The horse is a visual for power and gentleness. It is exceptional. My work seeks to explore the nature of this power. The works are not meant to be portraits of the horse. Artists have been exploring the horse since the cave paintings in France. My work is heavily influenced by the Chinese and Japanese Sume painting techniques. At the same time, I’ve tried to push through to a contemporary approach. The use of wet paper towel as a brush does several things; it keeps me from being too precious with it, it mimics well the large Japanese brush stroke, and restricts the traditional mindset one uses when approaching the work.I want to capture more of the “spirit” of horse. I’ve tried to push past what I know about painting the horse to seek more. For me, its power lays within its torso and head; the intellect and the heart.​
 

Ashley Milburn