Meet the Artists that Make Rendezvous Royale a Reality.
Every year, over 100 of the West’s premier artists are invited to participate in the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale events!
John Potter and Jim Bortz
Laurie Lee
Michael Ome Untiedt
Clive Tyler
David Mensing
Denney NeVille
David Fredrick Riley
Tim Newton and Bruce Graham
Angie and Vic Payne
Scott Rogers
Director Kathy Thompson and T. Allen Lawson and daughter
Norma and Jeffery Rudolph
Julie Jeppsen
Robert Seabeck
Kathryn Mapes Turner
Dustin Payne
Brandon Bailey
Charles Ringer
Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey
T.D. Kelsey & Tim Newton
Ann Hanson & Laurie Lee
Reid Christie & wife, Ginger
Julie Oriet, Ann Hanson & Laurie Lee
John Potter
Mark McKenna
Bob Seabeck
Laurie Lee
Thomas Kegler
Jessica Garrett Lawrence
Jessica Garrett Lawrence
Kathryn Mapes Turner
John Potter
Kristii Melaine
Chris Navarro
LaQuincey Reed
David Frederick Riley
Thomas Kegler
David Mensing
Steve Devenyns
Meet Our 2023 Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale Artists
* New Artist
CA- Cowboy Artist of America
Mark Edward Adams
Born in Tucson, Arizona, Mark Edward Adams was raised in a family full of artists. Initially a student of classical sculpture at the Florence Academy of Art, Mark discovered his passion for wildlife sculpture and thereafter dedicated himself to the craft. Mark has won several awards including the 2019 Three-Dimensional Award at the 38th Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale for his piece Big Bear Walking. His work has been exhibited at the Gilcrease Museum, the Booth Museum, the Tampa Museum of Art, and Brookgreen Gardens. Mark has been featured in Western Art & Architecture and Fine Art Connoisseur.
William Alther*
William (Bill) Alther's work is a fusion of his greatest lifelong interests, art and nature. A degree in wildlife biology from Texas A&M University eventually led to a position in zoology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science for 13 years. Throughout, he was an active artist and began painting full-time in 2004. His awards include two notable honors at the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s Western Visions show; the “Red Smith” Artist’s Choice Award in 2018 and the Trustee Purchase Award in 2021. His work is in the permanent collection of the Woodson Art Museum, the National Museum of Wildlife Art, and many private collections. Bill lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife, Debbie.
Joe Arnold
Joe Arnold returned to Laramie in 1980 after graduating from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 2016, a documentary film was made of Joe doing his artwork on the high peaks of the Tetons, entitled Plein Air in Thin Air, which won Best Wyoming Short at the 307 Film Festival in 2018. In 2018, Joe also won his second Wyoming Arts Council Fellowship Award. From June 31st, 2019 to August 31st, 2019, he was exhibited at the University of Wyoming Art Museum. Three of Joe’s paintings were recently included in "Flat Creek Ranch" by Joe Albright and Marcia Kunstel, and paintings and drawings were included in "Paintings of Grand Teton National Park" by Donna L. Poulton.
Brandon Bailey, CA
Brandon Bailey was born 1984 in Cheyenne Wyoming. Wildlife and Western art have always come naturally to him. "Seeing animals and how they react in their natural environment is key in creating an interesting scene that is true to that subject." Growing up in Wyoming, it is only fitting that Brandon has an interest in western culture. His fascination with rodeo and the Old West began during his childhood and has continued throughout his life. He rode bulls competitively and rode for the Laramie County Community College rodeo team. Brandon jokes, "I figured if I can ride a two-thousand-pound wild farm animal, there is nothing I can`t at least try to overcome." In 2020, Brandon won the annual Round Up Art Show & Sale's People's Choice Award.
Ty Barhaug
Wyoming native Ty Barhaug has great appreciation for wilderness and wildlife, and he uses it to inspire his art work. Barhaug has always had a love for art and has been painting professionally since 1990. In addition to painting, he hand-crafts the frames for his work. Honors include Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale 2008 Artists’ Choice Award, four-time Jurors’ Choice Award, and the 1999 People’s Choice Award; C.M. Russell Auction of Original Western Art, Ralph “Tuffy” Berg Award; the Meadowlark Gallery Sponsor Award; and placing in the top 20 in the United States Forest Service Centennial Celebration. Ty won the gallery People's Choice Award in 2020.
Buckeye Blake
Buckeye Blake’s experience as a working cowboy gave him firsthand knowledge of western subjects. His great-grandfather was a pioneer breeder of quarter horses, and Blake grew up traveling the rodeo circuit with his father. His paintings and bronzes exhibit a fanciful, graphic style mixed with a taste for pop culture interpretations of western figures. Blake is an eclectic artist who has created labels, posters, silk scarves, furniture, posters, and china. Blake lives in Texas with his wife, Tona, where they raise quarter horses. Blake was Honored Artist at the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale in 2012.
Teal Blake, CA
Teal grew up in Montana surrounded by ranching country. Growing up in his father’s studio, looking at C. M. Russell paintings and reading Will James books, it was hard not to pick up a pencil and start capturing his own visions of cowboys and the American West. Teal has always liked to show what makes the traditional west: cowboys not always clean shaven; shirts not always creased; and their horses' manes not always long. Broncs tend to get the most attention, maybe because the bucking horse has always been one of the most recognized symbols of the West. Teal’s medium of choice is watercolor.
Andrew Bolam
Andrew Bolam was born in Northern England in 1971. He studied Graphic Design at the Newcastle College of Art. In 1991 he moved to Southern California, working for several years as a freelance illustrator. In 1996 he moved again, this time to Lake Tahoe to paint full time. Over the last 20 years his work has evolved into a recognizable and modern rumination on classic western subject matter.
Nelson Boren
For more than thirty-five years now, Nelson’s paintings are featured in museums, private and corporate collections nationally and internationally. His clients span from private corporate collectors such as George Lucas, Coca Cola, Dallas Cowboys, Jackson Hole Airport, and many others. Nancy Ellis of Southwest Art magazine says of Nelson’s work, “The medium here is handled so deftly, the illusion of texture and the third dimension so complete, that I'm amazed. Standing back from the painting, I can't help but smile.”
Jim Bortz
A lifelong outdoorsman, painter Jim Bortz relates his unique experiences in the field through his art. Adventures in fly fishing, elk hunting, and backcountry camping all lend an unmistakable authenticity to Jim's work. With a bold impressionistic style built on a foundation of solid drawing skills, Bortz's work strikes a balance of honest believability with a fearless contemporary palette. Making his home in Cody, Wyoming near the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park, he has access to all the subjects he loves to observe and paint. Exploring the wild places of the Rocky Mountain West provides endless inspiration.
Michael Blessing
The concept for Michael Blessing's Neon West series evolved from combining his love of figure painting with the nostalgic pull of vintage neon signs. The end result is a series of larger-than-life historical characters rendered in a contemporary style. Michael is currently blazing new trails by melding the vibrant color and contrastive light of cutting-edge LED neon technology with historic western characters and romantic western figures. Michael's work has been featured in Art of the West, Western Art & Architecture, Big Sky Journal, cover of Southwest Art Magazine and Western Art Collector.
Jeremy Bradshaw
Bradshaw strives to share his passion for wildlife and bring a sense of joy through the animal characters in his bronze sculptures. Jeremy is a Signature Member of the Society Animal Artists and an Elected Member of the National Sculpture Society. His work has been included in exhibitions held by both organizations, and in 2021 he was awarded the prestigious Marylin Newmark Memorial Grant by the NSS. His sculptures have been selected for the Western Visions Art Show at the National Museum of Wildlife Art and the Birds in Art Exhibition at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum.
Ray Brown
Ray has been working as an artist since he graduated from college with a B.S. in visual communications. He worked mostly as an illustrator and graphic designer in and around Baltimore, Maryland where he had lived all his life. Although he enjoyed his work as an artist he was creating work according to the commercial needs at hand. He longed to create the kind of work that would combine his love of nature, wildlife, and the outdoors with his artistic sensibilities and experience. After a move to California in 2002, Ray has been able to pursue that dream full time. Ray’s preferred medium is the simple charcoal. Working with charcoal and paper is about as bare bones as an artist can get with one’s medium. Charcoal is a very direct tool of expression, when viewing a finished drawing one is able to see right to the core of the artist’s effort. Using only value, composition, and the illusion of texture to create an image unassisted by color but still managing to convey a sense of place or evoke a certain emotion is a difficult challenge. It is this challenge that inspires Ray’s daily pursuits in his work.
Russell Case
Western painter G. Russell Case is inspired by nature, but he places little value on literal translations. His sweeping, idealized versions of the western landscape are compositions that combine the beauty of the natural world with the rich imagination and originality of an artist’s mind. While there is an unmistakable honesty present in his painted environments — stemming from his engagement with the land painted directly from nature — viewers may be reminded of other great artists of the West, whose work is marked by distinctive artistic philosophies. Unfettered by philosophy and intellect, Case is surely a student of his artistic forebearers. The monumental scale of Maynard Dixon, and the unfiltered color and light of Thomas Moran both find their way into his visual language.
Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey
Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey is a colorist with a strong sense of design, whether she is creating a signature western piece, a colorful floral, or a vibrant wildlife painting. Frequently inspired by Glacier National Park subjects, Nancy is an avid plein air oil painter. She explores many different mediums and is best known for her paintings on silk. An exhibition "Forever Glacier," focusing on climate change and preserving the wild places, is touring the country. Thus far it has been shown at the CM Russell Museum, the Booth Museum, and the Hockaday Museum. It includes 25 paintings on silk and has an educational component that accompanies the show. The pieces were created over 10+ years.
Julie Chapman
Julie Chapman grew up as a horse-obsessed child who drew equines monomaniacally out of unrequited love and as an adult she has ridden in eventing, dressage, and reining. Her imagery is a contemporary take on the wildlife and horses of the modern American West. Her work features visually dramatic subjects in an abstract setting. Her work is in museums, collections, and exhibitions across the United States, Canada, Asia, and Europe.
Reid Christie
Born in Wyoming, Reid Christie graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Wyoming in 1981. He has been painting on a full-time basis for nineteen years. He was named the 2008 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Artist of the Year and National Cattlemen’s Association Artist for four years. His works are held in numerous private and museum collections including the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Christie and his wife, Ginger, live in Cody, Wyoming.
Michael Coleman
A native of Provo, Utah, Michael Coleman spent his boyhood hunting, fishing, and trapping. Early in life, he decided on a career in art and studied at Brigham Young University. His paintings are rich in detail, muted in tone, true to the remote landscapes he illustrates, and rendered in such a way that the viewer has a sense of gazing on the past. Coleman’s work has been exhibited at the Kennedy Galleries, J.N. Bartfield Gallery, Gerald Peters Gallery, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, and the C.M. Russell Museum. He won the 1999 Prix de West Award.
Nicholas Coleman
Nicholas Coleman was born in Provo, Utah. Brought up in an artistic environment, Coleman has been painting and drawing for as long as he can remember. He has traveled extensively, painting, studying, and photographing for later works. He continues to find inspiration through his travels. His inspiration also comes from the works of Frank Tenney Johnson, Bruno Liljefors, and Philip R. Goodwin to name a few. Nicholas Coleman endeavors to create a connection between his painting and the observer by invoking a mood into which the viewer can walk. Coleman graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art.
Donald Demers*
Donald Demers is considered to be one of the finest marine and landscape painters in America. The exemplary level of Don’s paintings has placed them in some of the most prestigious public and private collections in the country. Don Demers is a highly sought after instructor and his teaching has taken him around the United States and Europe. His work as an illustrator has been honored four times in the annual exhibition of the Society of Illustrators. Don’s marine paintings have garnered him a record 21 awards at the Mystic International Marine Exhibition including the prestigious Rudolph J. Schaefer Award. He has received awards for his landscape painting from the Joan Irving Museum in Irvine, California, the Laguna Plein Air Invitational and from The Guild of Boston Artists. Don is a Fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists, an elected member of the Guild of Boston Artists, a Signature member of the Plein Air Painters of America, an elected member of the Salmagundi Club and an elected member of the California Art Club
Steve Devenyns
Steve Devenyns has been featured in many prestigious art magazines including Art of the West, Southwest Art, and Western Horseman. He is a multiple Gold Medal winner at the Phippen Museum Western Art Show and Sale in Arizona and has been named Artist of the Year for several organizations. In 2006, Devenyns won the Peoples' Choice Award at the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale and was an Honored Artist in 2011. That year he was also Featured Artist at America’s Horse in Art Show at the AQHA Hall of Fame & Museum in Amarillo, Texas. In 2016, Steve was inducted into the Academy of Western Artists at a ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas.
David Dibble
David Dibble (b.’77) was raised on a farm in Davis County, Utah, where he was influenced by the landscape from an early age. He studied Illustration at Brigham Young University (BFA, ’03) and began landscape painting in earnest in graduate school at the Academy of Art University (MFA, ’08). Following the Academy he worked as a color artist for Blue Sky Animation Studios (20th Century Fox), and color consultant for studios such as Disney and Netflix. His time in the film industry led to six years as an associate professor of illustration and landscape painting at Brigham Young University followed by a launch into full time gallery painting.
David is sought after as a concept artist, teacher, and a gallery painter. His gallery work, focusing largely on agricultural themes, can be found in private collections and museums internationally.
Mikel Donahue, CA*
A Multiple award winning member of the Cowboy Artists of America, artist Mikel Donahue is best known for his impeccable depictions of cowboy life. His drawings and paintings portray ranchers and their livestock during the day-to-day ritual of sun-up to sun-down work on the ranch. What may seem as mundane chores are captured and translated through his artistic style into moments of meaning and reflection.
Terry Donahue
Terry was born in Duluth, Minnesota, and credits his older brother for recognizing his talent for art at a young age and shepherding his ability. Terry received his BFA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, thereafter, serving a brief stint in the commercial art field before pursuing his passion for wildlife art fulltime.
Terry’s chosen medium is pastel. Originally working in oil, Terry turned away from the medium and to pastels in an effort to push himself away from the hyper-realism straight jacketing his work. Pastels provided a needed challenge and allowed him to capture his own perspective of nature. Terry’s work is characterized by loose untamed strokes, negative spaces, and a sense of captured motion.
Terry’s artwork is currently on display at The Mountain Trails Gallery in Jackson WY and Park City UT and Lovetts Fine Art Gallery, Tulsa OK. Terry lives in Omaha Nebraska with his wife, Deb.
Phil Epp, CA*
My art career has focused on the atmosphere and creatures of the wide-open Western landscape. My recent focus has been my membership in the Cowboy Artists of America. Original thought, imagery, and discovery are my focus.
Jessica Garrett Lawrence
In 2005, Jessica Garrett was awarded a scholarship from Scottsdale Artists’ School where she took a workshop from R. A. Heichberger. She continued to study with him, and by 2007, was launched on a career in fine art. She has taken additional workshops from Chris Saper, Kevin Macpherson, and Tim Deibler. Garrett enjoys creating oil paintings that convey the feeling of the landscape through traditional representation. In 2018, Jessica received the Governor's Choice Award at Cowgirl Up! and in 2020 received the Patron Choice Award. In 2019, she was the Artist in Residence at the Brinton Museum.
Campbell Dosch
Campbell Dosch began sculpting only a few years ago but has captured the eye of a number of art collectors. Hailing from Salt Lake City, his artistic inspiration and subject matter focus on Native Americans and the American West. His interest in Native Americans lies with their culture and spirituality. Campbell reflects, "Their close tie to nature and respect for what God has created is inspiring. In every one of my pieces there is an untold story that I try to tell through visual interpretation. I want viewers to feel the emotion of stepping inside them for a brief moment, feeling what they feel." Campbell is a member of the National Sculpture Society and received the 2-Dimensional Award in the 2022 Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale.
Josh Elliot
Born in Great Falls, MT in 1973, Josh Elliott and his family now live in Helena. Elliott draws his inspiration from nature and learned the importance of painting outdoors from his father, wildlife artist Steve Elliott. Josh believes that we were made to appreciate beauty, and he feels his work is a celebration of beauty and truth. Although being true to reality is important to Josh, he aims for creating “art”, something interpretive, something more than a good rendering, something of himself.
Dolan Geiman
Dolan Geiman is a nationally recognized mixed media artist known for intricate collage works using salvaged materials found through a lifetime of exploration. Born and raised in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Geiman’s formative years were defined by outdoor adventures. The rambling spirit of Geiman’s childhood is still alive today in every one of the artist’s contemporary western creations. Though best known for his large-scale paper collages and metal wall sculptures, Geiman also creates paintings, screenprints and three-dimensional sculptures. Together, Dolan Geiman’s art showcases a wide range of media and subjects — all celebrating Mother Nature and the rugged American landscape. He runs his Denver, CO studio with wife and business partner, Ali Marie.
Shawn Gould
Shawn began his career in art as an illustrator, working for clients like the National Geographic Society, Smithsonian Institute, and Audubon. Today his award winning paintings can be found in public and private collections throughout the country. In 2018 he was awarded first place in the Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition. Shawn is a Signature Member of the Society of Animal Artists.
Bruce Graham
Bruce Graham’s path to western art was obvious to him even as a child. His grandfather, an avid collector of significant western art, owned the famous Two Dot Ranch in Wyoming during the heyday of large-scale ranching operations. Family stories of cowboy life, as well as contact with impressive artwork, left an early and lasting impression on Graham. Graham’s works hang in numerous private, corporate, and museum collections. In 2007 he received the William E. Weiss Purchase Award at the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale.
Doug Hall
Doug Hall is an artist and black powder rifle enthusiast who has lived in hand-built log cabins for over 40 years. He sold his first painting at the age of 8 and is known for his captivating works inspired by Eastern Woodland Indians. Doug has several tile murals installed in public spaces and has won various awards for his artwork. He was honored with the highest award from the Eastern Shawnee tribe when he was blanketed by the Chief. His piece "Tecumseh – The Shooting Star" at the Booth Museum showcases his talent and dedication to his work.
Terry Cooke Hall
Since the mid-70s, Terry’s passion for art led her to ongoing courses in life drawing, graphic design and illustration, followed by fine art studies in the early 2000s, leading to a career as a professional fine artist in 2009. Since then, she has earned numerous awards while exhibiting in more than 40 national museum shows and major gallery group exhibitions. Her work, recently featured in Art of the West Magazine, has been purchased by both corporate and private collectors across the nation. Residing in Bozeman, Terry’s contemporary style is a result of exploring the colors and essence of the West viewed through the lens of more than 30 years of work in design and illustration.
Whitney Hall
Fascinated by the natural world, Whitney seeks to incorporate the textures and emotions of her experiences exploring the West into her work. In 2011, she was selected by Southwest Art Magazine as one of “21 Under 31 Artists to Collect Now,” and in 2019 her painting “White Feather” was awarded the Buffalo Bill Art Show Two Dimensional Award. Whitney is a Signature member of the American Women Artists. Her paintings are exhibited and collected throughout North America and have been featured in The Russell, the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, and the Coors Western Art Show Club. Whitney lives in Bozeman, Montana.
Ann Hanson
Ann Hanson has been painting the West – as she sees it – for more than 30 years. From cowboys and cowgirls to Native Americans, she has a deep love for the Western way of life. 'I have a great appreciation of the artwork involved in Western Regalia, whether cowboy or Native American and have focused on capturing it in my artwork along with the people who wear it.' Ann tries to challenge herself with each new painting and learn new techniques she can incorporate into her unique style. Ann's work is in several national shows and her work has been featured in Southwest Art, Art of the West, Western Art Collector, and Cowgirl Magazine to name a few. Ann's paintings have graced three Western Horseman covers, the latest being April, 2020. Ann was awarded the Peoples Choice Award for the Cowgirl Up show in 2022. 'I'm having a great time doing what I love. I feel truly blessed.'
Stephanie Hartshorn
With both a father and a grandfather who worked as civil engineers, Stephanie had an almost mandatory detour through an engineering major, then a healthy stint in architecture before following her long held curiosity into painting. Recognized for her strong architectural portraits of Rural America, she was recently a featured artist in both Western Art & Architecture and SantaFean. A fifth generation Coloradan, her subjects fall into diverse camps. First, the West that she grew up around: an iconic landscape of barns, fields and criss-crossing power lines. Second, the West that grew up around Route 66.
Quang Ho
Quang Ho was born on April 30, 1963, in Hue, Vietnam. He immigrated to the United States in 1975 and is now a U.S. Citizen. His artistic interest began at an early age. In 1980, at the age of 16, Quang held his first one-man-show at Tomorrows Masters Gallery in Denver, Colorado which was a smashing success. In 1982 Quang's mother was killed in a tragic auto accident, leaving him the responsibility of raising four younger brothers and young sister. Quang then attended the Colorado Institute of Art on a National Scholastics Art Awards Scholarship and graduated in 1985 with Best Portfolio Award in his graduating class. He teaches at the Denver Art Student's League. He plays golf, reads philosophy, and religion extensively. He and his wife recently welcomed a baby to their world.
Donna Howell Sickles
Donna Howell-Sickles, a Texas based artist, has taken the image and idea of the cowgirl beyond charcoal lines and into reality. In the Western art genre, she has been exploring the layers beneath the Cowgirl’s engaging exterior for more than 40 years. Howell-Sickles herself identifies with the self-reliant and hard-working spirit of the cowgirl. In 2007 she was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame by the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas. Howell-Sickles’ work is a part of the art collections of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, the Booth Western Art Museum, the Tucson Museum of Fine Art, Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, the C.M. Russell Museum, the National Museum of Wildlife Art and the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Her work has been in many exhibitions and featured in several publications. Currently, Donna’s work is represented in Ann Korologos Gallery, Basalt, Colorado, McLarry Fine Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Artspace 111, Ft. Worth and at home in Davis & Blevins Gallery, Saint Jo, Texas.
Charlie Hunter
Charlie Hunter’s distinctive, muted palate and superb draftsmanship have won him numerous awards and accolades. Raised in Vermont in the house built by his great-great-great Grandfather, loves painting the American scene. His work is found in private and museum collections internationally and is featured in several books, including Richard Schmid’s ALLA PRIMA II. His weekly REASONABLY FINE ART TALKS have thousands of viewers on social media. Yet his cats continue to express their disappointment at his failure to adequately provide for their needs.
Julie Jeppsen
Raised under the big skies of Wyoming and Utah, Julie Jeppsen was educated by the world around her. She grew up with wildlife, mountain ranges, roundups, trail rides, rodeos, and wagon trains. Jeppsen still loves the adventure of the West. This passion brings her senses to the highest levels and is carried into her paintings. She currently competes in cowboy mounted shooting where the dress is period and the guns are .45 single action. Keeping a fresh sense of the West inspires her to paint more accurately and, like riding and shooting, keeps the competitive edge. Julie was recently featured in an article by Sporting Classics for their Spring/Summer 2020 edition.
David Jonason
David Jonason’s work is informed by the austere beauty of the American Southwest and the esthetics of cubism and art deco. His love of desert landscapes began in childhood on family rock hunting trips to the Mojave and Anza Borrego deserts in California. Early in Jonason’s painting career he was drawn to the volumes of architecture and the angular shapes in cubism. Jonason considers his style to be a fusion of cubism and realism. He imbues these works with the heroic quality of skyscrapers and the clean graphic qualities of travel posters from the 20s & 30s.
Thomas Kegler
An internationally recognized artist and educator, Thomas Kegler is a self-taught painter and accomplished film producer. Much time in the woods and a close-knit family shaped his early love of art and the outdoors. Fly fishing and guiding in Alaska’s backcountry cemented his life path illuminated by sunlight more often than lamplight. The grandeur of the American West has been an insatiable muse for the past several years.
His work draws on the sensibilities of the Hudson River school, Tonalism and Lumanism movements of the mid-1800's. Each piece celebrates the grandeur and mystery of God's creation
T.D. Kelsey, CA
Kelsey is a member emeritus of the Cowboy Artists of America, and a fellow member of the National Sculpture Society. He has works on permanent display at the Thomas Gilcrease Museum, Keindler Gallery, Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Pro Rodeo Hall of Champions Museum, Charles M. Russell Museum, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Benson Park in Loveland, Colorado; Owensboro Museum of Art, St. Louis Zoo, Elk City Old Town Museum, Briscoe Museum, and two museums in Spain. T.D. & Julie Oriet are having a two person show retrospect at Steamboat Art Museum during the summer of 2023.
Mark Kelso
Mark's art has been exhibited and collected globally from such places as Christie's in London, the National Geographic Society, National Museum of Natural History in Taipei, the National Museum of Wildlife Art, and the Smithsonian Institute. Kelso has be inducted in the International Society of Animal Arts and Arts for Conservation organizations and featured in numerous magazines including Fine Art Connoisseur, Western Art Collector, Southwest Art, and Art of the West. He currently works out of his studio near Indianapolis, IN and continues to travel extensively gathering experiences in the wild for inspiration.
T. Allen Lawson
T. Allen Lawson is drawn to the quieter side of life. Over time, he has developed a discipline of patiently observing and studying the often unnoticed rhythms and subtleties of his surroundings. In his paintings, he strives to build layers and textures with pigment to create the abstraction and nuanced depth he feels in nature and the world around him. Born and raised in Sheridan, WY, the American West is an integral part of him. A lifelong student, his dedication to and love of his profession is always evolving as his interest and influences continue to challenge him. Tim has won numerous awards to include: the Spirit of the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale Award and the Donald Teague Award at the Prix de West in 2019, the Prix de West Purchase Award and the Robert Lougheed Memorial Artists’ Choice Award in 2017, the Wilson Hurley Memorial Award, The Robert Lougheed Memorial Artists Choice Award in 2022 at the Prix de West, and many more. Lawson was honored by the Brinton Museum in Big Horn, WY, in 2021 with a solo exhibition titled “Recollections and Reflections”.
Laurie Lee
Laurie J. Lee usually paints western themes - drawn, in part, from helping with local cattle drives, attending brandings, and generally living life out West. Her work has been featured in Western Horseman, Art - Talk, Equine Images, Art of the West, and other publications. In 2012, Lee received the Award of Excellence sponsored by Western Art Collector at Cowgirl Up! Invitational Exhibition & Sale at Desert Caballeros Western Museum. She received the Cameco Resources Purchase Award at Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Art Show and Sale in 2012, and her piece was also selected as the Limited Edition Print. Laurie was the recipient of the Peter Fillerup Award at the 2019 Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale.
Linda Lillegraven
Linda Lillegraven lives in Laramie, Wyoming. She won the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale's William E. Weiss Purchase Award in 2003 and the Painting Award in both 2005 and 2008. She was the Arts for the Parks Grand Prize winner in 2000, and was an artist-in-residence at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in 2001. Her work was featured in Western Art Collector magazine in April, 2008. Her paintings are in the permanent collections of the University of Wyoming Art Museum, the Wyoming State Museum, the University of Nebraska, and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.
Walter Matia
Walter Matia was educated at Williams College in Massachusetts, where he earned degrees in Biology and Art Design. Upon graduation, he worked in the exhibits Department of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and later The Nature Conservancy, a national non-profit organization. He started his art studio, Curlew Castings in 1984. His works have been exhibited in one man shows across the country. He is a Master Signature Member of the Society of Animal Artists, a Fellow of the National Sculpture Society and a Master Wildlife Artist at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. Walter is a regular participant at the Master of the American West Exhibition, Prix de West Invitational and Western Visions at the National Museum of Wildlife Art. He resides in Dickerson, MD with his wife, daughter, son and two labradors.
William Matthews
William Matthews’ professional career began in Los Angeles, designing album covers for Warner Brothers and Capitol Records. He lived in Europe from 1975 until 1980 and after he returned to the United Sates, he ran a graphic design studio in Colorado until 1990 when he dedicated himself full-time to painting. Matthews is best known for his portrayal of the working cowboy. The 1994 publication, Cowboys & Images: The Watercolors of William Matthews, chronicles a decade of the artist’s work devoted to this subject. Matthews won the Gold Award at the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale in 2011.
Sally Maxwell
Sally has been working in scratchboard for over 53 years, 48 of those using color in the medium. She is recognized by the International Society of Scratchboard Artists and American Women Artists as a Master and through her association with Ampersand Art Materials, has taught a generation of artists how to use the medium. Once you have seen her work up close; you will never forget it. She has won numerous awards in multiple Museum Shows Nationally. Look up scratchboard on Wikipedia and you will find her mentioned as notable. Invited to participate in: Coors International, 2023 and 2024, Denver CO
Wild West, Wildlife Masters Past and Present, Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs, CO
Society of Animal Artists, Annual touring juried show.
David W. Mayer
David W. Mayer is a multiple award winning member of the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico (PAPNM), a member of the Laguna, California Plein Air Painters (LPAPA) and a member of the California Art Club (CAC). He is also a past charter member of the Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters (RMPAP) and the Oil Painters of America (OPA). David is an avid impressionist and plein air landscape painter.
Gordon McConnell
Born and raised in southeastern Colorado, Gordon McConnell has lived in Billings, Montana, since 1982, and has painted his version of the Wild West for more than thirty years. Southwest Art, Western Art & Architecture and Big Sky Journal have profiled him, and his works are in numerous collections, including the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and the University of Wyoming Art Museum. A survey of his works is traveling to seven venues under the auspices of the Montana Art Gallery Directors Association (MAGDA) from fall 2019 through early 2021.
Robert McFarland
My introduction to painting came in 1987 when my wife enrolled me in a beginning watercolor class for a birthday gift. This led me to painting seriously on my own studying the work of Philip Jamison, Andrew Wyeth and Thomas William Jones.
I am passionate about watercolor. The limitations it presents gives rise to its strengths if handled correctly. Its transparency breathes air and light into a painting. Its unpredictability can bring spirit. Its unforgiving nature brings a true emotional response.
My recent exhibits include Buffalo Bill Show, Buffalo Bill Center of the West; CFD Western Art Show, Old West Museum; Small Works Great Wonders National Cowboy Heritage Museum; Settlers West American Miniatures; Coors Western Art Show; Zions Bank Show Art Show and Sears Museum Dixie Invitational.
Joseph McGurl
Joseph McGurl is one of America's leading landscape painters. He has been designated a Living Master by the Art Renewal Center, is a signature member of the Plein Air Painters of America, an elected member of the Guild of Boston Artists, was a Copley Master with the Copley Society of Boston, is a fellow of the American Society of Marine Artist, and has won significant awards for his artwork. He is represented by some of the finest galleries nationally, and his work hangs in prominent museums and collector's homes. Additionally, he has been the subject of numerous book and magazine articles, and he conducts workshops and presents lectures throughout the country.
Mark McKenna
Mark is one of the top emerging artists in the West. His work ranges from simple animal portraits, to extreme wildlife action. He works tirelessly to capture the effect of light and the personality of his subjects. Mark’s work depicts animals with exciting texture and bold brushwork while maintaining a strong sense of realism. Mark has been featured in some of the West’s best magazines and participated in shows across the United States and Canada. He was most recently honored with the Peoples Choice Award for both the Buffalo Bill Art Show and the Quick Draw event last year.
Krystii Melaine
Krystii Melaine’s passion for painting the people and animals of the American West brought her from Australia to Spokane, Washington, and now to Cody. Numerous awards including the Purchase Award and three Patron’s Choice Awards at Quest for the West, Purchase Award at the Hockaday Museum of Art, and First Prize twice at Cowgirl Up! attest to the quality of her work. Participating in the Eiteljorg Museum’s Quest for the West and the Briscoe Museum’s Night of Artists among other exhibitions, her paintings are held in seven museum collections. Melaine is a Master Signature Member of the American Women Artists.
David Mensing
David Mensing has been a professional artist for more than twenty years.
Dave grew up in Iowa and moved to The West as a young man. He lives in Sisters, Oregon with his wife and their three children.
Mensing has been certified as a white-water rafting guide and at one time was a talented pole vaulter. His architectural background contributes to his compelling designs.
David Mensing's paintings are featured in collections and exhibitions across the nation and around the globe.
Santiago Michalek
Santiago was born in Argentina where his artistic ability presented itself early in life. He has been working to advance his craft as an artist and painter ever since.
Santiago’s paintings naturally reflect his appreciation for the human experience. He enjoys painting a broad range of subjects from horses to vintage vehicles. He particularly likes to tell the history and stories of men at work. Santiago strives to capture the essence of day-to-day existence, rendering unforgettable figurative images that create a connection between the viewer and the past.
He currently resides in Highland, Utah, with his wife, Elizabeth, and their three budding artists.
Dean Mitchell
Dean Mitchell is known for his figurative works, landscapes, and still life paintings. He is accomplished in watercolors as well as egg temperas, oils, and pastels. Mitchell is a graduate of the Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio. Mitchell’s art hangs in corporate and museum collections across the country including the St. Louis Art Museum, Autry National Center, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Phoenix Art Museum, Buffalo Bill Center of the West and the Library of Congress. The recipient of over 600 awards, he received Gold and Silver Medals from the American Watercolor Society and the Loa Ruth Sprung Award from the National Watercolor Society. Dean won the Premier Platinum Award and the William E. Weiss Award, both awards from the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale in 2013. Recent museum collections include Columbus Museum of Art in Columbus, Ohio and The Butler Institute of American Art in Youngtown, Ohio.
James G. Moore
James (aka Jim) has been working professionally in bronze for the last 22 years. After pursuing a 15 year career as a middle and high school art teacher, Jim decided to make the leap of faith and turn his sideline passion for sculpting into his full time career. The last several years as a full time sculptor have been rewarding and full of adventure. His award winning work is now in public and private collections across the United States, Mexico, and Europe. Jim participates in many shows and is represented by several galleries across the western and mid west states. He lives in central Washington in the city of Wenatchee which is at the base of the cascade mountains at the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia rivers. Jim spends much of his leisure time enjoying the outdoors and observing the animals and natural environment that are so inspirational to his work.
C.W. Mundy*
CW Mundy’s (b1945) artistic interest began early in childhood and has continued on through his life and education. He graduated in 1969 with a Fine Art Degree from Ball State University (IN) and then worked on a Master of Fine Arts at Long Beach State (CA).
Mundy paints on location throughout the U.S. and overseas, and he works out of his studio in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Art memberships include “Master Signature Status”, Oil Painters of America, “Master Status”, American Impressionist Society, and “Fellow”, American Society of Marine Artists.
Among the honors, in 2023, Mundy was recognized with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the Plein Air Convention (PACE 2023) in Denver.
Chris Navarro
National award-winning artist Chris Navarro from Casper, WY and owner of Navarro Gallery and Sculpture Garden in Sedona, AZ has been sculpting professionally since 1986. He is best known for his large monumental sculptures, with over 34 monumental bronze sculptures placed throughout the country. His work is included in 11 museum collections. The author of 4 books Chasing the Wind, Embrace the Struggle, Dare to Dream Big and The Art of Rodeo. He was selected as the Honorary Artist for the 2015 Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale in Cody, WY, 2015 Wyoming Governor’s Art Award and 2018 the Distinguished Alumni Award from Casper College.
Blake Neubert
Blake Neubert’s work has been featured in museums, galleries, public and private collections all over the world. His work has been used in major motion pictures, music videos, advertising for international brands, and the Federal Government.
E. Denney NeVille
E. Denney NeVille earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. NeVille has worked as an illustrator, cartoonist, and in the animation industry. He received Best of Show in 1982 at the C.M. Russell Auction. He was awarded Artists’ Choice Award at the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale in 1997 and 2005, and was one of the Honored Artists in 2011. NeVille did three large paintings for permanent display displayed at the LDS Visitors Center in Cody. In 2017, he was awarded the Peoples' Choice Award in the Buffalo Bill Quick Draw event. NeVille recently published a book of cartoons about art, artists and experiences in the process of learning how to draw, paint and survive creatively.
Ralph Oberg
Ralph Oberg has lived his entire 73 year life in Colorado, New Mexico and Montana. He travels extensively painting plein air studies and returns to his studio for his award winning larger works, including: The 2020 Wilson Hurley Memorial for Landscape at Prix de West, the 2019 Briscoe Museum’s Purchase Award at Night of Artists, the 2014 California Art Club’s Gold Medal, and the 2012 National Museum of Wildlife Arts’ Trustees Purchase Award. He has participated in BBAS for 40 years and has received the 2015 Wells Fargo Gold Award, the 2001 and 2002 Painting Awards, the 1992 and 1996 Juror’s Choice Awards, and the 1988 William Weiss Purchase Award for the Whitney Gallery’s permanent Collection at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. He will take part in the 6th Biennial Woolaroc Retrospective Art Show with 10 other artists in October of this year.
Julie Oriet
Growing up in the Gallatin Valley near Bozeman, Montana, big skies and open spaces have always fascinated Julie Oriet. Her enthusiasm for the West, as well as travels around the world, continue to inspire ideas for future paintings. She paints the subjects she has experienced and studied. Julie participates in numerous national and museum shows each year such as: The Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, C.M. Russel Auction & Exhibition, Cowgirl Up!, Heart of the West at the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall, Small Works, Great Wonder, at the national Cowboy Museum and Hall of Fame. Her paintings are in the permanent collections at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, WY and the Brinton Museum, Big Horn, WY. Her work has been featured in Art of the West, Southwest Art, Western Art Collector, Western Art and Architecture, and Travel Africa.
Joel Ostlind
A self-taught artist, Joel Ostlind was born and raised around Casper, Wyoming. Joel spent 15 years cowboying in Texas, Oregon, Montana, and Wyoming. He tries to incorporate ‘things cowboy’ with his art. “I like to interpret the West: The lights, the land, and the people who move through it.” Known primarily for his drawings and etchings, his paintings convey the same simplicity of design to create maximum effect.
Dustin Payne, CA
Dustin Payne is known for his western portrayal of history in bronze sculpture. With his traditional style, he encapsulates the feeling and detail of the western way of life.
You can find Dustin’s life-size monument honoring the history of the Texas Rangers, “The Legend, The Lore, The Law” at the Texas Rangers Heritage Center in Fredericksburg, Texas.
In 2017 Dustin was inducted into the renowned Cowboy Artists of America, winning the gold medal for sculpture at the 2021 show, as well as the Ray Swanson Memorial Award for “Tales of the Trail”. In 2022, Dustin’s work was shown at The Sons of Charlie Russell Exhibition at the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio.
Vic Payne
Noted western sculptor and artist Vic Payne has been sculpting for 40 years. Vic's artistic approach to sculpting and his attention to detail has been nationally and internationally recognized as being imaginative and innovative, chronicling the life and era of our nation's history. A sculptor of various sizes, including monumental bronzes, Vic's mission is to lead the viewer through an emotional journey telling a story with his art. Whether he is creating wildlife, Native American or Western sculpture his passion is to capture the spirit of the West evoking the pioneering, independent, mystical spirit of the land and its people. In 2013, Payne was awarded the prestigious Premier Platinum Award at the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale for his historical sculpture titled The Gift.
Ben Pease*
Ashdúuptàako Ishtaxíialúuchish (Steals The Guns From Two Enemy Camps) Ben Pease was born in Missoula, MT, in 1989. Paternally, Pease is enrolled with the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. He is a member of the Crow Indian Reservation's Valley of the Chiefs District and grew up in Lodge Grass, MT. He belongs to the Newly Made Lodge Clan and is a child of Newly Made Lodge. Ben is also a Night Hawks Dance Society member, Sweat-Lodge ceremony owner, holder of ancestral medicine paint, sponsor of Sundance, Sundancer, and War-Dancer, and has led the Dance of Seasons three times. Ben has exhibited his work worldwide in Germany, Brazil, Italy, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates. In addition, his work has been widely recognized in various magazines, books, online publications, social media platforms, and news affiliates. In 2022 Pease was awarded the Executive Editor's Choice Award from the Western Art Collector Magazine in conjunction with the C.M. Russell Museum. In March of 2023, the New York Historical Society Museum will open the major exhibition Nature, Crisis, Consequence featuring a masterwork from Pease alongside a seminal work from Albert Bierstadt. His work is also at the center of the prominent exhibition Apsáalooke Women & Warriors, currently at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The Pease studio is downtown in Billings, MT, and is open by appointment only. Ben, his partner Malisha, and their three children, Laetus, Quannah & Alúute, reside in Billings, MT.
Chad Poppleton, CA
Chad Poppleton, a resident of Cache Valley Utah, has been passionate about art and the outdoors for as long as he can remember. His interest began while on the farm and ranch with his father and grandfather working with animals understanding their attitudes, behaviors, and confirmations. Chad’s father, also an artist, taught him how to draw and look at things with an artist’s eye. "Interpreting the behavior and character of each animal in its natural environment is the motivation for my work." In 2018, a life long dream was achieved when Chad was inducted into the Cowboy Artists of America. This is his first year in the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale.
Howard Post
Howard Post's career, you could say began in third grade when his school teacher submitted one of his drawings to the local newspaper. He won the competition and was awarded a yellow toy bulldozer (which he still has today). He is a third-generation Arizonian and grew up on a small ranch near Tucson in southern Arizona. He attended the University of Arizona where he completed his BFA and MFA degrees. In the early 1970s he worked as a graphic designer and illustrator for a variety of clients throughout the United States. After serving on the faculty at both University of Arizona and Arizona State University, he began painting full-time.
He remains true to his western heritage. He still competes in roping competitions throughout the west, yet he still considers himself an artist rather than a cowboy. Foremost is his role as a husband and father. With his wife of 49 years, Marilyn, they have five grown children and 18 grandchildren.
John Potter
A Native of northern Wisconsin, John Potter grew up among the verdant forests and sparkling lakes of the great Northwoods. After graduating from Utah State University with degrees in illustration and painting in the early 1980s, Potter has made his living as a full-time artist. He was 2007 Artist in Residence at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming, and was winner of the Robert Kuhn Award there in 2008. John’s work has been featured in Cowboys and Indians, Southwest Art, and Art of the West magazines, Native American Art magazine and Sporting Classics magazine.
M.C. Poulsen
2023 marks my 50th year anniversary as a professional artis. My career began as a child. There was an innate desire at a very young age to draw and paint and color whenever I could. That desire never diminished but grew and became my identity. My early professional career centered on painting western themes and portraiture as I grew up on a hunting and outfitting ranch. My passion for the outdoors fed my arts as I experienced the fresh air, rambling water, wildlife and cowboy and Indian history. In these later years my focus was on “The Waterfall Project”, paining the waterfalls of the Yellowstone backcountry. I transitioned deeper into what I loved in my early years venturing into areas of wilderness and water that few ever see. This project has spanned a number of years as it takes years to go to these areas on foot and horseback and then draw and sketch on location and then paint them. PBS, Yellowstone Forever, and many sponsors made this project a success. The Booth Museum showcased 40 paintings in 2022 and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West exhibited some of the major pieces in 2022-2023. I am grateful for all the support of those who shared my vision and helped along the way. As I wrap up in the next couple years with a few unfinished threads my mind begins to formulate my next project.
Heide Presse
Scenes of everyday life are among Heide Presse’s favorite subjects, and she uses lighting and rich color to emphasize beauty in the ordinary. Inspired by journals written by overland trail emigrants, she is currently creating a large group of artworks which will be an exhibition in 2023 at the Booth Western Art Museum and in 2024 at the Steamboat Art Museum. Heide received the People's Choice Award in the 2021 Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale. Heide’s work will be featured in a solo show at the Booth Western Art Museum July 1st through December 31st in 2023 and at the Steamboat Art Museum during the summer of 2024.
Kevin Red Star
Kevin Red Star was born on the Crow Indian Reservation in Lodge Grass, Montana. Raised in a family that values art and culture, he developed an early love for drawing and music. Later, he was one of 150 students chosen to attend the newly founded Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Upon graduation, Red Star received a full scholarship to San Francisco Art Institute. He holds honorary doctoral degrees from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana and the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 2018, Kevin was awarded the James R. Parks Trustee Purchase Award at the Autry Museum's Masters of the American West Exhibition. Kevin is well known for his stylized and colorful depictions of American Native people. Kevin supports a theme of We Honor Women of All Nations. Kevin was chosen to paint an original piece for auction in the Maclean Annual Book Festival. Recently Kevin participated for the first time in Night of Artists at the Briscoe Museum in San Antonio, Texas and the Whitney Gallery in the Buffalo Bill Center of the West purchased his piece, “Red Bird”, as an addition to the permanent collection.
Grant Redden, CA
Grant Redden lives and paints in southwestern Wyoming in the rural community of Hilliard with his wife and family. He has studied under the tutelage of several master artists in today’s art world: Mark Daily, Jim Norton, Walt Gonske, Gerald Fritzler, and Gerald Merfeld. He has also immersed himself in the study of deceased artists and such as Sargent, Sorolla, Fechin, and many of the American Impressionists. Growing up working sheep and cattle on his father’s ranch, Grant is familiar with the horse and rural life of the west. Working in oil, watercolor, and occasionally in pastel, he has developed a sensitivity and style all his own but the influence of his mentors is felt in the broad range of textures in his paintings and colors on his pallet. Redden is a member of the Cowboy Artists of America and is returning to the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale this year.
LaQuincey Reed
LaQuincey is an artist and Elected Member of the National Sculpture Society based in Oklahoma City, OK. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BFA in studio art and after graduation worked as an assistant on the Oklahoma Landrun monument. He has been commissioned to complete works for the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Baptist University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Cleveland County courthouse, the Oklahoma State Capitol, the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center and other institutions. Currently, he is working on a life size sculpture of Clara Luper for the Clara Luper Sit-In Plaza Monument in Oklahoma City, OK was selected for the Skirvin Hilton Hotel and Paseo Arts Association Artist in Residence.
Paul Rhymer
In 1984 Paul started at the Smithsonian Institution for 25 years as a taxidermist and model maker. In the tradition of taxidermists both past and present, his personal art evolved from painting to sculpture. His first bronze was cast in 1999. Being an avid hunter, fisher, and birder he has a year round source for inspiration for his work. His work can be found in museums, zoos, parks and private collections throughout the country.
David Fredrick Riley
"After moving to the West over a decade ago, I have become captivated by the landscape, animals and history that abound here. My artwork is how I engage with this awe-inspiring land. My aim is to capture some of the West's spirit, strength and grace to share with others.
A lot of my work is about trying to balance opposing forces. Traditional subject matter presented in a modern way; offsetting realistic handling of form with big, loose blocks of values and shapes; balancing realism with abstraction.” David Frederick Rile
David Frederick Riley is a Wildlife, Western and Portrait Painter. His work is collected nationally and internationally. Riley shows his original paintings with nine of the top Western and Southwestern Galleries in the United States. DFR hosts 6 to 9 solo shows per year, and is one of the top selling Wildlife and Western painters alive today. Riley lives in Midway, Utah with his wife, and fellow artist, Nealy May Riley and their two children Cameron and Ellison.
DFR has been recently featured in Cowboys and Indians Magazine, Western Art and Architecture Magazine and Southwest Art Magazine. This is his 5th year with the Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale.
Charles Ringer
Attracted to metal at an early age, because of its many contrasts, Charles Ringer has worked with steel for more than forty years. His wind-driven sculptures can be found at the Park County Library in Cody, Wyoming and the Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings, Montana. One of his creations was included in an article about the Bozeman Sculpture Park. In 2015, Charles was the Signature Artist for The Red Lodge Art in the Beartooths; he was in Big Sky, Montana, for the Warren Miller Performance Art Show; and his 20-foot buffalo sculpture was installed at Billings’ Logan International Airport. In 2016, Charles lectured at the TEDx in Billings, Montana – Being Creative with the Trial and Error Method.
Scott Rogers
B. 1961 / Mesa, Arizona; Lives Logan, Utah
“Art can be a vehicle, used to inspire mankind to see the beauty of all life,” says Scott Rogers. His sculpture is a unique voice, in the world of 3rd dimensional art, all the while holding to artistic traditions and values. He often depicts men and woman who found themselves in historical settings requiring courage – people who played a role in events larger than themselves. Scott’s work offers an instant conduit to a rich body of knowledge (history, anatomy, emotions, period tack and clothing). He uses shape, shadow and line of silhouette to communicate these elements.
Jeffery B. Rudolph
There is a pure joy that emanates from working with one’s head and hands. I pursued that joy, getting a degree in sculpture, studying anatomy, learning to make molds, carving stone, welding, foundry work, and working with many great artists. There is magic in doing the work of art, but the real magic is found in the timeless struggle to make each work a great epiphany or miracle. My work is simply unveiling God’s hand as it relates to each of His creations from the glory of the soaring eagle, to the tragedy and nobility of mankind. Jeff Rudolph is best known for his stone carvings and monumental designs. Rudolph's work can be seen in collections throughout the United States and Europe. Rudolph was awarded the 3-Dimensional Best of Show in 2020 by a panel of judges for the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale.
David Santillanes
A self taught artist, Dave Santillanes began painting shortly after graduating from Colorado State University with a degree in Graphic Design. But he points to his first plein air excursions as the true beginning of his development as a painter where direct observation allowed for a more precise rendering of color, light and atmosphere. And although studying the physical aspects of nature is important, it isn’t the only reason Dave paints outdoors. He says, “the sensory experience of being there is equally important. There’s no better way to get to really know a place than to sit for a couple of hours and contemplate it while painting. This intense observation brings a spiritual intimacy with the scene that can’t be achieved in mere passing and allows me to “speak” with complete sincerity in each painting.” Dave’s passion for painting has led to a number of recent awards including the Grand Prize at the 9th Annual Plein Air Salon Competition in 2020, the Aritst’s Choice Award at the 2020 Quest for the West Show at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis and First Place in the Landscape Category at the 12th annual International ARC Salon. He’s also won numerous awards for his plein air work and has been featured in Plein Air Magazine, Art of the West Magazine and Southwest Art Magazine.
Greg Scheibel
Greg Scheibel has always felt a strong connection to the outdoors, and he has spent much time hiking, fishing, backpacking, and closely observing the remote locations and unspoiled beauty of the West, which is the main inspiration for his paintings. Scheibel paints on location as much as possible, trying to capture an honest record of the values, color, and feel of an area. The emotional connection to nature, which is the result of these field studies, is the foundation for all of his work.
Sandy Scott
Surrounded by mountains, lakes and streams in her Wyoming and Ontario Lake Country studios, Sandy Scott is an avid outdoors woman, licensed pilot, and lives the life she depicts. Sandy Scott received her formal art training at the Kansas City Art Institute and later worked as an animation background artist for the motion picture industry. She turned her attention to etchings and printmaking in the 1970’s and to sculpture in the 1980’s. Born in Dubuque, Iowa in 1943 and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she is now headquartered in Lander, Wyoming near the foundry that casts her bronzes and she maintains a studio on Lake of the Woods, Ontario, Canada. In Canada her friends Dave and Michelle Beaushane who own Nestor Falls Fly-In Outposts frequently fly her and Trish (her long time friend who manages the business end of things) to remote lakes and portages north of Kenora, Ontario. She has made 16 trips to Alaska and has been to Europe, Russia, China and South America to visit the world’s great museums. She believes wildlife artists should be in the field to accurately present their subject to the viewer. Her work is authentic.
Robert Seabeck
Robert Seabeck paints the western lifestyle as one of many subjects he enjoys painting. Seabeck’s works are included in the collections of the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, the National Museum of Wildlife Art, and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, the Speedway Auto Museum, Lincoln, Nebraska. In 2012, his one-man exhibit Scenes from Kenya was presented at the Bonnell Building in Loveland, Colorado. Bob’s work was included in the Center of the West exhibition at the Booth Museum, Carterville, Georgia. In 2008, his painting won the William E. Weiss Purchase Award at the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale. He is a member of the Society of Animal Artists. Recently, Robert collaborated with his wife to write and illustrate a children’s book which was published in 2020.
Kyle Sims
Kyle Sims was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and graduated from Rocky Mountain college in Billings, Montana. Sims received Best of Show Award in 2009 at the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, and the 2009 Prix de West Major General and Mrs. Don D. Pittmann Wildlife Award. He currently exhibits in the Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale at the Autry National Center in California, where he won the Bob Kuhn Wildlife Award in 2013 and again in 2016. Other honors include Distinguished Young Artist Award from the Society of Animal Artists and the Wildlife Award from Arts for the Parks.
Adam Smith
Born in Edina, Minnesota and raised in Bozeman, Montana, Smith has spent thirty-four years surrounded by the incredible wonders of the western wildlife. His is no stranger to fine art as he is the son of famous artist, Daniel Smith. Yet, make no mistake, this young artist sets himself apart from the competition and has gained much success in the world of art. Adam is an avid traveler and finds inspiration from many trips with his father such as Africa, Alaska, Utah, and dozens of national parks in between. Some of his recent recognition the 2015 People's Choice Award at Western Vision, National Museum of Wildlife Art, 2016 Henry Farny Award, Best Painting at the Quest for the West at the Eiteljorg Museum, and most recently 2017 Cynthia Post Buyers Choice award from the Small Works Great Wonders at the National Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City.
Brett James Smith
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Smith is now considered one of the best painters in his field. Sportsmen nationwide collect his work because it is not only visually exciting, but also authentic, and it brings to bear his intimate knowledge of the sporting experience. Smith has been recognized for his work with the Atlantic Salmon Federation, Friends of NRA, Ruffed Grouse Society, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Ducks Unlimited. He divides his time between homes in northwest Montana and Louisiana.
Matt Smith
Matt Smith was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1960. At an early age he moved to Arizona where he developed his lifelong connection to the Sonoran Desert and the great outdoors. This was a connection that would eventually influence his decision to paint the landscape. As a teenager he also lived two years in France and one year in Switzerland. While in Europe, he had the opportunity to visit many of the great museums which helped solidify his love for art.
In 1985, Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in painting from Arizona State University. Somewhat frustrated with the abstract focus of the program at ASU, he began looking to outside sources for inspiration and guidance. These sources included fellow artists, fine galleries and museums. This is where his “real” education began.
These days, Matt can be found painting en Plein air from southern Arizona to the Canadian Rockies, from the California coast to the Rocky Mountains. “I appreciate traditional landscape painting and I am inspired by the pristine landscapes of the American West. I enjoy working in areas where one can travel for miles without seeing the influence of man. When I paint, I feel I’ve hit the mark when I’ve captured a balance between mood, look and feel.
George D. Smith
George D. Smith was born in Cody, Wyoming. He received a degree in architecture from Montana State University in Bozeman. After a successful stint in architecture, he began painting professionally in 1970. In 2011, George was selected as an Honored Artist for the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale.
Tucker Smith
Tucker Smith spent his early years outside of St. Paul, Minnesota. When he was 12 years old his family relocated to Pinedale, Wyoming at the foot of the Wind River Range. As a child, his artistic skill was already evident, although his family viewed art simply as an avocation. After graduation from college Tucker Smith spent the following eight years as a computer programmer and systems analyst for the State of Montana, painting on a part time basis. He eventually realized that art was his true passion in life and he became a full time professional artist at the age of 31.
Phil Starke
Phil grew up in a military family where he spent several years in Europe and was influenced by the museums and art work he was exposed to. He attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago where he studied figure painting and drawing. After living and painting in the Midwest for a number of years, he and his family moved to Tuscon, AZ. The Southwest, with its vast resources of subject matter, is a great inspiration for his work. Phil takes serval painting trips a year through out the Southwest as well as Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. Aside from the pure joy and excitement of painting his surroundings, Phil's goal in painting is to try and reflect some of God's glory in his creation. Phil teaches workshops around the country and for the Scottdale Artists School and the Tucson Art Academy.
Karmel Timmons
Karmel Timmons lives and works in beautiful Sheridan, Wyoming; a place that has provided endless inspiration, subject matter and a deeper understanding of all things cowboy and western. She has won many awards and has been featured in many publications in her 25-year professional career including Cowboys & Indians, Southwest Art, Western Art Collector, Art of the West and Western Horseman.
Joshua Tobey
Joshua Tobey expresses his passion for wildlife in a creative and personal way through his bronze sculptures, giving each one a distinct character and voice. His original patinas also contribute to the mood and visual texture of each piece. In recent years, the smooth surfaces and patinas of his bronzes have moved his work beyond the limits of Western art, bringing him recognition in the broader world of contemporary art. Tobey has received numerous awards to include the Montana Memorial Prize at the National Sculpture Society 81st Annual Exhibition, the President's Choice Award and the Peoples' Choice Award at the Gilcrease Museum, and the Margaret Hexter Prize at the National Sculpture Society 83rd Annual Exhibition among others.
Kathryn Mapes Turner
Turner is a Jackson Hole native and forth generation of a ranching family. Growing up surrounded by the magnificent beauty of Grand Teton National Park directly influenced her love of the visual world and beauty. Through her oil and watercolor paintings, Turner expresses her passion for the landscape and the natural world. Now nationally recognized and award winning, her work has been featured at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum, American Impressionist Society, National Museum of Wildlife Art, American Academy of Equine Art, and Mountain Living Magazine in the July/August 2023 issue. Turner has a solo exhibition at Turner Fine Art in Jackson, WY in June, 2023.
Clive Tyler
A Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society, Tyler works in soft pastel. He won the 2015 Best Painting at the Buffalo Bill Quick Draw and was honored with the 2012 Peoples' Choice Award. Recently winning 2015 Best of Show for pastel at the American Impressionist National Show, he also received the 2013 Award of Painting Excellence. He continues to earn recognition in national magazines for pastel, Impressionism and Western art. Tyler's works can be found in private and corporate collections, as well as in collections at the Booth and Brinton Museums.
Michael Ome Untiedt
Born and raised in rural southeastern Colorado, Michael Ome Untiedt maintains a studio in Denver. Visiting various locations, studies the history, stories and mythologies of the people living in the area and then incorporates this into imagery that a twenty first century psychology can identify with. Through the color, brush strokes, and symbolic subject matter of his paintings, he attempts to examine the human predicament and its connections to legacy and heritage. Michael has participated in numerous shows including the Eiteljorg Museums, Quest for the West, The Russell Art Show & Sale, Settlers West Miniatures Show and Great American West Show, Western Masters Art Show & Auction, The Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, Briscoe Museums Night of Artists, and the Masters in Montana.
Michele Usibelli
Granddaughter of both Italian and French emigrants, I feel I was born to create. After earning my degree in Architecture from the University of Washington I combined my professional life with my love of travel. My extensive travels and life experiences provide the solid platform from which my artwork is created.
My early training established a strong foundation in the Russian Impressionist tradition of seeing and painting shapes of light and color using relatively loose brushstrokes. I have studied extensively and have been influenced by numerous historic artists, most notably Nicolai Fechin, John Singer Sargent and William Merritt Chase. These influences have allowed me to establish my own unique artistic style and define me as a truly versatile artist.
While I am drawn to many painting genres; still life, landscape, cityscape, figurative and wildlife-it’s my individual style and paint application that creates and maintains the constant theme throughout my work. I strive for consistency of style that is uniquely my own. Collector’s continuously say that they can “spot my work from across the room”.
As a professional artist, establishing my own, unique, artistic voice is my primary goal.
Dustin Van Wechel
Dustin Van Wechel has earned numerous distinctions including the 2015 Premier Platinum Award at the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, the 2022 & 2015 Bob Kuhn Award for Wildlife at the Masters of the American West Show, and the Wildlife Award and Teton Lodge Company Award at the 2006 Arts for the Parks. Dustin has been featured in Art of the West, Western Art Collector, Southwest Art, The Artist’s Magazine, The Pastel Journal, and Drawing Magazine. His work has been exhibited nationally in one-man shows, group exhibitions and museums including the National Museum of Wildlife Art, the Autry National Center, the Booth Museum, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, The Brisco Museum of Western Art, and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Paul Waldum
Paul Waldum, a native of Livingston, MT, developed an appreciation for nature as a boy while hiking and climbing mountains near his hometown. The memories of those adventures left lasting sketches in his mind. Waldum's paintings have appeared at the Brinton Museum, Big Horn, WY; the Yellowstone Are Museum Invitational, Billings, MT; the Nicholaysen Art Museum, Casper, WY; and the C.M. Russell Museum, Great Falls, MT. Waldum received the Wells Fargo Gold Award at the 2012 Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale, Cody, WY. In 2018, Paul had a one-person show at the Brinton Museum. Also in 2018, Paul donated a 60"x96" oil painting of the Missouri River for the new Norm Asbjornson Hall at Montana State University. Paul is a professor in the Honors College at Montana State University. In 2021 he was awarded the Spirit of Discovery Award through the Honors College. Paul and his wife live in Livingston, Montana.
Don Weller
Painting cowboys has led to many adventures on horseback, in college rodeos and later horse contests, and on ranches. Images created along the way are the scattered tracks on that lifelong path and are collected in a visual memoir: Don Weller Tracks. It won the 2020 Western Heritage Award from The National Cowboy Museum. In 2019, he was surprised with an honorary doctorate from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
Max Werner
Max Werner was born in Ghent, Belgium, studied Fine Art in London at the Slade School of Art. He later taught etching at the same school, until he moved to Argentina having been commissioned by a gallery in Buenos Aires to do a series of paintings about Argentina's rural landscapes and the gaucho-cattle culture prevalent in that country. When the project was completed, looking for subject matter, Max naturally drifted toward Wyoming, where he now lives and works. In 2003 Max was commissioned by the prestigious Household Cavalry, Queen Elizabeth II's personal regiment, to do a painting to commemorate a ceremony attended by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in Whitehall in London.
Skip Whitcomb
M. W. "Skip" Whitcomb, an accomplished plein air painter, draftsman and printmaker, studied at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. He is the two-time winner of both the Artists' Choice Award at the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, and the Red Smith Memorial Award at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming. Whitcomb has also won the Grand Prize in Pastel Journal's International Competition. His paintings have been included in exhibitions organized by the National Academy of Design in New York City, the Gilcrease Museum of the Americas in Tulsa, OK, the Prix de West in Oklahoma City, and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, WY among many others. He is a signature member of the Plein Air Painters of America and is represented by the Simpson-Gallagher Gallery in Cody, WY and the Wood River Fine Art in Ketchum, ID. He maintains a studio in Fort Collins, CO.
Jim Wodark*
Jim was born in 1958 in Denver, Colorado but grew up near the flatirons. Both of his parents are artistic and he was tremendously influenced by them and the natural beauty of the environment. Cartooning was his first love and he worked in that field for 15 years. In 1990 Jim moved to California and a few years later met his wife, Julie. It was at this time that he began to paint with oils. The birth of their first child, Clint in 1998, focused his desire to paint while being a stay at home dad. In 2000 they had twin girls, Sophia and Gwen. Believe it or not this helped him focus even more! For the last 20 years he has been able to paint everyday and has had great growth and success. Jim paints both “En Plein Air” (on location from life) and in the studio. “I want to inspire and be inspired through painting. To bring beauty into people’s lives. I have been blessed with a passion to create. I am thankful that people respond to my work and that it makes a difference in their homes and businesses. Everyday I look forward to what I will paint next."
Dennis Ziemienski
Dennis has spent the last many years, after a successful New York illustration career, concentrating on painting his love of the West; from the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains and into the cultures of the Southwest. Dennis’ work is in the permanent collections of The Whitney Western Art Museum at The Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Tucson Museum of Art, Booth Western Art Museum, Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West and Bakersfield Museum of Art. Recently, American Art Collector Magazine featured his painting "Desert Dive” on the Feb. 2023 cover!