Capturing the Spirit of Cheyenne Frontier Days Through Western Oil Paintings   “It’s the ropes and the reins, the joys and the pains. And they call the thing rodeo,” sings Garth Brooks in one of his hit songs from 35 years ago. In late July, on a toasty 95-degree day in southern Wyoming, the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo calls my name—not as a bull rider, bronc buster, or roper, but as a photographer here to capture reference images for a series of paintings I will finish during the coming year. Held annually since 1897, Cheyenne Frontier Days(CFD) has earned the
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  An earlier version of this article incorrectly listed the event name as “Artist Ride.” It has been corrected to “Fiddlers Green Productions.” There will be plenty of action at the Bloom Ranch near Wall, South Dakota, for three days in August, as Western artists and photographers gather to get ideas for future works that will feature the Western past. During the invitation-only event on August 28, 29, and 30, they will gather together to take in the wonder and action in classic Western scenery that boasts high plains grasslands, colorful badlands, numerous hills, canyons, and drop-offs.     Fiddlers
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The Enduring Appeal of Route 66 Inspires Artists Like Dennis Ziemienski to Capture Roadside Americana   As the United States of America celebrates its 250th anniversary, there is another celebration taking place this year: The 100th anniversary of the iconic Route 66. The iconic highway was constructed on November 11, 1926, as part of the country’s first highway system and stretches more than 2,400 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California. Route 66 became famous after World War II as families hit the open road, traveling to destinations that included the Grand Canyon and Disneyland and cementing the concept
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Plein Air Artists Bring Arkansas State Parks to Life in a Traveling Exhibition and Collector Book   If you can’t get to one of the beautiful state parks in Arkansas, those parks can come to you via a traveling exhibition and a companion collector art book. Painting the Arkansas Parks—A Celebration of Nature and Art—was on view at three locations in the state earlier this year and is at Arts on Main in Van Buren until July 3. It will then travel to Mississippi River State Park in Marianna from July 10 to September 20 and to the Historic Arkansas Museum
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La Luz de Taos 2026 Celebrates the Legacy of Western Art in Historic Taos, New Mexico   Wild Plum Blossoms, Josh Elliott, oil, 13″ by 60″   What are your plans for June 5 and 6? If you’re lucky, you’ll be attending La Luz de Taos 2026, the Ninth Biennial Gala and Art Sale at the Couse-Sharp Historic Site in Taos, New Mexico. The site, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, includes the homes, studios, and gardens of Eanger Irving Couse and Joseph Henry Sharp, two men who had much in common. They were early 20th-century artists who were
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Arizona Muralist Ariana Enriquez Brings Public Spaces to Life with Vibrant Desert-Inspired Art     You can see Ariana Enriquez’s artwork while driving down a street or riding along a bike path in several cities, including Chandler, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe, Arizona. That doesn’t mean galleries don’t carry her work; they do, but she’s made a name for herself as a muralist, creating most of her works on outside structures. Enriquez completed her most recent project in March, when she painted four bike paths—each one 30-feet-by-five-feet—in Tempe. “They were next to an elementary school, and I painted them in two weeks
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  How do artists create moods in their paintings—and why is that important? A doctor who has studied emotions for many years identified eight primary emotions, including joy, sadness, surprise, and anticipation. Artists create those moods in their paintings through their use of light and colors. Yellow, for example, conveys a positive, warm feel, while blues are calming and reds are exciting. Artists are well aware of the importance of connecting with viewers, not only by subject and style but by mood. And gallery owners and directors know—and support—those artists. One of them is Elaine Adams, director of American Legacy Fine
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