The son of American missionary parents, Don Oelze was born in New Zealand in 1965 and lived there for the next nine years of his life. Despite those beginnings half a continent away, who now lives in Montana, has been blessed with the ability to portray the history of the American West with a remarkably vivid and captivating reality. The explanation of this gift is simple: From early childhood, his mother and father had piqued their son’s curiosity about Western and Native American cultures by sharing stories of their own upbringings in Arizona and Montana. His maternal grandmother reinforced the young boy’s intrigue with Western lore by sending the imaginative 6-year old a handmade set of Indian clothing.

“While this thoughtful gesture cemented my fascination with cowboys and Indians, it also resulted in my getting into trouble at school, because I spent more time drawing Indians than paying attention to my teacher,” Oelze says.

When his family returned to the United States in the early 1970s, Oelze continued to pursue his love of painting and drawing. As a means to fill time, during the long travel days required for annual trips to visit relatives, he filled sketchpads with detailed images of his surroundings. Those firsthand impressions of the Western landscapes would provide a wellspring of information for backgrounds in his future paintings.

Don Oelze

Moving Down the Valley
Oil
34″ x 54″
“This band of Cheyenne Indians is moving through a valley on its way to the fall camp. The chief’s daughter is holding a parasol, which was a common trade item. The addition of that parasol was an afterthought for me, but seems to really complete the painting.”

Don Oelze

Kickin’ Up Their Heels
Oil
36″ x 46″
“The annual fur trappers rendezvous, which lasted a few weeks, was a time for commerce, as well as a chance to cut loose and engage in frolic and general festivity.”