On Valentine’s Day, Settlers West Galleries has an appropriate request for the holiday: fall in love with a new piece of Western art. The Southern Arizona gallery will kick off its annual American Miniatures show on February 14.
Brett James Smith, Camping on the Flathead, oil, 9 x 12 in.“Our first American Miniatures began in 1982, and looking back I thought that coupling a small works show with Valentine’s Day was a perfect combination. I don’t know if that ever came true the way I envisioned, but I do know that the event always brings forward a wonderful variety of paintings that artists, collectors and afficionados look forward to each year,” says gallery owner Stuart Johnson. “This year, American Miniatures falls on February 14, so my wish has come true. See you at Settlers West.”
Darcie Peet, Journey to the Three Sisters – Monument Valley, oil, 8 x 15 in.
The show will feature 270 works from 160 artists. The art will be sold at a by-draw sale, during which some of the artists will be in attendance. Any unsold works will remain on view through March 14.
One of the artists with new work in the show is Darcie Peet, who frequently paints landscapes of the American Southwest, including all around Arizona. She turns her attention to one of the most famous areas of the West in her painting Journey to the Three Sisters – Monument Valley.“Eerie, silent and lonely without a soul around is Monument Valley in the dead of winter, but our journey toward the Three Sisters formation is livened with stories of history and legend from our Navajo guide. As we approach this iconic grouping one can easily imagine the three figures draped in blankets and huddled over in the cold for warmth,” Peet says. “Despite the environment and mood of icy chill, the low sun of winter creating lavender, azure-blue shadows and sparkling sunlit whites creates an uplifting lively and bold richness contrasting with the red rock cliffs just waiting to be painted.”
Rachel Brownlee, Kick off Your Spurs and Rest a Spell, charcoal, 12 x 9 in.
Elizabeth Sage, Goin’ Places, oil, 12 x 10 in.
Wildlife artist Adam Smith will be showing Spring Arrival, depicting a fox in the wild. “I am fortunate to live close to the subjects I paint. This painting was inspired by a fox den a few miles down the road from my house,” Smith says. “I’ve also had them den right in my backyard. They are incredibly entertaining to watch and as cute as can be. Every year I look forward to the new spring arrivals.”
Elizabeth Sage brings a dramatic image of a horse and rider going down a steep embankment. The piece, Goin’ Places, has a pleasing diagonal composition that splits land and water, with the main subjects straddling both wet and dry elements of the painting. “Sliding down a hill of dusty gold to cross a wild river of silver, a rider on his sure-footed mustang travel the road less traveled [to] satiate an adventurous spirit within,” Sage says.
Robert Griffing, Let the Peace Talks Begin, oil, 12 x 9 in.
Brett James Smith taps into a similar theme of adventure with his painting Camping on the Flathead, showing a pristine riverside site occupied by two anglers. The image, with its pair of canoes and open tent, begs viewers to step inside the painting for an outdoor excursion. “The crystalline waters of the north fork of the Flathead River have become a popular destination for summer fishermen and campers,” Smith says. “Camping on the shores of this popular river creates a sense of true wilderness. With Glacier National Park to the east and boundless forest to the west, it feels remote without being inaccessible.”
Adam Smith, Spring Arrival, acrylic, 10 x 11 in.
In a quieter painting, Mikel Donahue focuses on a nighttime scene of two cowboys watching their cows under a star-filled sky. The painting, which invokes Vincent van Gogh’s masterpiece, is titled Starry Starry Night. “In the grand open spaces of the West, this night brings a serene celestial beauty and calm, under a starry sky,” Donahue says of the work.”
Mikel Donahue, Starry Starry Night, acrylic, 12 x 9 in.
Although American Miniatures hangs for a month, collectors are encouraged to participate on February 14, when most of the art will be sold during a festive evening reception. —
Settlers West Galleries 6420 N. Campbell Avenue » Tucson, AZ 85718 » (520) 299-2607 » www.settlerswest.com
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