Texas State of the Art.indd

As seen in the
April 2009 issue of
T
he history of Texas and the history of
Western art are deeply intertwined
and share many common
threads—a strong narrative tradition, a
deep understanding and appreciation of
natural beauty and a strikingly modern
vision on traditional ways of life. The
second largest state in the U.S. in both
area and population, the Lone Star State
also boasts a long history as a center of the
American cattle industry. As such, Texas is
associated throughout much of the world
with the image of the cowboy.
The phrase “everything is bigger in
Texas” stems in part from its geographic
magnitude and the wide open spaces
Texas State of the Art.indd 46
of its desert and prairie regions. It’s also
home to important contemporary Western
artists like Martin Grelle, Tony Eubanks,
G. Harvey, George Hallmark, Jason Rich,
Bob Pummill, Wayne Baize, Donna
Howell-Sickles, Joshua Tobey and Kent
Wallis, among scores more. Despite the
downslide in the economy, discussions
with many of the top gallery owners and
artists in the state revealed that the current
art market is anything but sluggish.
Hot art districts line the state, like
Dragon Street in the Design District in
Dallas, which houses galleries like Gerald
Peters Gallery and the Houston Museum
District, which boasts 18 institutions with
more than 7 million annual visits, and
Austin’s blocks of 6th street is peppered
with dynamic galleries. But these are just
a few of the nearly hundreds of districts
sprinkled throughout the state in larger
cities like San Antonio, Fort Worth and
Corpus Christi, to smaller cities like
Kerrville, Amarillo, Abilene, Ennis, El
Paso, Plano, San Angelo, Victoria and the
wooded hills of Bosque County.
New galleries are even opening, like
InSight Gallery in Fredericksburg, whose
owners picked that location because
they feel the area is quickly becoming
nationally known as a fine art destination
in the Western genre. Artists are reporting
3/24/09 4:25:01 PM
State of the Art in
PHOTO BY SCOTT TEVEN/WWW.PHOTOHOUSTON.COM
the same if not more sales than last year.
As many collectors have learned, quality
artwork never goes out of style and will
always sell.
“I have been painting for a living for
over 30 years, and have seen a number
of downturns in the economy, and during
those downturns, the market for good
artwork by reputable, dedicated artists
has not wavered,” says Martin Grelle,
Cowboy Artists of America member and
Clifton, Texas, native.
Artist Sonya Terpening believes that
Western art in Texas is in great demand
because the state is the myth and legend
of the West.
“Texas embraces the West in its language,
dress and especially in the arts. Not only
do we have Texas’ own great history
to be told in paint, but we also have
Hollywood myths and legendary ranches
still being worked today,” says Terpening.
While discussing Western art and Texas,
it is impossible not to associate these words
with Bill Burford, owner and president
of Texas Art Gallery for over 40 years.
Burford’s impact on the Western art market
spans decades, and his loss is felt deeply
by the Western art community. In May,
Western Art Collector will feature a tribute
article on Mr. Burford, reflecting his lasting
legacy and further loss to the art world.
TEXAS
Grapevine
Fort Worth
Dallas
Eldorado
Marble Falls
Fredericksburg
Wimberley
Kerrville
New Braunfels
San Antonio
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State of the Art in TEXAS
A traditional gallery, Greenhouse Gallery showcases fine oil paintings by 21st century masters, outstanding designs and vibrant color of art glass and bronze by leading artists.
Galleries
Greenhouse Gallery
of Fine Art
6496 N. New Braunfels Avenue
San Antonio, TX 78209
(210) 828-6491
The Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art has long
been deemed a key destination for seasoned and
new collectors visiting San Antonio. Pairing a
traditional art experience with over 12,000 square
feet, Greenhouse Gallery is one of the largest and
respected retail fine art showrooms in the country.
The gallery houses nationally and
internationally recognized artists, many featured
in fine museums and prestigious collections,
including Calvin Liang, William Berra, Brent
Jensen, Clement Kwan, Ignat Ignatov, W. Jason
Situ, Andy Thomas, Jeffrey Watts and Gregory
Packard, among others.
In April, the gallery hosts its annual Salon
International Juried Exhibition featuring 348 oil
paintings from emerging and well-known artists
from 43 states and 16 countries. The show begins
April 11 with an opening reception 10 a.m. to 8
p.m. and runs through May 1, 2009.
May 12 through 29, the gallery presents the
strong, powerful oil paintings of Kathryn Stats in
a solo exhibition with an opening reception May
16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Greenhouse Gallery has
represented Stats’ work since April 2004. Within
this period of time, Stats’ stunning paintings have
made her one of the gallery’s top selling artists.
“We help our clients see the art and
distinguish what it is they are looking
for, so they can become secure and
confident when they walk into a
gallery on their own. They must enjoy
it—that’s the first thing.”
— Jim Janes, co-owner, Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art
Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, A Fine Desert Day, oil, 18 x 24", by Kathryn Stats.
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State of the Art in TEXAS
“We feel that our part of
Texas, more specifically
Fredericksburg, has
been becoming more and
more nationally known
as a fine art destination.”
— Shannon Hanna, InSight Gallery co-owner and director
InSight Gallery, Gillespie County Ag Exempt, oil, 12 x 24", by John Austin Hanna.
InSight Gallery
244 W. Main Street
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
(830) 456-4086
InSight Gallery owners David and
Meredith Plesko and Thad and Shannon
Hanna believe that now is the right time
to become a part of something they
love: fine art. Opening in early April in
downtown Fredericksburg, the gallery’s
focus is on its artists first and foremost,
and plans to provide a beautiful,
professional and friendly atmosphere
offering collectors the opportunity
and comfort to participate in the “art
experience” both emotionally and
intellectually.
“A large part of the decision to open
our gallery is the fact that we believe
that Fredericksburg is an emerging player
in the national art community,” says
Shannon Hanna, co-owner and director
of InSight Gallery.
Focusing on traditional “represent-
ationalism,” the gallery will feature oils,
acrylics, pastels and bronzes by artists
such as Nancy Bush, Carolyn Anderson,
John Austin Hanna, Mark Haworth,
Denise LaRue Mahlke, Suzanne Owens
and James Robinson, among others.
“Art, to us, has an intrinsic value that
is impossible to determine and as such
it will not be sacrificed in trying times; it
will be honored for its ability to speak
to our dignity emotionally as well as
intellectually,” adds Hanna.
InSight Gallery, Texas Born, acrylic, 24 x 36", by James Robinson.
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State of the Art in TEXAS
Mary Ross Buchholz
Fine Art Studio
Rt. 1, Box 83 A
Eldorado, TX 76936
(325) 853-3839
A pioneering ranching family
heritage has enabled artist Mary
Ross Buchholz and her husband
to raise their family in rural West
Texas near the town of Eldorado.
Their ranching operation,
spread over several West Texas
counties, consists of a variety
of livestock that includes cattle,
sheep, goats, and quarter horses
along with diverse wildlife.
Depicting these scenes on canvas
comes natural to Buchholz.
“My art does not romanticize
our way of life; it simply and
honestly portrays the people, the
animals, and the environment of
West Texas,” says Buchholz.
Over the past 10 years,
Buchholz’s detailed portrait
commissions have been her
main focus; but now, many of
her noncommissioned paintings
and drawings are slated for juried
shows and exhibitions. In April,
Buchholz will be participating in
the Round Up Art Show & Sale
at The Museum of Western Art
in Kerrville, Texas, and in June
she will be at the Ellen Noel
Art Museum in Odessa for the
American Plains Artist Show &
Sale.
“Even though the economy
has slowed, I feel lucky to have
portrait commissions in line,”
says Buchholz. “It is a great
compliment to me when I am
entrusted to paint or draw loved
ones. At the same time, sharing my
other works through exhibitions
and shows is certainly important
to me.”
Buchholz is a member of the
Portrait Society of America, the
Oil Painters of America, and
is a signature member of the
American Plains Artists.
Mary Ross Buchholz's studio in rural West Texas near the town of Eldorado.
“Even though the economy has slowed, I feel
lucky to have portrait commissions in line.”
— Mary Ross Buchholz, West Texas artist
Majestic Monarch, graphite, 16 x 25”, by Mary Ross Buchholz.
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State of the Art in TEXAS
“Despite
the decline
in our
national
economy,
I have not
seen a drop in my
gallery sales or in my
commission work.”
— Laurie Pace, Texas artist
Patina of Marble Falls
1506 Hwy 1431 West
Marble Falls, TX 78654
(830) 637-7662
Located in the beautiful Hill Country,
Patina of Marble Falls presents the
works of Texas artists Laurie Pace and
Debbie Lincoln. Pace enjoys working
with oils, strong hues, a palette knife
and brushes, capturing the energy
of colors and motion on the canvas.
Lincoln rarely sticks to a standardized
palette, and her new works are a
reflection of her recent experiences
on an extended trip to northwest
Montana.
“Despite the decline in our
national economy, I have not seen
a drop in my gallery sales or in my
commission work,” says Pace. “I
believe in educating collectors to
realize the true value of investing
in artwork is not near as risky as
investing in the current economic
stock market.”
Patina of Marble Falls owner John
Stange shares this viewpoint and
believes the impact of the economic
crisis on art lovers in the Hill Country
has only helped to strengthen interest
in the works of Pace and Lincoln.
“I find that my customers look
at their homes as a safe haven from
negative outside forces and they relish
the opportunity to enhance it with
original works,” says Stange. “Both
artists deliver the beauty of their
subjects with underlying statements
of grace and peace, which is very
comforting to the homeowner and
their guests.”
Patina of Marble Falls, Morning has Broken, oil, 5 x 7", by Laurie Justus Pace.
Patina of Marble Falls, Future Fear, oil on canvas, 16 x 20", by Debbie Lincoln.
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State of the Art in TEXAS
“People figure out that good
art, by established artists, from
reputable galleries holds its value,
even in tough times.”
— Robert Pitzer, owner, Pitzer’s Fine Arts
Pitzer’s Fine Arts, Geococcyx (Roadrunner), bronze,
15 x 5 x 10½", ed. of 100, by Kent Ullberg.
The outdoor sculpture garden at Pitzer’s Fine Arts showcases top quality sculpture.
Pitzer’s Fine Arts
PO Box 2850
13909 Ranch Road 12
Wimberley, TX 78676
(512) 722-6032
Located in historic Wimberley and established in 1978, Pitzer’s
Fine Arts is more than just traditional paintings and sculpture, but
an exceptional art experience.
Ranging from realism to impressionism, Pitzer’s Fine Arts
offering includes original paintings, sculpture, photography and
other artistically fitting mediums such as pottery, handmade rugs,
gourds and baskets, and expresses a variety of subjects including
landscape, still life, Western, wildlife and more by renowned
artists like Randal Dutra, Kent Ullberg and Laurie Kersey, among
many others.
Bronze sculpture has been and continues today to be a
significant part of the gallery, which features smaller to life-size
works by many distinct artists. The gallery has a picturesque
outdoor sculpture garden that showcases the top and highly
sought after works.
“Pitzer’s has been through more than one or two economic
downturns over the 30-plus years in the business of retail fine art,”
says gallery owner Rob Pitzer. “People figure out that good art, by
established artists, from reputable galleries holds its value, even in
tough times.”
Pitzer’s Fine Arts, Among the Teasels, oil on linen, 40 x 30”, by Randal Dutra.
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State of the Art in TEXAS
Texas Art Gallery
Inwood Village, Suite 396
5570 W. Lovers Lane
Dallas, TX 75209-4220
(800) 783-4278
Texas Art Gallery is one of the
cornerstones of Western art in
Texas and beyond. Spearheaded
by the late Bill Burford, the
gallery has showcased a diverse
selection of Western, American
and European art since 1964, in
addition to two highly successful
annual auctions. The gallery
collection features more than
40 local, regional and national
skilled artists, plus works by
deceased masters.
In April, the gallery features
the artwork of Tom Buechner,
an impassioned painter whose
works hang in the Metropolitan
Museum of Art and the
Smithsonian National Museum of
American Art. Other top gallery
artists include Jason Rich and
Kent Wallis.
Texas Art Gallery hosts two
annual art auctions, one in May
and the other in November.
May’s Patron’s Party & Auction
is comprised of the Set Price
Draw Sale, held May 8, 2009, at
the gallery, and the auction the
following evening May 9.
“Bill Burford has been my friend for nearly
40 years. Bill was the pioneer in marketing
contemporary Western art. He was enthusiastic,
entertaining and passionate about the art
business, and devoted to his wife Pat. Bill always
had a great story to share. I referred to Bill
respectively as the Barnum & Bailey of the art world. I will
miss our weekly conversations. I loved the guy and will
miss Bill Burford as will all that knew him.”
— John Geraghty, Trustee and Special Advisor to the Autry National Center
and Contributing Editor to Western Art Collector
Texas Art Gallery, Winter Shadows, oil on
canvas on board, 48 x 60”, by Jason Rich.
Texas Art Gallery has showcased top Western, American and
European art for over 40 years.
The recent passing of president and owner Bill Burford has deeply
affected the art community.
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State of the Art in TEXAS
Sonya Terpening
516 Dunn Court
Grapevine, TX 76051
(817) 488-3001
Artist Sonya Terpening does
not remember a time when she
did not paint or draw. Her art
is a narrative of her life and the
world around her. Like many
Americans, Terpening comes
from pioneers who settled
the West. This is the story she
captures in paint on canvas.
“I think Western art is
important now more than ever
because it immortalizes the
hard work and perseverance
that made this country great,”
says Terpening. “It is an image
of what we so desperately need
right now.”
Terpening says she must
have an emotional reason to
paint. A realist, her detailed
scenes play with light and
color, but they also reflect her
feelings in choosing the subject
and hoping to make the viewer
experience similar sentiments.
“I think art touches the soul
and teaches in ways words
cannot,” says Terpening.
Terpening will be
participating at the Gilcrease
Rendezvous in Tulsa,
Oklahoma, on April 16 and
has just finished painting for
the Prix de West show June 12
at the National Cowboy and
Western Heritage Museum in
Oklahoma City. She is also
preparing for an upcoming
show with Whistle Pik
Galleries at Boot Ranch in
Fredericksburg, Texas.
Still Beats Office Work, oil on linen, 30 x 40", by Sonya Terpening.
“Western art in Texas is in great demand because
Texas is the myth and legend of the West. Texas
embraces the West in its language, dress and
especially in the arts. Not only do we have Texas’
own great history to be told in paint, but we also
have Hollywood myths and legendary ranches still
being worked today.”
— Sonya Terpening, artist
Prairie Flowers, oil on linen, 16 x 20",
by Sonya Terpening.
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State of the Art in TEXAS
"Texas history and history of the American West
are intertwined. The same can be said for Texas art
and art of the American West; both include a strong
narrative tradition and a deeper appreciation of the
natural beauty of the landscape."
— Aurora Ramirez, facility/tour coordinator of The Museum of Western Art
The art on display at The Museum of Western
Art in Kerrville, Texas, depicts every aspect of
Western life.
The Museum
of Western Art
1550 Bandera Highway
PO Box 294300
Kerrville, TX 78029
(830) 896-2553
The Museum of Western Art is located in
Kerrville, in the heart of the famed Texas
Hill Country. This outstanding facility
provides the opportunity for one and all
to relive the roots of Western heritage
through great Western art.
“Texas history and history of the
American West are intertwined,” says
Aurora Ramirez, facility/tour coordinator
of The Museum of Western Art. “The
same can be said for Texas art and art
of the American West; both include a
strong narrative tradition and a deeper
appreciation of the natural beauty of the
landscape. Both also include thoroughly
modern visions of traditional subjects
and themes.”
In April, the museum presents its
nationally recognized 26th annual Round
Up Art Show & Sale opening April 24
with a special event 6 to 8:30 p.m.
featuring the artists, dinner and dancing.
The museum serves as a bridge
between the past and present, ensuring
that the legacy of the American West will
be preserved for the future.
Fred Fellows, An Honest Day’s Work, bronze, The
Museum of Western Art.
CREDIT JOHN ACETI
Hill Country, pen, ink and pencil, 13 x 17",
by Robert “Bo” Powell.
Fort Worth native Robert “Bo” Powell prefers
to work in pen and ink.
“Although today’s art market is suffering from the
financial crises, a viable market is still out there.”
— Robert “Bo” Powell, Texas artist
Robert “Bo” Powell
1822 Roberts Cut Off
Fort Worth, TX 76114
(817) 223-3838
A Fort Worth native, Robert “Bo”
Powell started drawing and painting at
about 10 years old. In addition to a life
of fine art, Powell spent his professional
career working on the rails as a
locomotive engineer.
Powell has always had a love for
travel and carries a camera with him
wherever the adventure takes him,
including Canada, Wyoming, Idaho,
New Mexico, Texas, Alaska, Arizona,
the Caribbean and, especially, Colorado.
He does a lot of sketching and final art
while on trips and never leaves his art
supplies at home.
Powell prefers to work in the
pre-dawn hours of the day, accompanied
by a mix of light symphony and Jimmy
Buffet music. His favorite medium is
pen and ink, and prefers graphite pencil
and acrylics for larger pieces. Powell is
represented by the Morton House Gallery
in Fort Worth and the Art Center for the
Islands in Port Aransas, Texas.
Powell says that although today’s art
market is suffering from the financial
crises, a viable market is still out
there and he is not discouraged about
continually marketing his creations.
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State of the Art in TEXAS
Legendary
Bosque County
Martin Grelle, George Hallmark,
Bruce Greene and Tony Eubanks
Bosque County, one of Texas’ most
beautiful areas, possesses a rich
history filled with the spirit of the
pioneers who settled the area.
Made up of several small towns,
Bosque County’s pristine landscape
includes hills, canyons, prairie land,
farms, wildflowers, more wildlife
than “you can shake a stick at,” and
many lakes and streams, including
the Brazos and Bosque rivers.
The famous area has long been
associated with Western art as both
James Boren and Melvin Warren
once called it their home. Today,
four incredibly talented Western
artists also call Bosque County their
home and muse. Established artists
Martin Grelle, George Hallmark,
Bruce Greene and Tony Eubanks all
reside within the wooded hills of the
Springtime in Bosque County.
Meridian Creek, Bosque County.
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State of the Art in TEXAS
Camp Meat and Mules, oil on linen, 40 x 54", by Martin Grelle fetched $316,250 at the 2008 Jackson Hole Art Auction, well over its $80,000 to $120,000 estimate.
Three Came Riding, oil, 28 x 42", by Tony Eubanks.
Texas native Tony Eubanks paints what he knows
best: the West.
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State of the Art in TEXAS
View from Grelle Mountain.
George Hallmark and his wife Lisa live on a gentle
plateau that overlooks the entire valley.
An exclusive look at George Hallmark’s 2009 painting for Prix de West, titled Pinon Morning, oil, 36 x 36".
Born and raised in Clifton, Texas, artist Martin Grelle,
CA, still makes his home here with his wife Terri,
living on a small ranch among the wooded hills of
Bosque County.
Based in the Texas Hill Country, CA artist Bruce
Greene’s primary interest is in depicting the working
cowboy, both in oil and bronze.
Shallow Water and Deep Sand, oil, 32 x 48", by Bruce Greene was painted for the 2008 Prix de West, an event
he has been invited to participate in for seven years.
PHOTO ROSS HECOX
area. Each artist is extremely successful
in their own right, participating in the top
Western art shows across the country and
highly sought after by collectors.
The Bosque Conservatory is the center
for the arts in the community. Located in
Clifton, the established cultural center
stables an impressive art gallery, which
grows each year with its annual Art
Classic held in September. Art workshops
are also offered, including the George
Hallmark Plein Air oil workshop in the
spring and the Greene-Grelle Plein Air
workshop in the fall.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 69
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State of the Art in TEXAS
“I think you have to
keep on creating the
best art possible,
regardless of the
market; you have to
believe in yourself and
keep faith with your
collectors.”
— Brigitte Woosley, Texas artist
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 66
Hermsen Gallery
16823 Village Lane
Dallas, TX 75248
(972) 248-3771
Artist Jack Hermsen has always been
interested in the creative arts, which has
led him down such paths as advertising,
graphic design and fine arts. At a young
age, he worked in a sign painting shop,
developing various artistic and creative
skills. Hermsen feels most comfortable
painting from live models or photo
references, and paints in oils, gouache,
watercolors and acrylics.
“I enjoy the challenge of oil painting,
painting various realistic themes and
Western subject matter as I experience
Western outdoor imagery and lifestyles,”
says Hermsen.
A distinguished alumnus from the Art
Center College of Design in Los Angeles,
Hermsen has been recognized with
numerous graphic design and fine art
awards.
Artist Jack Hermsen at the easel in his Dallas, Texas, studio.
Brigitte Woosley
4875 IH 35 S #3
New Braunfels, TX 78132
(830) 627-0823
Texas artist Brigitte Woosley began her
artistic career as a courtroom artist,
capturing the raw emotion of trials
for years. Now Woosley has changed
direction and is fulfilling a lifelong
ambition of being a full-time fine art
painter.
“I love painting animals, the
Western landscape, Native Americans
and Western people in general,” says
Woosley.
Brigitte Woosley paints from her studio in the lush Texas Hill Country.
Woosley has been invited to
participate in a number of Western art
venues across Texas and beyond, and in
April is gearing up for The Museum of
Western Art's Round Up Art Show & Sale
opening April 24.
“For me the market is doing
surprisingly well,” says Woosley. “I’m
selling as much so far this year as I did
last year. Don’t know how things will go
in the future, but then, who does? I think
you have to keep on creating the best art
possible, regardless of the market; you
have to believe in yourself and keep faith
with your collectors.”
A Cool Drink, oil, 24 x 30”, by Brigitte Woosley.
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