80 SIDELINES JULY 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Dani Moritz
Kay Witherspoon is a bit of a modern day renaissance woman.
She’s been a ranch hand on a cattle ranch, a high school teacher,
a forest service employee, a real estate agent — all for two
reasons: to survive and to support her art.
But when Kay transitioned jobs once more — this time with a
master’s degree as someone who counseled struggling musicians
as well as teens and families — something clicked. Kay decided
that she would no longer move from job to job to support her art.
Her art would support her.
“I asked myself, when I’m 80, what do I want to say I’m really
proud of myself for?” she said. “And it was for pursuing art full time
and being a great mom and role
model for our son.”
So, that’s exactly what she did.
Kay’s passion for horses and
art, which originated with her
mother’s lipstick on the wall and
an abundance of equine-themed
school projects, finally became
her career. And despite having
no background in it, polo became
her subject.
“When I decided to go into art
full time and get a studio separate
from our home, we had a polo
field about half a mile away,”
she explained. “When I saw
polo riders at work I thought,
Go
with what you love and that’s horses.
So I started with beautiful,
action-packed polo. I simultaneously developed my website and
promoted and sold polo art world wide. It all worked beautifully to
get my career off the ground.”
Most of Kay’s work combines impressionism and realism to
really focus on her equine subjects.
“I like the tactile quality that realism makes possible,” she said.
“It’s beyond simply an impression of something. I do, however,
save impressionism for the backgrounds to show off, by contrast,
the realistically sensual and emotional qualities of the animals.”
She finds inspiration in the Flemish and Venetian
styles of art,
as well as her own imagination and appreciation for composition,
color and texture. Kay often takes photographs at polo matches,
but isn’t one to abide by the limitations of the photos. Rather,
she allows the photos to come alive and takes artistic license
by combining
photographs and changing the colors of horses or
background scenery. “It’s very hard to get a good image that works
artistically without making necessary artistic changes,” Kay said.
She continued, “I know some people don’t want to buy a painting
if it’s not a specific match, team or rider. In such cases, I suggest
private commissions. The results are masterful award-winning
works that truly encompass everything beautiful and stunning
about the equine athlete.”
That outcome has further inspired Kay to broaden her horizons
and bring to life more than just the polo pony.
When Art is in You,
There’s No Turning Back
e
Rocky Mountains – Artist
Kay Witherspoon
“Lazy Day in Wellington” — oil on linen — 14” x 28”
“Showdown” — oil on linen — 28” x 22”
