Brother Earth, Sister Sea
There is a reason that animals are beautiful
It is so we can see the purity of spirit that resides within them
When they fill us with inspiration
Our hearts open to wonder and reverence
It is then, that we can access the Divine
Within us and all of life
~ Kim McElroy
THE STORY BEHIND THE ART
The inspiration for this pastel started as a lighthearted conversation and ended up bringing about my second most impactful series of my career. I had been talking with a fan about her daughter’s love of dolphins and horses. I exclaimed that I had the same inspiration, and images and experiences with dolphins seemed to be appearing in my life at that time. After we spoke, I was having lunch with my mother, when a clear vision of how I could convey that connection came to me. I suddenly had the realization that the dolphin and the horse could be blended as one being. I drew the sketch of the horse and dolphin on a napkin, which has always been a good tool for me!
When I began showing this work of art, many people resonated with the theme. But my most astonishing experience of synchronicity came when I met a marine biologist who worked with dolphins. She admired the art and said she had often likened the social structure of dolphins to horses. She asked me why I chose the Common Dolphin, I told her my horse model was an Arabian, and I felt the Common Dolphin was sleeker and more elegant in body to match. She laughed and said, “Yes, I’ve always thought of the Bottlenose Dolphins as Quarter Horses!”
