Art Chowder July | August, Issue 22 | Page 22

A lifelong horsewoman, Cole lives, rides, and paints the lands of pioneers, cowgirls, cowboys, and American Indians. Horses of all breeds and kinds are a major focus in her art. “My dearest wish all of my life was to be a cowgirl artist.” Just a couple months past her fourth birthday, she sat for the first time on a photographer’s pony. “That was the moment I fell irrevocably in love with all things horses, including ranches and rodeos, dressage and wild equines.” As a child she read about and researched horse encyclopedias. She sketched horses and notes that drawing improved her focus. “It was the only way that I could feed that need to have horses in my life in those days.” First time, ever, horseback on a traveling photographer’s pony, Terre Haute, Indiana. Four years young. Rush saddling up Skip for riding in the Catalina Wilderness, Tucson, Arizona. 22 ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE