114 SIDELINES JANUARY 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Kathryn Murphy
Ever since she was a little girl, September
Vhay knew she loved to paint. Inspired by
beauty, she feels her purpose as an artist
is to translate that beauty into art. While
she paints a variety of animals, horses
have always been the main motivation
behind her beautiful watercolor, charcoal
and oil creations. Her artwork fully captures
the complexity and splendor of the equine
animal.
“I feel an affinity with them, whether I’m
just around them or riding. There’s this
certain knowing and I’m not sure how to
describe that. It’s something that’s been
consistent throughout my entire life. There’s
a comfort there,” September said.
When she was just five years old,
September started painting and riding. Her
first pony was a Welsh/Quarter Horse cross
named Gypsy. Both horses and painting
have been a constant part of her life.
“I grew up around a lot of art. I was five
years old when I start painting and I liked
the idea of having something to say without
verbal language. I liked colors and shapes;
it was just fun.”
After moving away from her Nevada
roots, September attended the University of
Oregon, where she received her Bachelor’s
degree in architecture. In 1993, she moved
to Jackson, Wyoming for the skiing and
enjoyed it so much that she never left.
Although she was passionate about and
worked as an architect for eight years in
Jackson, she made a decision to pursue
painting in 2001.
“I quit my architecture career to be a
painter. It was a hard decision to make,”
September recalls, “but I felt like I had more
to say as a painter. It was a more immediate
medium for me to be creative.”
Creativity runs in September’s family. Her
great-grandfather was Gutzon Borglum, the
designer and sculptor of Mount Rushmore.
Her father is an architect who also paints
watercolor. Growing up in an artistic
environment encouraged September to
become a talented artist herself.
Her accomplishments include being
featured in the Southwest Art Magazine this
past August, being represented by Altamira
Fine Art and winning first place in the 2012
Ex Arte Equinus exhibit. One of her paintings,
“Two is a Pair,” was also purchased by the
National Museum of Wildlife Art in 2010.
September has so many favorite paintings
that she cannot pick just one. Nothing goes
e
Art - Wyoming
Horses in Contemporary Western Art
Dream Walkers Dream – 30 x 40 oil on linen
All photos by September Vhay
Sienna Sun – 12 x 24 oil on linen
Alacrity – 12 x 24 oil on linen
Continued on page 155
