Alice Billings

Today, I get my inspiration for my paintings from my horses. It wasn’t always this way, for me, growing up in the art world of New York City. Other than McCloud…..and some mounted patrolmen….the city isn’t the Wild West…but on second thought…..

My father was an artist and sculptor…. A bohemian, renaissance kind of a guy. In the late twenties, he studied in Paris….and so he was anxious for me to get a good basic art education. At 16 years of age, I enrolled at the famous…sometimes infamous, Art Student’s League in Manhattan. It was at the League, I got the basics in “drawing from the live model”….and got a chance to see some great artists ply their trade.

I have always considered drawing my strongest medium…but have ventured out into oils, watercolors and now acrylic….basically because I want and need, at this time of my life, bold color…strong lines….and to show the comical side of life. My Dad’s work showed great “whimsy” and I am trying to emulate that quality, for I believe the world needs more laughter…

Since I have a great love of horses….believing they are truly gifts from God….what better subjects could I possibly have….They love you unconditionally…And that’s a good thing. They’re strong in character and that’s a good thing also…..and being with them is very healing.