The Studio of Teresa Elliott

A perky, curious French Charolais, swirling the reflective water it’s churning through, gazes over Teresa Elliott’s shoulder. She’s not outside, but the half-finished, 23” by 30” painting of the cow that sits on her easel feels at home in the dry, open landscape outside her studio window.

Elliott’s studio overlooks the Que Dice Ranch with 10,000 open acres of hills, buttes, and desert plants. Cattle often wander through the vista, so it’s not surprising that Elliott has made them her subject matter ever since she pivoted away from graphic design, copywriting, and illustration and into a full-time career as a fine artist. She did so in 2006, the same year she and her husband bought the property in Texas on which her studio now sits.

The painting of the water-slogging cow sitting on her easel is classic Elliott fare. Her works often showcase longhorns, cows, vast Southwest skies, and limitless viewsheds. Other times, she paints portraits of the people who work the land or she’ll mix it up on a classical portrait with a modern flair. Her vivid treatment of a classic approach has earned her invitations to prestigious shows.

Read the full article in the January/February 2025 issue.