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| Staff Writer |
With powerful brushstrokes and a keen eye for capturing fleeting moments of athletic intensity, Hanne Lore Koehler has emerged as one of the most evocative equine artists in the contemporary art world. Born in Aachen, Germany and raised in Ontario, Canada, Koehler has established herself as a masterful painter whose vibrant watercolours and oils celebrate the majesty and power of the equine form. Her work, treasured by collectors across North America and beyond, speaks to racing enthusiasts and art connoisseurs alike through its ability to freeze moments of intense athletic drama while conveying the spiritual connection between horses and humans.
"I am fascinated by capturing a flash of movement and energy in this motionless two-dimensional art form. My sports action paintings depict that riveting moment when you hold your breath and wonder if the athlete will 'make it'."
Moving recently to the Parry Sound area of Ontario has only deepened her connection to nature and the horses that have become her signature subject. With works hanging in collections throughout Canada, the United States, and as far as Japan, Britain, Germany, Africa, and Australia, the universal appeal of her dynamic approach to equine art is undeniable.
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Koehler's journey into equine art was influenced by early exposure to magnificent battle paintings featuring horses during childhood trips to European museums and castles. Though not formally trained, she benefited from her father Otto Werner's artistic guidance, who studied art in Germany before immigrating to Canada. Rather than following rigid academic principles, Koehler developed her distinctive style through experimentation and intuition.
"My dad would give me tips and advice as a child, but I always had strong opinions that often disagreed with his," she recalls. "I think he eventually got tired of my debating and left me to discover my style and learn from my mistakes."
Her most celebrated works include her Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes paintings, where her signature style truly shines. Her favourite oil painting, "THE PREAKNESS STAKES," depicts California Chrome and Ride On Curlin in their neck-and-neck battle during the 2014 Preakness Stakes.
"My wild strokes of oil paint trailing behind these magnificent horses, the flying dirt, blurred colours and clouds of dust that obscure the background in an impressionistic style, all express the action and energy in this dynamic composition."
What distinguishes Koehler's work is her ability to translate movements onto canvas. Her watercolour "FOR THE ROSES" exemplifies this talent, combining realistic backgrounds and foreground details. Her technique guides viewers through layers of perception, creating depth that draws the eye from the vague, wet-on-wet background to the meticulously detailed focal points.
"The realistic detail in the powerful racehorses and determined jockeys fades into a colourful impressionistic cloud of racing dust," she explains. "My wild watercolour splashes of vivid jockey colours trailing the group not only accentuates this transition but simulates the excitement of this Thoroughbred horse race."
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Among her most notable commissions is "SPIRIT HORSE," a watercolour portrait of Millcreek Raphael, a Hanoverian stallion who competed internationally and qualified for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Australia under Olympic equestrian Eric Lamaze, representing Canada.
This particular piece later inspired a digitally transformed version titled "SPIRIT OF A CHAMPION," showcasing Koehler's willingness to embrace new artistic technologies.
"The tremendous speed, colourful jockey silks and unique character of each horse are ideal subjects for my stop-action paintings. As I am working, I imagine the thunderous hooves pounding the racetrack, the sweat and tensed muscles of the horses, the concentration and strain on the faces of the jockeys, the tension, anticipation and passion."
Her commissioned works include portraits of Friesian horses and various equine subjects, many of which have been sold through galleries whose clients have requested anonymity. Pieces like "THREE AMIGOS AT SUNRISE" and "MARE AND FOAL" hang proudly in private collections, while "WILD AND FREE" currently resides in a Toronto area gallery.
What sets Koehler's equine portraiture apart is her emphasis on capturing the character and spirit of each horse, rather than merely reproducing their physical form. This approach aligns with her overall philosophy about portraiture—that it should evolve beyond the static, formal poses of the past to reflect the natural energy and personality of the subject.
"Only the experience itself can compare with the delight I feel when I have captured an athlete in the excitement of the moment," she shares. "Every athlete, professional or amateur, can identify with the adrenaline rush felt in that instant portrayed in my painting."
From Brush To Digital: Evolution In Motion
While Koehler's artistic foundation lies in traditional mediums, mainly watercolours, which she describes as "unpredictable and spontaneous and totally suited to my instinctive and impulsive nature," she has been exploring digital avenues to expand her artistic expression.
In recent years, she transformed her traditional painting "WILD AND FREE" into a new work called "SPOOKED" by digitally enhancing her artwork with modern technology.
"My manipulation of mathematical vectors to images of my traditional paintings on canvas with my computer has allowed me a new creative means for my artistic expression. Although I love the process of painting with watercolours and oil paint to express my artistic visions, I have also enjoyed creating a work of art with these new tools of creativity."
"The colours range from deep blues, greens and purples to fiery oranges and golds, symbolising both the regal carriage and fierce power of this majestic animal," she explains about her digital transformation process. She added ‘transparent vector swirls that intersect in playful interaction to represent the elusive light, reflections and wind of the plains.’
Even with new tools, her focus remains on conveying the essence of the equine spirit, with the emotional connection to her subjects remaining paramount.
Her evolution as an artist mirrors the evolution she advocates for in portraiture. She generally embraces new technologies and approaches while maintaining an emotional core that speaks to the viewer. This balance between innovation and tradition has helped her work remain relevant and compelling to collectors across decades.
For Koehler, equine art transcends mere representation of the spiritual bond between horse and rider. This is particularly evident in her paintings of equestrian events, where she seeks to portray the symbiotic relationship between the partners.
"The love between horse and rider is most obvious in equestrian events, where a symbiotic relationship that stems from mutual love and respect is evident in the movement of each jump. The perfect partnership is expressed in simultaneous balance, cooperation and motion as horse and rider manoeuvre and attack the series of show jump challenges at the same instant, with speed and precision, as one."
This sensitivity to the emotional undercurrents in equestrian sports distinguishes Koehler's work from more technically focused equine art. Her paintings aim to elicit emotional responses from viewers, whether they're familiar with the racing world or simply appreciate the beauty and power of horses in motion.
"This emotional involvement with my subjects subconsciously injects my unique style and sensitivity into the image," she notes, highlighting how her connection to the equine world infuses her work with authenticity and depth.
Koehler's ability to capture not just physical movement but emotional states has made her work particularly valuable to horse owners and trainers who want to see their equine partners immortalised in a way that captures their spirit as well as their form.
Though Koehler has painted numerous racing scenes and equestrian events, her artistic vision extends beyond competition. Her work is deeply influenced by her love of country living, which she recently embraced more fully by moving to the Parry Sound area of Ontario, which is close to horse ranches and natural beauty.
"I prefer to paint country landscapes rather than city scenes. Although I grew up and have lived in small Canadian cities most of my life, it has been due to necessity rather than choice. I have always been a country girl at heart."
This connection to rural life permeates her approach to equine art, bringing an authenticity and emotional depth that resonates with many collectors. Rather than focusing solely on the drama of racing, Koehler captures moments celebrating horses' beauty in their natural environments.
"There is a horse ranch down the road and plenty of nature and wildlife, including foxes, bears, deer, moose and much more. There is no shortage of inspiration here, but horses will always be a favourite subject," she shares about her new home.
Her artistic philosophy centres on "painting the best of life rather than the worst," and this optimistic perspective shines through in her work. Whether depicting thundering hooves on a racetrack or the gentle bond between mare and foal, Koehler's paintings exude a love of life and appreciation for the majesty of horses .
Looking toward the future, Koehler plans to expand her Triple Crown series by adding a Belmont Stakes painting to join her Kentucky Derby and Preakness works. "I have not yet painted a Belmont Stakes image, but I am looking forward to doing so. It is on my to-do list after my commissioned works are completed," she shares.
For collectors of equine art, particularly those with connections to the racing world, Koehler's work offers something uniquely valuable: the ability to capture not just the physical form of horses in competition, but the emotional essence of those breathtaking moments when everything hangs in the balance.
"I thoroughly enjoyed creating the action, energy and drama in these dynamic horse race paintings," she reflects. "These intense, exhilarating subjects are naturally suited to the instinctive and impulsive nature of my artistic expression. They are my passion."
Her artistic reach has extended beyond traditional canvases to include children's book illustrations, magazine covers for publications including Discover Fort Collins, Holistic Health Networker, Country Woman, Pratiques des Arts, and mural work. She has also written and illustrated several children's picture books, created book cover designs, character development and caricatures.
The true appeal of Koehler's equine art lies in its combination of technical skill and emotional resonance. Through her distinctive technique of moving from impressionistic backgrounds to detailed foregrounds, she guides viewers through a visual journey that mimics the experience of watching a race unfold—from the blur of movement and colour to the clarity of the decisive moment.
Her watercolours are characterised by what she describes as "a wet-on-wet background which matures to a more definable foreground and finally, with detailed brushwork, concentrates on a focal point and ripens."
As she continues exploring new artistic avenues while remaining deeply connected to her equine subjects, Hanne Lore Koehler brings viewers into that electric moment when everything is possible, and nothing is yet decided; the heart of horse racing itself.
"I am always open to learning new techniques," she concludes. "For me, the fun is in the creation of a challenging piece and the satisfaction of the successful completion of a work of art."