Valerie Freeman

My work is inspired by horses and by the profound and ever-changing maternal relationship between mother and daughter. In the dynamics of the mare and foal, I see a reflection of our own bond—a relationship rooted in eternal love, guidance and protection, while ultimately allowing one the freedom to find their own way. My current paintings have a monochromatic, earthy palette, creating large-scale expressionistic works that explore the movement of light, emotion, and connection. For my sculptures, I use Ojai Wild Clay gathered from my own backyard, incorporating the earth of this place into the work itself. The paintings and sculptures are therefore deeply grounded in Ojai—not only in their materials and colors, but in the spirit and natural beauty that surrounds us. Light is central to my paintings. I think of light as love: moving between two beings and illuminating the space that connects them. Like the bond between a mare and foal, love can hold us close while still allowing room to wander, grow, and become. This idea became especially poignant on September 19, 2026, when my 21-year-old daughter, Siena Rose Cherry, completed her official Anacapa Island to Mainland Crossing, swimming over 12 miles nonstop from Anacapa Island to Silver Strand Beach in Oxnard. She swam for eight hours straight without a wetsuit and without holding onto anything!! Gazing into the vastness of the ocean, my heart traveled with her across the horizon. I waited for her on shore for several hours, surrounded by the unexpected beauty of the moment—beached sea lions, pods of dolphins passing through the water, the vast Pacific stretching between us. I found myself thinking about another time waiting with anticipation, the moment when I had to surrender, pray and trust during her long and challenging 24 hours of labor. I was waiting to meet her for the first time. And now, 21 years later, I was once again waiting for her to emerge from the water. Waiting on the beach, surrounded by light, God, the ocean, and the beauty of the natural world, I felt the extraordinary circle of motherhood. The child we once hold becomes someone who finds her own expression of freedom, strength, courage, and her own way across the ocean. And then, almost nonchalantly, she walked out of the water. There was something miraculous about watching her emerge from the Pacific after eight hours of swimming. She had crossed through this vast space that was unimaginable for me. In that moment, I understood my paintings in a different way. When I begin a work, I have some intention and allow the painting to take on a life of its own. I observe, guide and allow it to become what it wants to become. There is a balance between holding and releasing, between guiding and allowing freedom. Perhaps motherhood is much the same. We create, we nurture, we protect, we guide—and then we let go. My work is an exploration of that connection: the love that holds us, the freedom that allows us to grow, and the light of God that remains between and within us. I look forward to sharing "That's Love" series of paintings and sculptures during our upcoming OSA Tour, Oct. 10-12, 2026.

It all started with a hole in the ground. I was in the backyard with our contractor, gazing into a deep trench where they’d hit groundwater. He said it was pure clay—impossible to compact for building. I asked if I could use it for ceramics. He said, “I don’t see why not.” That was it—I was hooked on the mystery of working with the earth beneath our feet. And so, in this Year of the Horse, I’m experimenting with our wild Ojai clay on my horse sculptures. Each firing is a new discovery. As they go through the fire, the surfaces shift and transform—no two come out the same. The unpredictable surface patina brings a unique trace of Ojai to the works. Sometimes, combining my luster glaze with Ojai wild clay creates a chestnut tone that shifts into soft violet, almost lavender, luminous in different lighting. When I’m creating with our wild clay, I often think of the indigenous Chumash people and their deep relationship with the natural elements in Ojai. It reminds me how extraordinary it is to take something as ordinary as mud from our yard and transform it into art fired to stone, with each equine sculpture carrying the essence of Ojai. This Sunday, the first of the wild herd will appear at the California Coastal Horse Rescue in Ojai, for the Day of the Horse fundraiser, April 26, from 11–3. And you’re always welcome to reach out for a studio visit: val@freemanart.com