76 SIDELINES OCTOBER 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
“Completely Composed”
Photos courtesy of Walt Peterson
to do more. He added equestrian works to his repertoire along with
his portrait commissions. “Horses are so beautiful and majestic,”
Walt said. “Honestly, if I never painted anything but horses again,
I’d be happy with that, but I can’t forget my portraiture — after all,
that’s where I developed my skills.”
The late Bruce Duchossois met Walt and was impressed by
a portrait that Walt painted of Tom Matthews and the hunter
Firestone. “He said, ‘I don’t know when I’ve ever been so moved
by a work of art!’” Walt shared. “He turned to me and said, ‘We
need to do this. I will be in touch.’”
This began Walt’s brief relationship with Bruce Duchossois.
Bruce would commission Walt to paint him jumping one of his
very favorite hunters named Hello Kitty.
“I remained in close communication with Bruce, updating him
on the progress of the painting,” Walt said. “Several weeks into
Bruce’s painting, I received an unexpected call. I learned that
Bruce had passed away.”
Walt mourned the loss of his client and new friend for several
days. Then, he resumed work to honor Bruce’s spirit as one of the
industry’s greatest horsemen.
“It’s bittersweet,” said Walt. “I’m deeply honored to have painted
such an icon of the industry, but also so sad to see him go. I hope
he’s smiling down upon this painting of him and his lovely horse.”
After seeing a photo of the painting, Richard Duchossois,
Bruce’s father, requested that it be shipped to his home. It now
hangs in their family room.
“What a privilege and honor that is for me,” Walt said.
Plans are underway for a one-man show of Walt’s equestrian
art in Wellington, Florida, in the early part of 2016. To learn more
about Walt, visit waltpetersonfineart.com.
