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From the age of
4, Australia's Clark Wilson-Little was attracted to horses and
wanted to become a jockey. The family bread was delivered by
horse and cart, allowing the youngster an opportunity to draw the
baker's horse. He started a 35-year career with horses at the
age of 15, as an apprentice jockey at Randwick racecourse. A
victory aboard the race horse Pirate Bird prompted the media to give
him the nickname Longshot Little, for his ability to bring the
long-priced horses to the winning post.
As an artist who headlines as
"Former Jockey Now Paints Horses," Wilson-Little's aim is to
capture, on canvas, the beauty and power of the race horse with
realism and detail, although not in a photographic matter. His
year of saddle experience at the racetrack allow him to bring out
all the action.
"As I recreate
the race atmosphere in my mind, it flows onto the canvas," he
explains.
Wilson-Little's
other passions include an interest in American Northern Plains
Indians. He has created several paintings about their
tribulations, culture, and spirituality and has studied the history
of the great chiefs Sitting Bull, Chief Joseph, Crazy Horse and many
others. Seeing the work of American artist Charles Russell
first hand inspired him to paint American Indians. He is
stimulated by the challenge of non-photographic realism, accuracy
and the expression of emotions that are the results of a life around
horses and artists.
From the April
2007 Pyramid Report - Article by Linda White |
