Rumor has it that David Edward (Ed) Kucera created his first mural at age 5. The proof no longer exists but, as the story goes, he was sequestered in his room as punishment for mischief and mayhem. So, he did what any aspiring artist might do; he saw his bedroom walls
as a blank canvas on which to paint a masterpiece. Although his mother wasn’t the most ardent fan of her son’s artistic effort at the time, that foray into really big art might be why today he prefers painting large canvases.

Despite this early accomplishment, art wasn’t Kucera’s first career choice. Born in San Jose, California, he moved to Nebraska farm country with his family, when he was 10. “I thought art might be something to do, when my high school art teacher encouraged me,” he says. “I thought it would be great, but I grew up in a blue-collar family—my grandfather was a farmer, my father an electrician—and being an artist just didn’t seem possible.”

Instead, Kucera went for the big bucks; he became a rock musician.

Ed Kucera

High Atop the Plains
Oil
28″ x 30″

“For this painting, I wanted the rider to seem monumental in stature, bigger than life. The horse’s neck reminded me of a proud draft horse getting ready for a parade.”

Ed Kucera

A Hard Day’s End
Oil
24″ x 30″

“The motivation for doing this painting was the light just before sunset. I love the color at that time of day. As for the title, I thought it fitting, because of the expression on the cowboy’s face. It might have been their only break of the day.”