Archives for 2016 July-August Issue

Impressionistic Naturalism

Impressionistic Naturalism

July 19, 2016 | by

Matt Smith has been selling his paintings since the early ‘80s, when he was just 17, but when asked when he realized that he really was an artist, he laughs and says, “I don’t know that I am yet. I know I’m a painter, but I don’t know if I’ve graduated to really being an artist. I’m continually trying to improve and take it to the next level.” Smith’s paintings have earned him inclusion in several prestigious art shows, including the Prix de West and Masters of the American West, and are eagerly sought after by art enthusiasts from around
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The Quiet Side of the West

The Quiet Side of the West

July 19, 2016 | by

When it comes to subject matter, Wyoming-based painter Ann Hanson’s inspiration lies just beyond her studio door, in and around her hometown of Shell. Named not for the mega oil company, but rather for huge deposits of prehistoric Ammonite fossils, the tiny rural community (population 84) traces its earliest heritage to the traditions of the Crow Indians and later to the pioneer ranching families that settled in the beautiful Big Horn Basin. Inspired by these cultural influences, Hanson creates highly detailed vignettes of daily life that go beyond mere imagery to capture the heart and soul of today’s West. By
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‘My Thing is the City’

‘My Thing is the City’

July 19, 2016 | by

It’s Friday evening, dark and rainy, and you’re caught in a traffic jam in the city, grinding your teeth and muttering a few expletives after a long, tiring week at the office. While you’re fuming, standing outside, armed with his camera, is Mark Lague, a Canadian artist, who finds beauty and excitement in painting scenes such as the one in which you find yourself trapped. “I’ve always been attracted to the city thing, but mostly on a visual level,” Lague says. “I love to paint cars, traffic jams, and the architectural elements around it.” And he does so beautifully, injecting
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‘There’s an Honesty to Sculpture’

‘There’s an Honesty to Sculpture’

July 19, 2016 | by

Before Rod Zullo became a fine artist, he was a fisherman. For 10 years, he worked on big sport fishing boats in the Caribbean, logging 14-hour days for months at a time. Those long hours of hard work served as great preparation for him, as he traveled the road to becoming the award-winning sculptor he is today. They allowed Zullo to save up enough money to enroll at Montana State University in Bozeman, where he studied studio arts. They provided an opportunity for him to learn how to schmooze with clients and enjoy the social side of work. They gave
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Trusting His Vision

Trusting His Vision

July 19, 2016 | by

By Utah artist James Morgan never for a moment questioned his destiny. He would be an artist. Yes, there were challenges along the way, but anything worth doing often comes with some trials, and he was not deterred—slowed down, maybe, but not deterred. Although he uneasily glosses over the time he spent working days at a piano factory (something he’d like to forget entirely) and nights at his easel, it’s clear that Morgan has earned his credentials. The rewards have been worth it. And Morgan admits that working in that piano factory got him over a financial hump, while he
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Following His Heart

Following His Heart

July 19, 2016 | by

For many people, “follow your heart” is a naively optimistic slogan on a motivational poster. For artist Mian Situ, it’s a proven life philosophy. “I have a daughter,” he says. “She’s in college, and she always talks with me about what she’s going to do. She’s in her junior year, and she still doesn’t know what she’s going to do. Every time she asks for my opinion, I tell her, ‘I can’t tell you what to do; you have to do what you like. Other people will tell you what has good earning potential, what will make you lots of
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The Stuido of Andy Thomas

The Stuido of Andy Thomas

July 19, 2016 | by

Andy Thomas was born and raised in Carthage, Missouri, and continues to live there today, creating paintings that have earned him membership in—and awards from—several prestigious art organizations, including the Oil Painters of America, International Masters of Fine Art, the Salmagundi Club, and the Portrait Society of America. His lifelong interest in art took a back seat to earning a steady income, however, after he earned a degree in marketing management from Missouri Southern State University in 1981 and spent 10 years working for a local manufacturing company. Although Thomas, who is primarily self-taught, painted in his spare time, it
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