Artist Weatherly Stroh Fuses Her Love Of Horses With Her Passion For Painting
One glance at Weatherly Stroh and it’s easy to see she has the look of a lifelong equestrian. Yet her successful hunter-jumper career is only the beginning of Stroh’s story as a prolific artist based in Wellington.
Born and raised in Michigan, Stroh grew up on a farm, riding competitively and traveling the country to become nationally ranked in the hunters. Her family tree is dotted with several well-known artists and sculptors, but Stroh only dabbled in art until about 10 years ago when she made it her sole career. “You don’t think of horses opening doors, but they really did for me,” Stroh said.
Stroh studied art but hadn’t thought of making it a career until she joined it with her love of horses. “Even when I was teaching elementary students, horses were always present, and my art kept pulling at me. I suppose looking back, it’s obvious that I would return to art, but in my 20s, I had no idea,” Stroh recalled.
When she came back to her art in earnest, Stroh focused on her lifelong companions, hunter-jumpers in the sport she knew so well. Stroh’s paintings of horses reflect her deep understanding from a perspective few artists possess — that as a partner and teammate. Stroh leveraged her relationships to build an impressive portfolio of commissions, which have included some well-known names.
With a foot in the door and experience under her belt, Stroh broadened her work to include more modern depictions, landscapes and other animals.
“For me, art is about pushing myself,” she said. “I am always trying to grow as an artist, to improve, to try new subjects and new techniques.”
One constant in life is nature. From growing up in the country to traveling for horses and now traveling for personal enjoyment, nature refuels her. “I have to be outside,” Stroh said. “Hiking in the mountains, riding horses, playing tennis, walking on the beach and interacting with animals are all must-haves for me.”
Stroh’s work clearly reflects her love of the natural world. Her paintings range from the mountains of Colorado to the fields of her Michigan home to the hills of Tuscany where she spent six weeks last summer. “I went to Italy to fall in love again with plein air painting,” Stroh said. “I got to be out in the middle of these beautiful vistas, capturing them on canvas. The experience motivated me to once again push myself as an artist.”
Inspired also by Florida’s unique flora and fauna, Stroh has created a series of orchid paintings, as well as birds native to South Florida. Her cloud and seascape paintings of this area demonstrate her love of nature in her own backyard.
Stroh made Wellington her home and feels connected to the community beyond horses. Her studio in West Palm Beach is part of a collective that Stroh said provides both support and motivation to evolve. “Artists need artists to push each other and stay open to what’s possible,” Stroh said. “I really enjoy the artist community in this area.”
In addition, Stroh has become a supporter of local animal charities, giving a portion of her proceeds to rescue organizations. In December, Stroh created an event where she sold a dozen paintings with the intent of donating a percentage of sale price to the Palm Beach Shelter Dog Project. Her studio assistant, Gus, is a senior dog with health issues that Stroh adopted in October from Palm Beach County Animal Care & Control, where she also volunteers. Stroh also supports Danny & Ron’s Rescue.
“Community is important to me,” Stroh said. “I believe that by shopping locally and supporting those organizations that are doing good in our backyard, we improve the community as a whole.”
Stroh again plans to travel this year for her own personal enjoyment, as well as inspiration. “Travel will always be a part of my life as an artist,” she said. “Life experiences fuel my soul and my art. It may sound corny, but it’s true!”
Stroh is not currently showing horses but doesn’t rule it out down the road. For now, she is focused on expanding her art, pushing herself in new ways — just so long as nature is in the picture.
To view more of Weatherly Stroh’s art, visit www.weatherlystroh.com and join her newsletter to learn about events in the area.
