|
Saugerties,
NY (April 25, 2006)-
HITS, Inc. is proud to feature a beautiful work
of art by Rod Skidmore on the cover of this year's
HITS-on-the-Hudson souvenir program. The original
watercolor painting entitled “ Airborne ” was
created especially for HITS to celebrate the opening
of the 2006 season at HITS-on-the-Hudson. Rod
Skidmore's striking painting will also feature
as a collector's item HITS-on-the-Hudson art poster,
available for purchase at the horse show.
Rod Skidmore resides
in Greenville, New York and is a self-taught artist
specializing in the medium of watercolor. Before
focusing his talent on equine art, Rod worked
for thirty-eight years as an advertising art director
for several top East Coast agencies. A love of
the sport of polo prompted Skidmore to pick up
his paintbrushes and embark upon a personal journey
that would transform his profession from art director
to equine artist.
At the age of 57,
Rod Skidmore started playing polo under the guidance
of his friend and professional polo player, Eddy
Martinez of Georgia . Martinez refused to accept
payment for his lessons, and in an effort to return
his generosity Rod decided to present him with
a painting. Rod continued to paint gaining wide
acclaim in polo circles, and in a short time received
a commission from the President of Rolex Watch
USA. No longer merely a hobby, Skidmore began
focusing all of his energy on his artwork.
Rod Skidmore's paintings
capture the true essence of the sport of polo
in scenes from play that put the viewer right
in the midst of the game. “I have been told by
professional polo players that I accurately paint
the game of polo. I suppose that comes from the
fact that I did play a little, and I understand
the interaction between horse and rider and positioning
of players .”
For the past two
years, Rod Skidmore has studied and painted jumpers
and is now enjoying the creative flow that comes
from the exploration of a new subject. The same
attention to detail he displays when painting
polo scenes is also evident when he depicts the
sport of show jumping.
Skidmore was the
official Winter Equestrian Festival artist for
2006 in Wellington, Florida . Other recent commissions
include paintings for: Gene Mische, President
of Stadium Jumping; Patti Overland of Irish Oaks
Farm; Victoria McCullough of Wellington, FL; John
& Paige Flournoy, of Upatoi, GA; Mathias Guarrand-Hermes,
of La Palmeraie Polo team; Kim Foley, of Stone
Rows Farms; John Goodman of Palm Beach International
Polo Club and Polo Player's Edition; Bob Bailey,
president of Racemark International; Ed Baisley
of Wappingers Falls, New York.
Other distinguished
clients include: Jim Rossi of Saratoga Polo; Andreas
Brodtmann of the Berenberg Bank in Zurich Switzerland;
Andy Busch of Anheiser Busch; Roland Pouton, former
president of Rolex Watch, USA; Adam Lindemann
of Cellular One Corporate office, New York; Susan
C. Dick, president of private banking for The
Bank of Boston, Palm Beach; and Charles Mross,
president of Franklin Memorial Hospital, Baltimore,
Maryland. Mr. Mross's painting features
Major Ronald Ferguson, Prince Charles' long-time
Polo coach and manager.
Being a self-taught
artist, Rod Skidmore describes his work as a continuing
education. “Every time I do a painting I learn
something new, and that makes it exciting. I just
enjoy the colors and the brilliance of some of
the things that happen with watercolors.”
Rod Skidmore's artistic
pursuits also involved him as Vice President,
artistic director and trustee of the Leonardo
da Vinci's Horse project. The goal of the project
was the creation of Leonardo da Vinci's never
completed monumental equestrian statue "Il
Cavallo" - a 24-foot high bronze sculpture
which, much to Leonardo's great disappointment
he never completed. As the artistic director
Rod had the pleasure of working with sculptor,
Nina Akamu, (designer and sculptor of the horse)
and a host of advisors, art historians and sculptors,
all of which contributed to the success of the
project.
The monument was
dedicated September 10, 1999 in Milan, Italy as
a gift to the Italian people from the American
people (500 years after Leonardo's full size model
was destroyed by French archers). A
second bronze casting, referred to as the "American
Horse", was unveiled on October 7, 1999 at
the Frederik Meijer Botanical & Sculpture
Gardens in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Leonardo
da Vinci Horse sculpture is the largest equine
monument in the world and was included in Time
International Magazine's, Ten Best Designs in
the World for the year 1999.
To find out more
about Rod's original works and limited edition
fine art prints go to www.rodskidmoreartist.com
. Or you may call 518-966-5483 to speak
with Rod.
Rod Skidmore will
be showing his work at this year's Equine Art
Weekend, Saturday & Sunday, June 10 &
11 at HITS-on-the-Hudson. Visitors can view his
work and enjoy the pleasure of meeting with him
in person.
|
