Artist Thomas J. Coon specializes in realism, and he’s been painting equine and canine portraits for the past 19 years. Coon was born in upstate New York, outside of Saratoga Springs, where horses were a part of his everyday life. His visual fine arts degree and own active involvement in the equestrian world (hunters, dressage and carriage driving) provide him with his subjects.

Coon’s paintings are meticulously realistic–leaving one to believe the subject could leap from the painting at any moment. This week’s cover, Lying In Wait, is a study of a jumper.

Coon’s work was featured at the 2004 Winter Equestrian Festival (Fla.) where he was the official cover artist supplying the cover art for the souvenir program and prize list. Coon resides in Charlottesville, Va., where he paints daily and also does graphic design in his studio.