07/20/2026
Clara Smithโs โ๐พ๐ค๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉโ wins PHJ 60th Anniversary Cover Art Contest ๐จ
A beautiful tovero mare and her cowgirl partnerโpainted by artist Clara Smithโrose to the top of the Paint Horse Journalโs 60th Anniversary Cover Art Contest. As the winning artist Clara Smithโs โConfidantโ will grace the Winter issue of the Paint Horse Journal as the storied APHA flagship publication embarks on its sixth decade dedicated to showcasing the stories and spirit of the American Paint Horse and the people who love them.
Clara is a Western artist and graphic designer from Bend, Oregon, and a self-professed horse girl that never grew out of the โphase.โ She strives to document real Western life, depicting the culture and traditions of the American West, while also maintaining authenticity within her work by including real people and real horses, set in real places.
โThis piece features my aunt, late Western Artist Joelle Smith, on her first Paint Horse Millie. My aunt raised many Paint Horses and taught me how to ride,โ Clara wrote in her submission. โHorses were the most important part of her life, and her love of horses and art inspired me to become the artist I am today. This piece reflects her fondness and gratitude for her Paint partner.โ
The Winter 2026 Paint Horse Journal marks the publicationโs 60th anniversary; its first issue rolled off presses in November-December 1966. The Journalโs early issues often featured art covers that depicted Paint Horses and the Western lifestyle.
โOur team decided an open-call art contest was the perfect way to celebrate the Paint Horse Journalโs 60th anniversary,โ Editor Jessica Hein said. โWe were blown away by the submissions we received from across the globe, both in technique and the way the artists captured the spirit of the American Paint Horse and its role in Western culture.โ
The contest received 57 submissions, including entries from the U.S., Canada, France, the Netherlands and Peru. Choosing a winner amongst the salty field was challenging. Claraโs piece, however, rose to the top.
โFrom a creative perspective, I found this piece of artwork visually balanced. I loved the color palette used in the background, as it allowed the horse and rider to easily be the focus of the piece,โ APHA Creative Director Jody Johnson said. โDetails throughout, along with the accuracy of horse and rider composition, make this a stand-out piece that captures Western spirit in a calm, confident way.โ
In addition to having her artwork featured on the cover of the Winter 2026 Paint Horse Journal, Clara receives a $500 cash prize, an artist profile and social media showcase. Her artwork will be featured in a limited-edition PHJ x PH Barn Door t-shirt collection, as well.
โIโm so incredibly honored to have my piece selected for the cover,โ Clara said. โHaving grown up with Paint Horses, they hold a special place in my heart. I may be biased having two Paint Horses myself, but they are my favorite breed to paint. This painting holds a lot of meaning for me, and having my Aunt Joelle featured on the cover through my work feels like a collaboration despite her not being here.โ
Read the official online article ๐ https://bit.ly/ClaraSmithPHJCoverArt
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