“Breakaway”

The 2010 Fiesta Rodeo Poster was once again created by artist Lorna Dillon and titled “Breakaway”.The shows the agility and training of a young horse in a hackamore turning a yearling steer back to the herd. The setting is one typical of California's central coast and even more specifically, Santa Ynez Valley. Lorna notes “My inspiration was to show the partnership between horse and rider at work in a natural setting.”

2010 Fiesta Rodeo posters are available for purchase for $15 each, including shipping and tax.

2010 Fiesta Rodeo Artist, Lorna Dillon

Each part of the West has its own distinctive characteristics that encompass geography, history, and culture. Lorna Dillon sets her paintings in rural California, home of many Spanish land grants and rolling foothills. The influence of the vaqueros and their elegant horsemanship is so classical that their legacy comes to life under her brush.

As a child, Dillon was intrigued by paintings in her family home. Her fascination was profound, and the seed was planted. It lay dormant until the late 70s when Lorna took up painting to see if her interest could be developed. She followed a long and laborious path filled with much trial and error, studying the styles, composition and techniques of other artists whose work she admired.

Gradually her style developed and her interests aimed her for the western art genre. Livestock trade shows did double duty as both a source of subjects and sales. There she learned more about the animals and their various characteristics, sold a lot of art, gained discipline and brush mileage, and, most importantly, Lorna says, "I met a lot of wonderful people in the livestock industry." The ranching life felt very natural to her, and she found the ambiance warm and genuine. Success and her reputation in the field grew.

After many years of this self-taught effort, workshops became a springboard for her to really begin to mature as an artist. Many well-known regional shows in the western states led to her inclusion in the prestigious Prix de West Invitational at the National Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City for the past several years. That event has been "the pinnacle of my career" according to Dillon, "and I thank God for the guidance to make it all possible".

In 2010, Lorna has taken a sabbatical from many shows and is devoting this year to the restoration/painting of many of the statues at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Sonora, CA.