Untamed

"Untamed" is based on a stunning photograph taken by Sandy Sharkey on August 31, 2019, on the windswept shores of Sable Island, Nova Scotia. This wild stallion, the lead of his small band, stood on the beach with two mares and a yearling — a quiet moment of strength, beauty, and connection in one of Canada’s most remote and protected landscapes.

Captured in profile, the stallion’s flowing mane brings a sense of quiet solitude and life to the composition. Rendered in black and gray tones with subtle highlights, the painting reveals depth and texture throughout. His powerful musculature is carefully defined, while his soft, lifelike muzzle offers a gentle contrast — reflecting the perfect balance of strength and grace.

This majestic animal invites the viewer to pause and wander, if only for a moment, into the mystique of his wild and free world. Once again, Sandy Sharkey has beautifully captured the solemn, quiet power of a wild horse — a moment she so graciously allowed me to interpret through brush and paint.