Coeur d’Alene Galleries is ecstatic to feature the wildlife art of Dustin Van Wechel in an upcoming solo show, Canvassing the West.“The artist puts an emphasis on creating a strong sense of light and movement, often incorporating environmental elements to enhance the emotional connection with collectors,” says gallery owner Buddy Le.
The Extrovert, oil on linen, 14 x 11 in.
Le goes on to mention that this approach results in “paintings that are both visually striking and emotionally resonant,” which is also the case for Wechel’s new collection, amounting to seven impressive wildlife pieces.
“The overarching theme of this body of work is to take the art lover on a journey of the American West, filtered through my own romanticized vision of my experiences in the wilds of North America,” Van Wechel explains. “But more subtly, this body of work is also an expression of my love of wildlife and their habitat, and I hope that theme of reverence is apparent in the work.”
Van Wechel has always found inspiration in the wildlife of the West, but is also influenced by “the challenge of finding interesting ways to express all of my experiences and ideas with paint,” he says. “From an aesthetic standpoint, the work emphasizes strong color and rich, textural surface qualities that continue to evolve in my paintings as I explore new ways to visually represent the stories I enjoy telling.”
High and Mighty, oil on linen, 24 x 30 in.
This includes stories taken from specific adventures, as in the case of his piece The Extrovert, showing a fox that Van Wechel came in contact with during a winter trip to Yellowstone National Park. “This fox was as extroverted as any wild animal I’d ever encountered, and it allowed me to gather reference for a significant amount of time,” the artist shares. “…I wanted the viewer to see this fox as I saw it, or maybe more accurately, how I felt about it.”
To witness additional wildlife masterpieces, visit Coeur d’Alene Galleries in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, from July 11 through August 15. An opening reception will be held opening day from 5 to 8 p.m. —
Coeur d’Alene Galleries 213 Sherman Avenue » Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814 » (208) 667-7732 » www.cdagalleries.com
Powered by Froala Editor
