DO YOU LOVE ART? by Reggi Allder

How about western/cowboy art? I do. Before I changed my college major to writing, I studied art history. Of course, we learned about the classics. However, I was raised in a small town. Before, moving to a city, I grew up around Western art. It hung in the library, bank, and restaurant my family frequented.

My grandad had an old friend who was a cowboy in his younger days. Clyde had spent many days on the range with the cattle. He used to fascinate us with his stories and his rope tricks. At one point, he had been a rodeo champion, roping steers. But his claim to fame was his painting. A self-taught artist, he drew from his knowledge of the range. He painted what he knew, outdoor scenes with horses, cattle and watering holes. I remember my dad telling me that the mural I admired in the nearby hotel was done by our family friend. He never became a household name, still he gave enjoyment to all who saw his work. We are lucky to have one of his paintings. It is not named but was painted in the California Sierra Mountains.

In college, I searched out other more famous artist in the Western genre. In my research, I discovered Fredric Remington served as a war correspondent for the New York Journal in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. Much of Remington's early writing was reportorial; he later produced short stories, eight anthologies of previously published magazine articles and two novels. I was only aware of his sculptures and later his paintings.

His works of art are in many museums; I saw Fredric Remington’s work in a museum in Los Angeles. I believe it was a sculpture called Bronco Buster. Reminton was born in Canton, New York in 1861. His museum is in Ogdensburg, New York. Though Remington is often remembered for his sculptures of cowboys and their horses, he did many painting of cowboys, Native Americans, and vaqueros. His work is still available today in prints and copied sculptures. Here are a few examples: Smoke Signals

and Vaquero and Morning on the Range.

Our Country Heart book 3 of the Sierra Creek Series has a vaquero, Manuel Gordon, a cowboy who has come back to his home town to start over after years on the rodeo circuit.

OUR COUNTRY HEART Sierra Creek Series Book 3 of 4. Five Stars: “The book was so good, I didn’t want it to end.” “A stand-alone book with great characters!” “If you love cowboys, small towns, second chances, and real-to-life characters, the Sierra Creek books are for you!” Revewed by NL “Perfect when you need a feel-good read.” Now in paperback too! ON AMAZON Have you ever made a mistake you would do anything to change? An actress from Los Angeles and an all-around champion cowboy return to the small town of Sierra Creek to right a wrong. Can they ignore the past and put aside their personal problems for the good of the town? Are they wrong to have confidence in their ability to work together? A man is in town to help reopen the lumber mill. Why is he determined to get in their way and cause trouble? This is one of four books that take place in the small town of Sierra Creek. The engaging characters in the other Sierra Creek books return for another heartwarming read. Find out how Amy, Vanna, Sophie, and their partners are doing. Amazon Page https://www.amazon.com/Reggi-Allder/e/B00G05PJRS If danger and romance is for you, try my first book in the Dangerous Series Dangerous Web

Please leave a comment and tell me your favorite kind of art, just click on comments.