"The Strong in Spirit" (2024) Painting by Fefa Koroleva

This horse came to me in late September 2023 when I planned to create a piece for a competition at the exhibition of Iberian horses in the United States. He revealed himself in the sketch immediately with the title "Breaking Boundaries."
From the very first moments of his life, he diligently broke any boundaries that arose around him. 

The first boundary was the limited time I had to complete the work before the deadline. When the detailed sketch was ready, I fell ill with a fever and couldn't work. Despite the illness and limited time, I managed to pass through the first boundary. However, I faced the second boundary thanks to him.

The stallion declared that he had no intention of being an Andalusian and demanded that I change his portrait features to resemble an Orlov trotter. The original competition plan was abandoned as I completely repainted his head with Orlov trotters traits.

Then came the next boundary, which was set between me and the stallion. I couldn't approach him to finish the painting. At some point, he allowed me to approach again but demanded his Spanish traits back and then expelled me from his space. He hung on the wall in the studio, gazing at me with a distant look and not allowing me to get close.
Recently, the stallion allowed me to approach and pet him. It was an amazing feeling to stroke the horse's body with a paintbrush, feeling the curves, tension, the relief of muscles, and the texture of the coat that manifested under the brush moving on the canvas. Then he let me look into his eyes. They changed throughout the entire process. In the end, I saw the gaze of a friend, someone you can follow into pitch darkness, storms, or emptiness.

While initially, this horse felt like someone who would break any boundary, who could overcome any limitation, in the end, he became someone who can simply pass through any obstacle because he feels that nothing is impossible. All limitations exist only within ourselves. There is no need to fight or destroy; you can simply accept and allow yourself to be.

Thanks to an acquaintance, he received a new name, "The Strong in Spirit," growing from "Breaking Boundaries."
"The Strong in Spirit" is available for purchase and is ready to guide his future owner out of their own boundaries and frames gently, without destruction.

Related themes

StallionEquineEquestrianWhite HorseSpanish Horse