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Wednesday, November 16 2022 / Published in General, Weekly Feature

Renay Shaffer: Using Art for Good

By Shya Beth

Renay Shaffer’s sharpened skills and even sharper pencils delicately bring equine and animal forms to life, and she uses these works of art to help save the very same subjects she features in her work. Horrified and inspired to help the animal victims of the massive bushfires raging in Australia in 2020, where an estimated one billion animals perished, Renay decided to draw some of their native animals. The drawings were auctioned off on Instagram, with 100% proceeds donated to various wildlife rescue organizations.

The fundraisers were a great success, and from there, Renay started to get requests for horse and pet portraits. Even though she had predominantly drawn and painted seascapes up until 2019, she soon discovered she loved the challenge of drawing “fur-kids,” as well as wildlife. “I found out more about the systematic removal of wild horses going on from public lands here in the USA and decided to create a series of wild horse portraits to help draw attention to their plight,” Renay said. “I believe that we need to better prioritize co-existence with our natural world, from wolves to wild horses to migrating birds.”

Renay has spent most of her life living close to the Pacific Ocean, and was born and raised in a seaside town in Canada before moving to the U.S. in 2013. With an encouraging mother and an artist and a horse breeder for aunts, Renay’s impressionable years were spent around art and ponies. “My mother, who was a musician, saw my daydreaming and storytelling as part of who I am,” Renay explained. “Most summers involved a family train trip or drive to Edmonton from our home on the coast in British Columbia, to trail ride and spend time with our wild cousins on the farm.”

Renay fell head over heels for a black pony named Midnight, whom she rode exclusively until both were older, with Midnight passing away at age 41. “In my teens I rode Amourette, a gray dappled mare, and dreamed about bringing her back home with me at the end of each summer,” she said. “I felt like we had such a deep connection, and she would let me ride her bareback with just a rope halter or on trails and crossing water with complete trust and intuitive communication.”

Her Journey Back to Art

Majoring in psychology at Trinity Western University in 2002 when she was 30 years old, Renay credits elective/optional art classes for awakening her desire to bring a higher level of art into her life. “When I chose a couple of drawing and painting courses, I didn’t know that I would suddenly reawaken my artistic side, but it was swift and definite. I finished that school year and spent the next decade painting commissions and murals, and building up some wonderful collector relationships.”

In 2007, Renay entered one of her earliest large paintings into her first international art show, unaware at the time of the scope of entries or the caliber of accepted work created by well-established career artists. “My painting was not only accepted, but sold before the show opened at a price higher than I had dreamed was possible,” she said. “It went on to receive the Honorable Mention award and, most importantly, the buyer contacted me and we’ve shared a wonderful relationship ever since, leading to a special network of collectors and support.”

Renay works in pastel, colored pencil, acrylic, oil and watercolor—she doesn’t have a favorite. Each medium has its advantages, and Renay chooses the one to best suit the vision she has for each piece. Animal portraits are usually colored pencil and include a meditative process of layering pencil strokes for every individual strand of fur or hair, and she’s been developing her own technique in watercolor that involves many thin layers of nearly-dry pigment applied with a finely splayed brush that is just as pleasing to render.

“Apart from having my own realism style, I feel more like I’m part of something larger, rather than feeling like I’m on my own or different from other artists,” Renay shared. “There is a growing collective of artists who love domestic and wild animals and the natural world, who are each in their own way creating beautiful art and a special energy in paintings, bringing light to causes or simply a closer look.”

Several of the wild mustang charities Renay has donated to are the American Wild Horse Campaign, Skydog Ranch and Wyoming Mustang Institute. One of Renay’s recent paintings, “Past Present and Future,” features two wild Wyoming horses and is being released as a limited edition of prints, with 50% of the proceeds going to help the cause of the Wyoming Mustang Institute and the American Wild Horse Campaign.

Renay lives and works at home in Bellingham, Washington, a half hour from the Canadian border with her husband and two Siamese cats. “Both of us working at home has felt like an especially lucky gift during the last couple of years. We live a 10 minute drive from the ocean and often find ourselves there or walking on local trails,” she said. “I need to have time in nature, and I can feel the healing effect of the ocean and trees within five minutes of being in their presence. In my art, I want to share that energy with other people who might not be able to experience it firsthand, whether it’s a connection with an animal or with a 100-year-old tree.”

For a look to the future, Renay plans on traveling across the United States to visit centers dedicated to wild horses, and getting back into the saddle herself. “I miss riding! I would love to ride again and have always harbored a dream to have a space for a couple of rescued horses and maybe a donkey, too, as they are also being removed from public lands here in the U.S. and are often misunderstood and undervalued.”

Along with a waitlist of pet portraits and a new body of work underway, Renay hopes to add more equine portraits to her portfolio. “I think it’s awesome that animal portraiture has grown so popular in recent years,” she said, “and that we are commemorating the ‘other’ loves in our lives that go on forever.”

For more information, visit renayshaffer.com 

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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
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

#dressage #equestrian #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #equestrianlife #showjumping #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #instahorse #dressur #horselove #eventing #equestrianstyle #cheval #dressagerider #horselife #horselover #pferde #love #riding #jumping #pferdeliebe #horseofinstagram #horsebackriding #paard #dressurpferd
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