Artist Tanner Jensen says she knew exactly what she wanted to do from the time she was three years old. Jensen wanted to draw pictures and ride horses, and this is a dream she never outgrew. With a beautiful softness of brush and color, Jensen creates paintings reminiscent of a daydream, exploring the strength and beauty of her favorite animals.
Jensen draws from her memories and experiences around horses as a main source of her inspiration. “Irish Linen” was inspired by a spring day drive down from Virginia to Carolina Horse Park. The gusty spring day was sprinkled with rain through blue skies, and the farm lands were alive with color, from blooming azaleas to endless stretches of lush green grass. Jenson recalls this trip in memories of color – greens, lavenders, and creams – and used these recollections to establish a hazy dreamlike atmosphere, swirling and blending with a foreground of stunning white horses. One can almost imagine the sweet scents of spring rain and blooming flowers, and feel the fresh promise of the summer to come.
Through her paintings, Jensen masterfully captures the grace and strength of horses in motion. She is enthralled by the “sheer joy expressed through their movement” and uses this enchantment to fuel her work. With gorgeous mark making, she follows the curves of the horse’s body, beautifully emphasizing the arch of the neck or the bend of a knee.
Jensen hopes to leave her audience with the same sense of astonishment and wonder that she herself finds in horses. Through whimsical daydreams of color and motion, she shares with us the beauty of these magnificent creatures.
