a messenger of esoteric knowledge. You have to wonder what this fine animal is thinking. There is such wisdom in its eye. The Friesian breed certainly is the horse of kings (and of course queens!).

Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Horse as Teacher Book

2009-02-11T22:04:00.000-07:00

I recently had the honor and good fortune to become part of a team of amazing equine professionals, who partner with horses in their professions, for the book "Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity Through Horses". This is the first of a series of ten books about how horses transform people's lives and is due to be released this May.

The group is diverse and there are coaches, therapists, and natural horse trainers in the group. I am truly blessed as an equine artist to be included with these visionaries! It was humbling and daunting at the same time. I didn't know where to start but as of tonight my chapter is well on its way to completion.

Tonight we had our first teleconference where we all shared little pieces of ourselves and got to know each other. As one person put it, we were all members of a new herd! We also learned that well known equine photographer Tony Stromberg is designing the book cover and providing the picture. His beautiful books are Spirit Horses and The Forgotten Horses.

It seems there is a very large movement, being called horse consciousness, where people are teaming up with horses to better the lives of both humans and horses. Horses have an innate ability to mirror and reflect elements of ourselves right back to us if we are open to receiving the messages.

I can't wait to see the cover. It is scheduled to be completed next week and I will post it as soon as I have it.

Please visit www.horseasteacher.com to learn more about this amazing book. Click on the link Book Authors to see who the ten contributing authors are with links to their websites to learn more about their work with horses!

Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com