The Art Books Of Robert Vavra

Such is the Real Nature of Horses (Evergreen)

I am as docile as I am courageous,
the only of earth's creatures who sacrifices its own being
to exist through the will of another.

A strange stillness dwells in my eye,
A composure that appears to regard the world from a measured distance.
It is the gaze from the depths of a desert dream.

This was one of Vavra's early books and perhaps the least artsy book of the lot. It is horses in general and talks about behavior and every aspect of a horses life. Still, like all Vavra books it has beautiful pictures that allow you to see horses in a whole new light.

Excerpt from front cover

"Exploring the real nature of horses, Vavra traveled from the high coastal bluffs of Western America, to the Andalusian plains of Spain, and to the marshes of Southern France to photograph horses in their natural environment. He focused his camera not only to modern equines, but on the only truly wild horses remaining in the twentieth century - The Przewalski's of Mongolia. His unparalleled color photographs accompanied by explanatory text, capture the instinctive social behavior of horses in the wild as never before.

- from Horses Of The Sun

Equus: The Creation of a Horse (Evergreens)

...a horse is a thing of such beauty...none will tire of looking at him as long as he displays himself in his splendor.

- Xenophon (from Equus)

I was (am) one of those horse crazy girls who just never grew out of it. This passion for horses manifested itself from a young age with plastic model horses and picture books.

When I was young girl (and that was a looong time ago) I begged my mom for this book. I had to beg because it was $40 and this was the early 80's so it was a hefty price to pay for a picture book for a child. So the answer was no.

But I wasn't about to accept that, so I set about getting the money myself. Eventually I earned enough through various odd jobs and working the fields in the summer to not only buy all my school clothes and such but also the book.

When it arrived in the mail it was truly the picture book to end all picture books. I spent endless hours flipping through the pages and reading all the passages. And still do on occasion.

I think in many ways Robert Vavra's vision shaped my horse art from a very early age. His books aren't just pretty pictures of pretty horses, they are indeed art. They are spectacular horses, in spectacular settings with choreographed movement.

From this very first book I was hooked on Vavra.

Robert Vavra's Majestad

A large white stallion . . . peered at me oddly for several moments and then he slowly stretched his nose to mine . . . . His huge eyes were like fishbowls holding exotic creatures of serpentine colors.

- Lynn V. Andrews (from Equus Reined)

This book consists of spectacular examples of various breeds showcasing their traditional tack, such as a Quarter Horse in full western garb and a Lippizzaner wearing in Spanish tack performing. From there Vavra pushes the concept of the horse restrained as he glorifies the horse by covering them in chains, ribbons, gold and jewels.

This book in an equestrian visual delight.

I have given thee the power of flight without wings.

- The Koran (from Equus Reined)

Excerpt from a Chicago Tribune article by Mary Daniels. For the complete article please visit Vavra's website.

He's lived with Maasai warriors and traveled with Spanish matadors, sharing their dreams, their fears and their valor.

He's strolled Seville's jasmine-scented darkness with Candice Bergen, with Ursula Andress, and with Bo Derek.

He's sipped fresh cow blood with Maasai maidens, and cocktails with the Duponts, Wrigleys and Hearsts.

He was a drinking buddy of Lawrence of Arabia's Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif.

Unarmed, he leaped from a tree in Kenya to face, alone, a wounded Cape buffalo, Africa's most dangerous big game animal, in order to save a friend whose back had been broken by the buffalo's attack-a rescue unheard of in the annals of human/big five animal encounters.

He's had a peeing contest with Ernest Hemingway and partied with Ava Gardner and Orson Welles.

He's been godfather for a Maasai youth's passage to manhood, cooked bull's tail stew for Charlton Heston.

His photographs have appeared in magazines from Stern to Geo to Sports Illustrated to Playboy to Life, which recently included one of his pictures in a book surveying the most important images of its 70-year history.

He's . . . traded quips with children's author Dr. Seuss.

Stallions of the Quest

This book feature's the Paso Fino. This is perhaps one of the most artfully crafted books in terms of photo manipulations. It has superimposed images that are color adjusted.The equestrian photos of Robert Vavra are modified and elevated into works of art.

No Vavra book is just a collection of pretty horse pictures. They are so much more.

This opulent book for the first time includes images by other photographers whose work is as stunning as Vavra's. Indeed it was hard to tell when I was looking at a Vavra or someone else's work.

This book features the Cardenas family and their five Spanish stallions and eighty mares. Once again the gorgeous photos are accompanied by famous quotes. And in the back is their written story.

Of all animals kept for the recreation of mankind, the horse is alone capable of exciting a passion that is absolutely hopeless.

- Bret Harte (from Cardenas, Horse & Home)

I Love Nature More

I Love Nature More

This diminutive book (by Vavra's usual standard) features close up detail images of patterns in nature, like a butterfly's wing, a birds feather, or an animals hide.

Who can believe that there is no soul behind those luminous eyes.

- Theophile Gautier (from Vavra's Cats)

Vavra's Cats
This is the other of the Vavra books that I own that are not about horses. Since I am a animal artists in general I enjoyed this book almost as much as the horse ones. It is brimming with images of both domestic and wild cats in both their natural setting as well as choreographed photos. This book is a real treat for anyone who loves the cat family.

Unicorns I Have Known

Horses of the Sun: A Gallery of the World's Most Exquisite Equines

...a horse is a beautiful animal, but it is perhaps most remarkable because it moves as if it always hears music.

- Marc Helprin (from Cardenas, Horse & Home)

Yet another beautiful art book featuring some of Vavra's favorite stallions accompanied by poetry.

The defining characteristic of copyright infringement is if the average viewer when looking at the two works see a similarity. The copying need not be exact.

Since Vavra is an obvious talent he is also copied constantly and often illegally. Being a painter of horses I can certainly see the allure. I work solely from my own reference materials, but looking through his books transports me to another place where equine beauty reigns supreme. Of course this also means that in all likelihood I shall never see those things or take those pictures. And so therefore I can see the temptation being great for others as well.

Since I own many of his books I am quite familiar with his body of work. I am always surprised to see so many artists advertising Vavra knockoffs in magazines. He does prosecute any offenders. But the good news is he also offers the purchase of his images either for a one time use or multiple reproduction.

For more information regarding the purchase of stock photos
please visit his webite www.robertvavra.com

"My images have been illegally used on wine bottles, book covers, t-shirts, greeting crads, in magazine advertisements, posters and so on. It must be an unpleasant moment when my lawyers or agent tells the illegal user of my images that my last four photographs sold for $80,000 or that my working fee is $20,000 per day and that the infringer is going to have to compensate us for having stolen my copyrighted material" - Robert Vavra

Stallion of a Dream

Vavra's Vision

The hooves of a horse! Oh! Witching and sweet
is the music earth steals from the iron shod feet.
No whisper of love, no trilling of bird,
can stir me as hooves of the horse has stirred.

- Will H. Ogilvie (from Cardenas, Horse & Home)

Hast thou given the horse strength?
Hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage . . .

- Book of Job, Old Testament (from Equus)

This cd features lovely music accompanied by horse noises such as hoofbeats, nickering and whinnying. Anyone who loves horses will find this a treat.

I tend to play this music most when I am working on a horse painting and want to experience the horse on a deeper level. The music helps me to connect with the horse in a way other than visually.

Horses of the Sun Postcard Book (Postcardbooks)

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 industry for over 20 years. 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 maintain a blog called Fur In The Paint, as well as write a regular column for the equestrian magazine Apples 'N Oats about painting horses.

Animals are my passion and art is how I chose to express it.

Art Materials, Techniques and Supplies
How To Paint Fur In Watercolor Pencil
Learn About Watercolor Pencils
Using Watercolor Pencils on Suede Board
Inktense: Water Soluble Ink Pencils
Neocolor ll Water Soluble Wax Pastels
Oil Pastel Technique
Oil Pastels: Some Basic Information
Tips and Tools for working with Oil Pastels
3 Ways To Frame An Oil Pastel Painting

Art Business & Art Marketing
How To Know If You're Ready To Make Prints Of Your Art
Artwork Framing Guide
How To Care For Your Artwork and Prints
Creating A Collaborative Economy For Artists
How To Draw Remarques
Art Marketing: 6 Personality Traits For Success In The Art Market
Art Marketing: When Selling Art Predictable Is Popular
Art Marketing:The Two Most Common Myths
Selling Art: Tips From An Art Fair Veteran

Art Fair & Art Fair Gear Lenses
An Art Fair Primer
All Good Things Come From Art Fairs
20 Things I've Learned From 20 Years of Doing Art Fairs
Choosing The Right Art Fair
Preparing Art Fair Slides & Digital Images For The Jury
Artwork Display Panels
Directors Chair Resource
Art Fair Equipment Essentials
Art Fair Tents And Canopies

Lenses About Me And My Art
Artwork To Benefit Equine Rescue
Wild Faces Gallery Art Lensography
Animal Totems: An Art Series
The Horse Paintings Of Wild Faces Gallery
The African Wildlife Art of Wild Faces Gallery
The Zen Horse: An Art Series
The Draft Horse Art Of Wild Faces Gallery

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Hidalgo: The Movie
My Favorite Horse Movies
The Classic Horse Books Of Marguerite Henry
Music For The Art Of Creating
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The Art Books Of Robert Bateman
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Vampire Academy Books Series
The Best Books For Women Who Love Horses
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A Tribute To My Faithful Friend Brutus
Is Declawing A Cat Cruel?
The World Percheron Congress 2010
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Your Cat Related Questions Answered By Budda The Cat
Meet The Budda
Budda's Dream Time Wish List

Picture Framing & Misc. Artsy Fartsy Stuff
How To Make Paper
How To Collect Your Own Reference Photo Library And Why You Should
Organizing Your Photo Reference Library
How To Stretch Mount A Cross Stitch
Mat Cutting: How To Cut The Basic Mat

Christmas Card, Ornament and Gift Lenses
Create Your Own Christmas And Holiday Art Cards
Alphabet Block Christmas Tree Ornaments
Hanpainted Victorian Christmas Tree Ornaments
How To Make Heart Button Pillow Ornaments
How To Make Felt Carousel Christmas Tree Ornaments
Free Crochet Snowflake Patterns
Handmade Christmas Ornaments, Cards, Gifts & Decorations Lensography
Antique, Vintage & Victorian Postcards
Create These Easy Vintage Postcard Christmas Tree Ornaments
Carousel Horse Christmas Tree Ornaments
Color Fun With Crayola
Art Supplies For Kids
Breyer Collectible Holiday Horses