About
Joan Briddle Art
My Story
The paintbrush is a part of who I am. My body becomes my paintbrush. What I do is magical because what I see and feel comes through me. In my drawings, paintings, and sculptures my hands, eyes, mind, body and spirit focus on the details of the shapes, textures, and color variations.
My specialization is portraying the equine subject. To create with paint and canvas provides a long lasting memory. Caring for my own horses every day enables me to run my hands over their muscles and tendons. This experience helps me to capture the structure and uniqueness of other horses. The paintings come alive. As I connect with the painting, it is almost as if I can hear the animals breathe, make sounds and movements. We connect soft muzzle and warm breath to my outstretched hand. This is the hand that holds the paintbrush.
The process is to meet and relate with a horse and owner or someone who provides a photo of a special animal. There is a deep relationship between horse, rider and painter. My personalized approach is to come to you to gather information so the story is about your horse. What an extraordinary experience this is! The carriage of the horse’s tail, ears, and the flair of the nostrils tell the story of this individual horse. For instance in one of the paintings of mare and foal running together, the apprehensive foal has one ear forward listening to what is ahead and one turned back listening to anything that might be a predator.
My work is in collections in Colorado, Florida, California, New Mexico, Wyoming, Washington and North Dakota. The Columbine Library in Jefferson County acquired a painting of young boys reading together. The work is displayed in memory of a gifted librarian. I continue to show in one woman art exhibits, other public venues and a gallery later this year. My grandson did a show with me at the Evergreen Library several years ago. The large paintings of children’s fables I displayed were complimented by his smaller colorful abstract paintings.
My studies continue with master painters to enhance my art skills. Every work is a new challenge and a new learning experience.