In the heart of Ocala, Florida, where equestrian culture intertwines with a thriving art scene, two artists are using their talents to celebrate kindness, creativity and the timeless beauty of horses. Cara Van Leuven, a seasoned equine artist living with bipolar disorder, and Kelsey Mahoney, a Sharpie artist with Down syndrome, joined forces to create “Be Kind,” an exhibit on display through Jan. 4 at the Marion Cultural Alliance, and contribute to Brooke USA’s upcoming Divertimentos and Dressage fundraiser. 

The “Be Kind” exhibit features equine-inspired oil paintings and vibrant line-art collaborations that reflect the pair’s unique perspectives and styles. The show’s title was inspired by a simple yet profound message of empathy and understanding that the artists hope will resonate long after their exhibit ends.  

“About a year ago, Kelsey was helping me prime boards for paintings,” Van Leuven recalled. “She was wearing a T-shirt that said, ‘be kind.’ It reminded me of the Dalai Lama quote I have on a Post-it in my studio: ‘My religion is simple. My religion is kindness.’ Those words felt universal, and I knew they would make a perfect title for this exhibit.” 

Through their work, Van Leuven and Mahoney invite viewers to embrace differences, find beauty in individuality, and celebrate the uniting power of kindness. 

A Partnership Forged Through Community 

Van Leuven and Mahoney’s collaboration began through the Ocala Equestrian Community Facebook group, a resource Van Leuven started in 2021. At the time, she was wintering in Ocala, living in a weekender horse trailer, and struggling to sustain her livelihood as art shows were canceled due to COVID-19.  

“Necessity being the mother of invention, I started the FB group Ocala Equestrian Community (now 64K members strong) to promote my paintings and keep me busy,” she wrote. Through the group, Van Leuven connected with Amy Agricola, Mahoney’s mother, the group’s co-administrator. Agricola introduced Van Leuven to Mahoney, and the connection was instant.  

“Amy told me about Kelsey, her daughter and fellow artist. Kelsey’s artwork truly blew me away,” Van Leuven said. “I’d love to say I was the first to recognize Kelsey’s talents, but Ocala already had their eye on her.” 

Mahoney was already gaining recognition in Ocala for her distinct style, having had her first solo show at Seth Benzel’s 8th Ave. Gallery and being featured in “Ocala Style” magazine.  

Mahoney appreciated the creative freedom Van Leuven gave her.  

“I love that Cara enabled me to contribute my talents to the pieces and make it a true collaboration,” Mahoney said. “Cara is so respectful of my art and focused on allowing me to complement her talent. It’s been a wonderful experience, and I consider Cara a good friend now.”  

“Nobody is turning a blind eye to her abilities, and working with her has made me a better artist,” Van Leuven said. 

Merging Artistic Styles 

The “Be Kind” exhibit showcases various oil paintings and line-art pieces, each highlighting the synergy between the artists’ unique styles. 

Mahoney’s artistic style is as bold as it is unique, crafted entirely with Sharpie markers. Her work transforms ordinary surfaces into vibrant expressions of color and pattern. By layering intricate designs, she creates a sense of texture and movement that brings her subjects to life. While her artistic journey began with simple doodles, her talent has evolved into a sophisticated form of expression. She has developed a signature technique that seamlessly blends precision with creative spontaneity, capturing the attention of galleries and art enthusiasts alike.  

“Our show had four oil paintings that I would take to a certain point, then gesso shapes for Kelsey to color,” Van Leuven explained of their artistic process. “I handed the paintings off to Kelsey and let her go to town. There was very little direction; I trust Kelsey’s vision.” 

The line-art pieces, created through more hands-on collaboration, brought their talents together in a different way.  

“We collaborated by sitting together,” Van Leuven said. “I would sketch my horses in pencil on paper, and she would add the colors to reflect her vision, adding button braids or spots on an appaloosa. Kelsey would color as she saw fit.” 

Horses: A Lifelong Inspiration 

Horses are central to “Be Kind” and have been a source of inspiration for both artists in different ways. Van Leuven has been horse-obsessed since childhood and now lives on a small farm in Williston, Florida, with her horses, Ares and Easel.  

“Horses are such fragile yet powerful creatures,” Van Leuven said. “They’ve been my muse since I was a child. Painting them allows me to capture their grace, strength, and complexity.” 

For Mahoney, horses have been a consistent part of her life—even though she doesn’t consider herself a “horse person.”  

“My mom has always been involved with horses, so they’re just part of my world,” she said. “I love animals, and horses have this incredible energy that inspires me.” 

A Message Of Understanding 

At its core, “Be Kind” carries a message of empathy and compassion, a theme both artists hope resonates with viewers.  

“In our lives, we all carry a little pain, right?” Van Leuven said. “I think we can lose sight of the fact that pain, hurt, and feeling a bit of an outsider is the human condition—we all carry something. If we can keep that in perspective and realize lashing out is rarely the answer, but understanding and kindness is. Often during the holidays, cheer is epidemic, and kindness spreads.” 

For Mahoney, the exhibit is also an opportunity to celebrate differences.  

“Yes, I have Down syndrome, but that doesn’t define me or my work,” she said. “We all have differences, but we all have similarities too. Let’s focus on the positive. Let’s be kind to one another, accept our differences, and empower them to like their differences! I am proud to have Down syndrome, but honestly, I am just an artist, and that’s how I want to be identified.” 

Looking Ahead 

Along with their exhibit in Ocala, Van Leuven and Mahoney are preparing to contribute a showcase piece to Brooke USA’s Divertimentos & Dressage fundraiser. While the specific piece has not been finalized, Van Leuven said they know it will be another collaboration. 

“While we haven’t decided what art piece we will donate, we do know it will have the hands of both of us,” she said. “Just like a partnership in dressage, each horse and rider combo is a little different, but there’s harmony in the dance. In our case, our dance was one with two artists coming together to unify individual styles.” 

The third annual Divertimentos & Dressage is scheduled for Jan. 30 at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Florida, featuring dressage riders performing freestyles to live music performed by the Ocala Symphony Orchestra.