"The Wagon Boss" by C.M. Russell

Some people assume that the term “western art” refers simply to the American west: cowboys and cowgirls, animals of the Rocky Mountains and the plains, and the ranch life.  “Western art” conjures up the idyllic paintings of Charles M. Russell for many people; and while these people are not wrong, western art goes back a lot further than many people assume.  According to art historians, western art can be traced back to Stonehenge.  Many art movements fall under the broad term of “western art” including the Classical period, medieval art, the Renaissance, Baroque art, and Modern art.  This article could, in theory, go on for pages and pages detailing every western art movement, however I will focus on the type of western art featured on the Creations Studio website, www.AntlerFurniture.org, and often featured in American west towns. 

Charles M. Russell, as noted above, is a huge name in Western Art.  He was a prolific artist, creating hundreds of paintings depicting the Old West, especially scenes of cowboys and Native Americans.  Having visited the C.M. Russell Museum personally, I can say that his paintings, sculptures, and sketches truly capture the wild feeling and sentiment of the west like none other I have ever seen.  Somehow he manages to work in the feeling of greatness and loneliness that one encounters on the prairie, hair blowing in the wind.  The C.M. Russell Museum is located in Great Falls, Montana in his last place of residence and a breathtaking part of the museum includes his studio and part of his log cabin, frozen in time.  I highly recommend making a trip to this museum if you have any appetite for western art.  Charles Marion Russell is, however, not the only one to capture the life and times of the west.

Frederic Remington was another artist that captured the spirit of the American west in western art.  He is often credited for paintings that inspired the romantic notion of the west, and many of his illustrations were featured in popular American magazines such as Harper’s Weekly.  While C.M. Russell painted pictures of everyday moments and feelings from the plains, Remington sought to capture high-drama action shots, portraying, for example, a Crow Indian preparing for death by his cowboy captors in “Ridden Down.”  He offered the American public a more dramatic, dangerous image of the west, which shaped many people’s ideas of the Old West for better or for worse. 

Paul Surber painting, illuminated by
Creations Studio table lamps

Paul Surber is a modern example of western art.  He paints historically accurate Native American scenes, inspired by living near various Indian reservations throughout his life.  His acrylic and oil paintings incorporate lively colors and eclectic scenes of plains Indians, including stunning portraits that capture the quiet pride and dignity of Native American chiefs.  His work can be found at Creations Studio, located in Whitefish, Montana.  The website, AntlerFurniture.org, features several of Surber’s original paintings as well as western furniture, rustic lighting, and Native American dress.  Creations Studio offers one-of-a-kind heirloom quality western art and antler furniture.

Creations Studio offers various pieces of western decor, featuring antler art and furniture by owner Dean Grommet.  Grand furniture pieces incorporate hair-on hides, buckskin, moose antlers, elk antlers, red deer antlers, fallow stag antlers, authentic buffalo nickels, polished marble and granite, fine quality leather, and ornamental iron work.  Grommet also co-owns Acutech Water Jet Cutting & Fabrication with Josh Boyce, offering the Flathead Valley water jet cutting, laser cutting, and plasma cutting services.  WaterJetCut.co showcases Glacier Jet’s many projects and services.

Special thanks to PBS’ American Masters, the C.M. Russell Museum, and Absolute Astronomy’s Online Encyclopedia for information on the featured western art and artists in this article.