Oil Painters Kay Witherspoon, Fabio Deponte, Susan Fox & Kristi Stone - Horses in Art Magazine

Oil Painters Kay Witherspoon, Fabio Deponte, Susan Fox & Kristi Stone

Red & Jack – Oil by Kristi Stone.
Oil paint is a type of slow-drying paint consisting of pigment suspended in a drying oil. When exposed to air, oils do not undergo the same evaporative process that water does. Instead, they oxidize into a dry solid and the process is slow. The long open time is an advantage to the painter allowing time to work on the painting as often as necessary. The paint often will not dry for up to several weeks. It also allows for blending into the surrounding paint to subtly merge the colors.

Oil paints were used in England as early as the 13th century. but were not widely adopted for artistic purposes until the 15th century. The earliest and still most commonly used vehicle is linseed oil, made from the seed of the flax plant. The seeds are crushed and the oil extracted.

Kay Witherspoon, a member of the Oil Painters of America, and the American Academy of Equine Art, is well known for her sporting art paintings of polo ponies and racehorses. She has branched out into animal art with the Society of Animal Artists and also began painting landscapes.

Witherspoon utilizes the techniques of the oil masters of 19th and 20th century. She gives credit to Rembrandt for the layering and glazing techniques that give a luminous quality to her work. She works out of her own studio gallery, Witherspoon Fine Art, in Englewood, Colorado.

Fabio Deponte, originally from Trieste, Italy, immigrated to the United States in 1956, and began his art career in the commercial art field. After turning to fine art, he opened White Pickets Studio with his life partner and artist, Sara.

Fabio comments, "As a young immigrant you tend to view your surroundings and people as an observer, trying to get the lay of the land. This aspect has never left me. Today I observe for humor in the mannerisms of people as they go about their day. As an artist, I feel compelled to search, experience, explore, not just technique and subject matter, but the atmosphere one creates for a viewer to be drawn in to see, rather than just look once, then come back and see again."

"Oil is a traditional medium and it's important for me to connect to the past. It's the feel, the smell and the honesty of oil paint; no tricks; forgiving; it allows you to sit back and consider what you have just put down, and what comes next."

Mongolia Morning – Takhi Mare & Foal, Oil on canvas, 12 x 24, by Susan Fox. "On a crisp spring morning in Hustai National Park, a mare leads her foal through the spectacular rocky landscape to their morning pasture. The legendary land of Mongolia is home to what has become one of my favorite subjects, the takhi." Visit Susan's studio at www.foxstudio.biz.

Susan Fox's paintings are done using a traditional oil technique. She strives for accuracy in both the behavior and appearance of her wildlife subjects and has traveled extensively to other countries including Kenya and Mongolia to sketch in the field and photograph reference materials for her paintings. It was on a trip to Mongolia where they are reintroducing the takhi or Przewalski’s Horse, that she saw the mare and foal in the painting Mongolia Morning. Takhi, which means spirit in Mongolian, are the world’s only remaining species of wild horses.

Susan states, "I don’t paint an animal that I haven’t seen myself, preferably in its natural habitat. I am always interested in the design possibilities of animals, plants and landscapes, and often use that as a starting point. I use a combination of what I’ve seen, drawn and photographed when I put together a painting, along with my memories and feelings about the place."

Susan Fox lives in Northern California near the Redwood National Forest where she can observe different animals' habits and individual quirks. She strives for personal, painterly expression in her oil paintings.

Golden Morning – Oil by Kristi Stone "I wanted to achieve that glow that is there when the sun is breaking through the clouds. There is a depth that the sun rays create that I was trying to accomplish." Visit her web site at www.diamond-s-quartercircle.com

The painting Golden Morning was a scene right outside Kristi Stone’s front door. Kristi comments, "In that painting, I want the viewer to feel like they are there. To feel the heat, taste the dust, hear the sounds. It’s the start of another day, with probably hard work. But a friend, your horse, is there to help you."

Kristi Stone lives with her husband in the Central Oregon high desert raising Corriente roping cattle. She loves the life; calving season, weaning and branding. There is also the snow, wind, frozen water tanks, sagebrush and junipers.

"Our country was built on the backs of men and horses," Kristi remarks. "Today there are still people who continue to do this work, but it is dwindling rapidly. The hard work and the freedom needs to be preserved and respected. This country has become far too materialistic and that is very sad." Kristi continues, "I work hard, respect the land. I’d do just about anything for a neighbor or friend and I do believe that this country was built and maintained by God."

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