Saddle Up For These Paintings!

Inspired by the famous John Wayne quote, “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway,” painter, Florelle Rodenberg, created a series of saddle paintings. 

She calls the string of paintings, “Saddle Up,” which is “a series about not waiting until you’re ready to show up and get in the saddle.” 

“Creating new work requires nerve, showing up regardless of fear, hard work, and a deep appreciation of nature and beauty,” writes Florelle on her website. “I hope this series inspires you to saddle up for your own journey in spite of fear or risk.” 

Impressionist painters, specifically Monet, inspired Florelle’s first saddle in the series. A rancher’s saddle features a pond in pastel colors. “Blending this style [impressionist] with western art has created something unique and special, which motivates me to keep showing up to my easel day after day,” Florelle writes. 

The blue pattern on antique pottery inspired her second saddle, an ode to her childhood. She included other momentos precious to her, including cranes, which are featured in her favorite painting’s, “Spring of the Plains” by Sydney Long. If you look closely, there is a dragon among the blue floral designs. She included this to show her love of folklore. “ I loved the image of a rider or cowgirl taking the reins and riding their horse like a magical dragon rider.” 

With her third saddle in the series, she stepped away from her western saddle comfort zone and included a saddle for the equestrians. Antique pottery continued her inspiration, but this time in pink. “Saddle No. 3 represents the elegance and femininity of the equestrian and her horse, and was made to pair well with Saddle No. 2,” she continues. 

Her latest saddle shines bright. She painted the saddle in the form of a disco ball for all the rhinestone cowgirls out there. “With a nod to Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour, and a clearly disco motif, this saddle represents fun, fashion, and being unapologetically fabulous, whether you’re in the saddle, at the office, or out at a concert with your girls.” 

Her latest venture, as part of the series, is a “coastal cowgirl” cowboy boot rendition. 

Florelle has loved art since she could remember. Although she has always loved art, she has only recently accepted the huge role it takes in her identity. She took a leap of faith to continue to pursue her love,  part of the inspiration behind the “Saddle Up” series. 

“There is a wildness in you and in me,” she writes in her artist statement. “A propensity for love, need for connection, desire for more than merely existing. I see it, everywhere I look, so I paint it - every time I can.”

See more of her work here!