The great American West has long captivated the curiosity and hearts of many, from explorers to scholars and scientists to artists. This issue of Art Connection celebrates the splendor of the West, from the desert Southwest depicted in Heidi Rosner’s watercolors to the heritage of cowboy culture shared in Curt Mattson’s sculptures.
Artist Abigail Crow may have been classically trained in painting oil on canvas, but in search of a way to bring more dimension to her work, she began experimenting with different mediums. Testing the waters with a material she found at Ikea, eventually led her to a unique style she can truly call her own. See what medium she uses and the process she uses to create layers in her paintings.
Though artist Brit Hansen had long loved block printing, over time she came to realize it was actually the carving process she craved. She began experimenting with other mediums––wax, wood, clay, to name a few––and eventually landed on acrylic paint. See how she created this unique style of creating reliefs using acrylic paint and carving tools.
Jenny Foster always knew she was destined for art. And she was one of the lucky ones who was able to tap into the artistic style that was intrinsic to her at a young age. Still, getting to where she is today took hard work and dedication, and she’s as passionate about it today as she was a child.
It started out simple enough…an admiration for rings compelled Shelli Kahl to take a soldering class so she could learn how to make her own. Several courses later, she found herself producing enough work to start showing at art shows. But it wasn’t until she sought the mentorship of a well-known metalsmith master that her career took off.
When mixed media artist Tim Weldon began creating art, he started to see the world through heightened senses. Suddenly, everything around him––flowers, stones, colors, people––was rich with story, texture and character. And he saw himself as a conduit for sharing these stories through his art.
Artist Beth Zink has become well known for her vibrant paintings of desert sunsets, and flora and fauna, but happening upon the bold color palette that has become synonymous with her name was a bit of a fluke. See how she developed this iconic style and what she loves most about art.
In a time when true craftsmanship seems to be slipping away, there are still artisans out there striving to preserve centuries-old practices not only through the work they put out into the world, but also by passing down these techniques and philosophies to those coming up in the industry. One such artist is goldsmith and jewelry maker Paul Farmer.
Joy, whimsy and a hint of humor emanate from artist Barbara Rudolph’s oil paintings––a style she’s honed over the years through a mix of attention to the composition, storytelling, and delightful “Easter eggs” cleverly placed throughout each piece. See how her work comes together and what inspires her to create brief escapes for the viewer.
Artist Curt Mattson grew up immersed in cowboy culture and for many years, that was going to be his path. Then he discovered cowboy and Western art, and he saw it as a gateway to help preserve the stories of the American West. Decades later, storytelling still drives Curt’s artwork.
