"Passing the Torch" Equine Acrylic Painting

Passing the Torch
18x24 acrylic with modeling paste

Passing the Torch marks a deeper step into storytelling through my painting. This piece was inspired by two separate photographs of two very different, yet deeply connected, horses in my life.

On the left is Limo, my childhood horse and the horse who carried me through my early twenties. She was my greatest teacher — the reason I learned so much, and the foundation of the horsewoman I am today. Limo passed away in 2018.

On the right is Scarlett, the horse who came into my life in 2019. Though they never met, I’ve always felt a quiet, spiritual connection between them. They are not the same horse, but I’ve long felt that Limo somehow passed her wisdom on — that she told Scarlett everything she needed to know.

I knew I wanted to paint them together, but I struggled at first with direction. As I often do, I began taking the painting too seriously, and it started to feel stiff — more like a memorial than what my heart intended. When I let go and began experimenting with bold, expressive color — both in the background and within the horses themselves — everything shifted.

What emerged was no longer a somber piece, but a celebration. A celebration of knowledge passed on, of connection beyond time, and of two incredible, vibrant horses who shaped different chapters of my life.

Passing the Torch is about legacy, learning, and the unseen threads that tie our stories together.

Sold as a reproduction print, as I've chosen to cherish and keep the original canvas.