Jerilyn Weber -
Raised in California, Jerilyn
Weber’s closest childhood
friend lived on a 300-acre
ranch. She fondly recalls
riding bareback together--
their steadfast Quarter
Horses loping along scenic
bluffs and expertly weaving
through beautiful river trails.
It was an idyllic time for
Weber, an avid animal lover.
She dreamed of painting professionally but other career
opportunities and the birth of her two daughters, Ashley
and Laura set her on a different path. When the girls
started English Riding lessons in their middle school years,
Weber joined them.
Learning to ride formally was a lot more involving than her
carefree days on the ranch, “But I knew if I didn’t try, I
wouldn’t be able to fully appreciate what my daughters
were learning,” Jerilyn says, “And it gave us a wonderful
activity to share together.” Meanwhile, art was never she
dabbled with painting horses and dogs as a hobby and
enjoyed various art classes. Then two events set her on a
new professional career path. She received great praise
from distant relatives for an oil painting she had created
of her lesson horse and she was introduced to pastels.
Weber displayed her work at veterinary offices, horse and
dog shows. Soon she began receiving calls for
commissions. Today Jerilyn lives in New Jersey and is an
active member of the New Jersey Equine Artists’
Association. She has received numerous awards for her
work including a Best in Show in the 2017 Pastel Society
of New Jersey Members' Exhibition for her
painting "Feeling His Oats.” Several of her dog paintings
have received First Place awards in the New York Dog
Fanciers Contemporary Dog Art Competitions. “I
especially love painting horses. As a child, drawing a
horse was a way of having a horse of my own. As an
adult, I appreciate their amazing beauty. I love the way
the roundness of their muscles contrasts with the linearity
of their bone structure. I love the softness of their chests.
Most of all I love the features of their head – their nostrils,
their ears, and of course, their lovely, expressive eyes.
When I am painting a horse, I try to imagine how it feels
to stroke their coat, to feel their warmth, and to smell their
particular scent. ”Jerilyn finds her long-awaited career
very gratifying. She enjoys bringing a beloved animal to
life in pastels for his or her owner and to know the client is
happy with the work.
To learn more about Jerilyn’s art visit
www.jerilynweber.com
To contact her directly email
jerilynweber@comcast.net
32 www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com
/www.jerilynweber.com
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