Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2023/No. 192 i Western Art Collector

Much has been written about the early meetings of the Cowboy Artists of America, particularly on that now-iconic 1965 photo of the group’s founders sitting in the Oak Creek Tavern in Sedona, Arizona. But history goes back a little further. Back to the previous year, when three of the founders—Joe Beeler, Charlie Dye and John Wade Hampton—made a trip south of the border to a ranch in Sonora, Mexico. It was there, amid the dust and bleating of the calves, that the CAA was truly formed. The group’s roots are not in the annual shows, or the semi-annual meetings, or even in that little “CA” brand that is painted in members’ signatures. The roots of the group are in the trail ride, which is why the annual event is so…

coltridol45@gmail.com • www.coltidolart.com Lifetime Montana resident Colt Idol has always been enamored by the West and all that it represents. After an injury-plagued high school and collegiate basketball career, Idol decided to pursue art full time. With the guidance of his father, Dick Idol, Colt was able to develop his abilities and advance his knowledge of art—he had undoubtedly found his passion. Idol is now 32 years old and lives in Whitefish, Montana, with his wife Jennifer, their 5-year-old son and newborn daughter. Colt exhibits his work in galleries and auctions throughout the Western United States. “I try to create energetic, moody oil works that generally fall under a Western umbrella in terms of subject matter,” the artist explains. “I like to focus mostly on wildlife, Native American and cowboy/Old…

UPCOMING SHOW Up to 12 works Opens August 11, 2023 Owings Gallery 120 E. Marcy Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501, (505) 982-6244 www.owingsgallery.com SHOW LOCATION: SANTA FE, NM Ed Mell is known as one of the great Arizona painters, and it’s unlikely the state is going to relinquish that honor, even as the artist paints more broadly within the Southwest. But even for Mell, who has long had a home and studio in Phoenix, there is a special place in his heart for Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he frequently visits, paints and, on August 11, unveils his newest work at the Owings Gallery. “I’ve always felt that Santa Fe is a very important place to me,” the artist says. “I started showing there in 1981, and I’ve had quite…

The 8th annual Bighorn Rendezvous is shaping up to be one of the best editions yet. Held each year at the Brinton Museum in Big Horn, Wyoming, the exhibit and sale is one of the premier Western art events in the country, showcasing some of Western art’s very best. Kenneth L. Schuster, curatorial director for the Brinton Museum, says that the 2023 Bighorn Rendezvous will be one of the most diverse shows they’ve ever had, with a total of 14 artists working in oils, monotypes, pastels and bronze sculptures. “We’re fortunate that we know so many great artists. The Brinton Museum is a marvelous institution; a lot of people enjoy exhibiting here,” he says. “The beauty, the land…everyone wants to be a part of this,” says Barbara McNab, the Brinton…

More than 500 lots of Western and wildlife art will be available to bidders on August 29 and 30 when Hindman offers selections from the Laumeister Collection from the Bennington Center for the Arts in Bennington, Vermont. The sale will take place in Denver and feature work from many prominent Western artists, including Charles Pabst, John Fawcett, Francois Koch, Bob Kuhn and many others. “We are incredibly proud to present the Laumeister Collection for auction in August,” says Alexandria Dreas, Hindman art specialist. “Mr. Laumeister championed artists from across the Western and wildlife categories and amassed an incredible collection that truly showcases the beauty and wonder of the natural world. This is a comprehensive, inclusive group of property that features some of the most important names in Wildlife and Western…

Western Art Collector magazine has changed the way artists, galleries and collectors connect. It has closed the gap that previously existed in the Western art market. On this page you can read just some of the spectacular feedback pouring into our office from coast to coast on sales and connections achieved. 1. Oscar Howe hits six-figure numbers, twice Oscar Howe, the Yanktonai Dakota painter known for his stunning twists on cubism, produced staggering results at the June 6 Art of the American West sale in Monrovia, California. The auction, presented by John Moran Auctioneers, realized more than $876,000 in sales, but the stars of the auction were two Howe works, “Camte waste, no no wa” (“Good Heart Forever”) and “Koda, Nape Ciuza” (“Friend, I Shake Your Hand”). Prior to the…

Cattle Track Arts Compound in Scottsdale, Arizona, has united many creative people over the years, with the most recent example coming from Arizona painter Ed Mell, who connected with musician Nils Lofgren, who’s been a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band since 1984. The encounter eventually led to a unique pairing of art and music after Lofgren asked to use Mell’s paintings on the cover and inside liner notes of his newest album, Mountains, which was released on July 21. “I was introduced to Ed’s incredible art by my wife, Amy, who has a great eye for special art of all kinds and was already an admirer of Ed…We became friends and remain great admirers of his work, some of which Amy has displayed on the walls in our…

Throughout Kathryn Stedham’s career, one major theme has prevailed—expansiveness. The painter grew up in Virginia, sailing and taking in the limitless nature of the Atlantic Ocean, only to find herself out West—a different, but oddly similar expansiveness. Beginning in late August, Stedham expands her purview even further as part of her show of new work, Spirit of the West, hosted at Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe. “In this new body of work, I have begun exploring painting more from memory,” she explains of her landscape and figurative subject matter. “Drawing from and trusting my backlog of painting experience, and experience ‘looking,’ I have begun to explore more of my inner landscape…Looking outside of the literal subject matter. It’s more about the mood and the feeling.” Stedham notes that she…

Missoula, Montana • www.davisbrothersauction.com William and Matthew Davis are the co-founders of the Davis Brothers Auction, the newest high-stakes player in Montana’s Western art scene. The brothers have combined technology and their unrivaled expertise to innovate within the industry. With more than 25 years of experience, William Davis is a second-generation antique appraiser who has mastered the art of handling historical Montana collections, Native American treasures and Western art. Armed with a computer science degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Matthew Davis injects innovation into the antique realm, advancing business systems to create an efficient auction machine. Having true Montana grit, these ambitious brothers have achieved remarkable milestones, processing and shipping more than 3,500 lots each month to worldwide destinations. Th ey boast an impressive record of…

UPCOMING SHOW Up to 20 works August 25-Sept. 3, 2023 Gallery Wild 80 W. Broadway Jackson Hole, WY 83001 (307) 203-2322 www.gallerywild.com SHOW LOCATION: JACKSON HOLE, WY For many years artist Larry Moore was a regular, award-winning fixture on the plein air circuit, but in 2015 he found himself growing weary. “I came to this conclusion that these are fun events but not exactly me…I felt like I could tap into things that are more meaningful to me and say something more personal.” He also missed the storytelling element of working as an illustrator so he started looking for narratives. He was painting in an old, abandoned dry cleaners when the idea struck him. “It looked like people had just vaporized…all of their things were left behind. That’s when the…

UPCOMING SHOW Up to 50 works August 18-19, 2023 Sorrel Sky Gallery 125 W. Palace Avenue Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505) 501-6555 www.sorrelsky.com SHOW LOCATION: SANTA FE, NM Leading up to and during Santa Fe Indian Market in August, Sorrel Sky Gallery will host a star-studded roster of artists and their art in group and solo shows. Shanan Campbell opened her gallery in Durango, Colorado, 21 years ago and her gallery in Santa Fe, 14 years ago. “I feel a responsibility and an obligation for the livelihoods of the 100 artists we represent,” she says. “Our role is to bring the artists together with the client base we’ve developed since we opened and to provide a friendly environment for that to take place.” Among the artists in the gallery group…

One rising artist that collectors should keep their eyes on is wildlife painter Nealy Riley, who paints in a loose style with a unique palette. “Nealy Riley brings a feminine softness to contemporary wildlife painting. Placing her subjects into ethereal, abstracted landscapes, her work seems to transcend the natural world,” Carrie Wild, owner of Gallery Wild says. “Nealy begins each composition with an exposed wood panel and metal leafing. Nealy’s incorporation of natural elements into her mixed media practice mimics uncontrollable aspects of nature, her ultimate source of inspiration. Her carefully expressive, dry-brush paint application leaves space for the gold and silver leafing to shine through and interact with light in the space. Her work is intended to capture the attention of the viewer and be a reminder of the…

Featuring nearly 30 renowned Western artists and roughly 70 works, the 2023 America’s Horse in Art Show & Sale begins August 12 at the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum in Amarillo, Texas. This invitation-only show includes oil, acrylic, watercolor, pencil, charcoal, bronze and other media in artworks depicting the American quarter horse lifestyle. Notable participating artists include Wayne Baize, Mikel Donahue, Mary Ross Buchholz, John Fawcett, Harold Holden, Jan Mapes, Bill Nebeker, Kathryn Leitner, Jack Sorenson, Edgar Sotelo and others. “The American quarter horse’s significance is tied to the history of the American people and reflects adaptation to the environment and the influences of various cultures,” says museum director John Burroughs. “The breed can be traced back to Colonial America when settlers in the 1600s bred horses…

Created for plein air landscape painters by a plein air painter, Shaun Horne, comes the highly anticipated third edition of the Crested Butte Plein Air Invitational. This special event, last hosted in 2014, includes 20 of the best plein air and studio painters in the country, along with a growing list of 65-plus jury-selected, emerging and mid-career artists. All the works, around 300 paintings, will depict the gorgeous scenery of Colorado’s high country. “I’m a plein air painter myself and I own a gallery, so I’m in the market,” says Horne of Shaun Horne Gallery and event organizer. “The idea [behind the invitational] is to collect some of the best talents of today and show off what a great time in painting this is.” Horne reminiscences about a college research…

AUGUST 16-19: The Russell MEADOW LARK COUNTRY CLUB | Great Falls, MT | (406) 727-8787 | cmrussell.org August AUGUST 4 PARSONS GALLERY OF THE WEST Big Summer Show Taos, NM – (575) 737-9200 www.parsonsart.com THROUGH AUGUST 6 NATIONAL COWBOY & WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale Oklahoma City, OK – (405) 478-2250 www.nationalcowboymuseum.org AUGUST 7-24 ACOSTA STRONG FINE ART Sean Michael Chavez: Grand Horizons Santa Fe, NM – (505) 982-2795 www.acostastrong.com AUGUST 10-13 EL MUSEO CULTURAL DE SANTA FE Objects of Art & American Indian/Tribal Santa Fe, NM www.objectsofartsantafe.com AUGUST 11 OWINGS GALLERY Ed Mell Santa Fe, NM – (505) 982-6244 www.owingsgallery.com AUGUST 11-13 CRESTED BUTTE CENTER FOR THE ARTS Crested Butte Plein Air Invitational Crested Butte, CO – (970) 349-5252 www.crestedbuttepleinairinvitational.com AUGUST 11-14 SANTA…

1 DAN STOVALL BRINGS COWBOYS TO LIFE IN HIS NEWEST PAINTINGS Offering unique views of the cowboy way of life is Dan Stovall, an up-and-coming artist who is presently showing at Parsons Gallery of the West in Taos, New Mexico. His paintings, many showing cowboys subjects, have storytelling qualities to them with images of hard trails, weary riders and ornery horses. Follow his new work on Instagram (@danstovallart) or see his work at Parsons (www.parsonsart.com). 2 MONTANA-BASED SARAH BOSTON OFFERS NEW ANIMAL PAINTINGS Sarah Boston is a self-taught artist working out of Billings, Montana. She fell in love with the West after being raised near Great Falls, which she calls “Russell Country” for Charles M. Russell. Today her work can be seen around Montana and in recent issues of Western…

Gerry Metz (1943-2018) was raised and educated in Chicago and, before devoting himself to fine art painting at the age of 30, he was a commercial artist. He lived in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Jackson, Wyoming, researching the lives of pioneers, Native Americans, fur trappers and cowboys of the 19th-century. For about eight years he traced the route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, using their journals, and produced a series of paintings about the expedition. His painting, Rainy Day Chores, depicts cowboys at work, regardless of the weather. Wearing yellow slickers, they leave the warmth and shelter of their cabin to do their work. Charlie Russell often painted cowboys on horseback with their slickers rolled up inside out and tied behind their saddles—a practical arrangement for the cowboy and a…

Roundup, MT • (406) 697-2758 • www.coilaevans.com Where contemporary meets the traditional is artist Coila Evans, an oil painter based in Roundup, Montana. Her work focuses on bringing awareness to the land and life of the West. She is a lifelong learner who is interested in the complex history and lives of her subjects. She shares those stories through her work. Utilizing negative space, the quiet rhythm in these elegant and impactful paintings pay tribute to the subject by removing all that is unnecessary to tell the story. Her aim is 100 years ahead. She works with the finest materials and makers in the American West, creating work to be enjoyed today and revered for generations to come.…

UPCOMING SHOW Opens August 19, 2023 Maxwell Alexander Gallery 406 W. Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90015, (213) 275-1060 www.maxwellalexandergallery.com SHOW LOCATION: LOS ANGELES, CA Just as summer begins to reach its twilight, Maxwell Alexander Gallery will be holding its Summer Group Show, opening August 19. The Los Angeles-based gallery will showcase new works from highly sought-after artists in the Western art world, including Gregory Mortenson, Joshua LaRock, Michael Klein, Billy Schenck and more. “I grew up on a ranch in the West. My childhood was filled with rich memories of riding horses, mucking stalls, finding eggs for breakfast and everything that comes along with ranch life,” says Mortenson. In his oil The Little Wrangler, an up-and-coming cowboy faces the viewer with his rope at the ready. “My hope is…

UPCOMING SHOW Up to 15 works Aug. 12-Sept. 2, 2023 Nedra Matteucci Galleries 1075 Paseo De Peralta Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505) 982-4631 www.matteucci.com SHOW LOCATION: SANTA FE, NM When he starts on a sculpture, Doug Hyde doesn’t work from a drawing or have a detailed plan. “I prefer to start in on the stone and let the colors and shape and the textures help me create the idea,” he says. This August, Hyde will show sculptures in a variety of stones at Nedra Matteucci Galleries in Santa Fe. “Doug Hyde’s work has been a cornerstone at the gallery for years, so we’re very excited to hold a dedicated show for his stone pieces,” says Nedra Matteucci, gallery owner. “Viewers will get to see not only his technical skill, but…

UPCOMING SHOW Up to 50 works August 19-20, 2023 Santa Fe Trails Fine Art 200 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501, (505) 983-7027 www.santafetrailsfineart.com SHOW LOCATION: SANTA FE, NM The third weekend of August is when all eyes turn to Santa Fe, New Mexico, home of the Santa Fe Indian Market, now in its 101st year. The market is at the core of the weekend with events taking place all around the downtown area and through the streets. But large portions of the excitement are also reserved for gallery shows happening all around the city. One event to add to your calendar is the annual group show held at Santa Fe Trails Fine Art, just one small block away from the Santa Fe Plaza. The gallery has held…

While developing as a painter, Tom Browning became a proponent of the idea that “less is better.” That concept began applying itself to all elements of the creation of a painting, from the initial concept of the design down to the actual brushstrokes. The most obvious application of this idea is the use of a single light source. “This keeps forms and shadows throughout the painting consistent and unified. As a result, I became a student of light and the endless values it can create,” Browning says. “But again, I noted fewer values seemed to create a stronger painting.” Browning continues: “Some of my most inspiring painters tended to keep things very simple and direct—James Reynolds being one of these. I soon revered his handling of light, his broad brushstrokes…

Proving that Western art is a universal language in the United States, a major new exhibition about the West and Southwest is open in Maine, a state known more for its lighthouses and lobsters than its desert canyons and sagebrush. Painted: Our Bodies, Hearts, and Village is now on view at the Colby College Museum of Art in Waterville, Maine. The exhibition, drawn largely from the museum’s Lunder Institute for American Art, will highlight artwork from around the West, but will focus on Taos and the Taos Pueblo, both in Northern New Mexico. Works by the Taos Society of Artists—including Walter Ufer, Victor Higgins, Ernest L. Blumenschein and Joseph Henry Sharp—will be on view, but special attention will also be paid to Indigenous artists from the region. The exhibition contextualizes…

Many people think of environmentalism as a modern issue but at the turn of the 20th century, many California artists were reckoning with how the state’s burgeoning industrialization was affecting the landscape around them. That’s the premise of a current exhibition at the Jack and Shanaz Langson Institute and Museum of California Art titled Indefinitely Wild: Preserving California’s Natural Resources. The exhibition was put together by guest curator Cassandra Coblentz, who is interested in how art engages with ecological and environmental issues. “It was a really interesting moment in California history,” she says. “A lot of the natural resources in the state were being used for building cities and developing infrastructure, and artists of the time were witnessing that around the as they were painting these idyllic landscapes.” The show…