D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • W I N T E R 2 0 1 9
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THE ONE THING WE NOTICE ABOUT YOUR WORK IS THAT
IS UNMISTAKABLE. UNLIKE MANY ARTISTS, YOU KNOW A
PIRNIE WORK WHEN YOU SEE IT. WHY IS THAT?
People say my color makes my paintings stand out.
I think that was true in the beginning of my painting
career, 40 years ago when most Western art was painted
in more earthy color harmonies. Now, when so many
artists are painting the West with bright colors, I think
the immediate recognition so many people have with
my paintings is because the visual personality that comes
through the playful style is expressed by the 'kid' in me. I
hope not to lose the 'kid' in pursuit of new focus in my art.
YOU BEGAN YOUR CAREER AS AN ARTIST WITH SUBDUED
COLORS, BUT NOW YOUR COLORING IS STRIKINGLY VIVID.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT TRANSITION?
In the first six years of painting my West I emulated
what I thought was the universal style of a western artist,
realistic rendering of cowboys and horse in very muted
colors. I spent a long time in my seventh year contemplat-
ing returning to advertising because I wasn't having any
fun painting. I made a list of art and artists who I admired
that weren't considered Western artists. I then wrote down
adjectives that described what I liked about those works.
e two words that best described all my choices were
BOLD and COLORFUL. Exactly what my paintings
weren't. It was after this discovery that I started having
fun painting and I discovered a traveling partner through
every one of my creations: MY KID!
PIRNIE WILL BE THE FIRST
TO TELL YOU, IT ONLY GETS PUT ON CANVAS
IF IT BRINGS OUT THE KID IN HIM.
Welcome Home
Firefighter
Fall Streamer
