66 SIDELINES OCTOBER 2011
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
A Chat with
Sarah Richards
By Jan Westmark-Allan
Artist Sarah Richards lives on a small farm in the village
of Bristol, in the beautiful state of Maine, where she spends
her days enjoying her own horse as well as creating
gorgeous paintings of equines. Sarah has a Master’s
Degree in Counseling-Psychotherapy and said she enjoyed
practicing before turning to art fulltime.
Sarah’s art has opened the door to many amazing
opportunities during her career. “I have been extremely
fortunate to take part in so many things. I have had artwork
featured in GaWaNi Ponyboy’s book, ‘Of Women and
Horses,’ a New York Times Bestseller,” Sarah said. “I also
participated in the World Equestrian Games, which were
amazing for me, and Equitana, as well as various books,
posters and shows.”
Sarah recently experienced the thrill of her lifetime
when she created the poster for the Kentucky Derby
Festival. “This was a two week long festival in Louisville
with a marathon, air show, parade, celebrity dinners, and
of course, the Kentucky Derby. I got the backside tour
by jockey Charlie Woods, an awesome guy,” she said. “I
met some of the Derby contenders and their jockeys, and
watched them all work out. It really was a thrill.”
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“Golden” - with 23K gold leaf by Sarah Lynn Richards
Sarah on Velvet Elvis, her Friesian gelding
Sidelines:
How did you start painting?
SR:
I have always drawn, painted and been a stick in the sand
doodler. My homework margins were forever flled with sketches
of horses galloping up the side. Painting was just a refnement of
what I have always done.
Sidelines:
Why did you decide to become an equestrian artist?
SR:
The choice really snuck up on me. Although I have always
chased the beauty of horses, I was immersed in a career in
Counseling-Psychotherapy when I started to get some recognition.
I had to make a choice between the two careers, and I chose to
see where the artwork would take me.
Sidelines:
When did your riding career begin?
SR:
I started riding very young, whatever I could get on. I had
a Welsh pony named Pepper, a stout lad who put up with a lot.
Then, Miss Brandy, my frst true love came along. She was an
Arabian mare who really taught me how to stay on a horse. She
was a fery bay, and I didn’t have a saddle, so we would bareback
it all over trails and beaches, even entering the odd pop-up pony
race or two. Sometimes we won!
Sidelines:
Now you own a Friesian, what is he like?
SR:
His name is Velvet Elvis and he is a huge ham, super
affectionate, and, as all Friesians are, he is good looking. I like to
think that I ride dressage, but I have too much respect for the sport
to think I am any good. I don’t compete much; I think for me it is a
pursuit of an art form more than anything else.
Sidelines:
Do you fnd painting horses to be inspiring?
SR:
I think that the equine fgure has been beautiful to human
beings as far back in history as we can see. From cave paintings
to Da Vinci, we have been awestruck all along. I am no different.
Continued on page 68