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Linda Manion was raised in an environment where she rode horses, participating in competitions involving hunters and jumpers. From a young age, she began creating drawings of these horses, often gifting portraits to her friends. Her artistic repertoire encompasses depictions of individuals, their children, and pets. She noted that having a horse during her childhood fostered a sense of observation and appreciation that remains with her throughout life.

"In my early works, which were primarily in black and white, I harbored a desire to eventually transition to color. However, like many artists, the timing of this transition is unpredictable.”

“The versatility of pastels, ranging from soft tones to vibrant brilliance, has provided me with numerous opportunities for each composition." By utilizing reference photographs, her realistic style captures dynamic elements within her work. As a self-taught artist, she regards pastels as a powerful medium that can effectively mimic a 'painted process'. "I was thrilled to discover that my unique technique with pastels could achieve a level of detail comparable to that found in other well-known mediums."

Dark NME, the daughter of Hes Relentless, is out of the Champion-producing Spit Curl Jess mare, Quions. Owned by Willie Garcia, Dark NME retires as a $65,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate with earnings of $1,701,355 from fourteen starts and nine total victories.

As a two-year-old, Dark NME makes headlines with her electrifying performances. She wins the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity (RG1) in May 2022, and in July 2023, she captures the $1,000,000 Rainbow Futurity (G1). Qualifying with the fastest time, Dark NME shatters World Champion Empressum’s 400-yard track record at Ruidoso Downs, stopping the clock at 19.028 seconds. She is now known as “the Ruidoso horse.”

In mid-August of her two-year-old campaign, Dark NME claims the top spot as the fastest qualifier from both days of trials for the 2023 All American Futurity (G1), posting the fastest overall time of 21.10 seconds. In the finals, however, the filly makes a rough start in the $3 million race and ultimately finishes in third place, behind the classic winner, Cowboy Guns Z.

Our giclée reproduction process:

Linda Manion’s images are created one at a time.  The giclées are printed on 100% acid free Canson’s Edition Etching Rag, using the finest titanium pigments that will not fade over time. Unlike the limited life span of cheaper reproductions, this pigment giclée print can last a lifetime without noticeable fading if treated like any other valuable piece of art.