Helen Scanlon, Equine Artist
expressive equine portraiture

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My equine drawings are driven by memory and imagination. I sit at my table and conjure an image, a feeling, and sketch what comes to my mind. I try to utilize all five senses when I create a piece of art. For me, this process requires much more than simply looking at a horse and putting him or her on paper. Instead, I go deep into my memory banks and pull out scenes from my life with horses, and incorporate the 35+ years I have been studying and drawing them.

I think of a horse, immerse myself in the awe that the horse inspires, and I let the lines form my feelings. I focus on staying loose and expressive with quick lines and lots of texture from the paper.

When I draw a horse, I can actually feel my hands going over each part of the horse. As I draw a leg, I can feel my thumb fitting neatly inside the groove of the cannon bone. I can feel my hand grasp the fetlock and lift the hoof and cup it in my hand. I can hear, smell, touch and see the horse in my mind’s eye.

I usually carry a sketchbook with me at all times so I can draw when the feeling strikes; I love sketching the live action at horse shows and events. There is always something new to learn or practice.

I do not copy photos to create my drawings, and I will sometimes use an anatomically correct horse “manikin” to assist me with certain full-body poses.

Occasionally, a drawing will be the result of a live study, and I will mark those drawings accordingly with a notation, “live study,” near my signature.

If a piece of tack is complex, I will refer to tack diagrams or photos, or occasionally the actual item to assist me in accurately capturing the tack or harness.

The final result usually reflects the mood I was in when I created the piece.