I was really blessed that these two - Kain Loof and Joe - let me into their world down at the Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular . Generally when I take photos for paintings, people often begin touching their horses. Especially while riding. Give them a pat etc. Mostly the horse will look off ears forward at something in the distance or becaome a little nervy and move their head away. Joe didn't do that. He let his human in, knowing full well I was there, and allowed me to see a really private and privildged exchange. Horses don't lie. They will show you up in a blink.

I spent a week deliberating over whether to even paint this. I had multiple photos/variations of intimate space. Some where his ears flicked forward for a moment, and my larger audience would think 'ahh the horse is happy'. Painting this there was a risk that they would think the horse was upset if they didn't understand their expressions. I considered putting a couple of photos together for a safer look and even sketched it up that way, however I soon abandoned that. It just didn't speak what I felt was needed. Mostly I halted over painting this because it was so private. Sacred even. On Monday when I took out the canvas I still stared at it for 2 and a half hours deliberating. Even prayed. Ultimately I chose to represent the moment as it was and let the world witness it.

When I painted it, I wanted the focus to be primarily their faces. So I didn't include all the detail of the shirt. But also, I wanted the colour of the shirt to symbolise that pristine moment, holding within it all potential available to mankind. In the photo you can't really see Joe's eye, but in the painting you can. I hope I did the moment justice. I feel that I did. Certainly my heart was in the right place.

Hopefully you gain something really personal of your own from seeing this. At the very least hopefully you just enjoy the looking at the scene.

The lighting has washed out the right hand side just a little for the camera, but you get the idea.

All my love to you all and huge thanks to Kain for allowing me to photograph and paint these.

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