Wild West Beauty of the Beast

"The Rockwell's collection has been built around the work of major artists of the American West," Duty said. "One of those artists is Carl Rungius, whose work continues to inspire the current generation of wildlife artists. Rungius was a master at capturing the wildlife of the West, particularly such big game as elk, moose, caribou, and big horn sheep, set against the magnificent scenery of the western landscape, Duty said. "Rungius carefully studied the anatomy of the animals he painted and presented them in natural settings. He frequently traveled to the western United States and Canada to hunt and sketch, often painting in the field," Duty said. His style evolved over the decades from precise and realistic depictions of animals to a more fluid and painterly expression of his subjects. "Even as his style changed, his focus continued to be the natural world of the West. In many ways he set the standard for future generations of wildlife artists," Duty said.

The contemporary artists selected to participate in the exhibition represent a wide range of talent in the wildlife art field, according to Duty.  Their work spans many different styles and techniques from highly realistic depictions of animals in the wild, to colorful and impressionistic representations of both the physical and spiritual manifestations of wildlife.  Although all of the artists can be categorized as working in the wildlife genre, their approaches, subjects, and techniques illustrate the depth and variety of the field of present day wildlife art.  Duty said, "The work of these highly talented, unique, and diverse artists show us the wide range and depth of contemporary wildlife art.  Each artist brings his or her own perspective and ability to the portrayal of these magnificent creatures.  They focus both on the traditional subjects of wildlife art, such as bears, mountain lions, and wolves, but also on other animals and wildlife that many people may not immediately think of when they think of wildlife art."  He continued, "For example, Steve Kestrel's sculpture of trout swimming in a stream, Tony Hochstetler's depiction of bats in a thicket of reeds, or Tim Cherry's whimsical otters show an often less viewed side of western  wildlife."

The work of these artists is found in museums and public collections throughout the world.  Duty said, "These artists represent the very best of wildlife art today.  They also show the continuing vitality of the field.  The exhibit contains representative examples of artists, such as Ken Carlson and Jim Morgan, who have long been recognized as master painters to the work of younger artists, such as Amy Ringholz and Brian Grimm, whose paintings are attracting the attention of an increasing group of collectors."

Each of these artists, according to Duty, has his or her own unique style and perspective that makes their work distinctly their own.  He said, "Greg Beecham, Jim Morgan, Ken Carlson, and Brian Grimm are all highly adept at showing us a glimpse of nature in its many different facets.  Their paintings capture the wildlife of the West in dramatic action, as well in quiet moments of repose.  They are equally talented at depicting the beauty of the western landscape as they are at depicting all of the nuances of wildlife anatomy."  He also said, "Julie Chapman and Amy Ringholz show us another side of wildlife art, one that still focuses on the animals themselves, but also places them in other perspectives through their use of color and painting styles.  Chapman's animals are set against bright, impressionistic backgrounds that serve to highlight and emphasize the primary subjects of animals such as mountain lions, and big horn sheep, while Ringholz's large and colorful canvases give us a dramatic impression of the power and beauty of her subjects."

The sculptors in the exhibit are equally diverse in their personal depictions of animals.  Tony Hochstetler and Steve Kestrel often choose to portray wildlife that is often not depicted by other artists, such as reptiles and amphibians, even insects.  Their work, Duty said, gives us a glimpse into the sometimes hidden side of the natural world.  Rosetta and Tim Cherry have very distinct styles that make their work immediately recognizable as their own.  Duty said that their styles have an elegance and flow that sets their work apart.  Jim Eppler, he said, sculpts animals, such as Jack Rabbits and Ravens, in a very realistic manner, but one that also imbues each creation with both the personality of the subject and its creator.

All of these artists, Duty said, have made and are making major contributions to the field of wildlife art.  Like the work of all leading artists their creations, certainly fall within the general definition of a specific genre, but the work also transcends the boundaries of that genre.   He said, "These eleven artists have remarkable talent, ability, and perception-period.  They choose to work with animals and nature in general as their subjects, but their art because of its beauty and quality, will likely appeal to a wide audience, well beyond the wildlife field."