Back when she was in graduate school in Savannah, Robbi sat down one day with a pen and ink and watercolors and turned off her brain. She just decided to draw. What emerged was a series of loose, messy illustrations that felt to Robbi more organic and intrinsically herself than anything else she had ever produced. My favorite of this series is Frog and Butterfly, which I will not diminish by attempting description.

Another was Running Horse. The name says it all.

Robbi has always loved this illustration, and has always been surprised that it came from her hand.

In the years since her day of epiphany, Robbi has explored many other styles and sensibilities, but this free-flowing output is her anchor, the place to which she returns when she wants to get back to her fundamentals. When she doesn’t want to have to think too hard about grappling with my words and what it is that I might be trying to say.

This week’s auction is another illustration of a horse, but one that is not running. Horse Sense still bears all the hallmarks of vintage Robbi (the frantic lines, the inevitable splatter, the phantom leg and tail), and I humbly submit it to any of you who care to place a bid.