Trudy Bastman, a Scottsdale, Arizona based Equine Artist, started painting horses by accident.
After becoming friends with a local horse trainer who had seen a personal painting Trudy had done of her horse. The trainer loved the painting so much, he asked her to paint a much larger piece for an upcoming show. From that request, a 40”x40” painting of a white stallion was born. Once Trudy’s painting was showcased at the event, she immediately started receiving commissioned work, which kick-started her career as an artist. She says, “being a professional artist was never something I thought I’d become. It never even crossed my mind.”
Growing up in the countryside of Lincoln, Nebraska, Bastman grew up around horses. Riding friend’s ponies and horses, eventually owning a pony of her own, Trudy’s love of horses grew over the years as did her artistic eye for drawing them. When she moved to Arizona later in life, she continued to ride when she could, but creating art of the animals she loved never stopped. Playing with different mediums and subjects along the way, Trudy seemed to always come back to painting horses.
Her art has been represented in several galleries and can be found at horse shows around the country as well. “I love doing commission work on people’s horses,” Bastman said. “Anyone who has ever owned and loved a horse knows how special they are. You can feel their gentle souls and they will be in your heart forever.”
Admirers of her work can also purchase Limited Edition Giclee prints of most of her non-commission pieces.
In addition to her art, Trudy Bastman is also an advocate for the wild horses that live across Arizona. In 2016, she was an advisor and signer of a bill that protects the Salt River Wild Horses. Recently purchasing land near the Tonto National Forest, Trudy and her husband hope being in closer proximity to where the wild horses live will allow them to further their advocacy work to help protect them as well as serve as future inspiration for her art.
For more information on where to see Trudy’s art, or to purchase a piece, visit www.trudybastman.com.
