William Blake wrote, “To see a world in a grain of sand, or heaven in a wildflower. Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour.” The smallest item in nature can reveal the vastness of the world.
Our perception of space, no matter how vast, is comparable to the area we can see when we make a rectangular frame with our fingers. Artists can expand that area to a number of inches or feet and give us the sensation of actually being in the space. They can create depth by manipulating color and light, with detail in the foreground and soft edges in the distance. They reduce the multitude of nuances in nature to those that will convey a sense of the place or a mood they choose to convey. At other times, they maintain detail even at the smallest scale.
Maxwell Alexander Gallery, Growing Shadows, oil, 12 x 12", by Josh Elliott
The Legacy Gallery, Grizzly, bronze, ed. of 100, 5¾ x 7¾ x 3", by Tim Shinabarger
The Sportsman’s Gallery/Paderewski Fine Art, Carved and Patinated Bronze Grouse Buckle, bronze, 1¾ x 2¾", by Ansell Bray.
Claggett/Rey Gallery, Cutthroat Fooled by Royal Wulff, oil, 9 x 12", by James Morgan
Like many wildlife artists, Ansell Bray is an avid sportsman. Educated at the Art Institute of Chicago, he spends summers outdoors in Nova Scotia, increasing his understanding of wildlife in their natural environment. All of Bray’s work is small—pendants and belt buckles and pins. His Carved and Patinated Bronze Grouse Buckle measures 1¾ by 2¾ inches, the flying bird rendered in detail in bronze.
Tim Shinabarger sculpts lifesize bears as well as the roughly 6-inch-high bronze, Grizzly. He has worked in taxidermy, been a guide and backcountry ranger and has spent weeks trailing grizzly bears and migrating caribou. His deep familiarity with his subjects allows him to model their distinct characteristics with detail and accuracy. One of the characteristics of bronzes cast from clay is its ability to maintain the marks made by sculpting tools and the artist’s hands, adding another layer of vitality to the final piece.
Claggett/Rey Gallery, Wapiti, bronze, multiple sizes: 8 x 7 x 3", 19 x 19 x 9", by Tim Shinabarger
Darcie Peet, Drifting Dawn Storm, oil, 10 x 10"
Gibby Bronze, Wings of Protection, bronze, ed. of 25, 6 x 8 x 6", by Raymond Gibby
Claggett/Rey Gallery, Almost In, oil, 13 x 17", by Kent Lemon.
Josh Elliott uses the same principles in his 12-by-12-inch Growing Shadows as he does in his larger paintings—strong, quickly readable forms and contrasts of light and shadow to give depth. The shadowed rock establishes the foreground as the eye moves toward the sunlit cliff, which is given dimensionality by dark shadows. He says, “I don’t paint every detail and often I play up the reflected light.” With few details, in a small space, he conveys a convincing sense of being there and the awe he feels when he is out in the landscape.
In the pages of this special section, collectors can dive into a menagerie of other tiny treasures of the West, from wild beasts of North America, to figures of the West, to majestic landscapes rendered in miniature form.
Charisse Rudolph looks to connect with what she paints, creating bright, contemporary art with a Western flare. “Everything happens for you, not to you,” Rudolph muses. “Did this deer want a bird [to land] on his face? Not necessarily, but what good came out of it? Perhaps, he found gratitude in the bird blocking the bright sunshine from his eyes or maybe the bird was keeping the flies away from his face. Whatever circumstance we experience, it is up to us to look for gratitude.”
Betty Jean Billups, Down River, oil, 12 x 8"
Gibby Bronze, Fat and Happy, bronze, ed. of 25, 9 x 6 x 9", by Raymond Gibby
Manitou Galleries, Summer Cottonwoods, oil, 6 x 6", by Brad Teare
Manitou Galleries, Small Horned Owl IV, bronze, open edition, 5 x 5 x 3", by Jim Eppler
Claggett/Rey Gallery in Edwards, Colorado, represents some of the best painters and sculptors working in Western art today. “There is nothing more gratifying than finding a little gem to add to your collection. Be it a reminder of adventurous events or a pleasing composition that you can’t leave behind, small works of art should always be considered,” says gallery owner Maggie DeDecker. Among the artists represented by the gallery are Kent Lemon, James Morgan and Shinabarger. “These three artists are constantly capturing nature and the creatures that inhabit its confines,” says DeDecker. “There is always room for a small treasure in everyone’s collection.”
Cindy Sorley-Keichinger, Morning on the Maligne, acrylic, 7 x 12"
Manitou Galleries, Warm Springs, oil on linen, 9 x 12", by Nicholas Coleman
Cindy Sorley-Keichinger, Afternoon Glide, acrylic, 6 x 12"
Gibby Bronze, Mr. Horny Toad, bronze, ed. of 35, 2½ x 5¾ x 3¾", by Raymond Gibby.
Cindy Sorley-Keichinger, Autumn Snooze, acrylic, 11 x 14"
An oil painting of stunning color, Drifting Dawn Storm by Darcie Peet captures a scene in Glacier National Park at sunrise. “Having hiked Glacier National Park several times over the years, my favorite side of the park has been the east side or Many Glacier area. This day, up before dawn, below Many Glacier Lodge and with Grinnell Point towering off to our left, we walked the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake waiting for the sun to rise...Slowly the overnight storm began to recede as dawn turned breaking clouds soft peach, while across the lake dominant Mt. Wilbur was set aglow,” she says of the story behind the piece.
“My greatest joy [is] capturing the beauty of nature while I’m in that landscape,” says painter Betty Jean Billups, “as nature rushes by in a small flowing creek!”
Carly Quinn, Firehorse on Silver, hand-painted ceramic tiles in metal frame, 12 x 12"
Charisse Rudolph, It’s All Good, alcohol ink, 18 x 18"
Carly Quinn, Watercolor Horse, hand-painted, kiln-fired ceramic tile, 3 x 6"
Leah Lucas, Valle Escondido Pond, oil, 8 x 16"
Charisse Rudolph, In the Wild, alcohol ink, 20 x 16"
Ceramic artist Carly Quinn’s work is a result of years of trial and error in the medium of ceramic glazes. “These pieces are painted and kiln fired to achieve the sort of blending that one would see in a watercolor,” she says of her work.
For artist and collector Gary Byrd, painting the West is simply “what I do.” He says, “My wife and I are also collectors, and we know that new collectors can begin small and grow a quality collection over time. Established collectors can find that space for a piece that they enjoy.”
Carly Quinn, Watercolor Feather, hand-painted, kiln-fired ceramic tile, 6 x 3"
Gary Byrd, Indigenous Modern, oil on panel, 16 x 20"
Trailside Galleries, With an Urgent Message, oil, 12 x 9", by Z.S. Liang.
Gary Byrd, Trap Canyon and a Mustang, oil on linen, 16 x 20"
Gary Byrd, Always Loyal to the Brand, oil on linen, 20 x 16"
Raymond Gibby of Gibby Bronze distills accurate form as well as playfulness and personality in his wildlife subjects. “I find that nostalgia can play an important role in creating smaller works,” he says. “I find that people like to hold these small works in their hands and even close to their hearts as they reminisce about their childhood. It is also easy for me to want to create small works on a personal level because they don’t require a long time commitment, relatively speaking. This allows me to self indulge just a bit by creating works that remind myself of fond memories with the little critters that I discovered as a child.”
Cindy Sorley-Keichinger of Golden K Studio is a wildlife and nature artist from Alberta, Canada. “Nature is ever changing and so, never boring,” she says. “It is also calming, and there are studies that [show] people actually stay healthier and calmer with nature art on their walls. All reasons why I love to paint nature.” She is represented by Picture This! Gallery in Alberta.
Pamela Winters, Rights to the Harem, bronze, 8 x 3 x 2¾"
Leah Lucas, High Noon at Golden, oil, 6 x 8"
Trailside Galleries, Mountain Goats, acrylic on board, 12 x 8", by Ezra Tucker. 
Trailside Galleries, Vicarage Lane, watercolor, 9 x 12," by Ian Ramsay
For Leah Lucas, it’s not necessary to have a huge canvas when painting a landscape, despite the fact that many might think an expansive landscape would require at least a four-by-five-foot canvas to capture its scope. “Often the smallest of paintings [can] evoke the intensity that wide spaces command,” she says. “I think we view paintings of different sizes differently. Often, by its very nature of being tiny, the viewer is pulled in—compelled to concentrate longer on the scene...I love it when my collectors find they can purchase several [small works] to combine as a vignette. And because they are small and easily moved, they travel around various walls more often, which provides different light opportunities [and] ever-changing moods.” Lucas is represented by Bryans Gallery in Taos, New Mexico.
Leah Lucas, Cold Moon, oil, 8 x 16"
Naomi Brown, On Top of the World, oil on museum board, 11 x 17"
Naomi Brown, Thoughtful, oil on museum board, 10 x 8"
Naomi Brown, Winslow Ravens, acrylic on canvas, 11 x 14"
Acosta Strong Fine Art, Descanso, oil on canvas, 12 x 9", by Ernesto Gutierrez
A treasure trove for collectors, art lovers and gift givers, Manitou Galleries’ upcoming Annual Small Works Show includes small works with no restrictions on materials or subject matter. Running December 3 to 27, the exhibition will feature work by guest artists and by gallery favorites. The gallery “celebrates small works...because it is a great way to discover new artists, it is a venue for collectors to purchase original artwork at a wonderful price, and also a vehicle to appreciate the importance of small works in the art world.” The small works exhibition will showcase paintings at 12 by 12 inches or smaller, as well as sculpture and jewelry.
A painter of the landscapes of the Southwest, Naomi Brown is drawn to the stunning colors of the desert. “I really enjoy living in Arizona and capturing those warm, desert colors in my work that make the Southwest a place your heart wants to be,” says Brown.
The Plainsmen Gallery, Mystic Warrior, oil, 12 x 9", by David Yorke
Pamela Winters, Morning Run, bronze, 13 x 9½ x 2¾"
Acosta Strong Fine Art, Se Vende Paltas, oil on canvas, 12 x 9", by Ernesto Gutierrez
Sally Ruddy, Sunflower Welcome, oil on canvas, 11 x 14"
Acosta Strong Fine Art located on Santa Fe’s Canyon Road, represents the artwork of Ernesto Gutierrez, who creates vibrant and engaging scenes capturing moments and scenes from the streets of Peru. “Ernesto draws inspiration from his Peruvian heritage, the colorful markets and fiestas are in full display in his current works. We are pleased to show Ernesto Gutierrez exclusively at Acosta Strong,” says Carlos Acosta, co-owner of Acosta Strong Fine Art. He adds, “We are [also] proud to represent…well-established to emerging artists along with a collection of historic paintings, so it’s a nice mix of old and new. Our small work show will be representative of all of our wonderful artists, plus a few other surprises.”
By omitting finer details in the scenery, California-based oil painter Sally Ruddy creates settings that are otherworldly, transporting her viewers into her intimate memories of family and self. Her paintings vibrate with color and intrinsic emotion, with soft brushstrokes and an airy blending of colors. “Find what you love,” says the artist. “That small gem that speaks to you.”
Sally Ruddy, Rhododendron, oil on canvas, 11 x 14"
Susan Kliewer, Running Free, bronze, limited ed. of 35, 11 x 17 x 8"
Susan Kliewer, Leading the West, bronze, limited ed. of 45, 9 x 13 x 6"
Bronze artist Susan Kliewer is represented by Mountain Trails Gallery in Sedona, Arizona. “I have such fun doing small pieces, even though they are as detailed and complex as larger ones. For collectors that are running out of space, small bronzes are perfect to bring the rich culture and history of the West into your life,” says Kliewer.
Acosta Strong Fine Art, Cajamarca, oil on canvas, 13 x 14", by Ernesto Gutierrez
Born just south of the Adirondack Mountains and now living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, sculptor Pamela Winters has always had a love for both animals and people. Her ability to render detail and emotion into her work has drawn collectors nationwide and translating the beauty of the created world into inspiring and lasting works is her joy. “The lasting beauty of bronze sculpture,” she says, “allows you to bring a bit of the natural world into your home in a tangible way.”
Sally Ruddy, Gerbera Daisy, oil on canvas, 11 x 14"
Shirley Quaid, The Hand, oil, 24 x 12"
The Plainsmen Gallery showcases the artwork of internationally collected artist David Yorke, whose portraits capture the subtle nuances of his subjects, drawing collectors in. “Small works can make an interesting and lively addition to your collection!” says Jill Berry of the Plainsmen Gallery.
Collectors can dive into Trailside Galleries’ Deck the Walls, its annual holiday small works show beginning November 15 and continuing through December 18. Featuring work from more than 60 acclaimed artists, this event is one of the most eagerly anticipated exhibitions at the gallery each year, offering a mixture of small artworks including paintings, mixed media and sculpture with a wide variety of subjects from Western to landscape to wildlife, and much more.
Susan Kliewer, Buckaroo Man, bronze, limited ed. of 45, 13 x 8 x 8"
Shirley Quaid, Been Waitin’, oil, 24 x 12"
Shirley Quaid has felt a kinship with the 1800s since she was a young girl, devouring every book she could find on the subject while in elementary school. “It seems only logical that I should choose that subject to paint. I enjoy representations of that time period, and I find the characters fascinating,” says Quaid. “My advice to collectors is to find artwork that they really love and will enjoy for years, regardless of who the artist may be. It is a gift that they can pass down through the generations.” —
Featured Artists & Galleries
Acosta Strong Fine Art
200 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 453-1825, www.acostastrong.com
Betty Jean Billups
bj@bettybillups.com, www.bettybillups.com
Carly Quinn
Carly Quinn Designs, 730 S. Russell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701,
(520) 624-4117, www.carlyquinndesigns.com
Charisse Rudolph
Charisse Fine Art, www.charissefineart.com
Cindy Sorley-Keichinger
Golden K Studio, goldfarm@telusplanet.net
www.goldenkstudio.com
Claggett/Rey Gallery
216 Main Street, Suite C-100, Edwards, CO 81632
www.claggettrey.com
Darcie Peet
www.darciepeet.com
Gary Byrd
Gary Byrd Fine Art, 21 Broken Arrow Place, Sandia Park, NM 87047,
(505) 407-2038, www.garybyrdfineart.com
Gibby Bronze
Raymond Gibby, (479) 586-7645
gibbybronze@gmail.com, www.gibbybronze.com
Leah Lucas
Alberta, Canada; Taos, NM
leahmlucas@hotmail.com, www.leahlucasfineart.com
Manitou Galleries
123 W. Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501
www.manitougalleries.com
Maxwell Alexander Gallery
406 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 275-1060, www.maxwellalexandergallery.com
Naomi Brown
(760) 885-8235, www.naomibrownart.com
Paderewski Fine Art
info@paderewskifineart.com
www.paderewskifineart.com
Pamela Winters
Pamela Winters Sculptures
pamela@winterssculptures.com
www.winterssculptures.com
Sally Ruddy
info@sallyruddy.com, www.sallyruddy.com
Shirley Quaid
32241 E. County Road 1660, Wynnewood, OK 73098,
(405) 788-5062, www.shirleyquaid.com
Susan Kliewer
P.O. Box 897, Sedona, AZ 86339
(928) 282-4612, dolanjeff7@gmail.com
The Legacy Gallery
7178 Main Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480) 945-1113, www.legacygallery.com
The Plainsmen Gallery
2141 Main Street, Suite H, Dunedin, FL 34698
(727) 734-8200, www.plainsmen.com
The Sportsman’s Gallery
165 King Street, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 727-1224, info@sportsmansgallery.com
www.sportsmansgallery.com
Trailside Galleries
Jackson, WY, (307) 733-3186
Scottsdale, AZ, (480) 945-7751
www.trailsidegalleries.com
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