From Breeding to Brushstrokes: An Artistic Journey Connects Horse, Home, & Land
Written by Shayda Windle | Photos by Shannon Ayres
When Gail Guirreri-Maslyk and Tiffany Lee first crossed paths, collaborating on a piece of art was the furthest thing from their minds. Lee was hoping to breed a particularly special mare and had turned to Dr. William B. Ley for his expertise. It was at his practice that she met Guirreri-Maslyk, a longtime breeder of Holsteiner sport horses and the owner of Cloverlone Broodmare Farm in Hunt Country.
For Guirreri-Maslyk, breeding Holsteiners started after a serendipitous moment in Millwood, Virginia, at Locksley. There, she discovered a colt named Champagne in a cow pasture, notable for his good bone structure and smooth lines. New to breeding at the time, she remembers having an artistic eye for a quality horse. “To this day, I would still pick the same young stallion,” she says.
His sire, Chin-Chin, had made a brief but notable impact in the United States, competing at Dressage at Devon and siring a few foals before selling in the annual Locksley Auction to Jaime Azcarraga. They placed sixth in the individual jumpers event at the Seoul Olympics. As a result of his Olympic success, the phone started to ring. Champagne was Chin-Chin’s only stallion offspring. Rodney Jenkins had offered $1 million for the young stallion but was turned down. Ultimately, Joan Irvine Smith of The Oaks, a philanthropist, sport horse breeder, owner, and heiress to the Irvine family’s California ranching fortune, purchased Champagne for her large breeding program in San Juan Capistrano, California, cementing the stallion’s place in a lineage of excellence.
Not only a breeder, Guirreri-Maslyk is also a celebrated artist. Living amidst Virginia’s picturesque horse country, Guirreri-Maslyk draws inspiration from the local equestrian sports that surround her, including foxhunting, polo, grand prix jumping, and dressage. Her studio overlooks the rural countryside, with a view that features in many of her pieces.
Guirreri-Maslyk’s quick-study paintings of gardens, farm animals, and wildlife are vibrant, with her signature free-flowing brushstrokes and style instantly recognizable as her own. In addition to her artwork, she balances her time between computer programming, graphic design, teaching art classes, and helping manage her partner’s veterinary practice. She also continues to run Cloverlone, where she’s been pursuing her decades-long dream of breeding a spotted Holsteiner with an Appaloosa coat pattern.
For Guirreri-Maslyk, whether she’s painting or tending to her horses, her days always begin and end with the animals she loves. This balance between her artistic and equestrian passions is why Lee chose her to create the statement piece of artwork for her and her husband’s new home on Jolee Farm. Designed with a modern-minimalist feel, the home features neutral tones throughout and expansive windows that frame the views of their farm and the beautiful Blue Ridge landscape. Lee also added living room mirrors to reflect the scenery, ensuring a constant connection to the land from every angle.
For the space, Lee envisioned a large, contemporary piece of art, but also wanted it to carry a personal story. After spending time with one of Guirreri-Maslyk’s Holsteiner stallions, Lee was in awe of the horse’s dynamic presence. They agreed his proportions were just right for the life-sized commission Lee envisioned. Guirreri-Maslyk also drew inspiration for the painting from her solo show at Long Branch, where the grandeur of large spaces and single-pigment palettes became themes. The resulting piece, a 62-by-92-inch painting expertly stretched by Coto at Gargiulo Picture Framing in The Plains, uses rich texture and bold composition to perfectly capture both Lee’s vision and the women’s shared love of horses.
The creative process was an eight-month journey of multiple mock-ups, color adjustments, and experimentation. Guirreri-Maslyk listened to Lee’s feedback during each stage of the process, noting, “Out of 30 browns and 20 blues, only two pigments could make the right range of grays.” Lee and her husband invited Guirreri-Maslyk to work on-site, allowing her to design the painting within the actual space and even giving Lee the chance to experiment with some of Guirreri-Maslyk’s oil paint herself. A true collaboration of artistic visions, the piece came to life before their eyes. The energy of the final painting is best saved for the actual canvas, Guirreri-Maslyk reflects: “Those brushstrokes only land once.”
The completed work, textured and abstract, stands out beautifully while complementing the home’s color palette. The use of crystal lead white paint in the artwork allows it to shift dramatically with different lighting. Changing with each season, the neutral tones and crystal accents reflect colors, creating an ever-evolving visual experience that connects home, horse, and land. The painting now hangs as the centerpiece of the home, not just a work of art but a reflection of the collaboration between two women whose love of horses and art brought them together.
More of Guirreri-Maslyk’s work can be found around Hunt Country, including at Salamander Resort (with two pieces in their permanent collection), Bent Tree Farm, Oak Spring Garden Foundation (a commission honors Mr. Mellon’s racehorse Mill Reef), and various other prestigious galleries. She has exhibited at the Upperville Colt & Horse Show, the National Sporting Library & Museum, the Kentucky Derby, and the Virginia House of Representatives. Her artwork has raised tens of thousands of dollars for local charities like the Middleburg Humane Foundation, the Blue Ridge Hospice, and Sprout Therapeutic Riding. This month, she will be exhibiting at the Museum of Hounds & Hunting North America. To learn more about Guirreri-Maslyk and her work, visit equineimpressions.com. ML
Published in the December 2024 issue of Middleburg Life.