Artistic License: Tony O’Connor
by Penny McCormick
The renowned equine artist comes from a family of blacksmiths who laid the foundation for his artistic journey. Tony O’Connor explains the inspiration behind his work …
My interest in horses probably goes back further than I can take any real credit for. It’s very much part of the family fabric. Horses were always there – never in a grand or romanticised way, just something constant in the background of life.
What I find myself drawn to now is their presence. There’s a calmness and an honesty to horses that you can’t really fake. They don’t perform, they just are and I think that’s something I’m always trying to capture in the work.
My work is driven by a fascination with light, atmosphere, and the emotional presence of animals. For many years I have explored the interplay between darkness and illumination, using strong contrasts of shadow and light to reveal character, movement, and mood.
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