Watercolors by artist Linda
L. Martin, in a two month exhibition titled: Wild Horses of America.Samples from the collection will be available
to see at the Fauquier Hospital in Warrenton Virginia from September 1 until
October 31. Hours are normal main lobby
hours for the Hospital.
The 22 plus paintings are specially
chosen from the Mustang A Day Challenge. The challenge was to paint one horse a
day, 5 days a week and post the paintings and sometimes stories with additional
photographs, on her MustangADayChallenge blog.
Linda was able to paint over 700 wild Horses from 2010 through 2016. References
for the works came through collaboration with boots on the ground wild horse
advocates and photographers.
The paintings in the collection are available
for sale. A portion of the proceeds from each item sold will go to wild horse
specific charities such asThe Mustang
Heritage Foundation,Chincoteague Pony
Rescue,Corolla Wild Horse Fund,and individual Photographers who document
wild horses on the range and suppliedreference photography for the project.
Linda is a resident of Remington, Virginia where she lives and has her studio.
These 2.5 by 3.5 inches card sets and individual cards are great to collect for yourself, to teach your children and grand children about wild horses or to introduce the herds to friends and neighbors who want to know more about wild horses.
Every one of these cards is from an original painting or drawing of an actual living wild horse from out west by artist Linda L Martin for the Mustang A Day Challenge.
There are two variations on the cards. You can choose to buy the collector sets that are signed and numbered or individual cards which are signed but open editions. Each is a miniature in-house print of the original art. On the back is printed information about the horse and its parentage including the names that the independent horse watchers and photo documenters give the horses on the range.
As of this writing there are approximately 10 collector card sets either already available or in the making. And a few individual cards available for purchase. All of the cards are print on demand.
The collector cards are in sets and are signed and limited to 100 of each set . The first 5 of each set are available for fund raising for groups such as the Wild Horse and Burro Association, The Sand Wash Advocate Team, and Great Escape Mustang Sanctuary. Card sets numbered 25 to100 are available on a first come first serve basis directly via email, on Facebook, via etsy and the highest numbers are at auction on ebay when available.
Purchase Card sets directly though Etsy here: Mustang A Day Challenge Store Also available are “Color Your Own” black and white collector cards.
Ready to add your own color or personalization These cards can stand alone as black and white prints or stand up to crayons, color pencils or markers Buy this set for $17.00 on Etsy Color Your Own Collector Cards
They are good enough to stand alone in black or white or they can be colored and personalized. These are also sold as print on demand cards and are open editions. They are not signed by the artist.
$1 from each set of collector cards goes to a photographer who documents the herd from each private sale. 25¢ from each card sold individually also goes to a photo documenter of wild horses.
If your organization or group would like to use the cards as give-aways or for festival or event fund raisers. Your organization’s representative can order sets or individual cards in groups of 25 at a reduced rate and they can be personalized with your organization’s logo to be used at your even. Please contact the artist through Facebook or email info@llmartin.com for more information. Be sure to write "Collector Cards" in the subject line. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for production and delivery.
The Virginia Range is one of the most important sights in the history of the Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971. The entire process began on this particular range with Velma Johnston in the 1950s when she saw a group of mustangers transporting bloodied and abused wild horses from the range to a slaughter plant. Her life's work became the humane treatment of wild horses and helping to pass laws that would protect these historic wild animals and preserve them for future generations.
Just In case you missed the beginning of the Virginia Range Series On the Mustang A Day Challenge this week here are the links so you can see the drawings and read back:
Reference Photography provided by Mikel Ann Hettrick
The Project will continue for another week or two and will cover some of the management issues with the Virginia Range Horses as well as some of the ways that people can help prevent some of the problems that plague the horses now.
All of the images will be available in the form of signed prints on Etsy by Monday March 18th, 2013 Please check out the Mustang A Day Challenge Store on Etsy for Originals and Signed prints at this link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MustangADayChallenge
This week on the Mustang a Day Challenge I am painting and telling the stories of the Alberta Provence Wild Horses in Canada. Since I became ill with some sort of cold right in the middle of it I thought I would take a break from painting today and share with you all some interesting natural history.
The first thing I came across was this wonderful video of the Reconstruction of an Ice Age Yukon Wild Horse, Pretty inters testing. (please read further after you watch.) There is some very interesting discussion on the page under the video. I don’t necessarily agree with everything written there; however, it is informative and thought provoking.
Then I thought well why not do a bit of a comparison between the Restoration Tarpan and the reconstructed Yukon Wild horse. And I thought to throw in the finer boned version of the Alberta Wild horses. I want to say that unless some significant DNA testing is done on both the living and the dead all thoughts are conjecture. However, I think anything is possible regarding these horses until proven otherwise.
The Restoration Tarpan here in Virginia seems to have a build much like the
Ice Age Yukon Wild Horse. The photo on the right was taken in 2011.
Lastly is a video of the Konik horses. These wild horses, like the Restoration Tarpan are the descendants of the last living Tarpan in captivity. The horses in the wild were long ago hunted to extinction as pests to crops and livestock and for food. Some however were captured and used as beasts of burden and transportation. These were also bred privately in captivity. I managed to find online in Wikipedia a copy of the only known image of a living Tarpan.
I accidentally forgot to turn off the gray scale feature before I inserted
Ken's image just taken in the past year of an Alberta wild horse. I was
quite astonished as to how similar the facical features of the Alberta horse is
compared to the actual Tarpan. Both horses are stallions. Click on the image to see it larger.
This horse was kept captive in Russia. It was a blue dun, 18 years
old when the photo was taken. Oddly enough the lighter boned wild
horses of Alberta look very much like the Tarpan photo graphed in the
Russian Zoo.
Here is the photo Ken took with the color turned on. In reading some of
the research materials I learned that Blue dun is also a form of
black, red dun and bay.
Some say the last remaining wild Tarpan died in 1906 in a zoo. Yet there is documentation by the Smithsonian that the true resurrection of the Tarpan came about as a result of Nazi genetic experiments. The desire to resurrect the Tarpan gave the Nazi scientists the justification for raiding zoos across Europe and confiscating 500 acres of pristine ancient old growth oak forests in Poland. The project while very politically motivate allowed for the preservation of many of Poland’s ancient and rare species in a protected island amid the destruction of WW2.( To read the article : Galloping Ghosts : http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/galloping-200711.html
Today some of the characteristics of the ancient horses are not only showing up in Canada old growth forests but also In the high desert horses of the USA. The American Mustang, according to one article I saw said that any wild horse in North America that has the characteristics of the Tarpan or even the Yukon Wild Horse should be tested for links and gene markers of the ancient horses and preserved not as feral, but as truly wild and native to the land.
Even if nothing else. North American Wild horses need to be preserved not only for their historic significance in building our countries but also the herds’ ability to help replenish the land, and its potential connection to its ancient ancestors.
Konik are still currently being used in reforestation projects and to restore and maintain wetlands and tributary health in countries like France, Netherlands and Scotland.
One interesting thing about the Konik is that they tend to resemble the Preswiski’s and Mongolian horses in build and head shape. The restoration Tarpan tends to be closer to the reconstructed Yukon Wild horse while the images of the Tarpan that existed favor many of the Alberta horses.
I don’t come to any conclusions about whether the horses of North America are distinctly and continuously living descendents of the original horses. But I do think that more study is due these amazing horses to investigate those possibilities. Even without the study into the genetic origins all the wild horses make significant contributions to be considered precious enough to maintain and protect in both Canada and the USA as Heritage Herds.
This Week: I am offering 4 original paintings of South Steens Wild
Horses in Oregon to raise money for the Wild Horse and Burro
Association. Several of these magnificent horses passed away in 2012. One
very popular band stallions Golden Boy was humanely destroyed
after fatal injuries due to fighting. The mare, Jingles, was believed
to be aged at 28 years old and produced her last foal, a beautiful
chocolate silver stud colt in 2011. She managed to stay with the colt
even through declining conditions until it was strong enough to survive
alone in the band. She died of natural causes. These are memorials to these wonderful wild horses.
The
Wild Horse and Burro Association offers a number of support
opportunities for owners of adopted Wild Mustangs as well as a
registration service to help keep track of the horses and potentially
reward those in competitions to show chase these amazing animals. I
support this fledgling organization because I believe that working
together to protect those that have been adopted as well as those in the
wild is the best way to preserve our living wild mustang horse
heritage.
Artist Linda L. Martin started off 2013 with a powerful project of depicting the Horses of the Owyhee Complex Gather in Nevada through graphite, watercolors and oils. Nevada. There was a BLM management round up held there in December and January. With the help of BLM photography she was able to capture a number of unique qualities in these wild horses that sets them apart from other herds in different management areas. Signed Reproductions will be available on Etsy Beginning February 11th. Working Mustangs Series:
Ms Martin began a series of graphite drawings on January 27th depicting the versatility and usefulness of Mustangs that had been adopted and trained. This will be an ongoing series through the Month of February as the reference photography comes in. Drawings will be posted on the Mustang A Day challenge Blog as they are completed, however will not be on consecutive days due to a full February Schedule of commissions and break off projects.
The first prints of these will be available on the Mustang A Day Challenge Etsy Store Beginning on February 5th, 2013. And also on the Wild Horse And Burro Association Auction Barn on Facebook. A portion of the proceeds from the auction sales will go to the new Association program to help promote adoption and on going education and support of adopted mustangs and their owners. Mustang A Day Challenge Online Video Project.
A number of break off projects are developing from the Mustang A Day Challenge. The long awaited Video project began on February 1st. The Video project will be a Video a Day project produced and released on Youtube. You can view the daily video’s here. http://www.youtube.com/user/LindaLMartinArtist?feature=watch
Videos will vary in length from 30 second show casespots to 3 minute educational shots. Mixed in the story lines for the educational videos will be selected representations by photographers who have contributed to the Mustang A Day Challenge project since 2010. The show case videos will present paintings that have been featured in the Challenge project along with purchase information. The longer educational Videos will tell stories of Actual horses in the wild and the stories of some of the adopted horses to show people some of the aspects of herd dynamics and range life.
Opportunity to participate in the Mustang A Day Challenge Project:
If you are interested in helping to promote the challenge and its activities please contact LindaLMartin at info@llmartin.com. Please write MADCProject Participation in the subject line.
I must say horse watching even on facebook and blogs can blow away a lot of myths you have about wild horses in general. What I discovered was that I only understood about half of herd dynamics and that was from my mostly limited view of the horse from watching my own animals kept in as natural a situation as possible for their own health and well being.
My own personal Myths were the perception of how Stallions actually interacted with each other and their herds. This information I learned from other horsemen who for generations kept domestic, highly bred horses such as Arabians and Thoroughbreds. Even the Quarter Horse and Appaloosa Stallions I knew were rank, scary, pushy and demanded a healthy respect. Having my own stallion for a time I also learned from him but not as much as I have from the accounts of wild stallion behavior from thephotographers and horse watchers.
This week I am going to examine those myths of how and why stallions fight as I paint the fighting Stallions of the Sand Wash Basin HMA.
A portion of the money from the sale of this weeks paintings will go to those who’s tireless efforts have been dedicated to the Wild Horses of The Sand Wash Basin to document and help in the preservation of these animals.
Ft Collins Extreme Mustang Makeover
This challenging Supreme Extreme Mustang,
hasnt got a name yet but he is definately a
wild child Mustang. I will begin painting
him and the two new Mustang Mares for
Madeline and Roberts efforts to the Supreme
Extreme Mustang Makeover in September.
With only 4 weeks to go to the Ft Collins Mustang Makeover Both Madeleine Lecleric and Robert Carlson have taken on a combined three new horses for the Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover(SEMM) event.
Unlike the two Fort Collins horses, Watson and Tango, who will be offered for adoption on the last day of the event, these three new horses were purchased by Madeleine and Robert for the SEMM Challenge.
Training started on the new horses the day they arrived at their Texas training center Where the trainers were holding a two day audit only clinic on How to Start Your Mustang.The three horses, it seemed were as different as night and day. Madeleine’slittle roan mare was about average for a mustang fresh out of the BLM holding pens and never been touched. The additional mare they brought home was a sweet little bay, that according to Madeleine only took 5 minutes to halter break and that after noon she had the saddle on for the first time.
"Going For a Spin"
Available
8 by 10 Watercolor
by Linda L MartinArtist
However it was Robert’s horse that was the surprising challenge. The black geldingwas a truly wild and a bit aggressive in his reactions. He challenged each new thing that Robert put him to.Being young and athletic and knowing how to use his hooves and body to get his way made for a demanding first two days that only an experienced trainer could handle well. In fact the team of Robert and Madeleine had to work togetherat one point to help him get his mind where it needed to be.
Tuesday Night’s painting features Madeleine and Tango.
If you would like to follow Madeleine and Robert as they train Watson and Tango as well as their new Supreme EMM you can follow them on their new combined facebook page: R&M Mustang Program
I understand they will also be holding several more clinics in the coming weeks. You can find out more information on their page.
Fund Raiser For Alder Hill Farm!
Rosie and Brio Two of the BLM Branded
Mustang Mares currently at Alder HIll Farm.
Thre are currently 10 plus Mustangs in Residence.
Some are in training and ready for adoption.
Find out more http://www.alderhillfarm.org/
Just a Reminder we still have a Special on 6 by 9 inch simple watercolor portraits of$55.00. The special runs through June 30th.Simply email me at contact@llmartin.comor LLMartisticServices@yahoo.comfor information.Mustangs painted using the special will be included in the Mustang A Day Challenge along with their story.
A portion of the proceeds from this Special will go to Alder Hill Farm Rescue to help with the care and feeding of the Mustangs in residence there. You can also donate directly to Alder Hill Farm by going to http://www.alderhillfarm.org/
Who can believe it! On May 2, 2011 I will paint my 100th Painting for the Mustang A Day Challenge. So, I'm having a Celebration Giveaway!!
Hurricane
Challenge Painting #98
1 person will win a 9 by 6 portrait of the mustang of their choice with no background.
The details of the portrait are that it must be a mustang, only one horse, the photo is provided by the winner with lots of detail and resolution, It will be included in the MADC with an image of the photo.And the winner must include a brief story of the horse.
Anyone can be in the drawing.
Only one entry per person.
(Everyone can enter with the exeption of the Artist's Family of course)
"Caramel"
the first of the paintings chosen for the
Traveling Mustang A Day Challenge Exhibit
Available for adoptionWeek.
This week courtesy of Mustang U we have 4 weanlings from Oregon HMAs, that are looking for homes. More information on who to contact as the paintings are posted.
"Just A Kiss"
Also I want to remind you al,l thatAs we follow the Mustang Makeover Horses of Madeleine LeClerc and Robert Carlson, both of their makeover horses will be available to bid on at the Fort Collins, Colorado Mustang Makeover event In June.I haven’t heard as of this writing, if the two horses have names yet, but I will let you know as soon as I find out. Check in on Tuesday to see the painting of the week.
Chosen!
Detail of Tripod and Cheyenne
Well as you knowI am trying to choose from the paintings, the very best for the traveling exhibit. As yet we haven’t had any nibbles on sponsors. We have already had one gallery say they are ready as soon as I am for long term exhibition of all three mediums although we are going to try to do some larger paintings for those.Right now I have4 paintings thatwill be among the first 22 chosen.And several that I might do larger a little later on. Currently the 3 watercolors and one Oil painting chosen for the Exhibit are : ”Just a Kiss” Picasso and Monet,“Tripod and Cheyenne”the beautiful lead mare of Corona’s and hercream foal from 2009;“First Touch” Robert Carlson and his Ft Collins Makeover horse, andCarmel, theorphan foal syndrome horse currently in residence at Alder Hill Farm in Missouri.Prints of these paintings will be offered on Fine Art America with a portion of the proceeds going to their respective charities and to help fund the cost of exhibition.
Coming Next week: 2011 Babies of the Sand Wash Basin
Coming Easter Week New ‘Stangs at Alder Hill Farm There will be no daily paintingEaster Weekend starting onThursday April 21st.The next Daily painting will beApril 25th
This week will be an opportunityto learna little about the horses that range on the South SteensMountains of Oregon. Our guest blogger this week is Tracey Westbury operator ofMustang U, a non- profit organization. Mustang U is a chapter of the American Mustang and Burro Association.
It is located in the Pacific Northwest Corner of Washington State.
“Their mission is to increase public awareness of the beauty, trainability and timelessness of the American Mustang. They assist the BLM at wild horse adoptions, as well as foster and gentle wild horses in an effort to place them in adoptive homes.” The focus of Mustang U is to help out with the adoption of wild horses destined for Long Term Holding or effected by the Sale Authority Act .
According to the blog about Mustang U, the most challenging thing about helping to place a gathered mustang for adoption is educating the public that simply because a horse is over the age of 4 that it does not mean it not be trainable. Tracey has proven over and over that older horses not only are very trainable but they make wonderful work and companion animals, and excellent pleasure horses.Tracey works with the horses and the potential owners as well as helping to place the horses in adoptive homes.
The majority of the horses she works with are from the South Steens HMA:
Photo by Tracey Westbury used by permission.
In Stacy’s own words:
“The South Steens HMA is located in Southeastern Oregon, roughly 70 miles southwest of Burns along hwy 205. It consists of just over 130,000 acres. In this area of the country, it takes approximately 100 acres to support just one horse, which equates into an ideal herd size of 130 horses.
The region is covered in volcanic rock, with rim rocks and plateaus dissected by perennial and intermittent stream channels.
The horses are managed for their pinto coloring, but you'll see every color under the sun on the South Steens, from coppery gold palomino to black, buckskin, sorrel, and the occasional appaloosa.
South Steens horses are known for their good size, often reaching 16 hands, as well as their exceptional conformation. Most people don't know they're looking at a wild horse when they see them all saddled up. I recently showed a calendar to a quarter horse person who argued with me that some of those horses were turned out, and must have been bred in captivity.
There are several bands that congregate not far from the highway that have been dubbed the Hollywood Herd. They're typically not all that shy, and they love having photos taken of them. Seriously...they pose. “
The Original Painting of Carmel
is still available and prints can also be
ordered through Linda Martin's site: http://www.llmartin.com/
Linda L Martin’s Mustang a Day Art Represented at Horse Fest in Springfield Missouri. The Prints of Carmel Challenge painting # 35 can be found at the Alder Hill Farm Rescue's booth.
Starting today March 11th 2011 at Horse Fest in Spring Field Missouri prints of Carmel, the mustang rescued as a foal by Alder Hill farm will be available to purchase at Horse Fest. If you are in the Area please stop inand meetall the Folks at Alder Hill’s booth.
Click the image to
see the entire poster for
Horse Fest in Springfield, MO
In addition to the prints of Carmel, Linda will also have prints of the Alder Hill Minis. Bothof the Alder Hill Minis,Napoleon and Prince Charming, will be at the event and you can meet them in person. Alder Hill will also have a number of other fundraising items including a special rescue coloring book, other works of donated art, saddles, and information on the Rescue its self. There will be two horses on site ready to adopt as well.
A portion of the proceeds from the prints will aid Alder Hill Farm in the ongoing expenses of their sanctuary and rescue horses. Horse Fest runs from March 11th through March 13th.
Alder Hill Minis
from original watercolor by LindaLMartin
Prints and Notecards avaialable on site at
Horse Fest in Springfield, MO
Click the image to read more about How you can Help
Alder Hill Farm Rescue
Announcement!!! Heads up everyone following the Mustang A Day Challenge. In Celebration of the Milestone painting Friday Eveing March 4th we are going to hold a surprise give away!! Yes that’s right Painting #60 Friday night!! Everyone who posts under this announcement on my page: www.facebook.com/LindaLMartinArtist will be in a drawing for a free signed print of "The Kiss" The print is a 5" by 7 " signed by me and printed in house. This one will be different than all the others, because it will be remarked by hand, by me!! Tell your friends only those who comment on my page (not the profile) will be included in the drawing.
"Just a Little Kiss" is based on the photography of John Wagner a frequent photographer at Sand Wash Basin HMA and features Picasso and Monet. Remember you have to post( not just like) under this announcement to be in the drawing on my Page. The Drawing its self will be held on Saturday evening March 5th at 6pm EST. So tell all your friends.
