G. Russell Case, Early Risers, oil, 30 x 50 in. Available at the Prix de West, Oklahoma City, OK.

One artist who has followed in those famous footsteps is G. Russell Case, the Utah painter who has brought renewed interest in the landscapes of the desert. Case is an expert at showing scale, with sweeping vistas that command viewers’ attention through sheer reverence. Amid the sagebrush and gentle hills of his compositions are usually several figures painted with half a dozen brushstrokes, their tiny bodies giving weight to the immense scale of the land and sky. Case will be debuting new work at this year’s Prix de West at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City beginning May 31. One of his new pieces is Early Risers, which is based on a “place called Red Mountain, still with working ranches and wide-open range. It seems like it is always sunny there, with a usual hint of cloud,” Case says about the work. 

Top: Legacy Gallery, Flowing to the Light, oil, 30 x 40 in., by Bill Davidson.  Bottom: Legacy Gallery, Sandstone Cliffs and Cottonwoods, oil, 36 x 40 in., by Kenny McKenna; Cody Country Chamber of Commerce, Amidst the Glory, Psalm 37:5, oil, 24 x 36 in., by Thomas Kegler.

Another artist who has been exploring the subjects of canyons and deserts is Jeff Cochrane, who shows some of his work at Manitou Galleries in Santa Fe, New Mexico. One of his newest pieces is The Dream to be Complete, a landscape shattered into a kaleidoscope of color and shapes. Cyndi Hall, the general manager at Manitou, calls Cochrane a brilliant artist and notes, “This is a new look for Jeff and we love it.” The artist is at an exciting part of his career, with a noticeable shift in his studio. Earlier work was looser, impressionist pieces with thick impasto curling up off the canvas. With The Dream to be Complete, the artist shows why he’s someone to follow.

Manitou Galleries, The Dream to be Complete, oil on canvas, 64 x 74 in., by Jeff Cochran. 

Another artist doing major work in the area of canyons and deserts is Brett Allen Johnson, whose work will next appear at La Luz de Taos, which is now open at the Couse-Sharp Historic Site in Taos, New Mexico. “Above the River is a depiction of the Rio Grande Gorge in the Taos Valley, with Sangre de Cristo mountains in the background,” Johnson says. “I love the area and the culture, and I’m always happy to support the Couse Foundation’s mission to keep the Taos Society relevant.” The work will be available to purchase at the sale portion of La Luz de Taos on June 14 and 15. 

Brett Allen Johnson, Above the River, oil, 12 x 16 in. Available at La Luz de Taos, Taos, NM.

Among the many paintings and sculptures represented by Legacy Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a wide variety of subject matter that includes gorgeous canyons and deserts. Kenny McKenna showcases Sandstone Cliffs and Cottonwoods. His painting subjects are widely diverse, with an emphasis on landscapes. “I simply paint what interests me,” the artist says. Cyndi Hall, gallery general manager adds, “His paintings elicit a sense of warmth and calmness, an open invitation to explore and share the inherent ingredient of the infusion of sunlight.”

“Davidson paints from his studio on Lake Lanier north of Atlanta. His work is in numerous private and corporate collections nationwide. In recent years many of his images have been in publications including Art Business News, which called his work ‘the latest, most exciting, most innovative release worldwide.’”

Top: Cody Country Chamber of Commerce, Spirits in the Wind, acrylic, 27 x 43 in., by Max Werner; Cody Country Chamber of Commerce, High Noon, oil, 30 x 26 in., by Ralph Oberg.  Bottom: Steve Hastings, Lush Life, oil on canvas, 60 x 48 in.; Brad Teare, Canyon Journey, oil on canvas, 48 x 48 in.

These gorgeous examples and so much more will be available for purchase by pre-registered guests during the Eiteljorg’s celebration. Quest for the West is known for attracting outstanding quality and hospitality, with the unique opportunity to meet the artists. On Friday night, September 6, many of the same artists will offer smaller, more affordable items during the Miniature Art Sale. Saturday night, September 7, is the popular Quest for the West main sale, where art awards are presented during an awards dinner. 

 Legacy Gallery, The Sheep Tenders, oil, 30 x 50 in., by G. Russell Case.

Beginning in mid-August, the 43rd Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale gallery of works will open in anticipation of the Live Auction event on Friday, September 20. Join artists in Cody or register to bid by phone. New artists to the show this year include Stefan Savides and Tony Pro.

Artist Brad Teare loves the breathtaking landscapes of the American West— towering canyons, massive rockfalls and the solitude of the desert landscape. “For me, palette knives are the perfect tool to capture the untamed essence of these landscapes—the vibrant hues of sand and soil, the textures of rocks and the energetic cascade of water,” he shares. “I aim to record the emotions they stir in me in rough-hewn color—awe, peace and a profound connection to nature. I want my paintings to be a gateway for others to experience the same wonder that fuels my passion as an artist.”

Top: Brad Teare, Desert Meadows, oil on canvas, 30 x 30 in.; Naomi Brown, Dreamy Evening, oil, 12 x 12 in. Bottom: Carol Amos, Morning’s Glory, oil on canvas, 24 x 36 in. ; Brad Teare, Evening Cliffs, oil on canvas, 36 x 48 in.

When collecting for canyons and deserts, Teare says, “Remember that a great painting should not only capture a unique moment but, above all, spark joy.”

Painter Steve Hastings is best known for creating large landscape paintings in a surrealist style. “My paintings depict landscapes of the American Southwest with a touch of magical realism,” he notes. “Largely based on the seasonal blooms of the many cactus plants found in the Chihuahuan desert that stretches from northeastern Mexico to Southwestern America, my work is an attempt to create a space where the viewer can catch a glimpse of nature’s eternity.”

Top: Steve Hastings, Gentle Giant, oil on canvas, 60 x 48 in.;  Steve Hastings, Tower of Flower, oil on canvas, 60 x 48 in.; Carol Amos, The Red Cactus, oil on canvas, 20 x 16 in.  Bottom: Naomi Brown, Moon Over Superstition’s, oil, 24 x 48 in.; Eiteljorg Museum, Sonoran Elves, bronze, ed. of 45, 14 x 15 x 6 in., by Gerald Balciar. Included in the 2024 Eiteljorg Museum’s Quest for the West art show and sale.

When it comes to collecting, Amos shares, “I value the connection between what I see, why I am drawn to a piece of art and what the artist was thinking during the creation of the piece. I am attracted first to work with a compelling design of a subject and colors I like. After that, I notice the subtleties of the idea behind the composition and the artistic skill...If I feel a connection to the idea and the composition, then I get to the most important considerations—Do I want to see this piece everyday as part of my home? Do I love it and want to live with it?”

Top: Naomi Brown, Desert Pinks, oil, 11 x 14 in.; Dawn Sutherland, Rhythm of the River, oil on canvas, 24 x 36 in. Bottom: Steve Latimer, Xplosion, oil and acrylic on panel, 24 x 24 in.;  Jan Marie De Lipsey, Kanab Canyon, oil, 25 x 40 in.

As summer approaches in the Phoenix Valley, Naomi Brown is getting excited to finish up her new home that her family has been building. “I am especially excited for my new studio and the much-needed extra space that it will give me for my larger paintings that I will be working on,” she says. “As an artist, it’s so important to have a welcoming, comfortable space to help with your creative process. I love to have a comfortable chair or couch to relax and think. I love having some of my favorite treasures I have found in the desert or in thrift stores over the years. I also need my favorite music playing, some of my favorite snacks and, of course, my favorite drinks.”

Eiteljorg Museum, Autumn Serenity, oil, 48 x 48 in., by Brad Teare. Image courtesy of the artist. 

Out of Brown’s charming process comes the desert beauties she’s most known for, including pieces pictured here: Dreamy Evening, Desert Pinks and Moon Over Superstition’s. 

Clockwise from top left: Jan Marie De Lipsey, Destination, oil, 20 x 24 in.; Scott Yeager, Return to Nature, oil on linen, 30 x 24 in.; Eiteljorg Museum, Below the Mountain, acrylic, 12 x 38 in., by Dean Mitchell.  

“We talk often about artists’ inspiration in their art and for me, that’s quite easy,” says artist Steve Latimer. “[That would be] Ed Mell, my mentor and first cousin, and Southwest landscapes.” Growing up in the Southwest gave Latimer the basis for his knowledge of panoramas of the Western desert. “Ed Mell definitely provided the knowledge of creating these subjects and how he prepared and painted them and always got it right,” the artist adds. “My favorite places to go when researching is northern Arizona and southern Utah. These areas provide the color shapes and shadows I want to paint. The paintings I create show the linear line and perspective, that mesas, deserts and mountains create naturally. I say to artists and collectors, ‘Paintings want to draw you into the moment they were created.’ Sometimes it’s easy to see or maybe it’s complicated.”