Diane Jarvis-Schuller

Working horses turned into art.

“Give a horse what he needs and he will give you his heart in return.” ~Unknown.

One of my favourite crops for artwork, whether it’s photographic art or a painting is the square. {Another favourite is a panoramic rectangle — say a 10 x 20 for instance, but that’s a different post.}

I’m not sure if it’s the symmetry of a square crop, or if it’s something else that makes the square crop appeal to me. Whatever the draw is, it works for me. The square crop is also ideal and really appealing for cards such as thank you or greeting cards, for instance. Not all images will work in a square crop, however, so the image needs to be carefully chosen, as these examples demonstrate.

Do you like a square crop? Show me an example of one of your favourite square crops (leave a link so I can come take a look).

PS: Another giveaway coming up for you lucky readers very soon. Stay tuned or be sure to add my photo journal to your RSS feed (above).

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Original photographic art makes a unique and thoughtful gift or something special for your own home or office decor. Diane offers photographic art either as a matted print, as a high end canvas gallery wrap (like this beauty), on fine art standout, or even as a poster! Call today and get your favourite. (IMPORTANT NOTE: I never have your photographic art produced by consumer labs; all artwork is produced only by labs that deal exclusively with professional photographers & artists, resulting in images of museum quality.)

Oh – ooh — oooh, it arrived! One of the pieces of fine art photography that I offer for sale has arrived. Well actually, I ordered this one for myself and it’s one I will also be using for an upcoming gallery showing. As you know, equine art is a current home decor trend these days, and I’m hoping to spread the word as much as possible. Although equestrian chic is a current trend, equine art really never goes ‘out of style’ — it is classic and has been around for years, whether in royal castles, as western / rural decor, or as a contemporary and elegant work of art.

I couldn’t wait to get it home. I had this image done on a high quality canvas gallery wrap and am extremely pleased with the result. This and other images are also available as fine art prints that can be matted and framed instead. This particular image titled “Whisper” is so well suited as a canvas gallery wrap and I can hardly wait to show it off! What do you think of this one?

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Dare to be distinctive and unique: allow me to provide you with fresh and imaginative equine art portraying the powerful and alluring essence of the horse!

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There was a winner! Remember the great giveaway by Kelly over at Jax Does Design? She was giving away one of my equine prints, “Listen” and the lucky winner was Christy over at Lil Welsh Rarebit! Congratulations Christy, your print has been matted and will be on its way to you right away!

Welcome! … Ottawa designer Kelly James is featuring my equine artwork over on her blog this week.

“Listen” being given away over at Kelly’s blog — go enter!!

Since my recent posts are mostly about my recent trip to Hawaii, I thought I would put this one here as a welcome to those who are coming from Kelly’s lovely spot on the web (to the first handful who arrived earlier, I’m sorry I didn’t have a welcome post before you arrived). As part of my introduction, I welcome you to scroll down and see some of my images of all subjects but if you’d like to see some of the equine-only ones, simply go to the menu bar above: click “Categories” and then select “Horses – Livestock” from the drop down menu. That way  you will see some of the more recent posts/images of horses. Or, visit my website to see a few more of my equine images listed in my “Gallery” under “Pets-Livestock” (I am currently in the process of setting up a specific area for my fine art prints so if you’d like to see more, let me know and I’ll point you in the right direction.). Let me know what you think. Enjoy!!

“Power Pair” by Diane Schuller, shown as a 5×7 matted to 8×10 (this is how “Listen” will look when sent to the winner over at Kelly’s blog.

And don’t forget, if you’re interested in purchasing equine art, I ship anywhere. Please contact me if there is something that catches your eye and we’ll work something out. I’d love to help you add some beautiful equine art to add to your home or office decor.

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Diane’s photographs have appeared in two recent gallery showings as well as being included in publications such as Trot magazine, Dog Sport, Dogs in Canada, Country Guide magazine, Canine Review and newspapers Hythe Headliner, Peace Country Sun, and The Edmonton Journal.

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“The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse’s ears.”  ~Arabian Proverb

“A horse is the projection of peoples’ dreams about themselves – strong, powerful, beautiful – and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence.” ~Pam Brown

Coming Soon: Horse art in feng shui!

Dare to be distinctive. As I’ve written before, Equine art is definitely one of the hot 2011 trends. But equine art really never goes “out” of style.

Here’s an example where some hot designers are utilizing the elegant equine to add to the classy look of theirs or their clients’ homes. This first one is Summer Thornton Design’s lovely example of utilizing equine art. See what impact it has because it’s large and because it’s much more fresh and unique than other subject matter.

Although equestrian art and style existed for hundreds of years, it was Ralph Lauren who mainstreamed the equestrian style in our homes as this example from Ralph Lauren Home demonstrates:

Style at Home editor Erin McLaughlin has also incorporated her love for horses in her home’s interior design. The exquisite paintings of her gelding by artist Jennifer Pratt are hung in her front entry (photo credit: Erin McLaughlin).

And look at the impact of this horse art in a modern bedroom (photo credit: Christine Lane Interiors).

And the winter issue of Arabella magazine boldly uses a magnificent horse on their cover. Arabella is a Canadian Art, Architecture, & Design magazine.

I’ve just ordered a canvas gallery wrap of one of my equine photographs for my own home and can hardly wait for it to arrive. I should have ordered it much larger.

You too can bring horses into your home (or office) decor and wow your family and guests! Although I do offer equine images as fine art prints or canvas gallery wraps, I have another unique and reasonably priced option. Large as life, loose canvases are simple to hang (in the way quilts or rugs are hung for instance). Unlike large stretched canvas gallery wraps, this option is easy to ship or store since they may be rolled and can be hung in a snap. Eliminate framing expense (and that is often more costly than the art itself!) and you get a lot of canvas for your investment. These can hang either by a rod, a drapery wire, or more rustic methods depending upon your decor. Ask me about this or any option for including beautiful equine art in your home or office (I ship anywhere!).

Dare to be distinctive and unique: allow Diane Schuller to provide you with fresh and imaginative equine art portraying the powerful and alluring essence of the horse!

“In the steady gaze of the horse shines a silent eloquence that speaks of love and loyalty, strength and courage. It is the window that reveals to us how willing is her spirit, how generous her heart.” ~Author Unknown

One thing about living in Alberta, the winters may be cold but the sun shines!

I received a lovely note in the mail today. Serge Gouraud had contacted me about a year ago wanting to purchase or license one of my photographs. Today he wanted me to see the launch of his new website, complete with my photo and photo credit, and I’m sharing his new venture with you. If you find yourself traveling to France, you must check out his exquisite accommodation. Besides, anyone who goes about doing business in such an ethical and conscientious way (paying for the use of a photo instead of stealing it, like so many people do) deserves recognition. Please pay a visit to his newly launched, La Caneda.

“May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night and a smooth road all the way to your door.” ~ Irish Blessing.

I’ve recently had some exciting email discussions with Ottawa interior decorator Kelly James of Jax Decor regarding the huge trend for equine chic. Kelly featured some of my equine art in December.

Nancy Marcus Gueret of Marcus Design recently featured a post about Equine Chic. She also just posted the Top 5 decor trends for 2011 and equine chic is right there on that top list! As we know, home decor and fashion are tightly woven together so it’s no surprise that equine chic also hits the fashion runways. In Canada, the program Cityline will be talking about equine art for home decor on Thursday, January 6th — check it out!

I have several images that fit the bill and plan to take many more this year. Whether it’s rural related as the ones in today’s journal post or more refined and sleek, I have it! In my mind, equine art is classic and never goes out of style but it’s great to know it’s such a hot trend this year. If you’re interested in seeing more of my equine art, please contact me so I can direct you to a slideshow of available artwork. As I mentioned yesterday, I have just opened up an Etsy shop though I have so few items there yet — but you will see the beginnings of equine art offerings (including that beautiful soft image I posted here yesterday). Stay turned (subscribe by email or RSS or subscribe to my newsletter) as I trot out more equine art throughout this coming year.

Something else I will soon have available are small size equine art images on solid wood ‘blocks’. These will be smooth and not rustic and will have a permanent finish. The added bonus with these is that they come ready to hang; no framing necessary.

Don’t forget, if you live in Alberta or BC and would like me to come and take beautiful photos of your horse(s), you can have custom equine art for your walls with images of your magnificent horse! Visit my website and get in touch!

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Serving Alberta and BC and have been to the following areas to take memorable photographs for other clients: Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Beaverlodge, Hythe, Valhalla, Dawson Creek, Rycroft, Sexsmith, Spirit River, Grimshaw, Peace River, Valleyview, and more!

Thank you! A big thank you to everyone who has supported me this year — actually everyone since 2008 when I embarked upon this exciting photographic adventure. There is more to come in 2011. Without your support my photography business and photographic inspiration surely would be hidden away as it was for years (decades). May you and yours enjoy a year ahead filled with energy, enthusiasm, good health, and many special moments with those you love.

“Go to the winter woods: listen there, look, watch, and “the dead months” will give you a subtler secret than any you have yet found in the forest.” ~ Fiona Macleod, Where the Forest Murmurs

“In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, never in want.” ~ an Old Irish toast (those Irish surely have fine toasts and wishes).

A few posts ago, I shared a photo of a novel I was reading, Resistance. It was excellent! and I highly recommend it — actually anything by Anita Shreve is well worth reading.

Currently my bookmark is resting between the pages of the novel, The Dogs of Babel. The first chapter went along quite easily so, so-far-so-good (UPDATE on The Dogs of Babel: I gave the book away after reading a few more pages. I definitely did not like where it was going and disgustedly set about to give it away while I was in Edmonton.)

As you can see, I’ve already baked a couple batches of old fashioned, buttery shortbread. Melt in your mouth goodness!

I leave for Edmonton shortly and before turning the computer off and getting my packing done, I thought I’d post a few more photos until I return on Monday. Despite the treacherous highway conditions, I am really looking forward to taking my son and his wife out for a really nice dinner over the weekend. We’ll be celebrating both his and her birthdays. I hope your weekend is safe and full of joy — enjoy the treasures of the season. What are you looking forward to this weekend?

The top two images were taken at a small lake near Princeton, B.C. The image below was taken at large wilderness lake while driving through Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada.

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Photographs Never Forget!

Diane offers fine art photography in many sizes and shapes, professionally mounted and ready to frame, or have Diane do the framing for you. Watch this photo journal for an announcement in January regarding horse and animal photography. Diane currently has a limited number of fine art photographic prints available if you’re looking for a unique gift for someone special. Ideal for home or office decor! Contact Diane today for more information.

Original photographic art is a unique and thoughtful gift for Christmas or anytime. Pick something yourself or give a gift certificate so the recipient can select their own art.