Sitting Pretty - 16" x 20" oil by Andrea Harman Steiner.

Lifting the Pack - 18" x 24" oil by Andrea Harman Steiner is our cover image.

Captivated by the Hunt - by Andrea Harman Steiner

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Of the many equestrian disciplines I've been introduced to through my equine art, fox hunting is one of my favorites. Opening day of fox hunting is always a grand event with riders sharply turned out, horses braided up, the blessing of the hounds, and perhaps a bag piper.

However, it's following the every day hunts where I get a real feel for what it's all about. Watching the young hounds learning the ropes during cub hunting, the excitement of a good run during the formal season, and the tired but content pack hacking home to the kennels afterward exemplify the discipline and the special relationship required between the huntsman and the hounds.

Recognizing the underlying purpose of fox hunting is to eliminate foxes, I was happy to learn that in the US it is first and foremost a sport, with rarely a kill and often not even a view of the fox. As was explained to me by our huntsman, the objective is not to actually catch the fox -­ they want him around to chase another day. In areas lacking a fox population, coyotes have filled in, proving to be an even more challenging and elusive subject to chase.

Depicting hunt scenes has helped foster an interest in incorporating both the human figure and landscape backgrounds in my work. By following the field during hunts, I am better acquainted with the variety of the terrain encountered, the roles played by the huntsman, whips and field, and the support of the landowners and community.

Research for my artwork has led me to study wonderful old paintings by past artists. Reading some great books on hunting has acquainted me with the terms and language particular to the sport, as well as becoming familiar with hunting attire, past and present.

As our hunt here in Michigan begins their cub hunting in mid-August and extends the formal season well past the New Year, my reference photographs give me a wide range of possibilities, varying from lush, warm summer greens, to crisp, sparkling autumn colors, right through the icy cool of winter light on snow.

While painting, I can easily recall the colors of the horses and riders, the way the hounds' baying can be heard for such distances in the quiet, the sound of the huntsman's horn gathering the pack, and above all, the beauty of the countryside. All these visions come back to me while working, and if by chance there's classical music on the radio with a hunting horn, all the better!

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