Three Galloping Wild Horses Expressionist

Capturing Movement: Three Galloping Wild Horses

There is a distinct challenge in painting animals in motion. In the piece titled Three Galloping Wild Horses Expressionist, the focus was not on capturing a literal, anatomical likeness but rather on the sheer energy of horses running open and unrestricted.

When working on this painting, I wanted the brushwork to mimic the subjects’ pace. The marks are deliberate but urgent. Instead of smooth blending, the forms are built with layered, broken strokes—heavy browns and deep blacks establish the weight and muscle of the horses, while sudden slashes of turquoise and warm terracotta disrupt the shapes. These unexpected fragments of colour are there to suggest light catching a moving flank or dust kicking up from the ground, breaking down the static boundaries of the figures.

The background shifts from a muted, earthy base into bright, energetic washes of green and pale blue. I chose to keep the sky loose and gestural, allowing the brushmarks to remain visible. This ensures the background feels less like a fixed backdrop and more like an active environment pressing against the horses as they move across it. By leaving the edges raw and some lines incomplete, the eye fills in the rest, holding onto that fleeting impression of speed.