"My journey as an artist has been surprising, challenging, fun and rewarding.  It started as a whim in 2001 and became a somewhat late in life career choice after spending 10 years working in sales in art galleries in Jackson, Wy, Scottsdale AZ and Carmel, CA.  After learning to enjoy plein air painting in my spare time, I was encouraged by my one of my mentors and close friend, the late western artist/potter Bill Freeman, to pursue a career as an artist.  I learned what it's like to work hard, observe life, and take criticism.  I have put in a lot of what I call "brushstroke mileage" to get to the style of animal painting I have today.

 

The "alla prima" painting style of wet-on-wet best exemplifies my work.  I work quickly to achieve a spontaneous, expressive and sculptured stroke.   I am interested in broken color and abstract shapes.  I am also very interested in looking for the play of rhythm and light in my paintings.  I have a built a career around paintings of the faces of white Hereford cows and all the wonderful color and reflected light that dances about.  As a classically trained musician, (an earlier chapter in my life) rhythm is a big deal to me!   I love to draw and want good draftsmanship to show in my work.  These elements add up to a uniqueness in my art that I feel has put my own personal stamp on my work and has given me the success and awards I have had. 

 

I have been fortunate in my career having studied and painted alongside some incredible people such as Greg McHuron, John Moyers, Mark Daniel Nelson, Glenn Dean, Carol Swinney, Steven Datz, Kathy Wipfler, Matt Smith and of course Bill Freeman. In my career  I have been blessed to participate in some major museum shows, such as Cowgirl Up!, Sigler Western Museum (formerly Desert Caballeros Western Museum), Wickenburg, AZ, Western Visions, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, WY, Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival Quick Draw, Jackson Hole Wildlife Museum Plein Air Fest, Jackson, Wy, John Clymer Museum, Ellensburg, WA, (where they hosted me in two person show, 2009),  Art of the Animal Kingdom, Bennington Art Museum, Bennington, VT,  SEWE (Southeastern Wildlife Exposition) Charleston, SC , Mountain Oyster Club, Tucson, AZ, (I won the Purchase Award in 2006), Western Masters, Great Falls, MT, Cattlemen's Western Art Show,  Paso Robles, CA, Bosque Western Art Classic, Clifton, TX (where I won the Boren- Selvidge Award in 2018), many juried appearances with American Women Artists (I was presented with an Award of Excellence in 2017) , Western Spirit Museum Group show, Scottsdale, AZ and for 15 years have appeared in American Miniatures, Settlers West Galleries, Tucson, AZ.

 

I have also had my work appear and be featured in such publications as Southwest Art, American Art Collector, Western Art Collector and Cowboys and Indians, Tucson Lifestyle Magazine, JAVMA (Journal of Veterinarian Medical Assn), North Dakota Stockman, Jackson Hole News and Guide and Planet Jackson Hole.

 

I have had two major installations:  St. John's Hospital, Jackson, WY in 2020 and Tucson International Airport in 2022.  I also recorded my first major podcast with art expert Mark Sublette on Art Dealer Diaries #243.  Mountain Trails Gallery Sedona is proud to now show the work of this remarkable animal artist."--S.J.W.