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| Momentum by Fine Artist Barbara Meikle |
Galloping
Horses:
An
interview with Fine Artist Barbara Meikle
Archived Interview from the January 2017 Issue of Florida Equine Athlete
Archived Interview from the January 2017 Issue of Florida Equine Athlete
Leafing through an international equine magazine, I was
mesmerized with the work of fine artist Barbara Meikle. Her artwork is dynamic,
with colorful strokes that swirl around the canvas to create a memorable
painting. A graduate of the University of Denver, Barbara studied watercolor at
Cambridge University, England. She has exhibited in galleries throughout the
United States. Painting landscapes, nature, birds, and more, Barbara reveals beauty
that we often miss.
“Barbara's art may project peace and harmony exemplified as a
colorful burro, or explode in the riot of energy of galloping horses.
Enveloping skies of yellow, pink and white may hover over a majestic dark blue
mountain that smolders with mystery, or stalks of prayerful flowers may reach
for distant stars in an attitude of happy reverence. The views out her door may
be of New Mexico, but her work speaks of a larger vision.”
GM: Welcome, Barbara!
Your artwork is vibrant, depicting horses in a rainbow of colors. Gorgeous. To
be able to paint so eloquently and capture the essence of each horse, you must
have horse history! When was your first encounter with a horse?
BM: I think I was about 4 or 5 years old, one of my father’s
friends had a horse and they led me around on it bareback.
GM: Besides being a world-class artist, you are passionate
about horses and an advocate for equine rescue. Tell us about your role in the
process…
BM: I use my artwork to raise funds for rescues that I admire
and support. I’ll have a donkey or horse or birds from the wildlife center come
to the gallery and I do a live painting session with them as a model… whatever
we sell that day, the rescue gets a part of, and we always take donations on
their behalf as well. I also currently have 5 limited edition prints that I
sell, framed or unframed, to support a therapeutic riding center/horse rescue, Equine Spirit Sanctuary, in
Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico. For the first time I have rescued a horse, a 1.5
yr filly, Felina, from a kill pen in LA, with the help of Spirit Run Equine Rescue in
Gilmer, Texas. I am documenting my journey, “The Road from Rescue”, with
paintings of Felina which will be put together in a book, to raise awareness and
raise funds for these groups.
GM: Congratulations on your new filly and your new book in
progress! We are excited to know about Felina, your new horse...
BM: Felina Esperanza Guadalupe (we call her Lina!) may be a
Foxtrotter, but we aren’t sure so I will be doing a dna test to find out… she
is a gorgeous tri-color paint, very smart and full of life.
GM: I love your art. Your creativity is amazing and each
piece has a life of its own. Do you have a favorite piece from your collection?
BM: My favorite piece is always the one I am working on. I
paint and sculpt a lot, so I am always thinking about the next image and how I
can make it my own.
GM: Describe your studio…
BM: My studio is cluttered, with 3 easels and currently a 5
foot clay image of a horse I am working on, to make a bronze sculpture. There
is just enough room to think and create, but not much more!
GM: Do you have a muse or other inspiration to get you going
in the morning and to your studio?
BM: My muse lately has been my new horse, Felina. I love
looking at her and watching her move. Also, I know I need to plan my studio
time so we have our regular training/hanging out time together, very important
for her and for me. This lights a fire under me when I’d rather just hang out
on the porch.
GM: Besides the bronze sculpture, what are you currently
creating?
BM: I am thinking about a new bronze (can’t tell you what it
is, that’s part of the secret to getting things done—don’t talk about them until
they are underway) and painting fun burro pieces, as well as fall landscapes.
GM: Where are you currently exhibiting?
BM: I always have the newest work in my gallery in Santa Fe,
New Mexico, but I also show work and will have a show in February at Cobalt Fine Arts Gallery in Tubac,
Arizona.
GM: Is there an artist who has inspired your creativity?
BM: Great horse painters always inspire me, like George
Stubbs, Edward Degas, Toulouse LaTrec (who drew horses wonderfully), John
Singer Sargent and Sorolla, to name a few.
GM: As an artist with great success, do you have advice for
novice artists?
BM: Don’t talk about it, just do it! Paint lots of bad
paintings and then the good ones will start to emerge. Find your own voice.
Connect
with Barbara…
Gina McKnight is an author and
freelance writer from Ohio USA.
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