112 SIDELINES OCTOBER 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Jan Westmark
Equestrian artist Marcy Criner gave up a well-paying job to paint
horse portraits, and the horse owners who own her paintings are
glad she did. The portraits of beloved equines are more then just
paintings — on Marcy’s website, each work of art includes a short
story from the owner about their horse.
“Horses hold a sacred space for us when we most need it,”
Marcy said. “I decided I wanted to share the stories behind the
horses. I see my art as the horse’s expression and the story as
the horse lover’s voice.”
Marcy, who lives in Aiken, South Carolina, is a self-taught artist
who spent her childhood with horses. “Growing up they were my
confidants, dance partners (sometimes called riding) and spiritual
gurus,” she said. “I spent all of my childhood moving up the levels
in Pony Club, showing, and learning everything I could about
horses.”
Horses
as Part
of Our
Soul
e
The Bottom Line
Two mares, Aspen
and Nootka, express
their togetherness.
The gelding Onyx
shows his personality
through many colors.
The Lipizzan stallion Pluto embodies
elegance in the afterlife.
Senator was a
true teacher to his
partner Sarah.
Then, Marcy headed to college and left the horse world behind
for 15 years. “In 2006, when I had a very well-paying but soul-
sucking job, I drove by a pasture of horses and was compelled to
stop, get out of my car and join the herd. I sat for hours with them
crying and laughing. I knew I needed to return to horses.”
The next day Marcy signed up for riding lessons and that one
move led to her leaving her job. “My job was killing me so I decided
to change direction and embrace the artist within.”
Marcy’s paintings can be found on her website, “Horses of Us,”
and if you click on the paintings you can read the owner’s story.
Marcy’s goal is to have 1,000 horse paintings on her site. “The
name Horses of Us came from the feeling that all horse lovers
experience,” Marcy said, “ — that deep knowing that horses aren’t
just something you do, but are a part of your soul.”
For more information, visit
.
All photos courtesy of Marcy Criner
