Western Art

Western Art was a creative form produced in America starting in the 1880s. It followed the course of Western expansion that was promoted by the U.S. government. 

People in the Eastern states were excited by happenings in this new territory. They read news stories and serial novels in their newspapers. They purchased Dime Novels. These described exploits of daring cowboys, traders and explorers in the Wild West! The attended some of the traveling Wild West Shows, like the production of the famed Buffalo Bill Cody. What more could add to their vicarious experiences? Wild West Art!

Famous Western Artists

Lots of artists painted, drew, and sculpted works that reflected Western culture. Two are the most prolific, probably the most talented and the most famous. They were Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell.

Frederic Remington

Born in 1861 in Canton N.Y., he was an only child. His father was in the Civil War, rising to a Colonel's rank. He hoped Frederic would attend West Point. But all during his youth, Frederic wasn't a good student. Instead he showed early artistic talent. His top subjects were cowboys, horses and soldiers. He was athletic, though: involved in swimming, horse-back riding, hunting, camping.

He thought he'd be a journalist and involve some art work. He attended Yale art school, but wasn't serious. He was distracted by their sporting programs. He continued drawing on his own time - his own subjects, which differed from his classroom's expectations. 

He left school when his father contracted TB. After his father died, he worked miscellaneous odd jobs. Then in 1881 he took a trip to Montana to see what he could do working in mining or cattle. He went on some real Western style adventures. He was enthralled actually seeing things he'd heard about all his life. From that trip he published his first drawing in Harper's Weekly. 

He then tried ranching in Kansas. It didn't suit him. He became involved in an unsuccessful business venture in Kansas City. Then he became half-owner of a saloon in town. A year later he traveled home, back East, where he married his hometown sweetheart. They went West, to Kansas City, and settled down.

All the while he was sketching the Western life surrounding him. Cowboys, horses, saloon patrons, etc. But his wife was unhappy with this life. She left, going back to her home in the East.

The saloon wasn't bringing in much income. So he began to paint even more seriously now. His paintings started to sell, in his Kansas area.

But then he decided to return to his hometown. He and his wife reconciled. He signed up for courses at The Art Student's League in New York. That was much more to his style, I think, from reading of his life. They aren't as strictly structured in their required coursework. I know a bit about the school, since as a young woman I took an art class there myself!

He promoted his life in the West with gusto and exaggeration. Harper's Weekly and Collier's liked this "authenticity" and gave his work attention. His Uncle Bill was impressed, and gave him financial support to continue his art studies.

Frederic Remington - The Complete Works - Slideshow - frederic-remington.org

Charles Marion Russell

C.M. Russell was born in St. Louis MO on March 19, 1864. In his boyhood years he was exposed to explorers and adventurers heading West. It sparked his imagination. He read the stories in papers and novels. He learned to ride horses from an army colonel. All the while he drew pictures of wild west scenes and made small clay sculptures of Western figures.

At age 16 he quit school to move to Montana for work on a sheep ranch. It didn't work out and he went to work for another rancher. That man, Jake Hoover, had a spread in Judith Basin, Montana. He was experienced in hunting and trapping, and mentored Charles in cowboy ranching. They became friends for life.

He worked for other Montana ranches. Russell documented his Western experiences through his art. He spent about a year living with a tribe of the Blackfeet Nation. 

Charles met Nancy, 14 years his junior, whom he married in 1896. She was instrumental in getting his work into the limelight. In this way he became famous and was able to make his artwork his living. 

People also knew him as Charlie Russell and Kid Russell. They also called him the Cowboy Artist. His works were prolific. They're worth into the millions today. Besides Western Art, he also wrote and recited stories.

He remained in Cascade, Montana for his later life. He expired there on October 24, 1926, from congestive heart failure. Great Falls, Montana students were let out of school to pay their respects on the day of his funeral.

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More Western Artists

A few other artists were contemporaries of Remington and Russell. Although not quite as popular, or as well-known, they are worth mentioning.

• Karl Bodmer - He was born in Switzerland in 1809. He was known in Europe for riverside landscapes and cityscapes. His rural work also featured animals. From 1832 through 1834 he toured the American West with a German Prince who was into exploration. Bodmer was hired to document the trip in his artwork. 81 pieces of his work was published in Maximilian Prince of Wied's Travels in the Interior of North America.¹

• Edgar Samuel Paxson - Born in 1852, he spent his childhood in New York state in the care of his Quaker family. His Uncles taught him hunting and trapping in the wilds of New York and Pennsylvania. They told him stories of their adventures in the West when they were there for the gold rush. Paxson met Kit Carson, and became inspired to head West by age 20. He was already married, with a child. They went to Montana. He made a living as a sign painter. But he made the Battle of Little Bighorn his major project. It took six years to complete Custer's Last Stand. It opened in exhibition, for which he received superior accolades. This brought further Western art commissions. He became friends with C.M. Russell. At 67 years of age, Paxson passed away September 9, 1919.

• Edward Borein - Born out West, in San Leandro California in 1872. He began drawing horses and ranch subjects as a young child. By the time he was a teenager he could ride a horse, use a rope and manage cattle. As soon as he turned 18, he was determined to be a cowboy, but was back home in a year. With his interest in drawing he tried art school, but that bored him. Friends told him he could practice art and improve on his own. He began selling some drawings. He got work as an illustrator for the San Francisco Call. That was a turning point, and his work was in more and more publications. He spent 12 years in NYC, but then returned to California and settled in Santa Barbara. He and his wife remained there until his death in 1945.

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Categories of Western Art

Aficionados of Western art often look for specific types of subject matter. They may want to complete their collection with works they still don't have. Or they may only specialize in one type of category. Some people may only be able to buy one or two pieces for their home, and choose a type they love most. 

Here's a listing of the types of Western art you may find for sale, on auction, in museums, or in collections:

• Western Art in Sculpture - Some artists sculpt as a specialty, while others dabble in this as a sideline. In Tombstone AZ, a statue of Wyatt Earp is an example of this. It's placed in front of the Wyatt Earp home on Fremont Street.

• Cowboy Art - This artwork features cowboys during their workday or in leisure. It can be in any art medium: oils, pen & ink, watercolor, etc. This was quite a popular subject of early Western artwork.

• Equine Western Art - Horses are always a popular subject. But mules and donkeys were often used in the old West for working tasks. 

• Western Women & Cowgirls - This subject is a more modern aspect of Western art. In the 1800s, some women did "cowboy work" - but didn't get much note or respect at that time. This is changing, and well overdue. 

• Landscapes & Nature of Western America - Western America has some awesome landscape vistas. Artists captured this in many wonderful paintings. Sometimes it was only scenery as the main subject. Other times animals or people were also involved. 

1. In modern times, the medium can also be various types of photography. Digital techniques can create interesting viewpoints. 

• The Old West in Artistry - The trials of uprooting a family and moving West was an emotional type of subject. Artists produced a historical documentation of the Westward migration. Other subjects portrayed day to day life during this time.

• Native Western Tribes of the Americas - For the artists coming into contact with indigenous Americans, the experience was amazing. They were moved to document this novel culture that was quite unique to them.

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Common Western Art

You don't have to be wealthy to have Western art for your home. Some types are a little more common-place. You can decorate a special room with a Western theme with this type of art. Do you have a Game Room or Media Room with a bar or a Western Theme? This is an ideal area for decorating with this type of Western styled artwork.

Some suggestions are:

• A first-rate Western artist is also a SAG member, who does film work and consulting. His name is Jerry Crandall. Read More>
• A Tombstone Poster is a great idea. Tombstone Arizona is a real Old West town. It has a true Wild West history - and you can get some posters reflecting that. Or you can go the comical route, and get posters that are on the funny side. People also enjoy posters involving the Tombstone Movie. Get 'Em> There are some great quotes from the movie - and you can get posters with those quotes.
• Placing an Old West Wanted Poster on the wall is another idea! Actual reproductions are available for some of the notorious gunslingers of the 1800s. It will add that Wild West feel to your own home saloon. See Them Here>
• You might find some Old West Signs in an antique shop. Or you can even find reproductions in a Gift Shop. They will give a Western aura to any room.
• Look over some Tombstone Pics to get some ideas for yourself. [Read More>] Most shops and saloons in town decorate in the style of the old West. When you see the interior of some old West saloons, you'll get a lot of inspiration!
• Film is considered a type of art. Westerns are a favorite film venue for those who love the Western life-style and history. Many creative independent film-makers are into this type of art. For a great example - Read More>

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References

¹ Maximilian zu Wied-Neuwied (1843-1844). Published in English translation. London: Achermann & Comp. 

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