Karen Foster-Wells, the artist, Beach Mares.

Karen Foster-Wells, the artist.

Beach Mares

I saw these mares on Santa Rosa Island in July 1994 while painting there for the Oak Group. Little did I know that several years later, I would be riding the daughter of the mare second from left, Catora, the mother of many good horses. When the Vail And Vickers ranch was dispersed in 1997, the horses were brought to the mainland and sold at auction. Rory, knowing how distressed I was at the removal of all the horses from both Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Island, bought one for me for my birthday that year, and surprised me with her, as I was away that weekend. She has been a huge consolation, challenge and fulfillment. She's the horse I ride to help with the cattle on all these ranches now, after she got over her trauma of being removed from her home. She was 14 years old when they brought her here. She had never seen a horse trailer.

This painting meant a lot to me to do. It is both an elegy for what is gone, and a celebration of all that is beautiful that I love,. Painting and riding renew my soul and heal hurts that don't need to go on hurting: painting can bring me into the present to love today. There are many more paintings I want to do involving the island horses. I camped alone out there and followed the wild ones on Santa Cruz (now in sanctuary in Shingletown, California) for four days. It was one of the peak experiences of my life. I have had very little time to reflect and paint from my sketches, notes and photos, because I got involved in saving them from being dispersed. Now that they are safe as a family unit, I feel that I can paint how they were wild and free.

Karen on Ginny, the daughter of the mare second from left in the painting. Ginny loves the water and Karen loves Ginny.

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Karen Foster-Wells, the artist.

Beach Mares

Beach Mares- Oil on panel 12" x 24". $1000, Giclee $150.
California Mid State Fair first place winner, 2000, Professional Oil/Acrylic Co-ordinators's Artist Achievement Award.
I saw these mares on Santa Rosa Island in July 1994 while painting there for the Oak Group. Little did I know that several years later, I would be riding the daughter of the mare second from left, Catora, the mother of many good horses. When the Vail And Vickers ranch was dispersed in 1997, the horses were brought to the mainland and sold at auction. Rory, knowing how distressed I was at the removal of all the horses from both Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Island, bought one for me for my birthday that year, and surprised me with her, as I was away that weekend. She has been a huge consolation, challenge and fulfillment. She's the horse I ride to help with the cattle on all these ranches now, after she got over her trauma of being removed from her home. She was 14 years old when they brought her here. She had never seen a horse trailer.

This painting meant a lot to me to do. It is both an elegy for what is gone, and a celebration of all that is beautiful that I love,. Painting and riding renew my soul and heal hurts that don't need to go on hurting: painting can bring me into the present to love today. There are many more paintings I want to do involving the island horses. I camped alone out there and followed the wild ones on Santa Cruz (now in sanctuary in Shingletown, California) for four days. It was one of the peak experiences of my life. I have had very little time to reflect and paint from my sketches, notes and photos, because I got involved in saving them from being dispersed. Now that they are safe as a family unit, I feel that I can paint how they were wild and free.

Karen on Ginny, the daughter of the mare second from left in the painting. Ginny loves the water and Karen loves Ginny.

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© copyright Karen Foster-Wells 2001-2003