My family makes a gingerbread house every Christmas. It's one of my favorite traditions to do, eating the candy topping and frosting while decorating.

I have been drawing for as long as I remember. I'm currently a high school senior on the Arts track (AP Art) and I'll be attending Ringling College for Art & Design in the Fall of 2025 as an Illustration major.

The thought of Christmastime brings cheerful memories to mind. I always feel a sense of awe and excitement as the holiday season draws near. I grew up with traditional decorations and special family traditions, and I cherish those precious times. I also remember being taught to celebrate the true reason for the season, the birth of Christ, fulfilling God’s promise for a savior. Joy of Christmas reminds us to reflect on the meaning of the holiday, the wonder it brings, and the traditions of Christmas past. 

The whole earth is merry and bright
Upon the arrival of Christmas day
As we remember the birth of our savior 
And celebrate with joyful praise.
Wrapped gifts with velvet ribbon
And colors rich in red and green
Evoke thoughts of cherished celebration
And treasured, childhood dreams.
The glory of this wondrous time
Is shown as we take part
In the many customs and traditions
That reflect joy in our hearts.

Christmas Sweater Pony and Pup are so excited Christmas season has arrived. The Christmas tack box of decorations has been bought out for this special season and they get to showcase their matching family Christmas Sweaters to all their family and friends for everyone to enjoy and celebrate the holiday season with joy and a big smile. Some call the Christmas Sweater tacky or gaudy but oh my how they love wearing them and are so proud to showcase their special addition to their Christmas attire.

The Christmas Sweater is a holiday tradition of wearing a special sweater with festive designs. This tradition of the family wearing matching Christmas, or as some refer to them as the Ugly Christmas Sweater, is a way to celebrate the holidays and share some laughter in the season. It ites the family in a yuletide tradition and has become a fun and exciting part of family celebration.

Lorna Matsuda has spent her life devoted to her love of art and all animals, though horses are her passion. Combining her love of art and horses, Lorna creates memories and meaning in her paintings and other artistic creations. She enjoys painting realistic art to share with others, and feels very blessed to have been given this special gift.

This design, "Spirit of Christmas" captures everything I love about the holiday season - magic, warmth, and a touch of whimsy. I wanted to reimagine Santa in a way that feels both familiar and fresh, pairing him with a majestic horse adorned with festive details. The antlers on the horse were my way of blending fantasy and tradition, creating a creature straight out of a Christmas dream. Every element was chosen with care - the rich plaid saddle, the vibrant gifts, and the snowy base - all to reflect the joy and wonder that Christmas brings to life. This piece is my celebration of the season, a tribute to the magic that inspires me year after year.

My passion for art began as a child, fueled by a love for painting and drawing. This passion eventually led me to pursue a BFA degree and establish a full-time studio practice in Kentucky. Inspired by the vibrant culture and breathtaking landscapes of the Bluegrass State, my work explores a diverse range of styles, from the vibrant realism of familiar scenes to the dynamic energy of abstract expressions. My experience painting horses for the Kentucky Derby Festival's Gallopalooza ignited a desire to contribute to projects like The Trail of Painted Ponies, showcasing my passion for public art. I'm driven by the desire to share my art with the world and connect with others through my creations.

The winter snows have come and all living things have bedded down for this blustery winter night.

Inside the tee-pee, the family sits around a blazing fire wrapped in warm furs and blankets. As he adds more wood to the fire, father remembers a very old story, passed down from his ancestors, about “The Winter Spirit of Shaconage” (sha-con-o-hay). Shaconage is the name the Cherokee gave to the Smokey and Blue Ridge Mountains because they are always shrouded in a mysterious, misty blue haze.

Father pokes at the fire, it crackles and sparks circle upwards. He searches his minds eye and begins...

“When the snows come to Shaconage, the Winter Spirit comes down from the mountains. A giant blue and white stallion with silver streaks of lightening in his coat. He wears the heavy fur of a white buffalo and carries the painted feathers of our ancestors.

He protects our people, the mountains and all its living things. It is said that within him, he carries the blue breath, the soul of the mountains. The breath of new life that he spreads across the valleys below. As winter starts to pass, the new cycle of life begins.

Shhh... listen, can you hear him? Can you hear him breathing outside?"

Art has been a hobby for Crystal since early grade school. She’s done a little of everything – charcoal, pottery, stained glass, glass etching and native beadwork. When she started collecting Painted Ponies, Crystal felt inspired and out come her first Painted Pony, “Tatanka Ska,” which is Lakota Sioux for “White Buffalo.” Now Crystal has created her second figurine, "Ghost," and continues to create wonderful designs submissions.