Charles Goodnight (1836-1929) was a cattleman and, literally, a trail blazer as he drove cattle from Texas, West to New Mexico and North to Colorado and Wyoming. He also invented the chuck wagon to provide food and other provisions on the long cattle drives. Ranch life isn’t all cattle rustling and bronco busting. There are quiet times too. Goodnight said, “When the ranch is in peace, no other life is more perfect.”
The Legacy Gallery, Spring After Rain, oil, 16 x 20", by Cyrus Afsary.
Cyrus Afsary paints the refreshing results of spring rain, the clouds dissipating, the grass a vibrant green and the stream flowing freely through the pasture. He studied with artists influenced by the Russian approach to painting—broad brushes and loosely-applied paint. He says, “Brushwork in the corners and along the edges of the canvas show you that it is a painting, not a photograph.” He also brings in the vast array of colors in the landscape and says, “If I were a piano player, I would not play only part of the keyboard. It’s the same with painting. I use a variety of colors.”
Trailside Galleries, The New Mother, oil on canvas, 24 x 36", by Robert Duncan.
Maxwell Alexander Gallery, The Old Fiddler, oil, 20 x 20", by Danny Galieote.
Robert Duncan experienced life on the ranch spending summers on his grandparent’s 10,000-acre cattle ranch in Wyoming. It was his grandmother who gave him his first set of paints. In 1982, he was the youngest person invited to join Cowboy Artists of America. In The New Mother, he captures the same refreshing light as Afsary in the lush green pasture that will nourish the cow and its calf. His bucolic, nostalgic scenes recall another era. He says, “I’m interested in the ways we are all alike and feelings that are universal. I also paint out of concern that we are losing sight of things that have a profound impact on our souls and well-being. We all need a bit of nature in our lives.”
J Watson Fine Art, Sunrise Rendezvous, oil on canvas, 24 x 36", by Robert Duncan.
J Watson Fine Art, The Crossing, oil on canvas, 36 x 48", by Judee Dickinson.
Danny Galieote refers to his paintings as “Pop American Regionalism.” The blend of Renaissance painting and the American art of the ’40s is apparent, but the paintings are of today with “a modern vibe,” he says. Galieote looks back and discovers universal occasions, experiences, feelings, as common then as today. He comments about The Old Fiddler, “On a cold winter night...He played some soft fiddle tunes into the wee hours of the morning until his soul was full. I guess we all have our little place of happiness or bliss, and for Old Joe this was his...” After a lifetime of working on the ranch, Joe is at peace in his old cabin warmed by the fire as the snow piles up outside.
Moving through this new collector’s focus, readers will find themselves transported to yet more bucolic scenes of countryside living, horses and cattle—and the all-at-once vivacious, endlessly busy and serene lives of those who live on the ranch.
EnPleinAirTEXAS, Water Wheel, oil, 12 x 12", by Antwan Ramar.
J Watson Fine Art, Line Riders, oil on canvas, 26 x 38", by G. Harvey (1933-2017).
Don Woodard creates “fine art in wood” and feels honored to be recognized for creating a non-traditional style of artwork. “My bas-relief, mixed media style of art allows me to blend detailed wood carving with fine painting, which is being well received by art collectors,” he says.
Woodard’s subject matter includes Western and ranch scenes of people and animals, as well as landscapes, sunsets, florals and more. “Creating three-dimensional artwork is my passion,” says Woodard. Many of his Western scenes are inspired by events that have taken place during the many pack-horse trips he has led into the Rocky Mountain wilderness, which he has been guiding for over 40 years.
Artist Brienne Brown paints a watercolor piece on a ranch during the 2020 EnPleinAirTEXAS.
EnPleinAirTEXAS, Oldest Ranch House, oil on canvas, 18 x 18", by Nancy Tankersley.
James Andrews, View from the Saddle, oil on canvas, 14 x 11"
One of the premier plein air painting competitions in the country is EnPleinAirTEXAS. The event distinguishes itself from the hundreds of other similar events with its focus on artist access to historic private family ranches, and this year, a new event with a limited number of tickets will allow the public to experience a day on the ranch watching the artists paint.
Each year, EnPleinAirTEXAS artists paint on a seemingly endless supply of area ranches and farms, further immersing collectors and event-goers into the world of ranch life. Three to four sites on each ranch are mapped out with opportunities to paint along the way as well, with ranch vehicles that transport the artists around. This year’s “Field Ranch Experience Paint-out with the Artists,” proudly sponsored by Western Art Collector, welcomes ticket-holders to the Field Ranch, owned by Jennifer and Tim Crutchfield. 
Don Woodard, Steam Tractor at Work, bas-relief, butternut wood, 22 x 30½"
Jim E. Miller, Hereford Stare, acrylic on canvas 24 x 30"
Don Woodard, The Homestead, bas-relief, linden wood, 21 x 32½"
Texas Ranches hold a special place in painter Jim E. Miller’s heart and play a major role in the artist’s subject reference. “I like to experience these animals and wild places in person so I feel a connection to them,” says the artist. “For me, where there is a connection you find emotion. I try to create paintings that convey my connections, in hopes that the viewers experience the same emotion.”
JaNeil Anderson was raised on a farm in Southern New Mexico, always surrounded by cowboys and cattle ranches, which her uncles owned and worked on. Anderson now lives on the third generation ranch of her husband’s family in Southern New Mexico, located on the Gila River. She works side-by-side with her husband, family and friends on her own ranch as well as neighboring ranches, continuously gaining inspiration from these experiences. The artist paints authentic working cowboy paintings of the jobs at hand or behind the scenes. She will be participating in The Russell show and sale in August.
James Andrews, Talking With an Old Friend, oil on panel, 24 x 18"
JaNeil Anderson, Going Nowhere, oil, 12 x 16"
JaNeil Anderson, Everything But Quits, oil, 20 x 20"
J Watson Fine Art exhibits original works of art by many of the top Western artists including works by historical artists such as Frederic Remington and contemporary Western artists including G. Harvey, Martin Grelle, Kyle Polzin, Morgan Weistling and more.
“I am heavily influenced by the spirit and fortitude of the ranch families who live and prosper on the expansive Great Plains, riding good horses and surviving through their own grit and determination,” says Minnesota-born artist Raymond Wattenhofer. “My Western art captivates the imagination of the viewer, illuminating the alluring beauty of the immense open ranch country cascading across the American West and encourages one to bring it into their personal space.”
Raymond Wattenhofer, Pending Storm, oil on linen, 30 x 20"
Jim E. Miller, Something’s in the Air, oil on canvas 18 x 24"
Raymond Wattenhofer, Tails to the Wind, oil on linen, 26½ x 40"
Growing up on a ranch has been a major influence in James Andrews’ life. “Early on I developed a love for the ranch and a deep appreciation for the history of the West,” he says. “This is one of the biggest inspirations behind my paintings. It drives me to paint so I can share my passion for the themes of the West with others. I have a rule that I have stuck with since I started painting—I paint what I’m passionate about. That would be my advice to collectors as well. They should buy what they love and are passionate about. If you buy art you connect with, you will never go wrong.” —
Featured Artists & Galleries
EnPleinAirTEXAS
San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts
1 Love Street, San Angelo, TX 76903
(325) 656-2500, paint@enpleinairTEXAS.com
www.enpleinairtexas.com
Don Woodard ARTWORKS
12712 Lowell Boulevard, Broomfield, CO 80020
(303) 430-1986, www.donwoodard.com
James Andrews
Nampa, ID, (208) 353-2325
www.leaningeaselfineart.com
JaNeil Anderson
263 Anderson Road, Redrock, NM 88055
(575) 542-9752, janeil.anderson56@gmail.com
www.janeilanderson.com
Jim E. Miller
(281) 782-5549, james007twi@gmail.com
www.jimemillerart.com
J Watson Fine Art
(661) 476-7558, www.jwatsonfineart.com
Maxwell Alexander Gallery
406 W. Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90015,
(213) 275-1060, www.maxwellalexandergallery.com
Raymond Wattenhofer
www.raymondwattenhofer.com
The Legacy Gallery
7178 Main Street, Scottsdale, Arizona 85251
(480) 945-1113, www.legacygallery.com
Trailside Galleries
Jackson, WY, (307) 733-3186
Scottsdale, AZ, (480) 945-7751
www.trailsidegalleries.com
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