My piece for the 2011 Rare Calendar! This happy young gal is a Quagga, an extinct sub-species of Plains Zebra. I took a little artistic liberty with her markings a bit. When I was chosen to paint the Quagga for this year's calendar, the first thing that came to mind is RUNNING. To me, equines embody the spirit of freedom and the joy of sprinting. Nothing thrills like running at break-neck speed across an open field with nothing to get in your way. I'm reminded of my days as a long distance runner, heading out into the open blond plains of Colorado, getting into the perfect rhythm of footsteps, heartbeat and breath, and just being alone and at peace out there.