However given a painting depicting horse or hound (preferably both) then I am, more often than not, completely captivated. I have spent may happy hours just looking at those ‘moments in time’ captured by the likes of Surtees, Amour or Aldin. I was reminded of those feelings looking at the art of Phillip Sanders for the first time, his use of light and shadow brings an otherwise static image to life.
A full time artist since 1975 Phillip Sanders has previously been featured in The Field, Horse and Hound, Shooting Times, Travelling the Turf, Country Life but is probably best known for his appearance in the ITV series ‘ The Man Who Likes to Paint Horses’ something he has been doing since he was fourteen years old. This passion for art was assisted when he learnt formal techniques at Hammersmith Art School and Wandsworth Technical College where he excelled in architectural drawings as opposed to the more naturalistic paintings he excels at today.
In conversation with Phillip a number of things became apparent: – The first is that despite this recognition that his art has provided him over the years Phillip is keen to point out that he never stops learning and is always striving to improve. This drive to improve means that sometimes works in progress are put away for reworking later thought and preparation behind the work that is in fact the hardest part which probably explains why to Phillip the final image is only part of the equation And as much though should go into the framing of the work as the work itself. This concept that the image is only a part of the experience has led Phillip to develop a passion for old frames so that piece of art should be complimented by its framing.
I was surprised to learn that during his varied career which has also seen him take seven years to restore a 13th century house and on various international journeys from Germany and the middle East,
During our conversation Phillip stated that, to him, money should be the last consideration but selling a little piece of your soul to pay the gas man is occasionally necessary! Though he enjoyed having exhibitions at Dickens in Dover Street W.1, Stow-on-the-Wold, New York, Canterbury, London and has sold paintings at Christies and Bonhams in their London salerooms he now paints commissions for US and English clients, plus various hunts throughout the country.
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