Freedom Horse

This design came about a few years ago, when I wanted to try some new styles and was still experimenting with different crafts and mediums. I wanted a truly elegant design, but with movement, courage and spirit. Something original, and something that might “speak” to the viewer.

I had drawn animals before, of course, but hadn’t actually attempted a realistic looking horse (as opposed to a goofy cartoon one) and this was a result of a LOT of hours studying and researching horses, their muscles, the way their bodies move, before settling on a “pose” that I wanted to try to create.

I’m never one for making life easy for myself, and never have been. At school, at college, studying for my professional qualifications… I always took the most convoluted route possible to achieve my outcomes. I wasn’t about to start, either. Art isn’t about cutting corners, for me. Expression is often a result of hours of hard work, and shying away from something simply because it’s a lot of effort… well, it defeats the point, for me. The best things in life don’t come about easily, without obstacles or pain or hours of commitment. This horse was no different.

The drawing itself took me a huge number of hours because … well… it took a long time for me to get it exactly the way I wanted it. I’m a picky bugger. And it took a long time to perfect every element of the design.

As a gift, I created a papercut from the image for my dear friend, Martina’s, birthday. She has been a very stabilising influence on me since we came across each other in 2011, and always reminded me of just how to straighten my crown whenever it’s gotten crooked. Usually with some form of mockery and direct-enough-to-make-you-bleed logic. She’s an absolute delight. 😉 I am honoured that she not only still possesses this particular piece, but that it is mounted on her wall where she sees it every day.

In between then and now, a lot of things have happened, so many life changes came about and my time for creativity got less and less. Life and work and school runs and teacher meetings simply got in the way. After many adjustments to try to gain back some of my artistic self, and time in which to allow it to create, I began sketching again. And… as if by magic, I came across this sketch in one of my books.

If you’ve been following me from the beginning, you will know the struggle I had sharing my work, the terrible amount of self criticism I endure in accomplishing my work and the difficulty I have in finding the courage to share it with the world. This time is no different. I’m a bag of nerves and in serious need of another brew. And donuts. And chocolate, possibly. My drawings are a particularly difficult thing to share for many reasons, but in sharing them, I hope I can make a tiny part of the world a tiny bit nicer.

So I decided to review it, and share it with the world in the form of a chart image that can be used for diamond painting, knitting, crochet, cross stitch and probably much more (please let me know!) I’ve made a few adjustments to the design in order that the chart will work out well as a finished piece of work, but the overall image is largely the same as the original.

I’m pleased to announce that it is now ready for the pattern release, which will be coming very soon. I hope to create more work in this style in the future, too.