Kaleidoscopic Horses - Fall 2009 Issue of Horses in Art Magazine

Kaleidoscopic Horses

by Carla Armbrust, writer and artist

Gilded Lily – Watercolor, 22 x 28, by Caly Garris.
Like most Equine Artists, Caly Garris has had a passion for horses ever since she can remember. At just three years old Caly walked into a pen with an unbroken stallion and hugged his foreleg. The adults stood paralyzed with fear, but Caly was in her element. She went home and captured the stallion’s image on her mother’s freshly painted wall. Though Caly has matured and her medium has evolved from crayons to watercolor, her fascination with the horse remains unchanged.

In her quest to express the free spirit and energy of her subject, Caly long ago abandoned traditional painting techniques. Though brushes are employed, they are merely a vehicle by which the pigment is transported from palette to paper. Once the paint has splashed onto the paper, it remains anyone’s guess as to what methods the artist will use to coerce the paint – cool colors into shadow areas, warm colors into the light.

Gathering – Mixed Watermedia, 20 x 20, by Caly Garris.

“I don’t like formulas, ever.” Says Caly. “I try to paint without really painting.between the pigments and the paper there can be explosive reactivity. That’s what it’s all about for me. I don’t want to have a contrived piece of work.”

Each painting is encouraged to take a life of its own. Reactive colors are placed next to each other and manipulated. Some will do battle, forcing other pigments to retreat. Some will embrace a delightful dance, twisting and twirling in glorious kaleidoscopic color. Learning how each pigment will behave is a never-ending process. As a colorist, Caly constantly tests new pigments for their reactive qualities, looking for fresh ways to delight the eye.

Stone Ponies – Watercolor, 16 x 28, by Caly Garris.

“That’s what it’s all about for me.” Caly states, “That continual discovery. The horse is the inspiration and my method is trying to let my inner creativity paint it.”

If garnering awards is any indication, then Caly’s many “Best of Show” awards would attest to her success. Having her images selected for numerous posters for fairs, rodeos, art shows and fund-raising events is also a pretty good indicator. Her work is in galleries in Montana, California and New Mexico. It hangs in private and corporate collections across the globe. It graces the covers of books and has been selected by licensing companies and artist’s representatives for inclusion in their stables of prominent artists.

Aesirs – Mixed Water Media, 22 x 28, by Caly Garris.

Caly has known since she was a toddler that her artwork was meant to decorate our world. A large and faithful collector base only confirms what the artist has always known in her heart.

To view more images by Caly Garris visit her web site at www.calygarris.com.

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