• Home
  • News
  • Obituaries
  • Police & Fire
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Advertise
  • Town
    • Westborough
    • Shrewsbury
    • Northborough
    • Marlborough
    • Hudson
    • Southborough
    • Grafton
  • Print Edition
Sign in
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Password recovery
Recover your password
Search
Monday, May 16, 2022
  • Events
    • Ongoing
  • Contact us
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
Community Advocate news and events Community Advocate
  • Shrewsbury
  • Westborough
  • Northborough
  • Southborough
  • Grafton
  • Marlborough/Hudson Edition
  • Home
  • News
  • Obituaries
  • Police & Fire
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Advertise
  • Town
    • Westborough
    • Shrewsbury
    • Northborough
    • Marlborough
    • Hudson
    • Southborough
    • Grafton
  • Print Edition
Gillespie Real Estate Agent
How can the Community Advocate help you promote your business?
Print Ads
Web Ads
Digital Marketing
Home Byline Stories - News Westborough artist’s love of horses comes full circle
  • Byline Stories - News
  • Featured News
  • People and Places
  • Westborough

Westborough artist’s love of horses comes full circle

By
Community Advocate
-
August 6, 2019
346
Facebook
Twitter
Email

    By Christine Galeone, Contributing Writer

    Sandra Olson

    Westborough – Sandra Olson has loved animals for as long as she can remember. When she was a little girl, her concern for them led her to welcome – courtesy of her good-natured parents – injured and stray ones into her home. Her fascination with them motivated her to draw them and to spend many happy hours transforming paint-by-number kits into works of art.

    But horses held a particularly special place in her heart.

    “I am that horse crazy little girl that never grew out of it,” she said.

    That passion fueled the Westborough resident’s dream to paint the wild horses and burros of America. In 2017, through social media collaborations, that dream became a reality.

    Sandra Olson’s painting of Two Horses from the Salt River Herd in Arizona

    “I’ve developed relationships with some very talented and generous photographers who allow me to interpret what they see through my eyes and paint,” Olson said of collaborations that have resulted in her “Wild Mustangs of America” series of paintings. “I can imagine myself standing shoulder to shoulder with them and creating my vision.”

    The paintings and prints from the series, which are sold through the Art and Frame Emporium in Westborough and through Olson’s website, www.sandraolsonwildlifeartist.com, capture stunning mustangs. They include members of the Onaqui Mountain herd in Utah, the Salt River herd in Arizona, the Sand Wash Basin herd in Colorado and the herd in North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

    Sandra Olson’s painting of Picasso

    Olson, who strives to capture the mustangs’ spirits “through light, shadow and color,” said that she pays attention to what makes each one unique and intriguing.

    “It isn’t necessarily about painting the biggest, most impressive stallion,” Olson explained. “I’ve had the chance to paint two of the oldest stallions, one in Colorado – Picasso – and one in Utah – Gandalf. The challenge and what I love most is portraying them at their age with all their battle scars but with strength and dignity.”

    Olson hopes they can maintain that strength and dignity. While she has enjoyed getting to know the talented photographers, she’s also delighted that the series has introduced her to equine advocacy groups and sanctuaries.

    “Every time I pick up a brush, I am so grateful for the chance to paint them,” Olson shared. “One of the things I’m happiest about is that the series has given me the chance to donate a portion of the proceeds of the sale of each painting or print to the local boots-on-the-ground advocacy group that supports the horses depicted in that painting.”

    Her support of the wild horses and burros also includes raising awareness of the challenges they face.

    Sandra Olson’s painting of a Wild Horse

    “I know it sounds like a cliché, but to me, they – and all our country’s wildlife – are national treasures to be protected,” said Olson, who ardently supports H.R. 961 – The SAFE Act (Safeguard American Food Exports Act) of 2019, which will, if passed, prohibit United States horse slaughter for consumption and the export of live horses to be consumed in other countries.

    In the meantime, Olson is enjoying continuing the series. Her goal is to paint at least one wild horse or burro from each herd in the United States.

    She said, “My hope…is that I can continue to bring them to the forefront and make people aware of just how beautiful they are in their natural surroundings.”

    Photos/submitted

     

     

    • TAGS
    • christine galeone
    • H.R. 961 – The SAFE Act
    • Sandra Olson
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Email
      Previous articleWestborough EDC rolls out new Small Business Grant Assistance Program
      Next articleA gesture of peace
      Community Advocate

      RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

      James Zographos
      Obituaries

      James Zographos, 102, of Westborough

      Obituaries

      Hannah Walker, 90, of Westborough

      Featured News

      UPDATE: MassPike ramp clear after tractor trailer roll-over, injuries reported following separate Westborough crashes

      Featured News

      New data highlights student mental health issues, Shrewsbury school staff say

      Featured News

      Shrewsbury Town Meeting article would increase building height limits in zoning district

      Featured News

      Algonquin boys lacrosse takes on Pinkerton Academy

      Follow Us

      Sign Up For Our Newsletter


      RECOMMENDED VIDEOS

      Obituaries

      James Zographos, 102, of Westborough

      Community Advocate - May 16, 2022
      0
      Northborough

      Dolores L. Altavilla, 91, of Northborough

      Community Advocate - May 16, 2022
      0
      Northborough

      Northborough Garden Club to host plant sale

      Community Advocate - May 16, 2022
      0
      Obituaries

      Hannah Walker, 90, of Westborough

      Community Advocate - May 16, 2022
      0

      POPULAR

      James Zographos

      James Zographos, 102, of Westborough

      May 16, 2022
      Dolores L. Altavilla

      Dolores L. Altavilla, 91, of Northborough

      May 16, 2022

      Northborough Garden Club to host plant sale

      May 16, 2022

      Hannah Walker, 90, of Westborough

      May 16, 2022
      James J. Carelli

      James J. Carelli, 89, of Shrewsbury

      May 16, 2022
      Community Advocate news and events
      ABOUT US

      The Community Advocate is an independently owned newspaper with a legacy of over 40 years serving the communities of Westborough, Hudson, Marlborough, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Southborough and Grafton. It is also the number-one circulated paper in those communities. We cover a wide variety of breaking news, municipal issues, human interest features and sports stories.

      For Advertising Inquiries:
      [email protected]

      For editorial inquiries:
      [email protected]

      Contact us: [email protected]
      FOLLOW US
      • Events
        • Ongoing
      • Contact us
      © Community Advocate. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy