HeARTists for Horses was founded by four professional artists, women who came together through their desire to support horses. Two painters and two photographers have distinctly individual eclectic styles that offer a diversity of art through group shows and sales, with partial proceeds benefiting equine rescues and equine assistance programs. HeARTists for Horses is a group of like minded equine artists dedicated to using their art to benefit horses.  We will be offering artwork and prints with a portion of proceeds to benefit various horse organizations and rescues as well as showing in exciting art shows and events! Contact us at heartists@heartistsforhorses.com. A website is currently under construction and will be at

Today, the desert blessed us with temperatures in the 70s (after being in the 90s and even 100s this past week), with a light breeze and dots of cumulous clouds painting the sky. Parts of the city got rain, but not our land, and I heard it snowed up in Prescott. I had a lot of work to do and by the time I finished, worked out at the fitness club with my Mom then headed home, I was fueled with inspiration and beauty and grabbed one of my cameras and hiked out into the open desert that graces the north boundary of our land, answering the call of the desert, and PLAYED. Getting into awkward positions as I twisted my body over/under/throughout cacti to get just that one angle that would gift me with the image I sought, kneeling carefully on dirt scattered with prickers, and watching carefully for the reptilian critters that our good weather has enticed to be more active…I relished the smallest flower, the tallest saguaro, the miniscule curved thorn on a backlit barrel cactus…and breathed deep of the twilight air and felt my heart dance to the song of night birds. Below is a gallery of a few of the images that most touched my spirit.

March 13, 2011: Just got the news that 16 year old Kristyn Harris won first place in the Rising Star contest at the Kamloops Cowboy Festival in Canada for the Musician’s division! A contest intended for emerging western entertainers, regardless of age, Kristyn had some stiff competition and I’m bursting with pride!!! She’ll be here in Tucson at our WMA AZ Chapter event at Old Tucson Studios May 28th and 289th.

March 12, 2011: The Riders in the Sky concert in Tucson, AZ last night at the Fox Theatre was wonderful. Then again, when are the RITS ever NOT wonderful? I had a great time seeing and photographing them again. They are ever charming, ever talented men with a lovely sense of humor! Hope to see them on the trail again soon!

March 9, 2011: Singer/Songwriter Juni Fisher is a gal I’m continually impressed by. Talented, spiritual, and a great mix of sass and class. These images were “co-created” by us last month in Tucson, AZ. Ain’t she purty?..

February 18, 2011: Got Mr. Les Buffham staying with us for a bit. There’s going to be some talking, singing, reciting, and eating tonight! I just love this ol’ hand! Anyone want to say Howdy, do it here and I’ll pass it on…hugs too!

February 6, 2011: A pleasant morning, round pen open for work, and a bosal y mecate…and you are “Colt Ready.”

February 5, 2011: “Vision of Grace” is another image of Tara Miller, who teaches Ballet in Sahuarita, AZ. A lovely woman and a beautiful dancer, I’ll be working with her in the creation of more images soon.

January 28, 2011: One of Judith Tarr’s lovely Lipizzaners, enjoying the freedom of running with the mares at twilight, name of  Ephiny.

January 19, 2011: I’m excited to have my second collaboration with Bit Magazine, a Dutch equine magazine that I worked with previously on an article for Linda Kohanov . The February issue will be out this weekend in Europe and the cover shows my image of two of Robert L. Morgan’s Morgan horses.

My husband, William Merritt , and I attended the memorial/vigil site at UMC for Gabrielle Giffords and the other shooting victims last night and were very touched by what we felt and saw. I don’t know who brought the horseshoe with cross yet I felt a connection to it and left my Faith tile next to it. May the prayers and love heal all.

While visiting the memorial/vigil site at UMC for Gabrielle Giffords and the other shooting victims, a man and boy stood in appreciation and love for one another amidst messages, momentos, and memories…

I found this message from a child to Christina particularly touching. (At the memorial/vigil site at UMC in Tucson for Gabrielle Giffords and the other shooting victims.)

January 11, 2011: * There are no guarantees.  From the viewpoint of fear, None are strong enough. From the viewpoint of love, None are necessary.
~ Anonymous ~

December 15, 2010: There’s something to be said about QUALITY Father/Son bonding time and the passing on of traditions. To show your son how to shoe his own horse, knowing he’ll be able to travel life’s trails with a confidence well earned…well, that touches my heart!

Came across this old photograph, says “Hank, Gil ~ around Howdy(?)”. One: Kids, don’t try this at home. Two: Anyone have history on these men? Circa 1920′s. As far as I know, this was Gil Traveller and Frank Burns.

December 1, 2010: This is beautiful, blessed, talented and ever youthful Marilyn Tuttle. Dave and Melissa Stamey (and possibly Laurie Wood) in the background. What an iconic woman this is. If you EVER have the chance to meet and talk with her, do so. Your life will be better for it.

November 24, 2010: Here is the 2010-2011 Western Music Association Board of Directors and Interns. My husband is standing in the back behind Marsha Short and Juni Fisher. I seconded the motion to elect him as Intern. Pull those boots up tight and ride right, William! A lot of people are proud of you and counting on you to do a great job!

November 12, 2010: While at the Tombstone gathering a few years ago, I set up this cute image with cowboy poet Les Buffham and fellow poet Buckshot Dot (Dee Strickland Johnson). Les is always happy to get a kiss from a pretty gal…makes him smile for hours! See you next week at the WMAs, Les!!! Who knows, might add another image to your “kissin’ gallery.”

Couldn’t resist. This is cowboy poet Les Buffham again, another year in Tombstone, with a new buddy. Fickle cowboy…

November 8, 2010: Dave Stamey. If you’ve heard him, ’nuff said. If you’ve not, treat yourself to a CD or five of his…you won’t regret it especially if you are a lover of horses and the western culture. He is one of the top singers and top hands I know. It was a treat to us folks who attended the Tombstone Western Music Gathering to hear his songs and a giggle to hear his new song about Bubba, a football helmet, and a nanny goat!

The Tombstone Western Music Gathering was wonderful on Saturday. Good friends, great music, and and the after concert jam a wonderful place to be. Here is Jeanne Cahill (who I swear could play a concert on a toothpick), Rollie Stevens (think of Marty Robbins and you’ll know what he sounds like), and Jerome Campbell (one of the greatest thumb-picking guitarists of our time).

November 2, 2010: Two years ago, I photographed Crystal and Taylor Carter for a design class assignment (one of the many times over the years I’ve photographed them). This sweet image, showing their devotion to each other, was created as they headed back to the ranch after our late afternoon twilight session. Now a family of three, they are as in love as ever…

October 27, 2010: My Moqui Mare, learning some boundaries/trust/marking the spot and staying there with confidence. She came to me with a lack of ground work manners and little understanding of boundaries. A stop on the long line, and sometimes regular lead rope with halter,  meant faster/wilder/uncontrolled horse in my lap. For her, this stand is no circus trick. This shows me that our connection is working and she is trusting me.  She’s a THINKER and adventurer and I’m accomodating those needs…as we are kindred souls there. We’ve made some amazing progress in just the last week! BTW, ain’t she purty?  (And yes, I’m holding the long line and the camera phone.)

October 20, 2010: There are Facebook friends, and then there are FRIENDS you meet through Facebook. I would likely have met this man through other horse folk, but I’m glad to have him in my life NOW, and that happened because he commented on a posting I did about Mike Beck. Mike Thomas, my great friend, is shown here at last weekend’s Ricky Quinn Horsemanship clinic. Mike, you’ll do to ride the river with!

“Blue Fire”, the Canvas Gallery Wrap that I’m donating for the auction this Sunday at the HeARTists for Horses Art Show. Hope to see you there! For more information, contact me and/or visit the HeARTists for Horses Facebook page.

October 12, 2010: There are moments when the grace, strength, freedom, beauty, and truth of horses gift us with those very attributes. The more time that is spent with horses, the more those moments become minutes, hours, and days…until those gifts become part of our soul. And when we struggle in our lives, sometimes all it takes is one moment with a horse to light our way again. This image, created last Sunday as one of the River Valley Ranch sessions, I feel shows one of those moments…

October 11, 2010: Ok folks. Two questions for you. 1) Seriously, can you get much cuter than Rowan on the Rocking Horse? and 2) Don’t you wish you had a picture like this of you when you were 11 months old or of your little one?

September 21, 2010: A horse lying down in the moonlight has always touched my heart. That it is my mare Moqui, silver hair glowing in the soft wash of the moon’s light, is magical to me. She has been here for four months now and each time I find her lying down, she rises before I can enter the corral. Tonight though, she continues to rest as I approach her quietly, enter the corral, and come to her side. She raises her head to greet me and we share breath and I start to stroke her neck…move to the withers…down her shoulders and she sighs and rests her muzzle in the dirt and falls asleep. I continue to stroke her and she wakes from time to time and raises her head, breathes with me, and rests her head again to sleep. Almost an hour goes by as I stay with her, for the last moments stroking her ears as she rests her head in my arms. When I start to leave the corral, she nickers softly…a murmer really…and rises and shakes off the hair I’ve loosened. I stand facing her and ask her for nothing. I am content to simply see her standing there in the moonlight. She has a gift for me though, and walks to me and raises her muzzle once more to my face and breathes with me…then lowers her head and presses it into my body and sighs again. Such love and trust, given this freely, is a blessing beyond compare.

September 17, 2010: I’m sitting here in a sky blue Life is Good t-shirt that reads Hold Your Horses, feeling very blessed. Last night photographing a lovely rescue horse, coming home to love from my husband and my animal companions, and lying on my mare’s back looking up at the stars. Today was blessed with syncronicity and connections and friends. Two of my favorite people, who are authors, both have their books close to publication. Tommorow morning heading to Wickenburg for a Western Horseman assignment with a person I admire and meeting a man I’ve befriended on Facebook but never met in person. Truly…Life IS Good!

September 2, 2010: This image is dedicated to all the horsemen and horsewomen, of all ages, who have been blessed with the first rays of dawn lighting their body and soul as they greet the day horseback. I don’t know of a better start to a day…

August 31, 2010: I have LONG desired to make this story image. After our wrangler Tate had ran through the creek several times for our photography workshop, I reminded him of the image idea I shared the night before that I hoped to create. With the boots and chaps soaked already, he graciously agreed to help create this image. Thank you Tate!

August 24, 2010: The Big Horn Workshops are going wonderfully. Sleep? What’s sleep? This morning, up pre-dawn photographing silhouettes, panning galloping riders, portraits, details, and more…then an after breakfast 2 1/2 hour ride through the pines, through streams, and up and down hills, all the while merrily photographing each other! Here’s an image from yesterday.

July 25, 2010: Yesterday morning, I photographed a lovely gal whom I’ve had wonderful sessions with over the past few years. Always a delight to work with, this morning I got to meet her two newer horses…including this mare “Gigi”. And yes, she’s a BIG mare!

July 21, 2010: After some morning rebellion, complete with bucks, farts, and tail swishing, Moqui and I settled into about a half hour of increasingly soft and attentive circles in the wash. Yep, we definately both came home feeling those “wet saddle blankets.”

June 8, 2010: Chop Wood, Carry Water? My life has a bit different Zen to it. I created this poster a few years ago from an image I created at the White Stallion Ranch in Tucson on an early morning on the drive into the ranch.

May 24th, 2010: After a few years with no horses on our property, I am very happy to have a lovely mare here who I met when she was provided as a horse for a Western singer’s CD photography session a few weeks ago. I immediately wanted to be with her and ride her and after the session got the chance to do so and let her “Mom” know how much I’d love for her to come to me. So Saturday, Moqui came to me in Tucson and we are developing a lovely bond and have, I feel, a shared adventurous spirit and will very much enjoy our rides in the desert. Ahhhh….just to be able to look out the window and see a horse and hear her whinny when I come out the door to greet her…heaven, I tell you, heaven! This image is from yesterday morning from my cell phone. Yes, the photographer used a cell phone for a camera (hey, it was in my pocket and she was soooo lovely!).

May 21, 2010: I have started to work with H.E.A.R.T., an equine rescue here in Tucson. The first mare that greeted me last week when I went there on an early morning was Bella, an older rescued Arabian mare. I enhanced an image of her…which I was also inspired to create several artistic creations from, to show the emotions she invoked in me. Those images are shown here in a gallery poster format.

May 21, 2010: I have started to work with H.E.A.R.T., an equine rescue here in Tucson. The first mare that greeted me last week when I went there on an early morning was Bella, an older rescued Arabian mare. Here’s an image of her…which I was also inspired to create several artistic creations from, to show the emotions she invoked in me. Those images will be uploaded here next.

May 20, 2010: Here are two of my favorite people. Ashley Mentzer, who recently won Miss Congeniality at the AZ Rodeo Queen Contest, and Wyatt McCrea, who is the oldest grandchild of the late actor Joel McCrea and his actress wife Frances Dee. This image was created at the 20th Anniversary of the Festival of the West, where I’ve been the official photographer since 2005. Wyatt was an instant connection for me when I met him in 2005 and I continue to find him to be a joyful, charming man who gets along with everyone he meets as well as being an exceptional horseman. I met Ashley this year and spent a great deal of time with her, even taking her out to photograph her for several hours. I do believe I’ve found another spiritual daughter and I look forward to our building relationship and many horseback rides together.

May 12, 2010: In 2005, I attended an equine photography workshop in New Mexico and one of our sessions was held at a Peruvian Paso ranch that I have since come to visit often and spend days at following the horses in their pastures for long hours. At that workshop, our group was taking a short break to eat and I noticed a lovely horse standing in the barn aisle, tied up in waiting for his own personal session with us. I was compelled to go to him, and felt I knew him somehow. There was a tack box nearby and I picked up a body brush and went over his body with it, feeling the strength of him and enjoying the connection he offered so quickly. When he was brought out to a small paddock and turned loose it was so exciting as he showed his true nature as a spirited, strong stallion. Ginger, shown here with him, told us this was Domeqc and I realized why I felt I had recognized him in his looks as well as his spirit. Years before, equine photographer Robert Vavra had photographed him and included him in one of his Equus books. I met him when he was 24 years old and look how lovely he was, with his crested neck that shone with a mane past his shoulder. I was fortunate to know Domeqc for the last years of his life and always felt that connection with him. One of my photographs of him hangs in the ranch office…one of him coming straight at me with mane flying. He will live in my heart and memory always.

April 23, 2010: While in New Mexico at the San Cristobal Ranch in 2005, amidst a herd of grazing horses, one mare’s head kept popping up over the backs of her compadres. A bright flash of sorrel, she looked right at me and laughed. YOU might think she was just yawning, but I was there…I know better…I know she was joyously laughing. I get a giggle whenever I look at this image!

April 12, 2010: I did a sunrise CD photography session with Jim Jones ( Western musician/singer/songwriter/author) yesterday morning, and this is one of the resulting images. Jim is with a borrowed mare named Moqui.

April 3, 2010: May your Easter bring you joy in the blessing of LOVE.

March 13, 2010: Festival of the West is next week. I’ve been their official photographer for the last five years and am excited to really “work it” to create the best images I can this year, the 20th anniversary. This image is of a lovely gal who I met while she was trying on corsets at Laced (owned by Karen Emerald Reeder). We connected and the next morning we met at dawn, with Karen, for a wonderful photography session. She had only had “mall photography” before and yet she was a very willing and charismatic gal…as shown in this, my favorite image of her.

March 12, 2010: While in a design class at the local community college a couple of years ago, I submitted art for the El Tour de Tucson poster. Although many of the judges loved this image, I was told it was not chosen because it was a photograph instead of a painting. I feel it looks very painterly, although this is a “straight” photograph done with the panning technique…only contrast and color correction applied. Many thanks to my gal Crystal, and her wonderful husband Taylor, for running/riding past me several times ’til we got it just right just before the sun set.

March 9, 2010: At the 4-H workshops I did on February 27th on Animal Photography, my wonderful husband played “model” with a new Aussie friend for the benefit of the 4-H photographers. This is an image I created side by side with those young talents. I particularly enjoy the smiles on BOTH of their faces!

March 8, 2010: This little guy wanted to join his friend, the Costa’s mama. He is a little Anna’s hummer who also lives at the AZ Sonora Desert Museum in the Hummingbird Aviary. Cute little things, aren’t they? This one looks like a cartoon character to me.

This image was created yesterday at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum in the morning as the clouds were rolling in. This is a Costa’s Hummingbird with her newborn chicks. I stayed close by for about an hour and a half until this lovely opportunity to photograph the mother feeding her babies occurred. Within minutes, the rain started coming down”.

February 26, 2010: Rising to the Light. I look at this image often and find great inspiration in it. It seems to make my soul rise up. This is a quarter horse mare in NM, out on a ranch where they raise the mares and foals “in the wild” until they gather the weanlings and/or yearlings to train them as performance horses.

February 25, 2010: River #2. I love textures and essences of equine. This image shows two quarter horse backs after a long ride, wash down, and dry.

February 23, 2010: My cousin Liz Ann at Ted Degrazia’s Gallery of the Sun Virgin de Guadalupe chapel. This version is evocative of the mood the chapel instilled in both of us that day.

February 16, 2009: I’m in AZ today enjoying the sun in temps of the mid-70′s and remembering when I went to WI in March a few years ago and photographed Fjords in Barronett at the Odden’s farm. I had a great time and long to go back again. One thing this AZ gal learned is not to kneel in the snow for a different point of view for too long and that even “sitting” requires diligence to not freeze my behind!

February 12, 2010: I will be the official photographer for Festival of the West again this year, my fifth year. I meet such wonderful people there. One of the greatest blessings has been to become dear friends with actor Ben Cooper (my “dearest Ben”). Here he is a few years ago in the celebrity mounted shooting contest when the event was held at Rawhide (now moved to West World in Scottsdale). Ain’t he CUTE?

February 9, 2010: Sometimes I just have to do something silly. OK, maybe more than sometimes. But we have three cats who do silly things that distract me from my work and who strike various poses, each competing for who can fill the house with the most CUTENESS. So, how’s a gal to work with all that cuteness going on? This is our Neysa, a rescued Manx, enjoying the futon cushion in “her” papason chair.

January 14, 2010: This was a promo card I made up a few years ago and just found in my archives.

February 8, 2010: While photographing for a woman’s quadrille team calendar, this gal Lisa came riding through the brush and I created an image not used in the calendar but one that has become an all time favorite of my husband. Lisa is a true horsewoman who has worked on ranches and her comfort horseback is evident in this image: Through the Brush.

Through the Brush

February 7, 2010: While photographing the mounted shooters for my gig as official photographer for Festival of the West in 2007, some of my favorite images I created were OUTSIDE the arena (often are!). This is one of them.

February 2, 2010: Georgie Sicking really loves this image of herself.  A Cowboy to the core.

January 29, 2010: Synchronicity. In sync with each other, body and soul, these two Peruvian Pasos race around the pasture in NM.

January 25, 2010: Her foal from the current year and her yearling from the year before with their accomodating Mustang momma.

January 23, 2010: While photographing Kip Calahan at her home a few years ago, I spotted these kittens lying in a patch of sun. Promptly, I was on my belly getting a low point of view image. Sometimes you just have to stop and photograph the kittens!

January 22, 2010: At a benefit for wild horses, Michael Blake (author of Dances with Wolves), John Coinman (who fronts the band for Kevin Costner), and John Densmore (drummer from The Doors), performed for the crowd here in Tucson…John Densmore and Michael Blake are LONG time friends.

January 22, 2010: I love to photograph water, wood, textures of all kinds. This critter was discovered in the Red Rock Crossing stream in Sedona last May. Wolf? Bear?

January 21, 2010: The surprising patience, nurturing, and connection of horses and children never fails to touch my heart and soul.

Ah, the elegance of a horse…and the silliness.

January 18, 2010: Logan Leach at the Southern AZ Horse Expo yesterday, with his current Mustang who has had just 90 days of work toward the Extreme Mustang Makeover competition he’s traveling to (with his father Lanny) tomorrow. This little horse partnered so hard with Logan that I can’t imagine him not bringing him back home to keep rather than adopting him out. Every flick of the ear and shift of muscle showed the connection and this horse was digging into the ground during a medium speed spin bridleless.

Here is another image of Ginger Kathrens and Michael Blake at the Southern AZ Horse Expo yesterday, which I created right after they talked about wild horses.

Yesterday at the Southern AZ Horse Expo, I spent time with several of my friends. Lanny and Logan Leach, Ginger Kathrens, Michael Blake, and more…meeting many more wonderful horses and people. This is an image of Michael Blake and Ginger Kathrens.

January 15, 2010: Moo. ‘Nuff said…

This is a bit what I feel like tonight. Hard working day today. Male lion, Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, AZ.

Ever have one of “those” days?

January 14, 2010: I created this image of Lynn Anderson and Ben Cooper at Festival of the West in AZ a couple of years ago. One of my favorites still. In the background? Rusty Richards.

“Through the Glass”. Image created last Thursday at an animal shelter in Sedona, AZ.

The eyes behind the paws in Through the Glass. Imagine them looking at you in your home…

January 13, 2010: I spent about four hours at an animal shelter, photographing and loving on the critters. I walked out with my heart full of love and yet aching for each animal who longs for a home. This is one of the images.

Also, Beloved friend and singing partner of Curly Musgrave, Belinda Gail,sang in tribute to him at the celebration of his life in Pomona, CA on January 9th, 2010.

December 29, 2009: And singing Christmas carols, Heeeere’s Suki! While Mom’s away, the photographer will play…with her cats!

December 25, 2009: This Christmas morning was blessed by beginning with Dancing ‘Round the Christmas Tree by Belinda Gail and Curly Musgrave from the CD Our First Noel. The blessing of Love from our friends and family and with each other, my husband and I, was very strong this year…and the greatest gift of all. Thank you.

December 16, 2009: I have two images titled Heaven’s Light. This one, of a young girl peaceful in the newfound sanctuary of her partnership with a “throw-a-way” dangerous horse, touches my heart each time I re-discover it in my files.

Before I met Curly, I bought a CD of his in Santa Fe on my way to the 2005 WMAs. The first song that stuck in my heart, that I learned by the time I got to Albuquerque, was Make My Heaven Colorado. This song is how I first came to know of Curly’s heart and talent. Since then, his voice and songs have become essential to the soundtrack of my life and his teachings have inspired many songs to come through my own heart in congruent, heartfelt ways.
Won’t You Make My Heaven Colorado,
Somewhere on the Western range where I can buckaroo…Make My Heaven Colorado,
When I rode in Colorado I was halfway home to You.

The Owl and the Pussycat (In this case, “our” owl who visits and my Mother’s Abyssinian cat)

December 7, 2009: Silent Night…Holy Night…all is calm…Ahhh, the peace that can be found in the space of horse and girl.

December 2, 2009: Speaking of CUTE. Here is Cora Rose Wood with her brother, Bonner, and the adored Don Edwards. Couldn’t have planned this very emotionally authentic image!

Also, Terri Taylor, backstage at the 2009 WMAs in ALBQQ. This woman can do purt near anything.

November 26, 2009: Lovely Juni Fisher. WMA Female Performer of the Year and who also won for her amazing album, Gone For Colorado. If you’ve met her and heard her sing, I need say no more. If you have not, may your life be blessed with her songs.

November 13, 2009: Here is Scotty Fitch on “his” camel. Maybe we should encourage a remake of Hawmps!

November 12, 2009: I balanced these rocks in Sedona, then spent time just looking at them. I left them there and brought home this photograph of them to cherish forever which reminds me on hectic days to “slow”, breathe, and find balance…

And also,  This small flower, held gently by my husband, brought such a sense of simplicity and grace to my soul. And on a day when I so needed this message, it reminded me quietly to Breathe…

One more… The Western Music Awards and Conference will be in Albuquerque, NM next week and this man will be there. Anyone want to venture a guess as to who this is? It’s Mr. Les Buffham!

November 2, 2009: BRAVE, wonderful Crystal. Her first child is due in just three weeks.

October 27, 2009: Once again, the Cute Kitty “distraction” stops my work in it’s tracks. This is Neysa, our rescued Manx tabby…in position number eight.

October 30, 2009: Sherry Cervi, one of the top barrel racers in the nation. I photographed her for an article in Western Horseman.

October 25, 2009: Want to share this fun image I created of Dave and Dorene Daiss at the Empire Ranch Round-Up this past Saturday. I asked if they were connected by business or romance and this was their answer.

October 22, 2009: This image, created a few years ago at a 4-H show in Tucson, AZ, continues to be one of my favorites. The gal with the backpack was talking on a cell phone and didn’t realize she had a new friend. When she started to move away I asked her to stop for a moment and got this image. It always brings a smile.

October 22, 2009: Images like these, presented in a Horse Play collage, represent the kind of images I LOVE to create for my clients and friends, and clients who then become friends. Imagine the images that would be yours if I did a photography session for you! How do I create fun images like this or ones more serious depicting the relationship between horses and their people? The Art of Connection.

So, I get a new office desk with a hutch. I’m setting it up and leave the room for a few minutes. When I come back in the room, I see our shorthair, Button (nickname for Silver Sage, cuz he’s cute as a button) doing a power catnap in the hutch. He’s not allowed in my office (too many yummy chewable prints). Right…try to tell HIM that. Ain’t he cute though?

October 18, 2009: Lipizzaner Mare:Twilight Glow

October 15, 2009: I’ve been looking at some of my images from the past. Memory Lane, you know. Finding inspiration in some of the images I “forgot”. This one is of a young gal who at the end of our morning session came across some quail eggs in a ground nest. A lovely storytelling image resulted…

October 14, 2009: An image of Colter Moore and two of his best friends, from 2006 at the Price Canyon Ranch in Rodeo, AZ. Brought out of archives and re-touched by inspiration tonight…

October 12, 2009: This past week I was honored to create a “headshot” for a lovely singer for her Master Recital flyer. We connected immediately and her spirit shone in the resulting photographs. On Sunday night, my husband and I attended her recital. She sang Opera in Italian, French, and German, and followed with spiritually based songs in English. At 25, this “girl” has a soul that transcends age. The image here is of her at her recital. Her name? Nikky Douglas. Remember it. I’m sure you’ll be hearing about her…

October 12, 2009: Also on Sunday, I attended a baby shower for my dear friend/spiritual daughter/often model Crystal. Her first child is due the day before Thanksgiving. This image was created in the twilight right after the sun had set, as the party was wrapping up. Always beautiful, Crystal simply glows as a soon to be mother. “Tucked into her gift bag” was a before and after session.

October 9, 2009: One of my first images with my new Canon D7. ISO 100. Crop/resize/contrast only. Judith Tarr and her lovely Lipizzaner stallion, Pooka, at Camp Lipizzan (a writer’s workshop integrated with horses). Vail, AZ

October 8, 2009: Camilla, one of Judith Tarr’s lovely Lipizzaner mares.

October 6, 2009: This image won Photo of the Week for Bit and Bridle Magazine’s contest, by 71% of approx 270 votes. Thank you ALL for voting!

September 22, 2009: Tesoro: Peruvian Paso Stallion, at twilight.

September 20, 2009: Lanny Leach, (and his son Logan) made it into the Extreme Mustang Makeover again this year. Here is Lanny at his 9-11-09 demo, standing on his horse showing the trust and calm instilled. I’ve photographed Lanny for several years now and admire his “truth”.

September 19, 2009: One of the core founding members of The Tumbling Tumbleweeds is vocalist “Tumbleweed Rob” Wolfskill, who is a dear friend of my husband and mine. This image is of him after their concert this afternoon.

The concert with my husband and The Tumbling Tumbleweeds in Tucson last night was great. We went down to the AZ Folklore Preserve today to watch them again and hear my new favorite song “Lazin’ Down the Trail” (band collaboration co-write). Couldn’t resist photographing them after the concert.

September 17, 2009: One of my images, the one shown here, will be in the Arizona Daily Star morning paper tomorrow. This is a Round Tailed Ground Squirrel in a PaloVerde Tree in our front yard, photographed through the window.

August 28, 2009: Working through my Prescott Cowboy Poetry Gathering images for my Market Place, and had to take a little time out for Don. This is Don Edwards and his dog, Smokey (named after Will James “Smokey”). Two cuter faces would be hard to find.

July 22, 2009: Light Dance: Model Laurel Rae, whom I connected with very well. We’re already planning to meet again to create more imagery! This was one of my submissions for the NAPP Photowalk (we could only submit two) for best photograph. This was a worldwide event, so it’s a huge competition.

June 22, 2009: Spent the weekend with my husband out at a ranch. Followed Spanish Barbs around and managed to avoid the rattlesnakes and cougars, although I heard both. The image shown here is of a couple of two year old fillies, whom I photographed three weeks ago. Unfortunately, the one with the star was taken down by a cougar the day after this image was made.

Spanish Barb filly. Lovely in the twilight.

Rachel Econ

Last year, I photographed a “herd” of ladies at the River Valley Ranch in Tucson, AZ with their horses. One of the young ladies was Rachel Econ with her best friend, a Paint named Scotch. One of the resulting images, the one above, really pulled at my heart strings as it showed the obvious love of a horse and his girl. When Rachel published her first book, Passage to Stomio, (at 13 years old) this image was used for her bio photograph on the book’s back cover. I entered the image in Bit & Bridle Magazine’s Photo of the Week contest last week and was notified today that it won with 71% of the votes at close to 300 votes. Visit Bit & Bridle Magazine’s website here.

Melissa Farlow with ISPMB Mustangs

The February 2009 issue of National Geographic featured my bio photograph of Melissa Farlow, whom I’d met in 2007 while photographing Mustangs at the ISPMB. We’ve kept in touch and hope to meet again. Recently, PhotoShelter featured her as one of their stable of artists and the image was published again, this time on their website. Melissa, like me, would much rather be behind the camera than in front of it and so I am delighted that she likes this photograph of herself so much. Sometime when I’m out with the horses I’m hoping someone gets a new, wonderful image of me that I like as well as she likes this one. Every photographer needs a photographer! ]]> http://lorifaithmerritt.com/2009/09/03/melissa-farlow-featured-on-photoshelter/feed/ 3 http://lorifaithmerritt.com/2009/09/03/cowboys-and-indians-magazine-and-festival-of-the-west/ http://lorifaithmerritt.com/2009/09/03/cowboys-and-indians-magazine-and-festival-of-the-west/#comments Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:58:34 +0000 Lori Faith http://lorifaithmerritt.com/?p=1112 Continue reading →]]>

Chasin' Clouds

Hugh O'Brien and Mary Brown

Barbara Kennedy

Barbara Kennedy

Skip Clark

Skip Clark

Dick Goodman/Johnny Western/Rusty Richards

Dick Goodman, Johnny Western, and Rusty Richards

 Rex Allen Jr.

Rex Allen Jr.

and Charles Acuña.

Charles Acuña

Other images are by Mark Bedor.

Rusty McCall: One of his personal favorite images

I photographed Rusty McCall six months ago at the McCall’s ranch in New Mexico and then a few weeks later at the Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Alpine, Texas. As Heart Sessions, the photography was donated and I’ve gifted prints (one, a large mounted wall print of the image above) to the family since then. This month his mother Deanna is the cover feature article for IM Cowgirl and I’ll be posting a separate entry regarding that publication. In the article by Diane Tribitt, Rusty is mentioned and you can also find out more about this exceptional young cowboy poet at his page on cowboypoetry.com. This week, Rusty agreed to be interviewed by me and I share that interview with you here.

LFM: What is the first poem your remember that you related to so well it felt like you had written it, and why?
Rusty: I was kind of young to remember the significance of my first poem, but it sort of did remind me of one of my first horses, a little bay called Poco. The poem was taken out of a compilation of poems by John Lomax and went like this:

 I’ve roamed the Texas prairie,
I followed the cattle trail,
I rode a pitchin’ pony
’til the hair come off his tail.

LFM: You’ve often “ridden the circle.” What’s a favorite story of a time when it was just you and your horse riding the circle?
Rusty: I would say there really is not a favorite time. Every time is different and it’s great to just be Pardner and me riding along without a care in the world.

LFM: If someone were talking about you in 100 years, what would you want them to say about you?
Rusty: If you’ve ever heard Gail Steiger’s “A Cowboy’s Prayer,” there is a line in it that goes:

“And maybe someday when they’re old ‘n gray, they’ll think of me and someone’ll say
He sure made a good hand and we always did know he would be there when we needed him most”
(To read the song lyrics in their entirety,  click here)

LFM: You’ve met some great Cowboy Poets in your travels. Who are the Cowboy Poets you most wish you could have met and swapped stories with?
Rusty: Poetry gatherings are different each year. You get to sit and tell stories with different poets every year, so I can say there is not really anybody I haven’t met or talked to. About the only people I can think of would be Ian Tyson and Tom Russell just to tell them how much I love their music. There are always poets and musicians that join the cowboy poetry “family” so I’d would like to meet them and visit with them too.  As to the ones who are long gone, I’d like to meet them all, but especially Jack Thorp and S. Omar Barker because they both were from NM and spent some time in this country.

LFM: What is your personal favorite image that was created during our photography sessions when I came to the ranch? Describe the photograph and why it is special to you.
Rusty: I think one of my favorites has to be the one of me sitting on my horse on the top of the hill looking back. It  looks like I don’t know that I’m being photographed and I’m just ridin’ out lookin’ for cows.

LFM: Who are some of your best friends and how do they inspire you?
Rusty: I’d say two of my closest friends would have to be Gail Steiger and Amy Auker. I’ve got a lot of good advice from them and we e-mail each other almost every day. They have taught me to live for the moment, because you never know what tomorrow’s going to bring.

LFM:What are you most passionate about in life?
Rusty: I’d say just being outside, living this lifestyle with no clocks to punch and planning your own day.

Deanna and Rusty gave updates on his health and gave permission for me to share them with you.
From Deanna: He has deafness due to his last surgery, but it hasn’t affected his personality or intellect. He still cracks jokes, and as Gail Steiger says, he blows you away with his emails and thoughts. He rides his 4 wheeler all over the trails, and is already thinking about trying to ride his horse before too long. (I don’t think he’s ready for that, yet!) He is able to walk without a cane, but his balance is still a bit shaky, and he can hear a few words occasionally, but not enough for a conversation. He sees the docs September 8th, and that will give us a little better idea of what’s going on and what to expect.

From Rusty:  The worst is over, with things slowly starting to get better. I can almost hear again. I can hear “environmental” noises real well and I can hear a few words. I am back to walking on my own two feet, but am still having problems with my balance. It has been six months since I last rode a horse and I really miss it. I would say I’m at about 65% recovered.

Rusty and his horse, Pardner: One of my personal favorites

William and the Mares

In April of 2004, I attended a photography workshop with Tony Stromberg and on a late afternoon we visited a Peruvian Paso ranch in New Mexico. There, under towering Cottonwoods, we photographed Peruvian yearlings as they flew around a grassy pasture like a flock of birds. Manes and tails waving, heads held high…their eyes dancing…I fell in love with them as they braved the space between us to bless me with their breath. While the group was eating lunch, I was drawn to a chestnut stallion standing in the barn.  I loved him before I even touched him, and silently ran my hands over him and picked up a brush from a nearby tack box to trace the lines of him  before he was brought out to an area for us to photograph him. I didn’t know his name, yet felt I’d known him for years. When his handler, Ginger, introduced him to us as Domecq, I realized he was the same horse I’d admired when I saw him in a Robert Vavra book many years before. I am happy to say I got to meet him again and create images of him before time took him to higher pastures.

Now I travel to the Peruvian Pasos and stay with them for days, meeting them in the magical moments before the sun crests the mountains and weaves it’s way through the trees to light the steam coming off their backs in the winter or lay golden kisses over their shoulders in the summer. When the light is “not right” in the middle of the day, I sit with them as they lay in the grass and walk with them as they graze, enjoying watching their herd dynamics and integrating into the herd itself. I tell folks sometimes that I am 99% horse and the other 1% simply allows me to walk upright and carry a camera. When the light starts to dance it’s way toward the horizon I spend several more hours photographing the horses as they graze, interact, and frolic. Why ask them to “do” anything? The beauty of them is that they “are.”

On a recent trip to La Estancia Alegre, I was able to bring my husband with me and let him get to know better this breed of horse that he has rarely met. He is a novice horseman and is just becoming comfortable with the horses as he is also starting to truly love them. On a misty afternoon right before a thunderstorm, we wandered into one of the pastures where four chestnut mares perked their ears and focused bright eyes on us as we meandered toward them. About 100 feet away from them, I asked my husband to kneel down and invite them to come to him with no speech, using only his soul as his voice. I looped around to the left and watched. One mare bobbed her head and took a step toward him. That’s all it took for the other three to join her as they started walking toward him. They were so gentle, approaching him like a foal in the grass, circling to come up behind him and to his sides. My husband looked at me a bit nervously to see if it was “ok” and I smiled, nodded, and walked out to a space in front of him to get in a good position to photograph what I saw was going to happen. Each mare touched him on the shoulder or head with her muzzle and one mare in particular was very curious about him, breathing him in and whisking her muzzle over his head. All thoughts of concern went away and I could see the smile building on my husband’s face. A transformation occured as he found the joy in the experience and I believe this small miracle, gifted by these mares, will stay with him forever.

Below are some of the images I created while with the Pasos while we were there:

On an overcast late afternoon, I photographed the lovely stallion Tesoro by a patch of flowers next to the main barn. Within moments after this image was made, the rain started to pour down.

The next morning a light mist still prevailed which saturated the colors of the horses. In this image, I’ve created a Poloroid Transfer Artistic Impression of the original photograph of this stunning mare and her young foal. Although the rain required cover for both my cameras/lenses and me, it sure helped with the otherwise ever-present mosquitos!

This brave young filly kept running off by herself in the evident  joy of simply feeling the wind over her body and hearing the sound of her own hooves making music. She often darted and dashed so fast that it was a challenge just following her with the camera. Isn’t she lovely? This sepia inspired Artistic Impression was a joy to create.

William Merritt singing Glory Trail

My husband, William, and I were traveling back from a short vacation in Sedona and decided to take the long way back to Tucson through the Mogollon Rim area north of the towns of Strawberry and Pine, AZ. One of my favorite songs that my husband sings is The Glory Trail, a song based on a poem by cowboy poet Badger Clark originally named High-Chin Bob (read the poem on cowboypoetry.com ). I often ask my husband to play “the kitty-cat song,” which I fondly call it, and so we pulled the truck over at the top of the Mogollons and drove down a dirt campsite road to a spot surrounded by tall pines and no people. There, with two very interested chipmunks, a kaibab squirrel, and some bluejays as the audience, my husband recorded The Glory Trail. To hear him singing, visit his website music page and enjoy! ]]> http://lorifaithmerritt.com/2009/08/31/way-up-high-on-the-mogollon/feed/ 0