Official Artist of the 2016 Queen’s Plate #QP16

So Excited :) :) - the press release from Woodbine Entertainment

 

TORONTO, June 23 - Olga Pankova has been selected as the Official Artist of the 2016 Queen’s Plate. Her painting, ‘Mudder – All Out,' which was chosen from a compelling field of submissions, came to be after a request for a horse painting from her daughter.

A simple wish from Pankova’s six-year-old daughter eventually led to a series of artistic creations and an eventual submission to one of Woodbine’s most popular annual Queen’s Plate contests.

“Over the past year or so, I have been creating paintings featuring wildlife,” said the Markham-based Pankova. “Last year, my daughter asked if I could paint her a horse. So I did, and then continued to paint at least 10 other horse paintings. I became infatuated with their grace, beauty and spirit. I was in awe. Having heard about this opportunity to paint for the 2016 Queen’s Plate contest, my husband said, ‘You need to capture their power.’

“So once again, I went back to researching horses, but with a different perspective. I wanted to capture that element of the race, where their harnessed energy is visually evident.”

‘Mudder – All Out’ is an acrylic painting on gallery-wrapped canvas with a crushed leather effect.

“When painting animals, I have found that it can exhibit an additional dimension,” explained Pankova. “The light is captured with this tactile application, and suggests a tangible and distinct feeling to the rendering. The composition (the cropping of the image) allows the viewer to be directed to what the racehorse is offering. The painting is exhibiting the transformation of the horse’s pure power, exerted into the track, and then the release of that power, thrusting them forward, extending itself to the utmost under any condition.”

Pankova’s painting was selected as one of five finalists on May 27. Following fan voting, she was informed that her piece was the winning submission.

For more on Pankova’s equine works, visit www.portrait-artist.ca and www.canadian-art.gallery/AP/Art-Paintings-Horses.

Fans attending The Queen's Plate on July 3 will be able to see ‘Mudder – All Out' and meet Pankova as part of the numerous fan experiences surrounding this year’s running of Canada’s iconic sporting event.

http://www.woodbineentertainment.com/Woodbine/RaceTrackNewsPage.aspx?NewsId=4725fd07-45d3-4314-ae0d-47962210ee79