Artist's Statement:
My traditional realist paintings and drawings portray the American west from days gone by to present, and in particular the images of the men and women who preserve its heritage. From old-timer saddle makers to master violin carvers to Indian elders and warriors (both living and historical), my work honors the preservation of culture.
That is why I combine traditional paints with earth pigments made by hand, using natural non-‐toxic colors collected from minerals and soils throughout the world. These are the same pigments that ancient artists once used to paint cave walls, and to make Native American face paint. Each painting literally has nature within it, and is my response to something beautiful in the world.
In every painting, I also use the brushes and paints that I inherited from my grandmother, a wise and compassionate elder. The brushes in the vase beside her easel still had paint on them, waiting for her to return to them, when she passed. Using them on every canvas connects my art with that heritage. Every drawing is created from blank page to completed image using graphite and charcoal, with no computer aid, transfer paper, tracing, or overlay on prints.
I use art to express respectful, reverent, and positive relationships between humankind and the natural, wild world.
That is why I combine traditional paints with earth pigments made by hand, using natural non-‐toxic colors collected from minerals and soils throughout the world. These are the same pigments that ancient artists once used to paint cave walls, and to make Native American face paint. Each painting literally has nature within it, and is my response to something beautiful in the world.
In every painting, I also use the brushes and paints that I inherited from my grandmother, a wise and compassionate elder. The brushes in the vase beside her easel still had paint on them, waiting for her to return to them, when she passed. Using them on every canvas connects my art with that heritage. Every drawing is created from blank page to completed image using graphite and charcoal, with no computer aid, transfer paper, tracing, or overlay on prints.
I use art to express respectful, reverent, and positive relationships between humankind and the natural, wild world.
Gallery Representation:
Gallery 113, Downtown Colorado Springs
Sunti World, Whitefish, Montana
Prairie Edge Gallery, Rapid City, South Dakota
Art Education:
2012 Workshop with Martin Grelle (CA) and Bruce Greene (CA)
2012 Workshop with Jim Norton (CA)
1994 B.A. Studio Art, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, scholarship
Experience and Events:
2022 Western Spirit Juried Art Show, WINNER, People's Choice Award
2021 Bosque Art Classic, WINNER, Gold medal in drawing
2021 Western Spirit Art Show, WINNER, Best In Show
WINNER, Gold Medal in Drawing
2020 Bosque Art Classic, juried by Bruce Greene;
WINNER, Patrons Purchase Award;
WINNER, Gold Medal in Water Media for "Give No Ground"
2020 Western Spirit Juried Art Show - WINNER, Best In Show
2019 Mountain Oyster Club invitational show
2019 Parker Artist Guild juried show - WINNER, honors for drawing
2019 Bosque Arts Classic juried show - WINNER, Silver Medal for drawing
2019 Mueller State Park invitational show, Colorado
2019 Once Upon a Time in the West invitational show, Cripple Creek, CO
2019 Western Spirit Art Show, Cheyenne, WY
2018 Florissant Fossil Beds annual juried show
2018 Bosque Arts Classic annual juried show (Jason Rich CA, Judge)
2018 Mueller Park Juried Art Show, Colorado
2018 Once Upon A Time in the West invitational show, Cripple Creek, CO
2017 Mountain Oyster Club annual juried show
2017 Gallery 113 in Colorado Springs; featured guest artist
2017 Luxe Magazine promotional feature on Colorado Artists
2017 Florissant Park Invitational Show, Colorado
2017 Mueller Park Invitational Show, Colorado
2017 Once Upon a Time in the West invitational show, Cripple Creek, CO
2017 American Plains Artists annual invitational show (Alfredo Rodriguez, judge)
WINNER of Award for Excellence
2016 Bosque Arts Classic annual juried show (Jason Scull CA, judge)
2016 Once Upon a Time in the West invitational show, Cripple Creek CO
2016 Colorado Indian Market in Denver, invited guest of performer Bill Miller
2015 Bosque Arts Classic Western Show, juried by Martin Grelle;
WINNER - Gold Medal for Oils
WINNER - Jones Purchase Award
2015 Western Associates Juried Show; Honorable Mention Award
2015 American Plains Artists national show; juried by Tom Tierney
2015 Oil Painters of America Western Regional show, Colorado
2015 Oklahoma Festival of the Arts
2014 Sedona, Arizona Arts Festival juried show
2014 Bosque Arts Classic invitational show
2014 Guthrie Art Escape juried show; WINNER, award for excellence in oils
2014 Arts Festival of Oklahoma juried show
2014 Estes Park Art Festival juried show
2013 Guthrie Art Escape juried festival - Third place award for painting
2013 Bosque Arts Classic annual juried show (Bill Nebeker CA, judge)
