In an area of mostly single-story adobe houses in Taos, New Mexico, Thom “Tex” Wheeler’s home and studio is an architectural anomaly. Visitors drive through an arched entry gate with a weathered wooden sign declaring “Happy Trails,” and they are indeed about to embark on...
When Brett Allen Johnson received the Victor Higgins Work of Distinction Award at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art’s Quest for the West Art Show and Sale in September 2021, more than the undeniable quality of his three paintings set him apart....
A personal art collection is full of stories. I was reminded of this fact recently while unpacking a box of keepsakes from my parents’ garage, in which I had squirreled away magazine clippings of artworks I liked when I was in high school: a Richard...
Having grown up surrounded by the lush Hawaiian outdoors and her mother’s vibrant watercolor paintings, Jenni Leasia’s natural inclination to improve people’s environments informs her design aesthetic. “My Hawaiian childhood instilled the importance of connecting indoor and outdoor spaces, which is a huge part of...
If you want to meet a modern day Renaissance man, say hello to Mark Sublette. Formerly a practicing physician specializing in preventative, occupational, and sports medicine, today he’s the founder and owner of Tucson, Arizona’s well-known Medicine Man Gallery. Sublette is also considered an authority...
Collectors showed enthusiasm for a return to in-person gatherings at art auctions this fall. Events brought together painters, sculptors, and buyers with pandemic safety precautions in place and virtual options for those who preferred them. And sales indicated that all is well on the Western...
Richard and Vanessa Smith’s sleek and modern home overlooking Breckenridge Ski Resort in Colorado is an unusual sight among the log cabin estates in the mountain community. There’s not a rounded corner throughout the 6,962-square-foot structure that nestles into Bald Mountain ridge. With its flat...
Architect Chris Moulder has always been fascinated with old farm structures and ranch compounds. A Connecticut native, he grew up surrounded by old buildings, spending his summers working construction on historic restoration projects. One of the more memorable jobs, he recalls, was working as a...
In the early 1980s, James Lavadour was painting landscapes in an empty schoolhouse. The building dated to the 1930s, but the Catholic Mission it belonged to had stood on the land that became the Umatilla Reservation for more than 150 years. Lavadour lived in the...
On the second day of working on a still life painting not long ago, Sherrie McGraw found herself in a familiar and frustrating situation. The first day, propelled by a strong sense of the visual idea she wanted to convey, the painting had gone well,...