“Watercolor has been especially liberating”, says Melanie Stoltz Brown. “Because the watercolor is an active fluid medium, it allows me to more accurately express the action and life of the subject.”

Horses and art both came into Melanie’s life at an early age. She started riding neighbors’ ponies, then convinced her parents to buy her a horse. Also interested in animal biology, an avid reader of horse books, young Melanie told her folks: “You know you cannot have just one horse, because they are herd animals!” With this persuasive argument, she soon had three horses. Her art began to reflect the forms she saw around her in her home state of Missouri. Realistic renditions of horses, pets, and wildlife attracted the attention of teachers and classmates. Her first art award came in fourth grade, and she earned accolades in high school and in regional shows with figures and portraits. Her fascination led her into animal health. Earning a BS degree in biology, she pursued a successful career in science, but continued her art as a hobby, selling commissioned works. To balance her scientific side and satisfy a need to express her appreciation of animals, she participated in art classes, workshops, and self-study to enhance her natural gift.

Artistically recreating the natural beauty and power of horses and the spirit of the equestrian life is her most fulfilling work. Her paintings capture the horse’s personality and elegance. With stong backgrounds in drawing and biology, Melanie shows a strong sense of proportion and anatomical accuracy in her work. She has also studied and practiced dressage and jumping, and enjoys a growing partnership with her Haflingers using Natural Horsemanship. In earlier years she rode gymkana events such as pole bending and barrel racing. She lived in the Pacific Northwest for about 4 years where she started her professional art career inspired by the many horse and art activities in the area. She then moved outside of Nashville, TN and opened the Snortin' Horse Studio and Ranch. The Ranch offers horse boarding, basic horsemanship lessons, problem solving, and a few good horses for sale including registered Haflingers.

 Previous Venues:

• Sweet Serenity in Belle Meade, TN, Oct 2005
• Big Splash in St Peters, Mo, Sept 2004
• 29th exhibition of the Tennessee Watercolor Society and Jackson Art Association, Jackson, TN, 2004.
• Tennessee's Art League's 39th Annual Central South Art Exhibition, 2004
• Sports: The Champion Within, St Louis, Mo. June 6 to July 24, 2004
• Eastside Association of Fine Arts 28th Annual Exhibition & Benefit at the Key Center, Bellevue, Wa
• Director's Purchase Award! Western Washington State Fair Juried Fine Art Show - Sept 5-21, 2003 at Puyallup Fairgrounds
• NWWS Waterworks 2003 Juried Show - Oct 24-Nov 30 at Artist's Gallery of Seattle
• Three entries accepted in Western States Horse Expo 2002 & 2003 Juried Art Show - Sacramento, CA
• Two entries accepted in Enumclaw's Base Camp Juried Art Show 2003- Enumclaw, WA
• NJEAA 4^th Annual Autumn Exhibition – Pottersville, NJ (2002 Juried Art Show)
• Equine 2002 & 2003 Art Show - Auburn, WA
• Honorable Mention: Associated Arts of Ocean Shores 2003 Fine Art Juried Show – Ocean Shores, WA
• American Warmblood Society - Sponsor for Adult Amateur Year End Award 2003
• Equine Visions Magazine, Summer 2002, Fall 2002 - Featured Article
• Sporting Art - Polo Players Edition, November 2002 - Juried Feature

Original watercolor paintings of your valued companions created by a horseperson for horse people. Melanie will work with your photos or hers to create a beautiful full color portrait or action shot of your horse or pet. The better the photos the better the outcome will be. All portraits will come with a colored, non-detailed background unless a detailed one is requested for an additional charge. Commission pricing