Bliss Small Journal

The following description appears on the inside cover of your small journal.

DESCRIPTION

She breathed in the sweet, intoxicating scent of her young one,

as her ancient mothering instincts awakened.

He stood blinking, as young ones do,

in innocent acceptance of the rightness of the world.

Infant horses are unlike human babies. They are much more active in their own survival. They are born to run instead of crawl, they seek to nurse when they are hungry instead of crying for food. Soon after birth, they can identify their mothers from other horses. It is no wonder they fascinate us. It is only when they sleep that they remind us of our own kind. It is in their innocent dreams and sweet breathing that their vulnerability is revealed.

When one contemplates the emotional intelligence of horses, we need only to look at their facial expressions to know that they feel things deeply. “Bliss” is a portrait of a thoroughbred racing mare who retired from her successful career. She was bred several times, but each time she sadly miscarried. At last, she bore her first foal depicted in this painting. One cannot help but be touched by her story and by her facial expression that conveys her deep joy.

artwork and text by Kim McElroy