They've always felt like my second skin, and much of my life, the air that I breathe. Horses, I mean.

My parents had nine children, and somehow provided for ponies, too. And when it was time to graduate to horses, my father traded his last piece of horse drawn treasure, a wonderful buggy, for my first horse. I don't think about life without them abounding in all their glorious beauty. Their energies shine through when I transpose them onto paper.

As far back as I can remember I was compiling my horse art in child-made books. I was always riding ponies with my best friend who lived on the neighboring farm across the woods. It was always horse in some forms for us.

Animals have always been in my life, helping to teach me my life lessons. I watch as my art changes according to what I am experiencing at that point. I like drawing most anything. Once I get started I am inside of that particular object or being's energy, and what transpires there becomes my artwork.

Most of my oil paintings are done on stretched canvas, but nothing is written in stone for me. I have thoroughly enjoyed painting on a piece of wood as well as on a fine piece of canvas or watercolor paper. One of the most enjoyable papers I've used is Hawk Mountain Art Paper.

All the papers I use are acid free. I usually use a paper that feels good to my touch and I see how the medium lays on it. If a different material doesn't seem friendly at first, I work with it a bit to see if perhaps I need to experience it more to make it work for me. I learn and grow through the creative art process.

- Kristine