Sharon Prestegard Creating Color - Summer 2007 Issue of Horses in Art Magazine

Sharon Prestegard : Creating Color

by Sarah H. Crampton

"Just Passing Thru" – Oil, 36 x 48, by Sharon Prestegard.
Sharon Prestegard produces her artwork under the loft of her log home, perched upon a hill overlooking green pastures full of horses, near Cannon Falls, Minnesota. Sharing her home with her husband and three small children forces her to work nights, thus she markets her work under the name Light in the Loft Studio.

Sharon Prestegard was chosen to create a painting for the Pinto Horse Association’s Championship Show commemorative show poster.

Sharon comments, “I thought of a mare and foal because Pinto horses are bred to have color – so why not depict that magical moment of the birth of a foal?” Sharon came across a photo of a Palomino mare and her newborn filly. The picture was captured by Zoe Midyett just moments after birth, and the lighting was very dramatic. Sharon comments, “I was so moved by the photo that I wasted no time in contacting Zoe regarding the photo and within the week had obtained copyrights to the image and had the painting started.” The resulting painting for the Pinto show poster is titled Wet Behind the Ears.

Just Passing Thru was a commission by the owners of the Paint horse gelding, Chuckles. This horse has been photographed many times always tacked up in his show clothes. Sharon suggested to the owners to give Chuckles the opportunity to express himself and allow him the freedom to just be in the beautiful pasture. After viewing her reference photos, Sharon shared her ideas with the owners.

The title, Just Passing Thru, just happens to be his registered name, but it means so much more to me,” states Sharon. “No matter how much we achieve or accomplish while we spend our time here on God’s great earth...we still are ’just passing through. How we spend our days and lives matters to Him, and it should never be so busy that we can’t take the time to appreciate the beauty and blessings He surrounds us with.” Sharon Prestegard will exhibit at the 2007 Pinto World Championship Show held June 12-23, 2007, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Visit Sharon Prestegard’s web site at www.sharonsloft.com.

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