108 SIDELINES OCTOBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Lauren R. Giannini
Linda Ballantine Brown’s art offers a unique twist: you can hang
it on the wall and you can also wear it. “Paintings weren’t selling
well and I love silk, so I started making silk scarves – and then
I thought that my paintings would make great dresses,” Linda
explained. “It’s brand new. We also have a T-shirt line that’s just
coming out and that’s been pretty popular, too.”
Essentially, Linda started out by reproducing her paintings on
silk and then had the material made into a scarf or a dress. As a
fashion statement, it’s a knockout. The original dresses are one
of a kind and a number are still available. Linda’s wearable art
recently went into production, which means that the price will be
more competitive. But while she still has them, the unique original
dresses, tops and scarves are still very affordable, with the top
price at $350.
Her subjects are horses and ranch livestock, which makes
perfect sense when you discover that Linda and her husband,
Horace Epps Brown, started ranching 30 years ago. They raised
cattle for 20 years as well as six children. Now the kids run that
ranch, located in Kissimmee, Florida. Linda has moved to Cuttin’
Out Ranch near Williston, Florida, not far from Ocala, where she
raises Black Angus, grass fed beef and cutting horses.
Linda’s art dates back to early childhood in Canada: she started
very young with her grandmother, Grace Farley, who was an
artist. “She said as long as I didn’t mix all my colors together,
I could paint with her,” recalled Linda. “My grandmother liked
colors fresh and clean and that has been a huge influence. My
grandfather’s name was Walter, but he wasn’t
that
Walter Farley!
We had a blast showing his hackneys and I competed at the Royal
Agricultural Winter Fair in Ontario. I did the ponies with him; she
was my painting buddy. It was a great way to grow up.”
She had her first fashion show in Ocala two years ago. Texas
was the next stop for her wearable art and then she went to
Colorado where several boutiques bought scarves when she
exhibited at the Denver-WESA (Western and English Sales
Association) international market. Because she also paints
western motifs – after all, she’s a rancher – her wearable art has
gone over really well with the reining people.
“I sponsor an event rider from Canada, Holly Jacks, and
gave her “Twin Colts” and “Just Horses” to keep,” Linda said.
“Last spring I was at Ocala Horse Park for a horse trial and the
Canadian coach Clayton Fredericks said he loved the dresses.
He bought several and took them to Kentucky for the Rolex
Three-Day Event.”
Linda loves when customers want their own horse painted. In
fact, she’s available for commissions for both wall and wearable
art. “I love that I get to meet horses and paint them and put them
into a flowing dress or top or scarf,” she enthused. “My favorite
design is “Honest” – it’s about this reining horse I saw in a
magazine that’s giving everything he’s got. It was such a brilliant
photo. You can see it in his eye. That’s what horses do and why
I’m drawn to them. They’re magnificent.”
Linda’s wearable art and paintings can be found at www.
bstudioart.com
e
Fashion
The Brown daughters and
granddaughters show off Linda’s
wearable art.
Photo courtesy of Linda Ballantine Brown
Art With A Twist: Hang It or Wear It
Continued on page 123
