Rhonda Locke-Thompson Owner and Artist
Photo Credit to Peggy Mc Kenna of Maine, thank you Peggy.
Canton Native: Rhonda Locke-Thompson Equine and Wildlife Artist in several medias.............
No job too little or too large......custom, one-of-a-kind work is my specialty...........
Picture above left is before I was 1 year old( Lightning was just 2), Picture on the right is when I was 5 years old (lightning was then 6).... All three of my children learned how to ride on this amazing pony....he was the best........(picture below is of AJ at age 5 and Alexy age 3) taken in 1990....
Lightning made it to be a ripe old age of 29 , was partially blind, had severe arthritis and had to be put down in 1996 due to a severe case of sinusitis... However he is still deep within my heart and I will someday love him again when our paths cross in heaven.......... In greener pastures we will ride once again !!
Born on Waterman Hill, Canton, NY in the late 60's, I grew up around farm animals and horses all of my life... I had my first pony before I turned a year old and basically learned how to ride as I was learning how to walk....(yes thats me as a baby on the back of my most loved and faithful pony "Lightning" in the above picture) ........ Horses have never left my blood or my passion.... Every since I could remember, I was always doodling on paper, horses here, or a deer there. My dad was an avid hunter and loved the woods. I too, grew up knowing how to handle a gun and find my way through the woods. That made me see wildlife and the land in a different way... Many years of riding and handling horses got me through some hard childhhod times. Knowing horses were my life and seeing them every day, I began to draw horses more and more. Getting better in every drawing, every sketch. Drawing them so naturally was almost like writing a sentence to me. It just flowed off the end of my pencil with such ease. Drawing them was almost like breathing, it was a given gift..... Both of my parents had a talent to draw but never continued to use their skills.... I had a dream some day I would make a living, somehow, by my gift and ability to draw. I excelled in high school in art class. Never leaving my imagination to anything of the ordinary. It had to be the closest to life like as possible for me... Or it wasnt good enough.... My artwork has always inspired many people to work harder at what they do and to keep trying or believing in their dreams........ If you want something bad enough, it will come.. If you work hard at it and keep trying... It has worked for me..... It will work for you......
I hope you enjoy this site and all of the artwork that is displayed here. I wish I had taken pictures of all of my work to show you the progress of determination I had in drawing and painting... I still learn new things every time I paint or draw... And it just keeps getting better every time..... Because of my persistance to make it realistic. As real as life itself....
Below are pictures of when the shop was unfinished and still being worked on... We finished it and after a year needed to expand as we didnt have enough room to house all of the tack and supplies we wantd to offer our customers along with the artwork. So, instead of building on this shop, we decided to move the shop into town. We are now as you know, located in town at 64 1/2 Miner Street, Canton, NY 13617. The tack shop number is 315-714-2706 and is currently open 6 days a week until after Christmas. Then we will only be open Tues-Sat, closed on Sunday and Monday to spend time with our family, horses and run our errands.
Below is a picture of me, my dog Cookie, and the rock I painted last summer (2006) It was my most enjoyable piece of artwork that Ive been commisioned to do. I hope it last for many years for many to enjoy just as much as I enjoyed painting it.
Below is a photo of "Scott" my husband and myself "Rhonda" taken in 1999 just before we were married.
We will be celebrating our 9th anniversary on September 25th, 2008.....
