Interview with Linda L. Martin an American artist and advocate for the Sand Wash Basin Mustangs. At the time of this interview I was living in Cape Town, funny what you find when you are tidying up and had completely forgotten about.  Please enjoy.

A Forgotten Interview

From MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

Guest Artist: Rachel Dubber

​What mediums do you use?

My portfolio consists of mostly equine and animal oil paintings, drawings, photography and occasionally sculptures. 

Where have you exhibited?

To date my work has been exhibited in Europe, China and South Africa and is included in collections in Ireland, Scotland, England, Italy, Spain, China and South Africa.

Why do you paint animals?

I specialise in animal portraits because of the emotional benefits, for me and my clients.

The images I select to paint affect me emotionally, which I believe they must do, in order for it to take life on a canvas.  Years spent with horses also help in getting the feel of the horse on canvas or molded in clay.  The image must convey the freedom, beauty, strength and majestic qualities of the subject.  I love my oil painted horses to be free, unhindered by tack or riders, free from any constraints and always, if possible, in motion.  

For this guest artist exhibition and interview the requirement was to paint a Mustang. Not having access to Wild Mustangs or the availability of images, the issue was solved by the generosity of John Wagner a passionate American Photographer whose work I truly admire.  After contacting John, I was given permission to paint one of his photographs.

Why did you choose to paint this image?

This painting is of a Mustang called Apache; approximately between 3-4 years old, he is a "satellite stallion" in a Mustang herd called Brave's Band.  John kindly informed me that Apache is a satellite stallion, which is a full adult stallion that is allowed to hangout with a Band that already has a lead stallion. Usually the satellite stallion hangs out away from the main Band. The satellite serves a purpose, sometimes he is a challenger, an extra pair of eyes, and so the lead stallion can stay closer to his Band.

Apache is very aggressive, he picks fights with Brave all the time and any other stallion close by. He may be small but he is very assertive and determined. Something about this image grabbed my focus and attention, maybe it was the wide open space, the rugged and free horse or just the whole spirit of freedom.  I just knew it had to become a painting. 

Brave's Band lives in Sand Wash Basin Horse Management Association in Northwestern Colorado, on 160,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management Land, 250 square miles of Freedom to roam where they want. The land is so huge that the Wild Horses don't even scratch the surface.

May The Wild Horses Run Free forever....and keep touching our hearts and minds.

Kind Courtesy of Linda L. Martin and John Wagner.