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Barbara Meikle...
Tesuque artist finds solace in
painting burros
by Karen L. Kirsch
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Reprinted from "Profiles" in New Mexico Magazine, April 2007 |
Meikle's donkey paintings hang across the globe, including the United States,
France, Germany and Afghanistan. Above is "Backseat Driver," a 36-by-36 inch oil
on canvas. Meikle calls her style Expressive impressionism, a mix of big brush
strokes and lots of color. |
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Artist Barbara Meikle visits with her neighbor's burro, El Burrito, in Tesuque.
She is the co-founder of the Pippin-Meikle gallery in Santa Fe and founding
partner of Artistas de Santa Fe Gallery. Meikle has a new exhibit of her work at
Pippin-Meikle which runs through mid-April.
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To know donkeys (aka burros) is to love them, but if one only knew them from
depictions of forlorn creatures hitched of carts or overloaded with some
nebulous cargo they'd never guess the animals' intelligent mischievous nature or
loving personality.
Barbara Meikle knows and loves donkeys and it shows in her bold paintings. The
co-founder of Pippin-Meikle Fine Art in Santa Fe and found partner of Artistas
de Santa Fe Gallery also paints horses and old cars, but it's her striking burro
portraits that command international attention. "People just love my donkey
paintings," she says. They hand on walls across America, France, Germany and
even Afghanistan. |
Born and raised in Albuquerque, Meikle always knew she would be an artist and
her passion for horses was obvious early on. Mucking out stables just to be
around them and to afford riding lessons provided her with a solid understanding
of equine conformation and spirit. "It's very important to have grounding," se
says.
While exhibiting her work a few years ago in Colorado, she became totally
smitten with the donkeys at Long Hopes Donkey Shelter (www.longhopes.org). "I
still go at least once a year to paint, photograph, and communicate with them."
Working with oil paint, big brushes and lots of color she describes her style as
Expressive Impressionism. "I incorporate colors that express the spirit and joy
of the animal but also look like the animal," she says. A typical work takes
about three months to complete and may cost from $450 to $4,000. |
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Lady, a white jennet at the shelter was a particular favorite. Meikle painted
and drew her so often she knew she had to own her. "I phoned the shelter and
learned that I was a week too late. She'd already been adopted," she recalls
sadly, but she hasn't given up. She and her husband, Bill, currently live and
ride their horses and mule in Tesuque, but they hope to soon adopt a couple of
donkeys from Long Hopes. For those who can't own the real thing, a burro on the
wall might be the next best things.
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"Winter Coat,
14-by-11 inch oil on canvas. |
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