Artist Creates Custom Livestock Portraits
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Susan Dexter of New Castle, Penn., creates custom art commissions of livestock. She’s had a lifelong love for creating. “When I was in second grade, the margins of my school papers were filled with pencil drawings of horses,” says Dexter. “My mom was an artist, so we always had art supplies. In high school, I chose the Commercial Art program at the Lawrence County Vocational-Technical School. My instructor was an excellent pastel artist, and pastels clicked for me. Maybe because chalk pastels can be both painting and drawing, or because they’re pure pigment pressed into a stick, and the colors are vibrant.”
After graduation, Dexter continued pursuing her creative passions with an in-house ad position with Fisher’s Big Wheel, a regional discount department store. In the mid-1980s, she focused again on personal projects, specifically pet and livestock portraits.
Dexter found her creativity in an unconventional setting—livestock shows. “I got my first horse, a Raffles-bred Arabian gelding named Max, and got permission to set up a display of my paintings at horse shows. Then I’d paint while the show went on. Max was a great model!” She painted Arabs “on spec” and took commissions on people’s horses and dogs. “I have painted all species, all breeds, all ages—everything from a parakeet to a beef bull. I just painted a pet snake!”
She’s since exhibited at the Ellwood City Festival Juried Art Show, the Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts, Trumbull Art Gallery, the Nissen Gallery, the Buhl Day Art Show, and the Butler’s Area Artists Annual. “I also designed and painted the ‘Agri-Cultural’ rooster for Flock to the Fairgrounds, a public art project of the Canfield Fair and the Mahoning County Historical Society,” she says.
Around 2000, she attended her first Canfield Fair and discovered its art submission program. She participated by entering her pastels in the Pro Art 2D and the Plein Air Painting Competition and then by joining other artists to demonstrate art in the gazebo behind the Fine Arts Building. “I painted all 6 days of the fair. I’d wander, taking photos for inspiration, and Plein Air-painted 4-H hogs, the pony ring, Highland Cattle, giant pumpkins and a 4-H Quarter Horse named Junior. This year, I learned that Junior is still alive, and his owners have his Plein Air framed.”
Dexter continues to offer paintings on commission. “My pricing is simple—for an 11 by 14, one subject is $45, whether it’s your baby, dog, sheep or pony. I want the price to be low enough that a kid can afford a painting of their pony.” She typically works from photos and asks for deposits with the order. The art is shipped unframed and packed between layers of protective heavy-duty cardboard and padding that is almost impossible to bend.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Susan Dexter (tristanofcalandra@netzero.net; www.CalandraEsdragon.com).
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Artist Creates Custom Livestock Portraits FARM HOME Novelty Items Susan Dexter of New Castle Penn creates custom art commissions of livestock She’s had a lifelong love for creating “When I was in second grade the margins of my school papers were filled with pencil drawings of horses ” says Dexter “My mom was an artist so we always had art supplies In high school I chose the Commercial Art program at the Lawrence County Vocational-Technical School My instructor was an excellent pastel artist and pastels clicked for me Maybe because chalk pastels can be both painting and drawing or because they’re pure pigment pressed into a stick and the colors are vibrant ” After graduation Dexter continued pursuing her creative passions with an in-house ad position with Fisher’s Big Wheel a regional discount department store In the mid-1980s she focused again on personal projects specifically pet and livestock portraits Dexter found her creativity in an unconventional setting—livestock shows “I got my first horse a Raffles-bred Arabian gelding named Max and got permission to set up a display of my paintings at horse shows Then I’d paint while the show went on Max was a great model!” She painted Arabs “on spec” and took commissions on people’s horses and dogs “I have painted all species all breeds all ages—everything from a parakeet to a beef bull I just painted a pet snake!” She’s since exhibited at the Ellwood City Festival Juried Art Show the Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts Trumbull Art Gallery the Nissen Gallery the Buhl Day Art Show and the Butler’s Area Artists Annual “I also designed and painted the ‘Agri-Cultural’ rooster for Flock to the Fairgrounds a public art project of the Canfield Fair and the Mahoning County Historical Society ” she says Around 2000 she attended her first Canfield Fair and discovered its art submission program She participated by entering her pastels in the Pro Art 2D and the Plein Air Painting Competition and then by joining other artists to demonstrate art in the gazebo behind the Fine Arts Building “I painted all 6 days of the fair I’d wander taking photos for inspiration and Plein Air-painted 4-H hogs the pony ring Highland Cattle giant pumpkins and a 4-H Quarter Horse named Junior This year I learned that Junior is still alive and his owners have his Plein Air framed ” Dexter continues to offer paintings on commission “My pricing is simple—for an 11 by 14 one subject is $45 whether it’s your baby dog sheep or pony I want the price to be low enough that a kid can afford a painting of their pony ” She typically works from photos and asks for deposits with the order The art is shipped unframed and packed between layers of protective heavy-duty cardboard and padding that is almost impossible to bend Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Susan Dexter tristanofcalandra@netzero net; www CalandraEsdragon com
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