Some artists can capture a person as well as a photograph does, but because of the artist’s control of the surroundings and light, the painting better controls our focus and captures the imagination.

J.D. Roybal (1922-1978) was an artist with a great deal of talent and a sense of humor. His favorite subject was what the Tewa Pueblo people call the Kossa Clown, figures that are considered something like Court Jesters in the Kiva religion.

Most Native American painters today are easy to track down and find information about. They tend not to be shy about recognition or fame. Early on, that was not always true.

An Artist’s inspiration can come from anywhere, it’s a matter of looking at the world and letting your imagination go. One Saturday, while working on some canvases as his two young boys watched television, Leland Holiday glanced at the screen and saw Bugs Bunny with a blanket wrapped around him.

Leland Holiday was born into one of the most famous families in Navajo basket making but it was never something he was interested in learning. 

“I didn’t want to make baskets,” he says. “But I always knew I wanted to be an artist.”

When the Winter Olympics came to Salt Lake City in 2002, one of the most popular attractions for people from all over the world was the exhibit on Native American cultures and lifestyles. The organizers of the Olympics made a special effort to highlight the tribes of Utah and the Southwest. 

Acts of kindness are usually done without any thought of personal gain or any idea of what they could lead to. Sometimes they are simple, solitary gifts; sometimes they can change a life.

I’d like to share a couple of stories (and there are lots of them!) about Stanton Englehart.  He taught at Fort Lewis College for over 30 years where he was the head of the art department.

Two of our most popular Holiday events are this weekend. On Friday, December 7, from 5 until 9 pm, join us for Noel Night, a Durango tradition!

Maria is deservedly considered the “Potter of San Ildefonso” because of her long and illustrious career and her part in creating the black on black pottery that made her famous. Her polishing technique created the first “gun metal” finish and her legacy is etched in clay.

When Albert Dreher began painting fine art, following a successful career as a commercial artist, he was looking for something different, something that would make his work unique.

For several years, Peter quit painting and focused on canvas art, sewing animal figures out of canvas and decorating them with feathers, beads and acrylic paints.

I kept asking him when he was going to start painting again and last year he broke out the easel and reached into his bag of creativity.