Archives for 2015 July-August Issue

Creating New Challenges

Creating New Challenges

July 20, 2015 | by

Carrie Ballantyne once told a young cowgirl that she didn’t think she was much of a storyteller. Her paintings—portraits of western men, women and children, often focused mostly on their faces—were too limited, she said, to tell stories. “This young cowgirl looked so surprised,” Ballantyne remembers. “She stopped me and said that she saw a story in every face I portrayed.” That revelation changed everything for Ballantyne. Carrie Ballantyne (Wyoming) Wyoming Flower Child Oil 18″x14″ “I have been lucky, through the years, to be able to work with my family and close friends. It makes my job more pleasurable, when
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Lorenzo’s Land

Lorenzo’s Land

July 20, 2015 | by

Lorenzo Chavez loved faces. He loved looking at them; he loved painting them. When he started to paint outside with a friend, however, he tossed his dream of being a portrait painter aside and began a love affair with the land. Whether he is painting the desert, the ocean, or the foothills near his home in Parker, Colorado, Chavez is totally committed to capturing and sharing his feeling of excitement at what he sees before him. Lorenzo Chavez A Winter Landscape Pastel 16″x20″ “After a new snowfall, the sun will enlighten the colors with strong varieties of warm and cool
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Simplicity And Beauty

Simplicity And Beauty

July 20, 2015 | by

“I don’t know that I could be in a better place.” Although Gregory Beecham is referring to his home in Dubois, Wyoming, a rural area brimming with wildlife, those words also aptly describe the success he has realized with his paintings. The enthusiasm of his collectors, combined with several prestigious awards, gives testimony to the skill with which he depicts the animals that inspire him. Greg Beecham (Wyoming) Flying Fortress—Trumpeter Swans Oil 24″x48″ “I knew, going in to this piece, that I was taking a risk in having my point of interest facing away from the viewer. But my experience
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My Richest Blessing Is My Imagination

My Richest Blessing Is My Imagination

July 20, 2015 | by

Whether he is depicting a Native American hunting party, a stagecoach arriving in a frontier town, or a cowpuncher riding night herd in the moonlight, the imagery of Montana-based artist Gary Lynn Roberts clearly reflects his belief that he lives and works in God’s country. For him, it’s a reality in more ways than one. Living on a remote 100-acre spread in the majestic Bitterroot Valley some 50 miles south of Missoula, Roberts doesn’t have to venture far to find the towering snow-capped mountains, sparkling rivers, and native wildlife that so richly complement his compelling compositions. Gary Lynn Roberts Wapiti
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A Creative Calling

A Creative Calling

July 20, 2015 | by

Albin Veselka wants to talk about art. First, though, he wants to say a few words about the meaning of life and the purpose of art. “I’m always trying to uplift people; I think it’s important to better the world,” says Veselka, whose Christian faith, along with his missionary zeal for art, guide his creative journey. “My faith helps me to do that—to uplift people and to show them something through my art.” This spirit of expansive generosity suffuses Veselka’s work, as well as his artistic philosophy. Albin Veselka Sunset Tide Oil 24″x15″ “I love the way white reflects all
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Realistic Paintings, Idealized Subjects

Realistic Paintings, Idealized Subjects

July 20, 2015 | by

Though France has produced many famous artists, one typically does not think of a French native devoting a distinguished artistic career to the depiction of Native Americans. But such was the case with François Henri Farny (later Anglicized to Henry Farny), who painted a proud picture of a Native American race that already was on the decline. Born in the Alsace region of France on July 15, 1847, Farny was the third child in a Protestant family that sought to escape an atmosphere of political turmoil and religious oppression. Henry Farny The Song of the Talking Wire (1904) Oil 22″x40″
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The Studio of Rosetta

The Studio of Rosetta

July 20, 2015 | by

Loveland, Colorado, for all intents and purposes, is a sculptor’s mecca. The number of expert casting foundries is legion. Well, OK, that’s an exaggeration, but there are a lot of them, especially for a town with about 50,000 residents. The city’s annual Sculpture in the Park, which celebrated its 31st anniversary this year, features hundreds of artists and attracts thousands of visitors every summer. Is it any wonder sculptors and other artists gravitate to the lovely city? Like many other artists, Rosetta was drawn to the artistic community and moved her sculpture studio from California to Loveland in 1987. Rosetta
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