Brittany Weistling was thrilled when she was invited to be a guest artist at the 2012 Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale. That meant her paintings would be exhibited outside, rather than inside, the main gallery, but that was just fine with her.

Weistling’s paintings sold, validating what the show’s officials already knew: Her talent deserved to be showcased during the event, which is conducted each year at the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles, California, and features works by some of the country’s top Western artists. What made the experience remarkable was the fact that Weistling was just 15 years old at the time.

Read the full article in the November/December 2020 issue.

Arrangement in Blue

Oil

18” by 24”

“I love strong color harmony, especially in my still lifes, because it gives more satisfying interest for the viewer and creates a specific atmosphere. I experimented with as many blue pigments as I could get my hands on. Though I predominantly used blue for this piece, I don’t think it’s a “cold” painting. The dapples of cheery colors from the flowers and the light cascading down keep the atmosphere inviting.”

Living Waters

Oil

28” by 20”

“This is the only time I’ve used myself as a model in one of my paintings. I’m not sure I’ll do it again anytime soon, but I’m happy with how the overall piece turned out. Stepping barefoot into a creek, with wasps hovering over the ground, might not have been my smartest moment.”