Horse Artist Interview – Nora Kolda

Name
Nora Kolda

Website & places you can find my work online
Website: www.NoraKolda.com
Cafepress: Nora Kolda
Follow Nora on twitter: @NoraKolda

Where I am
Albany, Wisconsin

Tell us a little about you, what is your background & where do you come from?
Was born in Casper, Wyoming and moved to Merrill, Wisconsin (where my father could get back to farming).

Love for the horses runs in the family as Dad had work horses in his youth, so did his father and grandfather.

When did you first start drawing & painting horses?
As far as I could recall, it was a book titled KING OF THE WIND, and its cover featured an oil painting of the Arabian head, hooking me into wonderful world of art.

I spent my childhood, reading up on the subject of horses, and drawing/painting horses so that Dad said that he wouldn’t let me help him paint the house, afraid that the house would not only look nice with new paint, but horses, too!

You draw more than just horses, what is your favorite animal to paint and draw?
Dogs and cats.

Who are your main influences?
Orren Mixer (Quarter Horse artist), Richard Stone Reeves (Thoroughbred artist), and Wesley Dennis, who did artwork for Marguerite Henry’s books.

Do you (or did you) have an animal that is the muse behind your work?
Yes, all three horses of mine, and Cheerio, my dachshund and Rufio, black cat.

Do you have any secret rituals you do to help you get in the zone for your art?
Reading the Artist’s Magazine, and any photo of horses in magazines.

Is there a particular place that brings you inspiration?
My horses in pasture.

What effect do you think the Internet will have on art in general?
Well, I have found that you need to advertise outside of Internet, for example, by putting a classified in a magazine, say, CAT FANCY, would help direct the readers to your websites.

Which one is your personal favorite piece?
BOLD N REGAL ARABIAN, colored pencil sketch

Would you ever sell it?
Yep, it is for sale.

What else are you passionate about?
Mother Nature and her creatures.

Working on anything new?
Yep, on a dog dressed in old fashioned clothes, done with colored pencils.

More to Come

Thanks to Nora for answering the interview and sharing her art. Be sure to check out her art website periodically for updates about her latest works.

Also stay tuned for more interviews with horse artists and photographers.
Are you a horse artist or do you know an equine artist you’d like to see featured? Add your name and website in the comments below or drop me a note to get involved.