By Shawn Faust
Located in Saratoga Springs, NY
This equine piece, "Wise Dan" is a 24x24 oil painting on canvas by artist Shawn Faust depicting a racehorse Wise Dan with jockey John R. Velazquez mounted atop. An intriguing crop on the composition pulls the viewer inward, emanating a contemporary feeling. Pops of color from Velazquez's vibrant yellow silks stand out against the neutral gray background
Wise Dan is a 16 year old gelding that was born in 2007 and raced from 2010 to 2014. He was sired by Wiseman's Ferry out of the Wolf Power mare Lisa Danielle. He was trained by Charles LoPresti and raced for Morton Fink, and was bred in Kentucky, United States by Morton Fink. Wise Dan has raced at Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Presque Isle Downs, Santa Anita Park, Saratoga, Turfway Park, Woodbine with wins at Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Presque Isle Downs, Santa Anita Park, Saratoga, Turfway Park, Woodbine. His stakes wins include wins in the 2014 Turf Mile (G1), 2014 Bernard Baruch (G2), 2014 Turf Classic Stakes (G1), 2014 Maker's 46 Mile (G1), 2013 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), 2013 Woodbine Mile (G1), 2013 Fourstardave Handicap (G2), 2013 Firecracker (G2), 2013 Turf Classic Stakes (G1), 2013 Maker's 46 Mile (G1), 2012 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), 2012 Turf Mile (G1), 2012 Woodbine Mile (G1), 2012 Fourstardave Handicap (G2), 2012 Ben Ali (G3), 2011 Clark Stakes (G1), 2011 Fayette Stakes (G2), 2011 Presque Isle Mile (LS), 2011 Firecracker (G2), and the 2010 Phoenix (G3).
About the artist:
Shawn’s love and fascination for drawing came as an unexpected gift from his grandfather at the age of 5. Young Faust was a tag-a-long during his grandfather’s impromptu plein air art lesson with his older brother in the back yard of his Aunt’s house. A retired director for the American Red Cross, Shawn’s grandfather, who had only recently picked up the brush himself, began a charcoal sketch that would forever change how Faust would see the world. From that brief lesson, Faust recalls vividly, “The techniques I witnessed from my grandfather that day, were pure magic!”
With his newfound gift of magic, Shawn quickly began practicing his art of 3D illusion for anyone who wanted to see it. During his childhood, you would be hard pressed not to find Shawn doodling on a piece of paper at some point during the day.
Among his favorite things to draw as a youngster were his comic book heroes. Instead of reading the comics, he spent all his time studying the line work and muscle forms of the comic book characters. And so, began his interest in portraying the human form.
Upon entering college at the University Of Delaware, Shawn enrolled as an accounting major yet emerged with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in 1990. At the U of D he is forever grateful for the privilege of studying under distinguished artists Stephen Tanis, Charles Rowe, Robert Straight...
Category
2010s Realist Animal Paintings
