Rivalry
Veryl Goodnight said she was born loving animals and the American West. These passions have been the focus of her art for more than three decades.

Goodnight prefers to work with live models rather than from photographs.

“Working from life was initially an excuse to be outdoors and near the horses, birds and many other animals that shared my life,” she said. “The reality, however, is that having a living, breathing model nearby not only provides information that a thousand photos couldn’t convey, but also keeps me excited.”

This week’s cover, Rivalry, is a 24″ x 30″ x 12″ bronze. “Horses don’t need words to convey their intent,” she said of the piece. “Their body language is succinct and clear. I studied the clash of stallions in several videos before establishing the composition in Rivalry. I then went to a nearby ranch and sculpted directly from two Andalusian stallions.”

Goodnight is a sought-after instructor of equine sculpture and has taught at the Fechin Institute in Taos, N.M., and the Scottsdale Artist’s School in Scottsdale, Ariz. In the future she plans to offer classes and workshops at her new studio in Manias, Colo. (between the Mesa Verde National Park and the town of Durango).