The Zen Horse: An Art Series
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The Zen Horse: An Art Series
Horses are natural Zen masters who always live in the moment. They do not obsess over yesterday or worry about tomorrow. They eat when they're hungry, drink when they're thirsty and sleep when they're tired. Horses have the ability to see who we really are despite the many masks we wear and demand that we become who we are meant to be. They encourage and respond to our genuine selves and ignore any persona's we apply.
Things To Do Today:
Exhale, Inhale, Exhale.
AHHHH.
-BuddhaMy horse doesn't care how I'm dressed or if I've brushed my hair. He doesn't respect me more when I win awards or honors. Nor does he snub me when I don't. All he wants from me is to be in the moment with him and to be honest
This was the inspiration behind the Zen Horse Series. I meet many people through my art and inevitably the conversation turns to the special place animals hold in our lives.
The Zen Horse Exhibition
When completed The Zen Horse will be a traveling exhibition. of around 40 expressionistic paintings. They will vary in size and each will be titled for various aspects of Zen philosophy. Also many paintings will be of specific horses and their stories of personal meaning from horse people whom I have met through my work. I have many ideas and plans for The Zen Horse and I am excited by all of the possibilities of this project.
Most of the paintings shown here are available in print. For ordering information regarding prints of any of these images or to see the full line of horse art available, please click here to visit Wild Faces Gallery website.
Or by clicking on the image of your choice will take you to that paintings specific page.
About The Author Of The Zen Horse Art Series
Mona Majorowicz of Wild Faces Gallery
My name is Mona Majorowicz I am a professional artist who has been making my living selling my work for some time now. I am an animal artist, (meaning I paint critters) who works primarily in Oil Pastel or Water Soluble Pencil.I own and operate Wild Faces Gallery with my husband Mike in a small rural town in Iowa. There we sell my original artwork and prints, as well as do quality custom framing and offer Giclee printing for other artists as well as for ourselves. I have over 20 years experience in the art and framing industry, both as a business owner and as a working artist.
I write a regular column for Apples 'N Oats (an equestrian magazine) about painting horses. If you would like to see real life photos of Catch, or want to follow the painting's progress (with full story) from start to finish please visit my blog, Fur In The Paint
Animals are my passion and art is how I chose to express it.
All copyrights are retained by the artist,
Mona Majorowicz of Wild Faces Gallery.
The artwork or content in this lens may not be used or reproduced, either
in part or in whole, without the express written consent from the artist.
A Gypsy Vanner Horse Painting
12 x 15 inch Oil Pastel Painting
Harmony by Mona Majorowicz
Know the white yet keep to the black. Be a pattern for the world,
the Tao will be strong inside you and there will be nothing you can't do.
-Lao Tzu/Tao Te Ching
Anyone who is familiar with me knows that I love a chunky horse. Through in some color and I break into a happy dance.
Gypsy Vanners are rather new to the horse scene in the US but of course have been around for centuries pulling gypsy carts. Thus the name. There are a few variations which have mostly to do with size. The Gypsy Vanner is a smaller horse closer in size to a point but with the build and temperament of a draft. Gypsy Drum Horses are the larger version and resemble draft horses in size and appearance.
I photographed the model for this painting at the MN Horse Expo. I can't tell you how many paintings I have gotten from attending horse expos every year. It takes a little more of the artsy juju to create a painting because the horses are usually surrounded in a sea of people. But it's so worth it.
A Painting Of A Horse Face
10 1/2 x 14 inch Oil Pastel Painting
Introspection
by Mona Majorowicz
To the mind that is still,
the whole universe surrenders.
- Lao Tzu/Tao Te Ching
So much of my art is really just an exploration of the medium. I try to do new things by playing. When I say I'm self-taught I mean that quite literally. I don't buy art books or take classes. I'm sure if I did I'd be farther along in my skills but for me it is the exploration that I find fascinating. The discovery and success keep me trying new things and styles.
This painting though not one of my particular favorites is actually the basis for what was to become my logo for this series and eventually my logo in general. The little red horse stamp in the intro lens is now found on all of my websites and business materials such as cards.
Painting Of Three Horse grazing
10 x 14 1/2 inch Oil Pastel Painting
Simplicity by Mona Majorowicz
Sitting quietly, doing nothing,
spring comes and the grass grows by itself.
-Zen Saying
These three were some of the Arabians that shared a farm with us, though they weren't ours. This was before moving to Iowa and so before having a horse of my own.
I can't tell you how much joy it was to watch these horses through the years. Whether they were playing in the snow, chasing each other through the softly sloping Black Hills of South Dakota or raising their foals It was a great source of comfort and pleasure to be able to have the joys of them without the bills or chores.
Painting Of A Paint Horse Mare In A Field
11 x 15 inch Oil Pastel Painting
Contemplation
by Mona Majorowicz
In knowing ourselves to be unique,
we possess the capacity for being conscious of the infinite.
But only then!.
- Carl Jung
This is actually one of my favorite Zen Horse images, though it is not a popular print seller. I like the wistful quality of the horse as well as the reflected light of her belly. Technically she is a Paint mare that belonged to a high school classmate and friend of mine. But she has so little white on her, that it's hard to tell she's a Paint except for that blue eye.
Painting Of Mare And Foal
Devotion
Devotion by Mona Majorowicz
I like the foal looking out at the viewer. And I especially like the tenderness expressed by the mare. On a compositional level I find the tension between them intriguing. The lines of their bodies and the way their heads come together to form a subtle heart shape--it is almost as if it is a hidden symbol reflecting their bond.
Not so long ago, I worked hard towards a more realistic look. But over time this approach no longer fed my creative side. The older I get, the farther I stray from it. I feel I am transitioning now. More and more, my paintings are being approached from a new perspective. My work is not so much about trying to recreate reality, as it is about filtering reality from an emotional and spiritual place.
Painting Of Paint Horse Foal Resting
12 x 15" Oil Pastel On Musuem Board
Serenity by Mona Majorowicz
However young, the seeker who sets out upon the way
shines bright over the world.
In him there is no yesterday, no tomorrow, no today.
Possessing nothing, wanting nothing, he is full of power.
-Buddha/Dhammapada
This was a foal from a local breeder who at the time of my taking the reference photos had around sixty paint horses with foals or in varying state of pregnancy. With so much color and beauty surrounding me, I was in equestrian artists heaven. I spent the day walking among the mare and foals in the pasture and shot roll upon roll of film.
Yes, I'm still old school. I only use my digital camera for blog stuff. There's something about holding those 4 x 6 glossies in my hand, while breathing in the faint whiff of developing chemicals that makes my heart go pitter-pat.
Okay, back to the horses. This muscular little guy grabbed my attention primarily because of his pink nose. I really do have a thing for pink noses and I have a tendency to put them on horses who don't actually have one. I also tend to like negative space. And often select my images based on how they crop out. I really liked the shape the foal's body makes against the negative space of the grass.
So What Is Zen Anyway?
According to Zen Space
Zen is a practice of direct, unmediated awareness. It is not an intellectual exercise to develop a philosophy or theology. It is not belief in the contents of written works. It is not following a code of conduct. It is not an emotional catharsis. It is not performing good works.
Fundamentally Zen is being present here and now with what is here and now just as it is. It involves taking the energy of body and mind that we habitually use to create and maintain the "self" and focusing it on the present just as it is without interacting with what is going on. Our principal approach to achieving this focus is through Zen meditation. While reading about meditation and Zen may be helpful, reading and other activities are secondary to practice. In our practice we develop direct awareness, and we attempt with great calm and patience to bring this awareness to every moment of our life.
Painting Of A Peruvian Paso Stallion
11 x 12 3/4 inch Oil Pastel Painting
Dignity by Mona Majorowicz
Have the fearless attitude of a hero
and the loving heart of a child.
- Ancient Sanskrit manuscript
Occasionally, there are horses that capture my imagination. They have a certain quality of presence that draws me to them. It's not always a beauty thing. At least not in the classic sense of a traditional breed type of beauty. There is this unnameable thing that will pull me back to them time and again. Libertador was just such a horse. I have painted him in one form or another several times. The only horse that I have painted more, is my own.
I met "Leo" at the Minnesota Horse Expo several years back. A friend and I were wandering aimlessly taking pictures, as we do every year at this event. When I first saw him, he was with a group of Peruvian Pasos getting ready to do a breed demonstration. He was a handsome liver chestnut stallion who carried himself proudly as a gentleman. He had an abundant mane and tail and exuded an energy I found intriguing.
He had drawn a crowd of admirers and though he was a seasoned stallion, he was courteous and gentle. There are some horses at the expos that develop a following akin to a fan club. Leo was one of these. He was an ambassador for the Peruvian Paso breed as well as for horses as a whole. Beautiful to behold, charismatic and loving.
Painting Of A Quarter Horse Grazing At Sunset
11 x 13 5/8" Oil Pastel On Museum Board
Enlightenment
by Mona Majorowicz
He who knows others is wise.
He who knows himself is enlightened.
-Lao Tzu/Tao Te Ching
We recently have had many storms pass through, which has left our farm soggy and battered. After the latest, I was out walking the pasture, looking for downed branches and shingles. While doing this, my horse followed me about, taking nibbles of grass every few feet. I was rushing around trying to get done as quickly as possible. There were more chores to be done than there were hours left in the day.
Chicory patiently followed me, as always the courteous gentleman. Whenever I would stop for even just a moment, he would softly nuzzle my back or arm. After a few of these gentle persuasions I finally got the hint and took a break. I just stood there in the misting rain, leaning against his warm body and watching the flood waters flow through the low spot of the pasture. I let myself get absorbed in the pleasantness of it all. It is a wonderful feeling to let the quiet and stillness get inside.
When working on my art, I draw upon my relationships with my animals. It is often said that you should paint what you know. Which I do. But more so than that, I paint what I feel.
Painting Of An Appalossa And A Bay Horse
11 x 15 inch Oil Pastel Painting
Transitions by Mona Majorowicz
This existence of ours is as transient as autumn clouds.
To watch the birth and death of beings
is like looking at movements of a dance.
A lifetime is like a flash of lightening in the sky,
rushing by, like a torrent down a steep mountain.
-Buddha
When I am creating, I need to be sure to bring balance to the image. Much of my work is done in oil pastel. It is a relatively unforgiving medium. So I have to make all the compositional decisions in pencil before I begin to lay in color. In Transitions I liked the way the bay horse is almost not even noticed at first glance and yet it serves the important function of bringing balance to the foreground horse. Also I make an effort to include some of the background colors in my horses. This prevents a cut and paste look to the painting by making the horses appear to be a part of their environment.
Painting Of Three Horses In Winter
12 x 21 inch Oil Pastel Painting
The Solace Of Open Spaces
by Mona Majorowicz
Everything that lives,
lives not alone, nor for itself.
-William Blake
When I painted this we were in the frigid grip of winter. It was the coldest season that I can remember, since we moved to Iowa well over a decade ago. As a result, the much cherished time that I usually spend with my horse every day, had been cut down to a few short minutes of feeding, breaking the ice out of the waterer and perhaps a quick curry or scratch before my fingers go numb. The sweet smells of drying hay and sweaty horse seem like a long forgotten memory.
There are some smells that trigger emotions and memories. You breathe them in deeply and it takes you to another place and time. Say for instance . . . baking bread brings back fond memories of my grandmas warm kitchen. And the other smell that puts me into a bucolic trance . . . horse sweat and fly spray. Nothing quite like it. And yes it does rank right up there with baking bread.
The Importance Of Theraputic Riding
A Fund Raising Goal For The Zen Horse Art Series
Long Term Fundraising Goals For The Zen Horse Art Series
One of the many long term goals of this exhibit will be to be a fund raiser for either one or several therapeutic riding organizations. I have witnessed the miracle first hand of what happens between people with disabilities and horses. A person who may spend their entire life looking up at the world can sit on the back of the horse and finally view it from a new perspective. The movement and motion of the horse stimulates them in new ways. Plus the physical, emotional and spiritual a person gets from this experience can't even begin to be explained.
How Therapeutic Riding Works by Little Bits Riding Center
The horse's soothing rhythm, strength, warmth, and three-dimensional movement pattern provides healthy exercise while improving circulation and muscle tone. The discipline associated with working with horses and the social interactions between peers benefit the mind and spirit while raising self-esteem and increasing self-sufficiency through accomplishment. The unconditional love of the horses is proved to reduce anxiety, encourage interaction and offer a haven where riders can feel a sense of empowerment.
A Painting Of A Paint Horse Herd
Oil Pastel on museum board
Unity by Mona Majorowicz
Togetherness arises out of separateness.
To find togetherness, begin with separateness.
In this way there can be both togetherness and separateness.
- Buddha
I try to take my camera everywhere I go. You just never know when or where an opportunity to photograph something will present itself. I was traveling to pick up some matboard with a friend and drove past a large herd of paint mares with foals. After about two seconds of deliberation I turned around and hopped out, camera in hand.
It was a feast for the eyes. I was so excited about what I was viewing through my camera lens, I had several painting ideas even before I had finished shooting my first roll of film. All in all I took 6 rolls of film and most assuredly would have done more had I been alone and not on my way somewhere.
A Painting Of A Horse In Water
12 3/4 x 15 inch Oil Pastel Painting
Reflection by Mona Majorowicz
You must learn to be still in the midst of activity
and to be vibrantly alive in repose.
-Mahatma Gandhi
The model for this painting was a mare from my neighbors herd drinking from the creek that borders both ours and their property.
Painting Of Percheron Draft Horse At Liberty
10 x 14 1/2 inch Oil Pastel Painting
Joy by Mona Majorowicz
One joy scatters a hundred griefs.
-Chinese Proverb
I walk daily and walking past all those gentle giants was a great pleasure.They were a constant source of fascination and inspiration for me.
In this instance my husband was dropping off a bale of hay and the excitement got most of the horse riled up. There was much bucking and snorting by all. This old girl though moved so nicely and was collected so beautifully that she just had to be painted. The original painting was rather small since the initial purpose of the art was to be that years Christmas card.
Painting Of White Mare In Flooded Field
16 x 26 inch Oil Pastel Painting
Solitude
by Mona Majorowicz
In the effort to get away from this overwhelming feeling of loss that I went for a drive in the opposite direction from the tornado's path. On this trip I found both the model and the pasture scene that later were combined to create this painting. The mare was heavily pregnant though I trimmed her down a bit for the painting. And the pasture was a few miles away heavily sodden with rain waters. I liked the way the flooded waters meandered through the center. I think the painting has a moody feel to it but knowing what happened before it's creation, I think that's understandable.
Some Great Lenses About Zen
Books On Zen Philosphy
Other Lenses Featuring My Art
The Artwork Of Wild Faces Gallery
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Please leave any thoughts or comments you might have, Or contact me if you would like to add your personal story to this exhibit
The Zen Horse Art Series Guestbook
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LoKackl
Dec 31, 2011 @ 3:31 pm | delete
- Gorgeous zen horse imagery. I enjoyed your review. Blessed!
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Momsbusy247
Aug 21, 2011 @ 2:27 pm | delete
- Mona your horse pictures are so beautiful, they come alive right on the pages!
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Philippians468
Jun 14, 2011 @ 2:20 pm | delete
- thank you for sharing with us all your lovely paintings! they are beautiful! cheers
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flashkid
Apr 9, 2011 @ 7:07 am | delete
- Like your selection of quotes as much as your paintings.
Lots of Horse Sense there :-)
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Tipi
Feb 21, 2011 @ 6:15 pm | delete
- Very lovely lens once again Mona. You painting are great.
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My name is Mona Majorowicz. I am a professional artist who has been making my living selling my work for some time now. I have been in the art and framing... more »
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