Painting Horse

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ARTIST STATEMENT
By Cheryl Ward

I see my paintings from two different perspectives. First, the art of creating vivid, enjoyable works on canvas. Second, the art of communicating with my horses.

It's tempting to call what I do animal art, but I see it as a collaboration. I view myself as the conductor and my horses as the orchestra or engine behind what I do. I think of my style as "interspecies collaborative action painting."

As the artist, I prepare the canvas, design and make the brushes and envision the color palette. The horses provide the action. I take that action and shape it based on their mood and stroke style at the moment. I believe this meets a deep need for both of us. My desire is to create large, unpredictable, random works on canvas. The horses have a built-in need to manipulate their environment. It then becomes our combined expression that creates the paintings.

Welcome to Painting Horse Studios
Artist Cheryl Ward practices a unique method of abstract expressionism. Instead of painting with a brush in her hand, Cheryl passes the reins of control to her horses who paint on canvas with brushes in their mouths. Romeo, Juliet, DaVinci and Raleigh all paint unhaltered and are free to come and go as they please. Read more...

Romeo (top) and Juliet.

Make Your Mark
By Cheryl Ward with Juliet

EVENTS...

Now Live Online
"Art Therapy For Horses" as seen on CBS Early Show
See Cheryl Ward and her painting horses online at the CBS Early Show website.

WHAT'S NEW...

May 13, 2008
Raleigh's First Painting

Our newest herd member, a young Clydesdale named Raleigh, makes his painting debut with Dance of the Blue Horse.
See the painting...

May 12, 2008
New video: DaVinci and the Clyde
Meet DaVinci's new buddy, a young Clydesdale named Raleigh, as he makes his video debut.
Watch the video...

May 12, 2008
Installment 11: Clyde-itis
Cheryl gets a disease and DaVinci gets a buddy. Read the latest installment of the Diary of DaVinci.
Read more...

May 6, 2008
New Writings by Cheryl Ward
Read two new segments on the About page, The Passion Behind the Paintings, and A New Wave of Listening. Read more...

MISSION, VISION & HISTORY

The Passion Behind the Paintings
The journey of my painting horses began with one troubled horse that didn’t respond to traditional training methods. I began training him like I would enjoy being trained if I were a horse. Read more...

A New Wave of Listening
I believe anytime we welcome an animal being into our lives, an amazing opportunity presents itself for humans to see the world fresh, pure and untainted by culture or beliefs. When any of my animals communicate with me, I hear the sweet purity of a voice that speaks only the truth.
Read more...

How it All Started
My father was a professional artist and my grandmother rode broncs in the Calgary Stampede. Perhaps there's a genetic reason why I handed a paintbrush to my horse! Actually, it started with an adorable yet troubled horse named Romeo.
Read more...