RSSMan’s Best Friends
09 Sep 2007 Comments Off
in Art
So, did you grow up in a city or was it the suburbs, or maybe you were a kid who grew up in a rural neighborhood where you had to get on a bike and pedal for a while just to see your next-door neighbor’s house.
Me? I grew up on Long Island, about 40 miles east of New York. We had lots of woods near our homes, so we had many opportunities to go exploring with the family dogs. And we played at being Cowboys and we fought the Indians, only make believe of course, but we did have our tree forts. We were outdoors, and we had our dogs with us. We followed tracks in the leaves, and believed we were brave hunters.
Los Tres Amigo by Richard Iams
Yeah, I grew up with dogs, aka man’s best friend. But some of you grew up out where you not only had dogs, but you also had horses. Horses were also good friends, and unlike most dogs, many horses earned their keep by working for a living.
Today, a man and his dog are often inseparable companions, and a man and his horse work together day in and day out. Naturally, these pairings are often the subjects of artists. I never gave much thought to these friends of man since I became a city dweller, except if I ventured out to a racetrack and bet some dead presidents on the outcome of a race. I guess I wasn’t really an admirer of the thoroughbred horses that were trained to run, as much as I was a gambler. However, I did notice that they were beautiful animals.
But I like Art not as an investment, or a business proposition, or a gamble, but merely because it can please the eyes, and hence the heart of those who view it. Have a look at some of the best of Man and Woman’s Best Friends.
This first of two paintings by Carrie Ballantyne… [directly above and below]
… who is a Wyoming resident, where women and horses are about as natural as a man and his dog. Carrie began her art as a child. Her subjects were…
” ...anything that would hold still long enough.“
The first (above) of her works that we will show you is called Hannah’s Palomino. The second (below) is John’s New Pup.
Our second artist is a former cowboy, Steve Devenyns. His career in art began after he was laid up following an automobile accident. He decided to not go back to vet med school. Talking about art, Steve has said.
“I have found it’s an ongoing evolution of living life that I portray on the canvas. A certain event or scene, such as a sunset, gives the seed for an idea.”
His first (below-top) is called Jinglin’ in the Figure Four, a representation of the workday of a cowboy. The second one is called Soggy Sunday (below-middle). And his final work is called Riding for the Brand.
Riding For the Brand by Steve Devenyns
The next three, Cowgirl Chic (above) , The Last Straw (below-top), and Pam and Rooster, are by Ann Hanson.
She lives in Wyoming and says this about her art:
“In my artwork I like to capture subtle movements, the expression on a face, or that fleeting second in time right before an event — which allows the viewer to come to their own conclusion as to the outcome. There are many others more capable of portraying events. I am concerned with the moment.”
Pam and Rooster by Ann Hanson
This vivid painting of Wilderness Companions (below) by Alfredo Rodriguez is a tribute to the dignity of the human spirit as well as the majestic beauty of the American West.
His second work is called Beauty and the Beast (below), and is simply gorgeous. Alfredo received no formal training in art and considers his ability with a paint brush “a miracle”. If you look closely at the stones in the foreground of each of his works, as well as the details of the dogs’ fur, the woman’s costume, you will agree with his statement.
Richard Iams has created the wonderful Los Tres Amigos (near the top of the page) which wraps up our monthly art lecture. Doesn’t this trinity of friends say it all about the nature of friendships, as well as friendships in nature?
Some of you may have just finished mucking out the horse stalls in the barn, or you’ve recently just walked the dogs, so we are happy to welcome you. Stop by our pages regularly and we’ll have a look at some bosomy women, who unlike most of our dogs and all of our horses, are more than welcome to share our beds.
This article was originally published in Also on Video in September 2004. We have updated it for publication in JustMeMike’s New Also on Video on September 4th, 2007.