Art by Oklahoma Abstract Contemporary Equine Artist Jonelle T. McCoy

© "Love Makes the World go Round"

Valentines day has a special meaning to me beyond the obvious, a day to celebrate love. It was in the parking lot of a Hardy's, inside my Toyota truck 25 years ago, that I first kissed my husband. I didn't know that he was bound and determined to have me as his wife, I was just enjoying spending time with him. And here we are, working towards our 14th anniversary later this fall. 
The painting showcased here is also the start of a love story. It was commissioned as an engagement gift from the gentleman to his girlfriend. The actual painting has their names painted on the heart, but I kept the image before they were added for my public displaying of the piece. It was very well received and I love the meaning behind the painting- I love carousel horses, and love can make you go around and around and makes you dizzy with stars in your eyes, and it also has up days and it has down days- sort of like the plucking of petals off of a flower. She love me, she loves me not etc. They did end up marrying, she said yes. A happy ending, for them and for me- hurrah!

Jonelle T. McCoy

McCoy's Gaited Horse Artworks

Your Equine Art Connection! 

mccoysgaitedhorseartworks.blogspot.com

www.jonellemccoy.com

jonelle-t-mccoy.artistwebsites.com  

Art by Oklahoma Abstract Contemporary Equine Artist Jonelle T. McCoy

© "Coffee with Creme"

I am in LOVE with the palomino horse coat color, and the darker and richer the gold, the more I like it. I have a lovely and very sweet paso fino mare I rescued who is wheaten color in winter, but when she sheds out for summer, he coat dapples and deepens considerably to almost being chocolate. This painting was inspired by my coffee one morning, the creamer in it gave it this lovely golden caramel color, and I painted this as a golden palomino paso fino stallion. And I called it "Coffee with Creme". In horse coat color language, the gene that makes the horse golden colored is the creme gene. So there is my fun little word twist to the paintings title. I love doing that too! Painted with acrylic on a standard unframed 24"x20" canvas. 

Jonelle T. McCoy

McCoy's Gaited Horse Artworks

Your Equine Art Connection! 

mccoysgaitedhorseartworks.blogspot.com

www.jonellemccoy.com

jonelle-t-mccoy.artistwebsites.com  

Art by Oklahoma Abstract Contemporary Equine Artist Jonelle T. McCoy

© "Budweiser"

When I went to paint this gelding named Budweiser due to his flashy chrome (white) markings, I had every intention of painting him in my usual way, with lines to express the personality and character of my equine subjects, but this fellow had other ideas. The few starts on canvas of him just weren't right, the energy and flow was lacking. So I stepped back and studied him opening my mind, and there it was- this heart horse was just wanting to be real, there, pure and simple for his owner. The warm oranges emanate the happy, optimistic, bright and honest character of Budweiser, and his gentle yet engaging eyes seem to flow like warm butter into all the cracks in your being. He's beseeching you to just look, connect, and stay in his world. 

My usual approach just wasn't the right path to take in this instance, and I had to trust that the feelings I was getting were the way to go. It's not always comfortable to go against the grain of your tried and true way of doing things, but sometimes that difficulty in changing direction is meant to open new options for better results.

Jonelle T. McCoy

McCoy's Gaited Horse Artworks

Your Equine Art Connection! 

mccoysgaitedhorseartworks.blogspot.com

www.jonellemccoy.com

jonelle-t-mccoy.artistwebsites.com  

Art by Oklahoma Abstract Contemporary Equine Artist Jonelle T. McCoy

© "Swirling Spiraling Snow"

A wintery day inspired a nostalgic type painting- of Swirling Spiraling Snow. 

This lovely paso fino looks over to the side during a gentle but very cold snow storm, the horse stands covered with flakes on it's body, head and hair, yet is content in the elements. A vaporous steam curls from delicate nostrils into the frosty air. Even though I love the warm weather, I do love snow- I love it's stark beauty, the freshness, stillness and the peace it radiates. Big flakes falling and collecting on surfaces was something I loved to be out in, and this painting makes me think of those times with nostalgia for my growing up and early adult years in Upstate New York. Snow like this is a rarity in Oklahoma where I reside at the time this painting was created. 

What do you think about the snow? Do you like it, love it, loathe it? Does snow bring you memories you like to revisit? I could list many wonderful memories from a snowy world. I'd love to hear your stories.  

Jonelle T. McCoy

McCoy's Gaited Horse Artworks

Your Equine Art Connection! 

mccoysgaitedhorseartworks.blogspot.com

www.jonellemccoy.com

jonelle-t-mccoy.artistwebsites.com  

© "Poppy"

This is a revisit to a painting I did awhile ago that was done with the rarer white lines of my signature style. This horse could represent any of the bay paso fino's I've own, and I painted the horse in a field of poppies with the wind sweeping the horses mane, the flowers and the grasses. "Poppy" was one of the paintings in my first solo show and was also the first painting to sell. Sadly there was someone who loved it then, and still does now, that wasn't able to purchase it, and she mentioned this painting the other day. I did not expect that painting to be the first to sell, and because of that, I got the inspiration that horses with flowers was a place I wanted to further explore. Many were done, and there is sure to be more created as time rolls along. On a cold winter night it's nice to feel the warm winds caressing your skin while surrounded by lovely red poppies under the big umbrella of blue summer sky. 

Jonelle T. McCoy

McCoy's Gaited Horse Artworks

Your Equine Art Connection! 

mccoysgaitedhorseartworks.blogspot.com

www.jonellemccoy.com

jonelle-t-mccoy.artistwebsites.com  

Art by Oklahoma Abstract Contemporary Equine Artist Jonelle T. McCoy

© "Fire Run"

Every year that I put together my art calendar collection, I try to have a month or two with a surprise painting not yet released to the public. This year was no different, and I am now introducing this years surprise- "Fire Run".  My signature equine form here has been laid out as a dimensional raised lines and I've used acrylic texture mediums to further give this horse impact and visual interest. 

"Fire Run" features a handsome paso fino with bright and contrasting teal and turquoise hair against a rich and vibrant reddish orange atmosphere of a massive blaze. There are three other horses in the background running out towards the main horse and viewer just behind some brush that is also in the cool contrasting blue/greens. There is plenty of energy in this painting, but it is not over the top. Though concerned, the focal horse has a confidence in his eye that lends a feeling of grounded faith, that there is hope, that there is a power to trust in to get through the crisis. 

I have a tendancy to panic and/or get wound up when pushed or faced with elements in my life that I can't control- the demanding pressures that I have to deal with occasionally. In that state of inner turmoil and chaos I sometimes forget that there is a higher power that watches over me to give me trust and faith that I will get through it. 

I am the type who's nerves can fire off explosievly in stressful situations. How do you handle stress? Are you the leader who can remain calm and take charge reassuring others? Or are you the type like me that needs to be grounded and brought back to rationality? 

"Fire Run" has already sold, and will be moving to Canada in 2015. I invite you to sign up for my newsletter to have updates and to stay in touch, find the sign up on my home page www.jonellemccoy.com  Thank you!

Jonelle T. McCoy

McCoy's Gaited Horse Artworks

Your Equine Art Connection! 

mccoysgaitedhorseartworks.blogspot.com

www.jonellemccoy.com

jonelle-t-mccoy.artistwebsites.com  

Art by Oklahoma Abstract Contemporary Equine Artist Jonelle T. McCoy

© "We Three Kings"

It's Christmas eve when I'm writing this, but I wish you all who see this on December 25th a very Merry Christmas! 
What is it you're excited about with Christmas? Santa's arrival? Giving gifts, receiving gifts, family, all the lovely lights and decorations? All or in part? Or is it the celebration of the child king Christ's birth? This painting was done stemming from a memory in my childhood. My father was artistic but didn't pursue it as passionately as I do, but he still showed his talent from time to time. We painted the living room window a couple times with wonderful holiday street scenes and you know who did the carriage horses. Ah, that was so wonderful. But that's not the memory I speak of here. We were Roman Catholics, and a nativity scene was always a part of our decorations. These figurines were set up with the manger in front of a two panel watercolor panorama of the Christmas Star of shining down. That star and it's light has never left my mind. It's part of what makes up my thoughts of Christmas. So here is my memory spoken with my voice. "We Three Kings", three golden horses in a field are bathed in the City of Bethlehem's starlight, and they are well aware of it's beauty. Painted with acrylics on a 12"x16"x1.5" gallery wrap.  
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

Jonelle T. McCoy

McCoy's Gaited Horse Artworks

Your Equine Art Connection! 

mccoysgaitedhorseartworks.blogspot.com

www.jonellemccoy.com

jonelle-t-mccoy.artistwebsites.com