jh planet - red horse article 7-07
Vhay Lets Go, Sees Red By Susan Burkitt Perhaps you do learn everything you need to know in kindergarten, or at least by the age of 10. That’s when local painter and Trio Fine Art co-owner September Vhay first started drawing horses. For years during her childhood on a ranch near Carson City, Nev., Vhay watched family friend and renowned Nevada landscape artist J. Craig Sheppard paint – an experience she described as “magical.” Vhay’s new one-woman show, “Transitions” – which opens today with a reception 5-8 p.m. at the gallery – touches on those early inspirations along with the more recent enthusiasm of fellow gallery owner and artist Lee Riddell for Vhay’s sketch of a Deborah Butterfield horse sculpture on display at a Seattle hospital. The new horse images in the show, 11 in all, are in vibrant red, using a loose brush stroke and painted without reference material. For Vhay, who started working in the color red as part of a an annual Christmas card project for Crane Creek, red represents luxury, a strong spirit and pure fun. The horse paintings are an indulgence in time and color, she said. “Transitions” will highlight the artist’s new, looser approach to her painting, but will also include Vhay’s watercolors and charcoal drawings of ravens, hummingbirds and horses. Known for her wildlife watercolors, Vhay describes the process of watercolor painting as “a balance of careful planning, jumping in and then knowing when to let go.” The new paintings appear to demonstrate she has done just that. Five of the horse paintings will be available as limited-edition, signed and numbered giclee prints, a process which involves high-resolution digital scans printed onto fine art paper, or even canvas, using archival quality inks and 8- and 12-color ink-jet printers. Vhay will hold a conversation about her new work and the artistic process 5-6 p.m. with the reception following. Reservations are requested for the event. You can contact Trio Fine Art at 734-4444. The gallery is located at 545 N. Cache Street and is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.