My escape into a dreamworld of color, light and movement was always a reverie from my cold homelife. It’s not that my childhood was a tale of horror like many have suffered through. No, I had a privileged life with a horse and dog, piano and ballet lessons, and the finest high school in all of Southern Illinois, according to dad. Even so, my parents and sisters were always arguing, yelling and cussing and a few times it became physical.
All of them ignored me if I stayed out of the way and quiet. But of course, they ignored one another also, when it came to giving love, kind words or a smile. Everything was always in turmoil, and that scared me.
Time spent with Copper, my first dog, first friend, forever friend; and then later with my gelding Spirit, was what gave my soul nourishment, love, peace, and freedom as well as a deep appreciation for the natural world. Favoring bareback riding, I would sometimes drop his reins and spread my arms as he galloped along. It was exhilarating and perhaps akin to flying.
The figure is nude to enhance the feeling of vulnerability in freedom. I was far too refrained for public nudity, and besides, nude bareback riding– Ouch! I relish that in the making of art, it’s the artist that chooses what to quote from life, and when to be creative with choices. Case in point, Spirit was black.
This painting is an homage to Spirit and how our relationship helped me survive my troubled youth.
Heading For Andromeda 