Loose Reins: Dust & Daylight

Loose Reins is an ongoing body of work that explores the spirit of the American West through expressive color, movement, and atmosphere rather than strict realism. Rooted in Western life and interpreted through a contemporary lens, this series embraces freedom—of brush, of pigment, and of storytelling.

Growing up in the Southwest, in New Mexico, I spent much of my youth and young adult life riding horses and immersed in the outdoors. That lived experience continues to shape my work. The land, the animals, and the rhythm of Western life are not distant subjects, but familiar ones—felt through memory, movement, and time.

Dust & Daylight, the first chapter of Loose Reins, draws inspiration from sun-washed landscapes, working animals, and quiet rural moments. Cowboys, cowgirls, horses, longhorns, chickens, goats, and open ranges appear not as documentation, but as recollection—filtered through feeling, color, and light.

Working in both oil, acrylic and watercolor, I allow the medium to guide each piece. Loose brushstrokes, layered textures, and vibrant palettes reflect the heat, dust, and movement of the land. Large canvases invite immersion, while smaller matted works offer intimate moments meant to live easily within everyday spaces.

This series balances tradition and interpretation—honoring the heritage of the West while allowing it to remain fluid and evolving. Deeply connected to a love of the outdoors and working with my hands, Loose Reins is not about perfection or polish, but presence. It is an invitation to slow down, to feel daylight on open ground, and to recognize the beauty in the ordinary moments that endure.