WHO IS DEDE?
I am a shoot from the hip Texan!
Having fun is important to me
Laughing is my favorite past time
I enjoy hiking in the breathtaking Colorado mountains
You can find my dog Barclay by me at all times
Painting horses and angels are my life
Below, you will find my artist’s statement. As I said, painting horses and angels is my life. My story with each is different and explains the person I am today! Join me on this crazy journey called life through my paintings.
Artist’s Statement
Horses
Growing up, horses were my biggest fear. My fear began at the age of 10, when a friend put me on a horse at her ranch and told me the horse was safe. Suddenly, off we went on a dead run, flinging me under a thick clothesline that would decapitate a person. Fortunately, I laid back on the horse and survived. Other experiences such as a horse standing on my foot, being bucked off, and being hurled under trees at full speed ahead, added to my fear. For my 40th birthday, I bought a hot-blooded Arabian to overcome my fear, and she opened up a whole new world for me.
Staring deep into her eyes, I could see her warm heart. She would stare back into my eyes and soon we established a deep connection. I started painting her eyes to capture her soul. She became part of me.
I started buying more horses, going to horse shows, painting friends' horses. Their intemperate minds, their wild eyes, the warm hear and tenderness of horses is what I try to capture in my work. My palette consists of bold, raw color contrasting against stark light to convey a sense of energy and power. I try to paint the essence of every horse that I paint.
Angels
Later in my life I was missing a more eclectic lifestyle, Thus I decided to move to Mexico. Living in Mexico for 10 years introduced me to Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a celebration of those who have died. For 3 days the festival is celebrated, as spirits of the dead come back to Earth to visit their friends and family. Death and spirits have always been a fear of mine. In the Mexican tradition during Day of the Dead I started building altars to my deceased loved ones, and putting marigolds up pathways for the spirits to walk on. This experience prompted me to begin painting angels to portray the belief and joy associated with the return of loved ones. I had lost my fear of death and spirits, and welcomed the angles to come visit me.
My journey of painting horses and angels started with fear. They’re both very ethereal and contain an enormous amount of power, the physical power of horses and the spiritual power of angels. But as I connected with both, the beauty of horses and the peace of angels, I fell in love with both. I hope you come along with me as I continue painting horses and angels and reflecting on how my fear turned into love and peace. My journey is always overcoming my dance between magnificence and fear.