88 SIDELINES OCTOBER 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
“Holly Toledo!”
he will fly for roses too.
Louise was commissioned to portray Orb by Howard Slatkin, a
family friend of Ande and Dinny. The portrait was intended as a
surprise gift for the one-year anniversary of Orb’s 2013 victory.
“It is a great pleasure to commission Louise to create a picture,”
said Howard. “She makes it so easy, and it’s fascinating to see the
way she works, requesting pictures that convey the personality of
the animal. Her interest is in capturing what is unique and personal
to that animal, and she achieves her aim brilliantly!”
Armed with only a few photos of Orb in action, Louise placed
her bets on what she thought Orb’s personality might be like. The
bright and whimsical painting is a fun portrayal of the famous
Thoroughbred.
“I studied the photos we had to get an idea of him, then let my
vision propose his imagined exuberance,” said Louise. “Seeing a
great bit of mischief in his eyes, I portrayed him leaping joyfully off
the ground, just having overturned a stable bucket of red roses,
and showing off by waving a few in his teeth.”
Louise has an incredible sense that allows her to capture the
life of the subjects in her paintings. She uses creative colors and
concepts, along with humor, a hallmark of her impressionist work.
She produces pieces that portray each animal’s soul in a way that
shows her joy for art while also bringing joy to the owners.
“Orb’s owners, Dinny and Ande, were over the moon with the
gift from their friend,” said Louise. “They commented that I had
captured the horse’s personality perfectly! “Orb Will Fly for Roses”
was really fun to paint, and I’m delighted and honored to have
been chosen to be the artist!”
Howard had bountiful praise for Louise’s artistic philosophy,
process and final painting.
“There’s no better gift in the world than commissioning Louise
to do a portrait of a horse or pet,” said Howard. “She brings to
her work not only a lifelong love of animals, but also her deep
knowledge of the unique personality of each animal, which she
brilliantly and sensitively captures in each picture. With her
extraordinary exposure to art and her great talent, she somehow
creates pictures that are unique and unlike any others — genius,
I suppose. A rare and original talent.”
For more information, visit louisemellon.com.
“Independence Day”
“Timing is
Everything”
A collection
of Louise’s
racing inspired
paintings.
