The 25th annual Holiday Small Works and Miniatures Show at Legacy Gallery will feature tiny treasures by more than 80 artists working in Western and wildlife subjects. And while the artwork is small, typically measuring 16 inches or less, the show highlights some of the biggest names in the Western art world today, including Jeremy Winborg, Morgan Weistling, Jerry Jordan, G. Russell Case, Bill Anton, Z.S. Liang, Josh Elliott, Don Oelze, Glenn Dean and more.
Morgan Weistling, The Sharpshooter, oil, 16 x 12 in.
In Winborg’s oil Bullseye, a Native American archer draws his bow while on horseback. “This oil painting portrays a Native American warrior…in a moment of focus and unity with his horse,” says Winborg. “The contrast between the vivid blue sky and the warm tones of the warrior and horse creates a striking contrast, evoking both tension and harmony. As with much of my work, this painting highlights the resilience of the Indigenous people and shows a balance of strength and serenity.”
Jeremy Winborg, Bullseye, oil, 10¾ x 10¾ in.
Continuing the theme of marksmanship, Weistling brings to the show a 16-by-12-inch oil titled The Sharpshooter. Over the years, Weistling has become known for his depictions of American folk heroine Annie Oakley (his latest is part of the Briscoe Western Art Museum’s permanent collection). “I decided to portray a young Annie in a moment of repose as she waits to be called into the stadium to perform,” he says of The Sharpshooter. “I never cease to be inspired by the life of this iconic lady of the West.”
Tom Browning, Out of the Badlands, oil, 14 x 14 in.
Colt Idol’s saturated palette is in full effect in his 10-by-10-inch Dream’s Edge. The painting captures a teepee, a smoldering fire just visible inside, sitting underneath an evening sky of oranges, pinks, purples and golds. “Growing up in Montana I’ve spent a great deal of time on the plains of central and eastern Montana. In Big Sky country the sunsets are incredible and often eerie,” says Idol. “With a seemingly persistent wind and the desolate nature of the region the sunsets invoke more than just beauty, they are contemplative. It’s easier to imagine those moments in a distant pastime. In Dream’s Edge I’m hoping to capture some of those feelings—a scene from the past with the sentiments of the here and now.”
Colt Idol, Dream’s Edge, oil, 10 x 10 in.
Out of the Badlands, by Tom Browning, is inspired by an area not far from the Badlands in southwestern South Dakota. “The term Badlands has often been used as a description of various areas throughout the American West. It is also a term that has been used in a romantic way in music and literature,” he says. “It has been featured in many legendary Western songs such as ‘El Paso’ by Marty Robbins as well as many Western pulp novels from 1900 to 1950. Zane Grey frequently referred to many areas he was describing as ‘badlands.’ For me, it conjures up images of cowboys and outlaws riding hell-bent for leather across the desert as they weave their way in and out of sagebrush and prickly pear cactus.”
Z.S. Liang, Guidon Carrier, oil, 16 x 12 in.
The Holiday Small Works and Miniatures Show opens Thursday, December 12, with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. and hangs through the end of the year.
“Our annual Holiday Miniaturesshow is a wonderful time for collectors to purchase works from many of their favorite artists over the years,” says gallery owner Brad Richardson. “With over 80 artists participating this year, the exhibition will be bigger and more accessible than ever.” —
Jerry Jordan, The Best Teacher is Mother Earth, oil, 12 x 12 in.
Legacy Gallery 7178 E. Main Street » Scottdale, AZ 85251 » (480) 945-1113 » www.legacygallery.com
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