For Love of a Gray Horse: Freedom Run

Friday, May 8, 2009

Freedom Run

We've had rain almost non-stop since Django and Rowdy arrived here and I've had few opportunities to get any photos of them. When the rain finally paused for a moment late Tuesday afternoon, it was almost dusk and even with the ISO turned way up on the camera it was difficult to get a good shot especially of Django whose extremely dark color (he's the blackest black horse I've ever seen) makes it difficult to get a properly exposed shot of him even in the best of light. So, I'd posted a photo of him on redbubble.com that I wasn't quite satisfied with because I still wanted to show him off a bit to my internet friends:). Alyssa Gray wrote to me and suggested that I crop so that what was best about the photo, the highlights around Django's upperbody and on his mane, would really be the focus of the image. I decided to try this and got to work on it. It was several minutes before I realized that I was working on an entirely different image than the original post but I was so pleased with the results that I just went with it. I posted the image on redbubble before I went to bed last night and I wrote in the notes that it was for Alyssa. What a wonderful surprise this morning when I awoke to find a gift from Alyssa, the most beautiful story inspired by the image above of Django. I'd entitled the photo, Gypsy (Django got his name from Django Reinhardt the famous gypsy jazz guitarist)and the title, too was part of the inspiration. The story, Freedom Run, had tears streaming from my eyes by the time I finished reading it. It is an extraordinary piece of writing from my extremely talented, Australian friend, Alyssa. And I (and I'm sure Django) am so honored to have inspired something so beautiful. Alyssa is working on a book of ekphrasis pieces she has written, both stories and poetry, all inspired by the artists of Red Bubble. She has asked to include my photo with this touching story in her book when it is published. Please take the time to read the story. It is so moving; you will be so glad that you did.

1 comment:

angelandspotMay 8, 2009 at 6:42 AM
I love that photo even if it is a bit dark:) I'm off to read the story now. :)
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About Me & Gray Horse Designs

I've always had artistic leanings. I was drawing stick figures before I could talk. Friends recall that I was constantly drawing or painting as a child. I grew up and I did major in art in college but I never could find direction. I kept switching majors and trying so many different things trying to find the one that fit, the one that fulfilled me. I seemed destined for a while to be a lifetime student. Then one day, I found myself out of work, burned out on school, and very depressed because I'd also just suffered a miscarriage. I was alone at home and totally at loose ends when I picked up a piece of wood and began to see a horse in it. The irony of that will become more evident later in this story but the truth was, that as soon as I touched a knife to that block of wood, it was magic. I felt as if I'd come home. From that one piece of scrap wood and a small cheap craft knife, a business grew and took on a life of its own. I started creating whimsical, wood sculptures and I sold my work all over the world. Then one day, at a crafts exhibition in Chicago, I met the head of Enesco's new gift wares section and my career took off in yet another direction. I designed several very successful lines for them over the next five years but after fifteen years in this business, I started slowing down and losing my enthusiasm. I decided that I'd try another medium but like trying to find my direction in life those many years before, this wasn't an easy task.

I knew that I still wanted to be creative but I didn't know what medium I wanted to try next. So, I tried many but no magic, no flashes of inspiration. Then one day, my husband and I were sitting on a Mexican beach relaxing and enjoying the salty breezes and beautiful views. It was his 50th birthday. He told me how much he was enjoying himself and he asked me what I was going to want for my 50th birthday which would be coming around in two years. I didn't even hesitate before I answered him. "A horse!" I said simply and to the point. I'd wanted a horse for as long as I could remember and I knew that if I didn't get one soon, I'd never get one. So, from the moment we touched down on US soil, I began my quest. There were two things that I didn't realize at the time, that my horse would actually arrive soon after my 49th birthday and that she would totally change my life. Everyone told me that at my "advancing" age, I surely needed a gaited horse because their smooth gait was much easier on aging joints. I began my search knowing nothing about horses or even what I really wanted and certainly nothing about what I needed in a horse.

I was lucky because I met two great horse ladies who pointed me in the right direction. The first told me that the horse I wanted was a Missouri Fox Trotter and the second lady, Fran Forester, offered to help me find the perfect MFT for me. She told me about a man she knew who knew more about horses and specifically more about MFTs than anyone she'd ever met. The only problem was, he very seldom agreed to sell one of his horses. Then one day, she contacts me and she is very excited. The man, Huston Jenkins, was selling some of his horses and one of them was the dapple gray that I'd been dreaming of. I'd told everyone that I wanted a dapple gray horse and when I found her, I would call her Mouse. Huston's niece had promised to take some photos of the gray horse and email them to me. They arrived in the middle of the night but I had been waiting for them. I printed them and thumbtacked them to the bathroom wall beside the mirror so that they'd be the first thing my husband, Steve, saw when he got up the next morning. I wrote across the photos, "This is the ONE!!" I'd decided that as soon as I saw her but I was even more convinced that it was fate when I saw her papered name, Mouse's Funny Face. My fate was sealed.

That was over five years ago and that beautiful, dapple gray mare has since become my muse, my inspiration, my teacher and my life. I started doing equine photography and art because of her. I've met so many wonderful people and horses because of her. My herd has grown from one horse to five now. The latest was a gift from Mouse two years ago, our sweet, lovable and beautiful Danny (Traveler's Sensational Flyby.) I have a blog dedicated to Danny called Fly By Danny Boy that tells his story.

For several years, I tried to start a new business doing strictly equine photography but I soon discovered that this is the wrong economic climate for starting a new business of any type but especially one that's primary product is a luxury. I've been doing art my entire life so I'm not ready to give it up. In fact, my solution is to diversify. I plan on cleaning out my workshop and studio and starting to do wood sculpture again as well as painting and drawing and hopefully handcrafted jewelry. My old enthusiasm and creative drive have returned in force. All of the mediums that I'm delving into will be diverse in subject as well but I'd be willing to bet the farm on the fact that the majority of art work will be equine in theme.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Freedom Run

1 comment:

If I Could Fly