The Story Behind My Kentucky Derby Paintings
Where the Horses Come Alive on Canvas
There's a moment at Churchill Downs — just before the gates open — where everything goes quiet. The crowd holds its breath. The horses are coiled energy, all muscle and instinct. That moment is what I chase every time I pick up a brush.
I'm Michael Sexton, a fine artist based in Ashland, Kentucky. Equine art has been at the heart of my work for years, and the Kentucky Derby — the most storied two minutes in sports — is one of my deepest sources of inspiration. Kentucky horse paintings aren't just a subject for me. They're a way of honoring a heritage that's woven into the fabric of life here.
Why Kentucky Horse Art Is Different
Kentucky isn't just where thoroughbreds are raised — it's where they become legends. The Bluegrass State has given the world Secretariat, Man o' War, and American Pharoah. Painting these animals means painting that legacy. Every brushstroke carries the weight of what this land means to horse racing.
When I approach a Kentucky Derby subject, I'm not just rendering anatomy. I'm trying to capture presence — the power of a horse mid-stride, the jockey's tension, the blur of color that is Churchill Downs in May. Oil paint, with its rich depth and luminosity, is the perfect medium for that kind of energy.
My Process: From Reference to Canvas
Most of my Kentucky Derby paintings begin with extensive photo reference and field sketches. I study the way light falls across a horse's flank, the way a mane moves at full gallop, the particular blue of a silks jacket. I want the viewer to feel like they're standing at the rail.
From there, I build up the painting in layers — underpainting first to establish value and composition, then color glazes to achieve that warm, luminous quality that oil paint does better than any other medium. The final painting might take weeks, but it's that patient layering that gives the work its depth.
The Stories That Drive the Work
Some of my favorite pieces came from unexpected moments. A morning at the track watching horses work out at dawn. A conversation with a trainer about what it's like to watch a horse you've cared for since birth cross the finish line. In contrast, I also want to show the quiet moments of horses in the pasture and away from the grandeur, with sketch studies.
Those stories live in every painting I make. When you bring one of my works home, you're not just getting a painting — you're getting a piece of Kentucky, and a piece of a story I couldn't stop thinking about until it was on canvas.
Explore My Equine Work
If you love Kentucky horse art as much as I do, I'd love to share more of my equine paintings with you. Browse my Equine Works collection to see horses in motion, portraits, and Derby-inspired pieces — each one a small window into this remarkable animal and the state that loves them most.
And if you have a horse of your own — or a favorite Derby memory — I'd love to hear about it. Custom commission work is always something I'm open to discussing. Reach out anytime.
— Michael Sexton, Ashland, Kentucky