United States Eventing Association

The United States Eventing Association is pleased to announce a special prize for the winners of the Merial Open Intermediate, Training Amateur, Broadstone Beginner Novice Junior and Broadstone Beginner Novice Junior 14 and Under divisions at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships.

Award-winning artist Julie Lawther of Equine Art by Julie will create a 16” x 20” framed Prisma Color Pencil portrait of the winner of the aforementioned divisions at AEC. After the winners are determined, they will provide a photo that they would like to see come to life through Julie’s artistic eye.

“Equine Art by Julie is a returning sponsor from the 2013 AEC, and we are so pleased to be working with Julie again this year,” said Rob Burk, Senior Director of Programs, USEA. “The portraits that she created for last year’s winners were a huge hit, and the winners were ecstatic to receive them. This is a special prize that winners can treasure for many years.”

The 2013 winners’ portraits will be on display for viewing at the Equine Art by Julie tent in the AEC Trade Fair.

About the Artist

Julie Lawther’s favorite quote is “those things learned best are learned by doing.” This quote can sum up her life. She grew up in Southeast Texas and from a very young age she exhibited an aptitude in art. She was enrolled in fine oil painting lessons at age seven where she studied with Elaine May in Conroe, Texas for five years. After that time, she was self-taught, picking up the additional mediums of acrylic, water color, pencil and color pencil. She has been learning by doing ever since.

Like most girls Julie had a deep love for all animals, most especially horses. This love for all things horses developed into many careers in the horse industry. Her background as a trainer, riding instructor, farrier, and equine veterinary technician has given her insight into many equine disciplines, breeds and anatomy. Now she combines her experience and knowledge of horses with her artistic talents to create works of art. Painting and drawing horses has led to creating works for her clients of dogs and cats and many other animals as well as human portraiture. These opportunities presented by her clients have given the artist the opportunity to grow and expand her repertoire.

Art is more than a pretty picture. Good art should evoke emotion in the viewer. With her work, Julie wants the viewer to see the work as technically correct and feel an emotional connection to the subject. She believes the eye sees much more color, detail and life than the camera can capture. Her artistic insight into her subject matter, knowledge of anatomy, and attention to detail make her paintings and drawings great works of art that no camera can catch. It is her goal to grow as an artist and learn by doing in order to create better work with each piece. Her works hang in many corporate and private art collections across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Germany, Denmark, Great Britain, South Africa, and Italy. Currently, she lives in Tuscola, Texas, with her husband, horses, dogs and cats.