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Joelle Smith’s life and work revolved around her love of horses. She lived with her mother, Sally, and seven horses, on twenty acres in Alfalfa, Oregon. Joelle spent her mornings with the horses and painted in the afternoons and evenings. Horses came first in her life, just as they came first in her daily schedule.
Her favorite subject was horses, and these she painted with true passion. “The art came from the horses,” she explained. “The love of horses was always there and so was the art, but the horses came first.” All of Joelle’s subjects were real; the horses, places and people. She did not pose them for her paintings, but worked to capture a slice of life in a documentary style. Many of the horses in her paintings were her own. Joelle’s work is a reflection of her experiences on ranches throughout the West. Her paintings are vivid records of contemporary Western life, her life’s legacy to future generations.
Director’s Note: Joelle Smith’s personal story is the inspiration for the National Day of the Cowboy’s Cowboy Keeper Award. In addition, her regal piece, “She’s a Hand,” was chosen as the art for the 2009 Cowboy Keeper Award and her work “Bustin’ the Paint,” is featured on the National Day of the Cowboy Rockmount Ranch Wear silk tie.
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The Jo Mora Trust endeavors to honor the memory and integrity of Joseph Jacinto “Jo” Mora and his artistic accomplishments. Peter Hiller, the trust collection curator, strives to enlighten and educate the public about Jo Mora by making Mora’s art available for exhibition, research and sale. Mora’s artistic gifts included drawing, painting, sculpting, cartooning, illustration, photography and mapmaking.
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From an early age, Jim Clements was passionate about drawing and painting, and says he has no problem finding a variety of subject matter. “God’s beauty is all around us and the endless opportunity He’s provided to artists is staggering. When I see the beauty of nature and all the unique peple around me, often in ordinary situations, it’s exciting to think of how I can incorporate those in future paintings.”
Jim is a member of the Portrait Society of America, Oil Painters of America, Kansas Academy of Oil Painters and American Plains Artists. His studio is located in El Dorado, KS. Jim Clements’ work, Simple Things, was selected as the art for the National Day of the Cowboy’s 2010 Cowboy Keeper Award.
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[warning]Teal Blake has always liked to show the traditional west; cowboys not always clean, their shirts not always creased and their horses’ manes not always long. Teal created the art “Trick Roper” for the official 2007 National Day of the Cowboy Hatch poster.[/warning]
[warning]Lynn Brown works mainly in oils and watercolor to express her feelings for the day-to-day life of the working cowboy. She recently moved to Texas from Arizona. Lynn has donated her work to benefit the National Day of the Cowboy organization.[/warning]
[warning]Maggie Polen Bryce lives with her husband on a small ranch south of Safford, Arizona. They share their lives with horses, cattle, dogs, cats, chickens and homing pigeons. Maggie who especially loves horses, has donated her art for the benefit of the National Day of the Cowboy.[/warning]
[warning]Shawn Cameron is a woman working in the field of Western art that has spent much time with her subject matter. She hopes her art will give the viewer an emotional sense of the “cowboy world.” Shawn has donated her work to benefit the National Day of the Cowboy.[/warning]
[warning]Christina Holmes is a British Cowgirl artist, born with a passion for horses and vibrant watercolor art. She currently resides in California. She recently participated in the prestigious Cowgirl Up! Show for the second time, at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg, Arizona. Christina created the art for the 2009 “Make it Your Own” National Day of the Cowboy Hatch show print.[/warning]
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Lisa Kirk loves to portray the Spanish Mustangs she and her husband raise on their ranch in the Black Hills. Isa has donated prints of her work to benefit the National Day of the Cowboy.[/warning]
[warning]Zane Mead is a third generation ranching family artist. He employed his talents to benefit the National Day of the Cowboy, creating “Cowboy Keepers” as a tribute to the NDOC resolution, and drawing the steer roping art for the 2008 National Day of the Cowboy Hatch poster. He currently makes his home in New Mexico. (Mead does not have a website.)[/warning]
[warning]Jennifer M. Ward is a third generation ranch-family Arizonan, born in Prescott and raised in Rimrock. Her artist mediums include graphite, colored pencil, watercolor and water miscible oil. Jennifer is a long time supporter of the National Day of the Cowboy organization, donating art on numerous occasions to help with fundraising. She also created the cowgirl art for the 2006 National Day of the Cowboy Hatch poster.[/warning]
[warning]Sharon Wysocki is a contemporary mixed media artist whose studio is on her ranch near Safford, Arizona. Her art has held space at both the Cranbrook Art Museum, and the Kresege Art Museum, in Michigan. This cowgirl artist donated a special one-of-a-kind piece to help the NDOC with fundraising.[/warning]