W W W. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA NA . C O M
47
WHEN DID YOU FIRST REALIZE THAT YOU
HAD A PASSION FOR ART, AND HOW HAS
THAT CHANGED IN EXPRESSING THAT PAS-
SION OVER THE YEARS?
As a child I was "horse crazy"
and sketched horses, horses, and
more horses. I didn't realize
I could survive financially with a
career in fine art even though it
was a passion of mine.
Then when a young adult, I ran
into my 4th grade teacher, Mrs.
Russell. She asked me if I had pur-
sued a career in art. When I told
her I had not, she expressed her
disappointment and told me she
had saved all my drawings and
shown them to her classes over
the years. This was a defining mo-
ment for me. I began an oil paint-
ing class. A year later, I entered
the C. M. Russell Art Auction,
had a painting accepted, and that
propelled me into the western art
world, where I soon was exhibit-
ing, showing, and quick-drawing at
approximately 12 to 14 art shows
and auctions a year. My passion for
art has remained strong over the
last 37 years because I believe that
once it's "in your blood," it will
always be there.
I've come full circle with subject
matter. I started with sketching
horses, but when my portraiture
took off, it seemed like I never had
time to paint horses unless it was a
commissioned equestrian portrait.
My mother used to say, "I can't
believe you don't paint horses
because that was all you drew as
a child." I assured her and others
that I would get back to my roots
by portraying ranch life. That's
where I'm at now, ranch- inspired
series, and mustang series.
W
orld
of
A
rtistic
E
xpressi
on
Good Morning Beautiful, Mighty Missouri Series, pastel "Inspired by looking out my studio window"
Colter, "The son of a Montana outfitter"
