66 SIDELINES FEBRUARY 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES JUNE 2012 3
of the canvas with the image and that makes for attention and
excitement.”
Susan prefers to zoom in on her compositions to focus on the
natural folds in the horses’ bodies. She also looks for interaction
between the horses and with herself, the photographer, and
learns about their individual personalities. “You have to hang
around quite a while to get their attitude and figure them out and
then, when you see the photos, you get their unique behaviors
and that’s what I want to paint. I want to capture the whole
confirmation within the frame of the painting. That’s what inspires
me – the animal itself.”
Although Susan adores horses and would love to own one, she
says she relies on other people’s horses to be able to ride. “I
paint horses instead, because it’s a lot cheaper,” she laughed.
She enjoys displaying her pieces in galleries across the U.S. and
working with owners to commission paintings that capture the
spirits of individual horses.
She enjoys her work so much that she had adapted a unique
model of painting commissioned pieces. When commissioned
for a private painting, she takes about 300 photographs of the
subject, develops them all and then paints as many as her heart
desires. “One time I painted as many as 10 from one group,”
she explained. “Then, I’ll run down to the gallery and I’ll say, ‘see
what you want to take and what you want to buy.’ That way it
gives them [the owners] some freedom and they’re not afraid to
buy anything.”
She added, “Owners should be able to enjoy the art and not
worry about being confined by a commission.”
This way, Susan continues to expand the breadth of her portfolio
and clients can have that perfect – or, in some cases, several
perfect – painting(s) of their beloved equine partner. That
pleases Susan as much as it does her clients.
As for Susan’s goals, she doesn’t plan on extending her
signature on paintings hung up on hotel walls across the country.
Instead, she plans on something a little different. She actually
plans on stepping up her commissioned work so that someday
people like George Strait will call her and ask her to photograph
and paint their horse.
Good luck, Susan! We hope George calls you soon!
For more information on Susan and her paintings, visit her
website at
.
About the writer: Dani Moritz is a graduate of William Woods
University with majors in Equine General Studies and
Communications and is currently pursuing a Masters In Strategic
Leadership at Stephens College. She is the assistant editor
and distribution manager for Sidelines Magazine and the proud
owner of a beautiful Paint/Arabian mare named September. She
is also the 2012 American Horse Publications Student Award
winner.
“Glorious Run,” oil on canvas 29 x 44.
