Archives for Portrait

Spiritual Messenger

Spiritual Messenger

July 26, 2012 | by

His Native American friends call him Big Red Ears, because he listens so intently to their stories; Two Chairs, because he takes up two chairs when he sits down; and Spiritual Messenger, because he is sharing their stories. Dave McGary Chief Washakie Bronze The unveiling of this monument in our nation’s capitol in the rotunda in Washington, D. C. with senators, congressmen, and more than 200 Native Americans in attendance was one of the proudest moments of my artistic career. It now stands in the permanent collection of Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol. Dave McGary Walks Among The
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I Paint Heroes

I Paint Heroes

July 26, 2012 | by

Historical artists are a different breed. That’s one of the first things David Wright will tell you, and he has more than three decades of credibility to back him up. David Wright Red Mountain Trapper Oil 30″ By 24″ David Wright Scouting For Prime Pelts Oil 36″ By 60″
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A Great Gift

A Great Gift

May 26, 2012 | by

Working out of a studio in a suburb just west of Chicago, Illinois, Zhiwei Tu lives some 8,000 miles away from his ancestral home in the remote, mountainous area of Guandong Province in South China. Despite the distance, evocative figures on light-filled canvases still allow the gifted artist to share childhood memories and the ancient tales and legends of his beloved homeland with a worldwide audience. Zhiwei Tu (Illinois) Girl With Red Scarf Oil 30″ By 24″ In 2007, I was asked to do a demo, and the model was dressed very well by Frankie Johnson, director of Mainstreet Art
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The Love Factor

The Love Factor

May 26, 2012 | by

“I do portraits of pottery.” So says Patricia Dobson in a simple statement describing her paintings, but those works are much more than mere portraits. The placement of objects in her still life paintings are works of art in themselves; her use of color and light take those arrangements to an extraordinary level, one that does not go unappreciated by art lovers. Patricia Dobson (Arizona) Oklahoma Territory Oil 18″ By 24″ With the Oklahoma Centennial in mind, this arrangement includes a Comanche drum, Cheyenne moccasins, and a check written in Guthrie, Oklahoma, in 1898, along with some wonderful old books
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Bigger, Bolder, Better

Bigger, Bolder, Better

May 26, 2012 | by

He’s part storyteller, part historian, and part movie director. That’s how Texas artist Xiang Zhang regards his role when he paints. And he takes his work so seriously that he combs the vast ranching landscapes of the Southwest in order to be as accurate as possible in his portrayals. Xiang Zhang (Texas) Simple Pleasure Oil 20″ By 16″ I met this cowboy at my friend’s ranch. He was about 70 years old and looked so handsome on horseback. He lit a cigarette whenever he got the chance, during the roundup. My friend told me that he was the model for
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Honoring the Master: A Retrospective

Honoring the Master: A Retrospective

March 26, 2012 | by

I take my work very seriously, but I don’t take myself seriously. Take awaymy paintbrush, and I’m no different than anyone else. Howard Terpning (Arizona) Medicine Man Of The Cheyenne Oil 48″ By 40″ The medicine man held a very important position in any tribe. He was, in effect, a combination doctor and minister, or priest. He knew about the healing properties of plants, and he knew the ceremonies, chants, and songs that wielded magical powers for the benefit of individuals, or the whole band. Howard Terpning (Arizona) Cheyenne At The Disappearing Creek Oil 50″ By 40″ In the 19th
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Painting His Memories

Painting His Memories

March 26, 2012 | by

When asked about his favorite childhood memory, Oregon artist Jim Daly stops and thinks for a moment. Not because he can’t remember one, but because there are so many. Jim Daly (Oregon) A Sympathetic Friend Oil 18″ By 12″ We’ve all had a rock in our shoe at one time or another, or a sore toe that kept us from running at full speed. This boy is taking time out on a hot summer day to check things out. He doesn’t see his dog’s concern, but for us, the viewer, sometimes a dog can say more with just a look
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I Just Want to Paint

I Just Want to Paint

January 26, 2012 | by

Richard Thomas points to a plaque on the wall in his Montana studio that, he says, has “been with me forever.” The words on that plaque not only describe artists in general, they are a commentary on Thomas’ career. Richard Thomas (Montana) First Light Oil 30″ By 40″ This is early morning’s first light on a Blackfeet encampment in Montana. The setting for this piece is not far from what is now just outside my studio. Richard Thomas (Montana) The Day’s Mounts-Three Forks Oil 30″ By 44″ In this painting, I depicted riders picking up their mounts on the morning
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Celebrating “God’s Greatest Masterpiece”

Celebrating “God’s Greatest Masterpiece”

January 26, 2012 | by

Artists – no matter the medium, no matter the subject matter – have one thing in common: They are driven to share their visions of the world with others. The six artists featured here are particularly drawn to the human figure or, as Romel de la Torre describes it, “God’s greatest masterpiece.” Clayton Beck III (Illinois) Minitka Oil 20″ By 16″ It is always a gift, when one of my models comes in looking like this. It seems that, before I begin to paint, my work is almost done. Michelle Dunaway (California) Katie And Jenni-The Daughters Of Jane Seymour Oil
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Back In the Saddle

Back In the Saddle

November 27, 2011 | by

When he was 12 years old, John DeMott was invited to visit the home of Western film and music star Roy Rogers. It was a pivotal occasion, and today DeMott regards it as a strong influence in his life and his art. Growing up near Chatsworth, California, with its movie sets and Hollywood flare, the DeMott family lived in the same neighborhood as Rogers and his wife Dale Evans, and young DeMott routinely played with the couple’s children. John DeMott (Colorado) Against The Painted Sky Oil 25″ By 30″ I enjoy the great sunsets off my studio deck every evening
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