The Brave Brush Strokes of Sophy Brown - Horses in Art Magazine

The Brave Brush Strokes of Sophy Brown

by Sarah H. Crampton

Cat Ballou V – Acrylic on board, 35 x 19, by Sophy Brown. "This is a portrait of a beautiful California bred Arabian owned by Bobi O’Laughlin of Colorado. One of the things I wanted to convey was how totally alert this horse is, all senses tuned into her surroundings – she is a part of things and ready to go.
With broad sweeping brush strokes, Sophy Brown conveys enough detail to appeal to even those who admire more tightly, realistically-rendered equine art. Using a liberal range of color and skillfully placed strokes, the image of the horse emerges with confidence.

Sophy Brown grew up in England and after completing her Bachelors of Fine Arts at Goldsmith College in London, came to the United States in 1987 to study for her Masters in painting at the University of Michigan. Observing the backgrounds in particular of her equestrian paintings, today we see the benefits from the years spent painting in college that were almost entirely large and abstract works with an emphasis on geometry. Her own powerful interpretation of the scenes are filled with movement and action.

A commission to paint a dressage arena with fifteen life-size horses and riders brought a life-long appreciation of horses into the studio, and gave her paintings a new life and direction.

Brown has been in Colorado since 1999, and her recent paintings of cowboys, horses and rodeo scenes reflect the great open country. Sophy comments, "The paintings try to capture the blood and bone responses of the horse in images of speed, freedom, alarm, curiosity and exuberance. I recognize in the horse's alertness and physicality, our common nature and a manifestation of what in us is often hidden or censored."

"The images of rodeo broncs show the effort of a moment, born of full adrenal response," she continues. "I see the cowboy as a symbol of the forthright, practical, frontier broaching man that kicked American progress into high gear. They live close with the rigors of nature, and are reliant on themselves and their animals in a big wide country. This connection between nature and man has become increasingly valuable in a world that gets smaller with the ease of communication and convenience."

Sophy Brown's work is represented in Tough Luck Cowboy, Boulder, Colorado; The Frank Howell Gallery and the Yellowhorse Gallery, both located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. To view more of Sophy Brown's paintings visit Yellow Horse Gallery's web site: www.yellowhorsegallerysantafe.com.

Play – Acrylic on board, 14 x 35, by Sophy Brown

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