The Artist

    Kelly Ries Macdonald was born and raised in Washington State, and relocated to San Diego in 2009. She is also a dressage rider and instructor, and is currently studying architecture at the Newschool of Architecture and Design. Visit her dressage website here: Dressage San Diego

    Kelly's award-winning equine art has been published in numerous magazines. Her focus is primarily portraiture and capturing the beauty of different breeds and disciplines. She has also been commissioned for many canine portraits as well, and her work can be found in numerous private collections.

    Kelly has been drawing and painting for nearly 30 years, and started drawing horses at 3 years old. Her ability to see an animal's personality and natural beauty shines through all of her pieces, giving a unique and ethereal quality to each individual subject. She uses soft pastels, which are sticks of pure pigment, because of their intense, non-diluted color. Originals are on suedeboard, a type of matte board that gives each piece a soft, multi-dimensional texture.