Jessie and Me”

The first image of Jessie is that of a standing alert but relaxed horse. The horse and the child are surrounded by a golden light, late afternoon sun, but also symbolic of the feeling she still feels towards Jessie. "He was a kindred spirit and a heart horse."

Horses have been always a part of Kristy's life since she was a child. She spent several years away from riding as an adult, but horses were still always on her mind. A few years ago, she bought and retrained a Thoroughbred ex-racehorse, who is now her closest companion.

"When asked to create a piece that captured childhood memories of horses, I immediately thought of Jessie, a horse I rode for several years, who is still the most influential horse I’ve had in my life.

I was a horse crazy child, but my family could not afford a horse. Lucky for me, my best friend owned horses, including Jessie, a grey Appaloosa gelding.

From the ages of 8 to 14, Jessie was my horse to ride. He could and would do everything I asked of him; jumping, trails, English and Western, shows, gymkhana, camping trips, and whatever else my friend and I could think of.

He always took care of me, I never had anything to fear. He gave me the confidence I desperately needed at that time in my life. I owe him so much and cannot imagine my childhood without him."

In this piece, she is seated on Jessie, feeling grounded and calm. She emphasized the lines where her tailbone and Jessie’s spine meet. "There is no need for tack, we are a team, knowing each other’s thoughts and feelings."

The most important goal Kristy has in her equine art is to capture a horse’s behavior, personality, and movement. "If I can do that, I’ve represented them well."

Kristy Herman is a contemporary watercolor and mixed media artist who lives in southern Illinois, USA. She has lived in multiple States, as well as in Germany. Extensive travel around the world has helped to influence her art as well as exposure to horse breeds not common in the USA. 

Kristy holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts but chose a career in the US Air Force following graduation from university. She has always included art in her life, but over the past few years Kristy has begun to pursue it seriously again.

She most enjoys creating artwork that captures or implies the movement of horses using pen, brush strokes, and a variety of water-soluble materials.

Much of her artwork features jumping and dressage, two sports that Kristy enjoys.

Kristy’s primary medium is Watercolor; she frequently includes Ink Pens and Ink Wash and other water-soluble materials. She has also worked with Acrylics, Printmaking, and Collage and taken classes for Ceramics and Sculpture.

Her artwork has been included in several American shows, including the American Academy of Equine Artists, of which she is a member.

Kristy Herman. American.

www.kristyhermanart.com

IG:  kristy.herman.art

Jessie and Me. Watercolor and Ink Pen on Watercolor Paper 20 cm x 26 cm.

Kristy Herman is a member of the  Paard Verzameld Collettive.

Through international collaboration between Paard Verzameld and the Horse Museum Foundation, the painting will be exhibited during the Pratoni del Vivaro World Championships in September 2022.