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Monday, June 15 2015 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Life in the Art World

“Six Bays” — watercolor painting (Photo courtesy of Melinda Brewer)

“Six Bays” — watercolor painting (Photo courtesy of Melinda Brewer)

Canadian Artist Melinda Brewer

By Katie Navarra

Canadian-based artist Melinda Brewer has dedicated her life to chronicling the sport of polo and its most accomplished horses. She’s been honored with countless awards and her artwork has hung in galleries across North America and around the world. This year marks the fourth consecutive year she’s been selected to participate in the Art of the Animal Kingdom show in Bennington, Vermont.

Sidelines wanted to learn more about this artist whose endless talents range from painting wildlife and farm animals to polo ponies and hounds so we visited with her to learn more about her life in the art world.

Sidelines: When did you first discover your talents as an artist?
Melinda Brewer:
I’ve been painting for more than 30 years. My professional career began in 1982 after graduating from university but I’ve been drawing pictures of animals from the time I could draw at 6 or 7 years old. We’d take sketchbooks on our family trips and we’d draw what we saw; it’s just what we did.

Sidelines: Did your career start with wildlife art?
MB:
Yes, I was very lucky that in the 1980s, a lot of wildlife art was popular. The World Wildlife Fund, Ducks Unlimited and the Canadian Nature Federation, among others, held big juried art shows. I got in and it was really exciting. I was fortunate to have participated in several prominent wildlife and animal art exhibitions across North America. It was the encouragement I needed to carry on as an artist.

“Ponyline” — watercolor painting (Photo courtesy of Melinda Brewer)

“Ponyline” — watercolor painting (Photo courtesy of Melinda Brewer)

Sidelines: Do you love painting polo ponies?
MB: I’ve painted close to 70 portraits of famous polo ponies and award winners in addition to scenes depicting the sport of polo. Polo ponies are remarkable athletes. They’re as great as any racehorse or jumper. It’s extraordinary that they stand so quietly at the trailer, but on the field they morph into competitors and warhorses. Then when the match is done, they come back and stand at the trailer.

Sidelines: Your love for polo ponies extends to an annual collectible publication. Tell us about that.
MB:
Polostars is a distinctive, high quality, annual souvenir publication featuring 10 fine art portraits and multiple sketches as well as stories documenting the past year’s Best Playing Pony awards during the high goal season in the United States, including major tournaments such as the CV Whitney, Piaget Gold Cup and the prestigious U.S. Open. It’s the only existing publication of its kind. Last year marked the 10th anniversary for this project.

“The Huntsman’s Hounds” — Melinda loves to capture the hunting hounds at the kennel or working at the hunt. (Photo courtesy of Melinda Brewer)

“The Huntsman’s Hounds” — Melinda loves to capture the hunting hounds at the kennel or working at the hunt. (Photo courtesy of Melinda Brewer)

Sidelines: Are hounds another subject you enjoy painting?
MB:
As an avid fan of the sporting dog breeds, myself an owner of black Labs, I look forward to any opportunity to capture the hunting hounds either at the kennel or working at the hunt. In 1990, my painting “Springtime Red Fox” was selected by Ducks Unlimited Canada as part of their annual art print program. Taken from one of a pair of original watercolors featuring red foxes in a springtime moment, these images are still sought after today. Since then I’ve painted many fox paintings, portraits and studies, probably more than any other animal.

Sidelines: Of all the paintings you’ve completed, which has been your favorite?
MB: Every one is my favorite at the time I’m working on it. I have a large body of work. Each piece is as important as the previous one.

“November Sky” — the painting Melinda would rescue from a fire. (Photo courtesy of Melinda Brewer)

“November Sky” — the painting Melinda would rescue from a fire. (Photo courtesy of Melinda Brewer)

Sidelines: You really don’t have a favorite?
MB:
Recently, I told my husband that if I had to rescue one painting from a fire it would be a painting that hangs in our house. It features a flock of Canada geese flying in a V formation against a dramatic November sky. I don’t know why that piece stands out so much — it’s not a spectacular piece of art — but maybe it’s because of what was going on in life when I painted it or because I miss the annual migration of the birds since I spend every winter in Florida.

Sidelines: Have your horses ever been the subject of your artwork?
MB:
ThreeMagicBeans, an English Thoroughbred that I owned and cherished for 18 years, was the only horse of many I’ve owned that I actually painted a portrait of. He was an all-around guy who did everything. I may have to save that one from a fire as well!

“Summertime” — farm animals, especially cows, are a new favorite subject for Melinda. (Photo courtesy of Melinda Brewer)

“Summertime” — farm animals, especially cows, are a new favorite subject for Melinda.
(Photo courtesy of Melinda Brewer)

Sidelines: What medium do you paint?
MB: Ninety percent of my work today is watercolor. I also love oil painting, but it’s much more of a time commitment and it has to be done in the daylight. I just don’t have five hours to set up before painting and then spend five more hours painting. Watercolors I can pick up at any time of day and spend as little or as much time painting as I have available. I absolutely do not like acrylics!

Melinda has four different websites. For more information, visit www.poloart.ca, www.mbrewerfineart.com, www.polostars.ca, www.sportingart.ca.

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Tagged under: art, artist, Canada, equine, hounds, Katie Navarra, melinda brewer, polo, Polostars, sidelines-magazine, Watercolor, wildlife

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Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Gre Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Great American $300,000 Grand Prix at HITS Ocala!! 🏆🥇

Crowds filled the stands at the HITS Ocala Grand Prix Ring on Sunday afternoon to watch the world’s top athletes compete in the Great American $300,000 Grand Prix. The day concluded with a thrilling five-horse jump-off featuring athletes 
representing four countries. In the end, it was Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) and Ivaro N who produced the only double clear effort of the day, claiming one of the biggest wins of her career. Scott Keach (AUS) and Noble De La Chapelle earned the second-place prize with the fastest 4-fault jump-off, while Aaron Vale (USA) and Obi Wan placed third as the day’s pathfinders.

“I'm still on cloud nine, I still can't believe it – I’ve used up all my luck for the year,” smiled Goldman-Smolen after her win. “I've been knocking on the door a long time in these bigger classes. I am so proud of my horse – he gave every ounce of effort.”

Sunday’s Great American $300,000 Grand Prix marked the conclusion of the 2023 HITS Ocala circuit. HITS CCO Joe Norick concluded, “We are so excited about the new HITS, with 2023 as the launch. New footing, many new arenas here, and a lot of our facilities across America are getting a lot of love and new footing. Our partnerships with Worldly Martin and others across America including our footing leader Bart Poles overseeing our operations – it really makes a big difference for us. Today is about Ocala and these three riders sitting next to me who supported us this entire winter. We want to be a proud destination for our exhibitors and our friends. We know we have to provide them a beautiful showplace to work from that's horseman friendly, and that's our go goal. 

Congratulations to all of the riders, horses, owners, and groom who participated in this prestigious class!!! 🎉
📸 @esi_photography 
#horseshow #horses #horse #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #horselove #horsestagram #instagram #showjumping #equestrianlife #equine  #horsebackriding #dressage #horselife #pony #of #horserider #horseshoe #horsemanship #horseshowlife #riding #instahorse #horseaddict #horseofinstagram #sidelinesmagazine
It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

 ✨PF'S DIAMO BLUE✨
Diarado-Diamant de Semilly- Chacco Blue
17.0hh, Oldenburg International Hunter Derby/ Jumper Stallion
An outstanding Pedigree- Chacco Blue and Diamant de Semilly
WBFSH/ Rolex top ranking Jumping Sires 2017 thru 2022
Standing at Ryan Pedigo Sport Horses, in California

For more information, you can contact 
🖥Ryanpedigosporthorses.com
🖥Ryan.p.f@hotmail.com
☎️(714) 357-2714

You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

@ryanpedigosporthorsespf_

#stallion #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #equine #dressage #pferd #equestrianlife #mare #hengst #horseriding #instahorse #cheval #pferde #equinephotography #horselove #dressagehorse #pony #horselover #caballo #foal #quarterhorse #aqha #arabianhorse #sidelinesmagazine
Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
📸Photo by Sheryl Sutherby

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #horselover #instahorse #love #cheval #showjumping #horselife #photography #nature #pferde #horseofinstagram #caballo #riding #horsebackriding #pferdeliebe #caballos #horsepower #horsephotography #instagram #Sidelinesmagazine
A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
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