Shadow Dancer
Horses are beings that embrace what is
Both light and shadow reveal
They teach us to trust the time and place
And choose which aspect to heal
When our shadow is merely a form
Our hearts can open to chance
Like Peter Pan we can again become one
And then we can ask it to dance
~ Kim McElroy
THE STORY BEHIND THE ART
From the beginning, the creation of “Shadow Dancer” was a magical experience. It was inspired by the beautiful stallion Destiny’s Avenger. The reference for this painting was a distant, blurry photo taken in daylight at a boarding stable. The pose was so inspiring I had to paint it. The fact that I couldn’t see any detail allowed me to use my imagination, so I chose to envision him in the moonlight.
This painting is also the card for Black Horse Wisdom in the Way of the Horse Equine Archetypes for Self-Discovery Book and Card Set by Linda Kohanov.
Once in awhile, a work of art just slides onto the paper effortlessly, as if it has always been waiting to happen. The result was somehow pure, without complication. The essence of the Arabian horse. Avenger was so sure of himself and his beauty, he dances with his shadow in a unique vision of self-expression.
