Formal art training began at The Quaeter School of Fine Art and Design. At nine years of age Alexis attended classes three days a week after regular school. The art schools faculty were Chicago Art Institute graduates who loved teaching art. She persued eleven years of art classes in drawing, sketching, figure drawing, sculpture, illustration, colour theory, watercolours, and oil painting. Alexis' art training continued at the University of Arizona with a Bachelors Degree of Fine Arts, and a coveted post graduate degree in Interior Architecture from the The Royal Copenhagen University of Architecture and Design in Denmark.

A successful Interior Architectural Designer in San Diego, California, Alexis Burris has continued her love of art and horses in her artwork. Racing, The Sport of Kings and Arabians are the most dominate themes in her current art works.


"By the time I started first grade, I knew I loved horses. I loved the look of them, their power, their spirit, beauty and the sweet smell of their necks. Pony Club was a big part of my childhood. Endless hours of grooming taught me more about horse anatomy than any art class ever could. About the time I started Art School in 4th grade, I was saving my allowance and earning money doing extra chores so I could buy grooming tools; body brushes, dandy brushes, currycombs, sweat scrapers and hoof picks. I studied horse anatomy charts, determined to know all I could about them. Horses are the thread of continuity in my life. I've always loved them, spending time with them, watching and painting them. They take my breath away!

I've owned and showed horses most of my life. I spent many wonderful 'down home' years as an adult living on a very large working cattle ranch, South of Tucson, Arizona. I generally paint the 'hot blooded horses', the fire in their eyes kind of spirit, not to say I don't love a good Quarter Horse. Smartest horse I ever owned was out of Waggoner End; great cow horse, solid hooves and smarter than most people I've ever met!


When I first start thinking about a new painting, I gather together my reference photos, sketches, paints, brushes and ask myself, what do I really see here. What needs to be remembered? What is important?
What grabs me, makes me want to paint?
A jockey angle- guiding home a victory.
A moment of sheer horse contrariness.
A quiet time, horse and rider in connection.
A moment of super effort, horse and rider in the zone of high-performance.

Sometimes an unusual angle or a shaft of sunlight "owns me" and sparks the beginning of a painting, starts to tell the story. It's magical to me... I watch the spirit of the horse and rider come to life under my brushes. I can't keep my hands out of it, blending the colours with my palms and fingers, can't help myself, it's a tactile experience. I do get messy and smeared with paint, but soap and water takes care of that!

My colours are a little unusual, or so I've been told. When I see a gray horse they can appear to me in violets, pinks, blue violets and magentas. A bay appears to me in deep blue violets and sunlight oranges. I don't question my colour sense, I let it naturally develop, my job is to let go and let it happen.

To draw and paint, it's the best! I lose track of time, lose myself, and gain connection with my source and creation. I appreciate the gift. Thank you for the art lessons Mom! My intent in my work is to capture a moment, a mere nano-second of present reality. The look, the heart, the essence of the horse, as I see, feel and sense them."

"I love this job!"


"Her paintings seem luminous, it's like they glow from inside"

"I love her colors, I've never seen a purple horse, but she makes me believe they exist!"

"The colors! The painting we have looks like a spotlight is shining on it, it glows!

"She catches the action, the horses almost seem to jump off the canvas!"

"Her painting of our "Charisma" is wonderful! Thank you Alexis."