Riding Aside: Danielle Demers

Meet Danielle Demers.

I love to get to know my blog readers .. but it is especially thrilling when one of them is as talented as Danielle..and I get to introduce her to you! Just one look at this creation..and you will understand why I wanted to feature her.

Here is the interview in Danielle's own words:

I started drawing horses at a very young age because I grew up around them. My parents owned two horses that they used mainly for trail riding. One of their horses, Gemini, was originally bought for my mom when I was 5 years old, but I also rode him quite a bit because my parents' other horse Jessie was a spitfire.

From the time I began riding Gemini, I sort of claimed him as my own. He was owned by young girls before my parents purchased him, and it seemed that he was destined to always be a little girl's horse. It was because of my love of Gemini and riding that I drew horses so often. I would draw horses on the backs of the paper place mats at restaurants, on scrap papers, on just about anything that I could draw on using anything that I could find to actually draw with--crayons, golf pencils, ball point pens from my mom's purse, etc.

Danielle showing Gemini.

I was introduced to watercolor painting by my high school art teacher who also works mainly in watercolor. In high school I took as many art classes as I could fit into my schedule. My teacher was wonderful--she really took the time to show me how to use watercolors in a variety of techniques. Instead of stressing realism and more technical based painting exercises, she encouraged her students to paint in a loose and stylistic manner when first learning how to use a new material.

My art teacher also urged me to show my work. I sold my first horse drawing during my senior year of high school. Selling that piece inspired me to start my business. Luckily, I have a very supportive family! About one month after I told my mom that I wanted to start my own business selling equine artwork and clothing with my designs, I found myself actually selling my work at a local craft show.

Throughout my life, my passion for horses has played a huge role. I have created a business based on their beauty and spirit and my major hobby is riding.

As I mentioned, I began riding at five years old when my parents purchased Gemini. I rode western with (most likely very unrealistic) aspirations of becoming a barrel racer until I was 11 years old (Gemini was not very keen on becoming a barrel racer!). After being introduced to the english discipline at a summer horse camp, I saved up my allowance for about a year to purchase my own english saddle. I took lessons in hunt seat and jumping for the next two years, before finding my true passion: dressage. Since taking my first dressage lesson in 8th grade, I have never looked back. The longest break I took from riding was when I did not ride at all during my Freshman year of college. By my sophomore year, I had found the University Dressage Club, began taking lessons, and started showing on the Dressage Team.

Danielle warming up at one of the university dressage team "IDA" shows.

I currently own one horse and also ride my parents' paint gelding Boots. After Gemini passed away in the fall of 2010, my parents sent Boots up to a barn near me so that he would not be alone. I have a blast working with him over the past year. He is not the ideal dressage prospect, but he is such a sweet boy. Last week I adopted my first off-the-track Thoroughbred, Kidd, from the Kentucky branch of New Vocations Thoroughbred Adoption Program. He just arrived at the boarding barn yesterday, and he is such a laid back, handsome, and sweet gelding! He will be my dressage prospect. I am so excited to begin working with him!

I would also like to say, that I am very fortunate to have found a husband who is very understanding of my passion for horses and supports me in my business and my hobby 100% - that is so important to me :)

I specialize mainly in watercolor and ink paintings, but I have also worked in acrylics, oils, pastel, graphite, and charcoal. Creating silver jewelry has been my latest experiment. On my website, I sell prints of my artwork and the silver jewelry.