Archives for Landscape

Western Voices: Past and Present

Western Voices: Past and Present

November 18, 2017 | by

Generations of painters and sculptors make up the fabric of art of the American West. The ongoing influence of artists, reaching back to the 1800s, is evident in the ambitions and efforts of younger artists today and, just as the best artists of old are known by their unique stylistic voices, a new generation strives to develop its own voice and, perhaps, the opportunity to influence those who follow them. Art of the West has been a platform for Western art for the past 30 years, helping us to hear the voices of new generations of artists, along with echoes
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Western Art: An Evolving Story

Western Art: An Evolving Story

November 18, 2017 | by

In the late 19th century, Western artists were, in essence, historians of the American West. James Catlin, Hudson River School artists Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Moran and others created realistic paintings that told the story of Indians, white pioneers, and unspoiled landscape. Other well-known artists, such as Frederic Remington and Charlie Russell, expanded the genre into action scenes depicting the disappearing Wild West. In more recent history, illustrators such as Howard Terpning, Frank McCarthy, Bob Kuhn, and Howard Rogers, continued to document the Western story, but from a more contemporary standpoint. Does that mean there is a Western art revolution,
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Simple Dignity

Simple Dignity

November 18, 2017 | by

George Carlson is a man of many dimensions. He is a former illustrator and a reformed ski bum. He is a husband and father, a grandfather and gardener. He also a master artist, who for more than five decades, has been creating works that have earned him worldwide acclaim and countless awards. And yet, he is unpretentious, happily content to pursue the craft that has captivated him since childhood and that continues to excite him. Born and raised in Illinois, today Carlson and his wife Pam live on 55 acres of land near a lake in Idaho, where four gardens—English,
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The Art of Perseverance

The Art of Perseverance

September 18, 2017 | by

Sometimes, when the moon is full, Dan Young steals out of the house to paint. “I have a tendency to get obsessed with things,” he confesses, “and a few years ago I decided to learn how to do night paintings. I tried a few, and I failed miserably. Being someone who loves painting from life, I thought, ‘I’ll just go out at night and paint.’ I got the little headlamp—one for my head and one to shine down on my palette, so I could mix the paint. I’d go out and observe the scene, and I’d try to paint. I’d
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Speaking the Language of Paint

Speaking the Language of Paint

September 18, 2017 | by

Every once in awhile, Nancy Boren comes across two watercolor paintings she did of the Grand Canyon, when she was about 12. “They were, without doubt, the worst paintings ever created,” she says. “I think I’ve made some progress since then.” That’s an understatement for this talented artist, who describes those early paintings as resembling “a big bunch of purple hamburger meat,” due in part to the fact that, at that age, she was unable to view the scene as a whole. She’s come a long way since then, earning prestigious awards for her paintings, while also finding other outlets
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‘I Paint What Excites Me’

‘I Paint What Excites Me’

September 18, 2017 | by

As humble as he is talented, New Mexico artist Kang Cho is a man of few words and doesn’t like to talk about himself. Then again, he doesn’t need to; his art speaks for itself. Whether he’s painting a mountain vista, a city street, or a figure on a lonely road, his dramatic paintings engage and entice the viewer to look deeper. Kang’s use of light and shadow, combined with expressive brushwork, creates a mood that evokes an emotional response. Sometimes contemplative, sometimes exuberant, he paints how he feels about what he sees. “I paint what excites me,” he explains.
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‘I Like a Sexy Surface’

‘I Like a Sexy Surface’

July 18, 2017 | by

“I’m fascinated with the allegorical—and the real—journey of life.” So says B. C. Nowlin of his powerful, colorful paintings, many of which are included in corporate collections throughout the country, as well as in private collections by the likes of Sophia Loren and Led Zepplin. “I am told that I paint journeys,” he says. “It’s more like a place that people pass through. They’re going out of darkness, toward the light. My paintings are a journey, something that pulls you forward, that goes through time or space. I’m generally an optimistic guy, so it’s always bright in the distance. It’s
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‘I Paint to Listen’

‘I Paint to Listen’

July 18, 2017 | by

Montana artist John Potter does more than paint lovely landscapes and realistic wildlife. His art invites viewers to listen to the voice of the earth inside them. “The deeper message I hope to convey is this: Take the time to nurture and nourish your senses, your heart, and your spirit in the quiet dignity to be found in wild places and wild things,” he says. Potter isn’t a household name—yet—but he probably should be. His paintings ostensibly portray wildlife and nature. But, look closer. He’s not handing out trophy images of animals, birds, or benign landscapes; he’s offering a revelation.
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Living an Artist’s Dream

Living an Artist’s Dream

May 18, 2017 | by

“Every painting I start I hope is going to be the best painting I’ve ever done. That doesn’t necessarily come true, but it can, so I keep going.” Spoken by some artists, these words might scan as overconfident, even boastful. Coming from Dennis Doheny, though, they sound like a simple statement of possibility, offered up in a playful spirit of optimism and a willingness to stretch as an artist, even after 40 years in the business. Doheny’s artistic outlook and philosophy are as sunny as the warm California landscapes he’s best known for painting. He wakes up in the morning
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Lighting the Way

Lighting the Way

May 18, 2017 | by

Peter Adams admits to being somewhat of a rapscallion in his early years. When he was a junior, the military school he was attending instituted an art program. Unimpressed with the artwork created by the teacher and students and displayed in the cafeteria, he took action. “I took it all down, stole some paints and put my paintings up under the nom deplume Von Seitz,” he says. “I put my paintings up all over campus. About five years later, I was back at the school for some event, and there was a sign that said, ‘Von Seitz, come back; we
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