Q&A With Agnes Bellegris Of Art With Agnes
- Agnes Bellegris of Art With Agnes
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Can you tell us a little about yourself and what first sparked your passion for art?
AGNES: I have always leaned towards art and creativity. My numeracy skills in school were meagre so writing and art always took a forefront.
Was there a particular moment when you realized you wanted to pursue art professionally?
AGNES: I remember sitting in front of the easel my parents gifted me for Christmas when I still lived at home in my twenties thinking to myself that one day I wanted to do this for a living if I could. That didn’t happen until about 25 years, multiple art courses and retreats later. I feel like I’ve come full circle.
I consider myself a late bloomer. I spent my early years helping my spouse build his career. I tried to build mine but we moved around quite a bit so I tended to hold part time professional positions in PR and event planning. This helped me balance raising three children but art and horses were always something I enjoyed. They grounded me. They still do.
What is it about horses that makes them so compelling to paint?
AGNES: Horses are a very difficult animal to paint but their beauty and power are like no other. As horse people we know how it feels to be with them. Trying to capture this on canvas is truly an honour.
Have horses always been a part of your life, or did your appreciation for them develop later?
AGNES: I grew up in Toronto. As a young girl, I would read Trixie Belden stories. They were a series about a girl who solved mysteries with her friends on horseback. That was my first exposure. In grade 8 I had an opportunity through school to try something I otherwise wouldn't be able to. I tried horseback riding and I was hooked. I rode on and off from my teens into my twenties but stopped because of life. When I moved to Calgary, I was 40, had time and extra money and decided to simultaneously start riding again and take painting classes. The rest is pretty much history. Today I am back in Ontario and early retired last year to live my childhood dreams of riding and painting.
Your paintings often capture movement, emotion, and personality. How do you approach bringing those qualities to life on canvas?
AGNES: This is a great question. Sometimes I listen to music. Sometimes I sit in silence. I try to use broad strokes that move the way the animal does. Sometimes I’m scared to pick up a brush and let the piece sit in my head first before approaching it so I can strategize before starting. I’m not a very good drawer…painting comes much easier to me so I really focus on the shape and the movement of the animal more than the actual likeness…and by doing this, I can focus on the likeness more toward the end of the piece where details matter.
The most important thing in the beginning is the proper placement of the basic features. If I can capture those from the start then I feel like the animal is actually telling me a bit about itself as I create it.
Many artists have a signature style. How would you describe your artistic style to someone seeing your work for the first time?
AGNES: I would describe my style as contemporary representational acrylic art with lyrical impressionist influences. To translate, it means I like to paint actual animals and landscapes but I don’t want to get stuck in realism so I play with brushstrokes and colour so that there is a painterly feel to the work.
Do you prefer working from photographs, observing your subjects in person, or a combination of both?
AGNES: Ideally, I love the combination of both but when I’m commissioned to paint someone’s beloved pet that is no longer in this world, then photographs are the only option. I’d love to do more combination work of horses in a field, or a beloved facility. I haven’t had the opportunity to do that yet but one day I will.
You've built a business around your artwork. What were some of the biggest challenges of turning your passion into a successful business?
AGNES: I think the biggest challenge is the actual monetization of taking something you love and turning it into a business.
I don’t paint full time because then it feels like I’m turning myself into a machine churning out work rather than getting lost in the beauty of the process and the art itself. That being said, I don’t turn down commissions and prefer these. Many artists don’t like commissions because they are more regimented. I like knowing that I am making a piece that someone chose and wanted because of the direct meaning it holds for them.
What advice would you give artists who dream of making a living from their creative work?
AGNES: My advice is to buy the best quality of supplies you can afford. It makes a huge difference in how your work looks visually. Another piece of advice is to never stop learning and find opportunities to put your work out to the world. If you don’t share your work, no one will know it’s there. You need to be discovered.
Written by Agnes Bellegris
Art With Agnes
Agnes Bellegris' art is an ode to the beauty, complexity, connections and emotions we have to our natural world. Through thoughtful composition, vibrant color, and expressive brushwork, Agnes strives to capture moments that resonate on both a personal and universal level.
Each piece explores texture, light, and movement. It is an invitation for the viewer to pause, reflect, and connect with the world around them. Pause, wonder, contemplation and a deeper appreciation for the intricate details of life are all themes in her artwork.
According to Agnes, "each painting is a journey of discovery—of both the subject and myself. My hope is to inspire others to find their own moments of connection and inspiration."
WEB: www.artwithagnes.com & IG: instagram.com/artwithagnes/
This article is from the July 2026 issue of Equine Business Magazine
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