Mikel Donahue has only been painting full time since 2010, but he’s already racked up an impressive list of honors and awards. The highlight of his career as a fine artist, he says, came in 2016, when he was voted into membership in the prestigious Cowboy Artists of America (CAA).

It was the second time he had been considered for that honor, the first having been a few years earlier, when Paul Moore, a friend and CAA member, had recommended Donahue for membership. “If a member sees work by someone, and they like it, they put the artist’s name up for consideration,” Donahue says. “The CAA then reviews their work and interviews the artist. I got interviewed but didn’t get in. That’s not unusual; Martin Grelle told me he didn’t get in until his fourth [attempt].”

Read the full article in the March/April 2021 issue.

Ride The High Lonesome

Acrylic
20” by 28”

“This cowboy takes a moment to absorb the great wide open before he makes his big circle to gather cattle for the spring branding.”

Shadow Ropers

Acrylic
22” by 28”

“After the day’s work, cowboys show their rope skills to each other with tricks and contests to pass the hours while the evening sun catches the activity and creates ‘shadow ropers’ on the side of the barn.”