Page 110 - June 2017

“I put my heart into these portrayals in realism, expressing the mix of tranquility and complexity of motion.”
John Moorehouse
by John Moorehouse
Have you ever heard the old saying that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life? Well, kudos to Linda Manion, who
found a way to combine her two passions.
In her younger days, Manion rode horses competi-
tively, even doing so professionally on the hunter/ jumper Southern California circuit. She also started drawing when she was young—pictures of people she knew and their pets, mostly—and giving those completed portraits to friends and family.
She graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Fine Arts from San Diego City College, but found it dif- ficult, at first, to find her path as an artist.
“I felt pushed to be someone else, not along the lines of my interests,” she said. “My skills in art even- tually turned to a focus on horses for my subjects and, over time, I developed my own techniques.”
Today, Manion is an experienced and esteemed equine artist. Her portraits of horses, be they draw- ings or paintings, are available either as prints or as private commissions. Her work has also been featured multiple times on the cover of this very magazine, most recently of 2016 World Champion Jessies First Down on our February 2017 issue.
“Each piece is created using my self-taught tech- nique,” she explained. “Each application of color is built layer upon layer, creating a textured and detailed sur- face, and known as a ‘painted’ process. I put my heart into these portrayals in realism, expressing the mix of tranquility and complexity of motion. Commissioned art, in particular, greatly allows for knowing the story behind the person or animal. It’s rewarding memorial- izing them through my personal expressions in art.”
Manion was gracious enough to shift from art to writing, as she answered these questions for the latest installment of this Lighter Side feature.
Q : Where were you born?
A: I was born in Maryland, where my father was stationed in the Army.
Q: What is your favorite movie, and why?
A: I think I just go as a get-away, or just to validate eating a huge bag of popcorn.
Q: Give an interesting fact about your family.
A: Not long after I was born, we flew to Japan where my father was assigned as Financial Comptroller of the Far East. After three years, we moved back to California
where his mother lived. My father was the horseman, as he taught polo and dressage in the service and later. My mother was from Holland and was a Dutch WAC offi- cer who also worked for Dutch Shell Oil where she met my father in England during the war. My mother knew very little about horses and had never ridden, but she took my sister and me to all our events, trailering two horses to the shows. If I knew then what I know now, I probably wouldn’t have driven with her! We even made it to church on Sundays by six o’clock and to the show by eight o’clock. Dad may show up later (to the shows) or wait to hear our news when we got home.
Q:What is the strangest personality quirk you have ever seen in a horse?
A: Growing up, I whistled for my horse in the pasture, and she would run to me bucking and showing off.
In the show arena, if she dumped me over a jump, she ran loose and no one could catch her. When they gave up, I’d whistle and she literally ran to me and stopped. I got back on, but I remember mixed feelings!
Q: If you were not in your current occupation, what job would you like to have?
A: I’ve been doing this line of work for so long that I can’t imagine being stuck in an office again. I’ve been corporate and managed medical and dental offices. Anything else would have to be something where I’m involved outdoors.
Q: What is your favorite thing about living where you live?
A: I’ve been in New Mexico for over 20 years now and enjoy hiking and the available ski areas that are so close. I’m a beach girl at heart, though. San Diego will always be my home.
Q: If you could vacation anywhere on the planet, where would it be and what would you do there?
A: If I could vacation anywhere right now... I miss the beach—anywhere tropical suits me at any time! Spain and Italy are on the agenda.
Q: Do you have a favorite quote and, if so, what is it?
A: The amazing Bill Shoemaker has been the most influ- ential person behind my work. He once told me, “Don’t run over anybody getting there, but don’t ever let anyone stop you from doing what you love to do. And don’t be afraid to work hard doing it. Be your own person.”
LINDA MANION
108 SPEEDHORSE, June 2017
THE LIGHTER SIDE