By a Neck - Original Artwork

Size 24 x 36

This painting captures the raw, breathless instant where victory and defeat exist within the same heartbeat. Two horses surge forward in violent harmony, muscles stretched to their limits, hooves tearing at the earth as if the ground itself is resisting the outcome. The race is not decided yet—everything hangs in the space between motion and fate. This is the moment where nothing can be faked, where instinct, trust, and endurance collide.

The composition is charged with forward momentum. The lead horse dominates the frame, its pale coat catching the light, its eye wide and alert—an eye that seems to understand the urgency of the moment. The animal is not merely being ridden; it is fully engaged, participating in the battle with intelligence and will. Its nostrils flare, mane whipping back, body angled with fierce determination. This horse is not elegant here—it is honest, strained, and alive.

The jockey leans low, almost dissolving into the form of the horse. The posture is aggressive yet intimate, revealing a relationship built on absolute trust. There is no room for hesitation. The rider’s goggles reflect the blur of speed and uncertainty ahead, shielding the eyes while sharpening focus. The grip on the reins is firm but measured—control without cruelty, urgency without panic. This balance speaks to mastery born from countless repetitions and silent understanding between rider and mount.

Behind them, a rival presses dangerously close. The darker horse and its rider appear just within reach, close enough to feel, close enough to threaten. Their presence amplifies the tension, reminding the viewer that victory here is never solitary. It is earned against resistance, against another equally committed force pushing with the same hunger. The painting refuses to isolate a hero; instead, it honors competition as the crucible that gives achievement its meaning.

The background dissolves into streaks of blues and greens, intentionally abstracted to strip away distraction. There is no crowd, no grandstand, no finish line visible. This choice centers the narrative entirely on the struggle itself. Time compresses. Space blurs. The race becomes internal as much as physical—a test of resolve measured in fractions of a second.

Texture plays a critical role in conveying effort and impact. Flecks of paint scatter across the surface like dirt kicked up from the track, reinforcing the sense of speed and violence beneath the elegance often associated with racing. The brushwork is confident but raw, allowing imperfections to remain. These marks echo the truth of the moment: perfection is not clean, and victory is rarely graceful.

Color is used with restraint and intention. The bright saddlecloth and silks cut sharply against the muted tones of the horses’ bodies, symbolizing human ambition riding atop natural power. The contrast reminds us that while strategy and skill guide the race, it is ultimately the animal’s heart and strength that carry everything forward.

24 x 36

At its core, By a Neck is about the unbearable closeness of outcomes. It honors the space where effort meets uncertainty, where preparation surrenders to chance, and where commitment is tested without mercy. The painting speaks to anyone who has ever pushed to the edge knowing the result might still slip away—not because they were unworthy, but because the margin was impossibly thin.

This work is not a celebration of winning alone; it is a tribute to courage under pressure, to partnership forged through trust, and to the profound beauty of giving everything when the difference between triumph and loss is no more than a breath.