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Tuesday, October 20 2015 / Published in Sidelines Spotlight

Keller Jones — Passion for Painting and Portraits

By Taylor Renner

Keller Jones

Keller Jones

As a young girl, Keller Jones was a typical barn rat.

Copying drawings she found in equitation books growing up was the first sign that she possessed another passion besides horses: She had a passion — and gift — for art.

Keller took her first painting class in the fifth grade and continued to draw and regularly ride and show in the hunter/jumpers through high school.

“I could always draw, I knew that,” said Keller. “Even in high school, we had an assignment to draw our living rooms and I got it so spot-on that within five minutes I was bored because it was too easy for me. I guess it was just an intuitive thing, but I knew how to define the foreground by drawing the background, etc.”

After high school, Keller went on to earn a bachelor of fine art in graphic design from the University of Georgia (UGA).

Well known for her animal portraiture work today, Keller first started drawing horses and animals while at UGA.

“My first painting in class was titled ‘The Aiken Field’ and the teacher just zeroed in on it and said, ‘This is what I’m talking about!’ ‘The Aiken Field’ was my idea of all of the equine sports available in Aiken, South Carolina: showing, jumping, hunter/jumper, flat racing, harness racing, polo and barrel racing,” said Keller.

“The Aiken Field” caught the attention of officials in Aiken, South Carolina, and even graced the cover of the Aiken telephone book one year. A framed print of the painting was also given to Secretary of State James Edwards as a welcome gift from the Chamber of Commerce while visiting Aiken.

Once Keller graduated from college, she became a freelance painter and painted horse commissions while traveling to circuit shows, selling prints of her paintings out of the trunk of her car. She went back to school and earned two master’s degrees: a master of liberal arts in fine art from Spring Hill College and a master of arts in cinema studies from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

After working a variety of jobs while still keeping up with her art, Keller moved to Savannah, Georgia, with the intention of becoming a cinema studies professor. When that didn’t work out, she turned back to painting.

“Sara” — Pastel on matte board, 14” x 16”

“Sara” — Pastel on matte board, 14” x 16”

“I was so mad that I had to do a painting because I moved [to Savannah] thinking that I was going to be teaching film full time,” said Keller. “So I pulled all of my paints and my easel back out and I just threw the paint on the canvas and stood back and the painting was fabulous. It was probably better than any painting I’d ever done, and it was just this little painting of a dog named Fred who was deceased.”

The miracle of “Fred” motivated Keller to start her portraiture business in Savannah — Keller Jones Fine Art and Portraiture. She also began teaching film studies at a local educational center.

Keller currently paints pet, horse and human portraits on commission, as well as Southeastern landscapes.

“I’m probably equally as well known for landscape painting as I am for equine painting and portraiture,” said Keller. “I definitely enjoy painting horses the most because of their power, size and complex bone structure. Horses are, to me, synonymous with mountains. They represent courage, power, beauty, finesse, grace and strength all in one object. They’re so magnificent.

“Landscape is romantic and highly spiritual,” Keller continued. “I developed my love for nature and landscapes from trail riding. Being with your horse in the woods … it’s sacred. My landscape painting is very loosely structured; I’m not as concerned with identifying a type of tree as opposed to the horse paintings, which are more realistic. The horse paintings tend to be more about the relationship between the client and the horse, and I’m very detailed with those works. I like doing the loose stuff but most people want to be able to recognize their horse’s eyes and their markings, so it’s really important to have the markings in the right place. It’s just the coolest thing in the world when you start drawing a horse.”

“Amy and Beau” — Oil on canvas, 24” x 24”

“Amy and Beau” — Oil on canvas, 24” x 24”

Keller has worked in almost every medium of art but primarily works in oil and pastel now. What really inspires her to paint the most, however, is music.

“Music is, I think, the most universal force of communication on our planet,” said Keller. “It doesn’t require words. Music moves me to dance which moves me to want to touch something so that’s why I paint. I use my hands a lot in my paintings. It becomes unconscious and that’s when you’re in the zone — when your heart and your soul have taken over.”

Keller’s favorite paintings at the moment are her most recent landscape and equine paintings: “September” and “Sara.”

Although Keller doesn’t ride much anymore, she still has very fond memories of her days in the saddle with one particular horse named Apache.

“Apache wasn’t the most attractive horse on the planet; he had this giant roman nose but he was extremely intelligent and that’s why I liked him, because we understood each other,” said Keller. “We went to a hunter/jumper horse show in Aiken and we won our class! Apache flew in the air like he was made of gold and he did that with every jump — he threw his heart out for me! I was 16 and I was on top of the world. I remember the number on my back, it was 16, and I remember how it felt having that number tied around my waist. I will just never forget that — that’s the most courageous I’ve ever been in my life. That was the single greatest moment of my life where I had absolutely no fear — I just threw everything I had out there. It was pure magic.”

“Jessica and Slade” — Pastel on pastel paper, 18” x 24”

“Jessica and Slade” — Pastel on pastel paper, 18” x 24”

In the future, Keller plans to do more landscape paintings incorporating some new techniques as well as continue to do portraiture work. As Keller continues to grow and learn more about herself as an artist every day, one thing is for sure: her paintings will always reflect her passion for animals and art, which first sparked inside her as a young girl.

“I think the rest of the year is going to be pretty amazing,” said Keller. “It’s already starting to look pretty amazing. My work has doubled in quality. I just think it’s going to be an incredible year; I already know it.”

 

For more information on Keller Jones Fine Art and Portraiture, visit www.kellerjones.com.

 

About the writer: Taylor Renner is a 2015 graduate of the University of Georgia with a B.S.A. in agricultural communication and a minor in animal science. She’s ridden and shown in the hunter/jumper and equitation disciplines for 12 years and is an avid photographer and writing enthusiast.

 

Photos courtesy of Keller Jones

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Tagged under: equestrian art, fine art, horse-art, keller jones

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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 
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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 
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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_

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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

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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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