The theme of confluence resonates throughout any conversation with Kathy Hancox and Michael Kothke, founders of the Tucson, Arizona-based HK Associates. Everything — from their education, to past work experiences, to the people they’ve encountered along the way — has come together in their vision. [caption...
WA&A publisher and art critic Tim Newton breaks down an iconic Western work Gunnar Widforss’s portrayals of the Grand Canyon are second to none. He was meticulous in his technique and brilliant with his compositions. This view of the Grand Canyon from Hopi Point is one...
An unfortunate event in 1936 turned out to be a boon for a Phoenix, Arizona, artist who wasn’t even born yet when it happened. A grocer renting a neighborhood corner store had plumbing issues, and instead of offering assistance, the landlord told him to “fix...
When Ron Shanor creates his Western-style furniture, which has won admiration for three decades, he welcomes an assist from an unexpected collaborator: Mother Nature. The gracefully curved feet of his armchair legs benefit from trees that have grown on slopes or were bent naturally by...
Susan Folwell may be following in the footsteps of her ancestors as at least the fifth generation in her family to make pottery. But one glance at her creations, which thoughtfully, wittily, and sometimes provocatively comment on subjects ranging from political and social issues to...
Maeve Eichelberger grew up with “a lot of art supplies around,” thanks to her architect and sculptor father and her mother who pursued interior design and fashion. So it long seemed a foregone conclusion that the Colorado native would be an artist herself. “I never...
Natalie Christensen clearly remembers being asked in early childhood what she dreamed of becoming when she grew up. “I said I wanted to be an artist,” she recalls. “But my father was very pragmatic and always urged us to follow more practical pursuits. It was...
Anyone wondering where Susie Gordon finds inspiration for her realistic yet fanciful animal paintings need only look at what she calls “our little bit of heaven.” She’s referring to the 1804 farmhouse on 50 acres in northeastern Ohio where she raised her three children —...
In every issue of WA&A, we share the stories of creative individuals and their work. We document the long road that eventually leads to a completed project, and along the way, we discover artistic intentions, historical influences, sources of inspiration, and the methods, materials, and...
Terry Winchell was a child prodigy antique dealer. Growing up along the border of Wyoming and Nebraska, he was fascinated by Western history from a young age. He was only 14 when he bought — and swiftly resold — his first piece of antique furniture....