WAOW Artistry of the West
The WAOW Artistry is slowly being built to provide a page on our site to promote each artist. This project began late summer 2024. We have over 300 members to load here on their pages. You can search by name, location or by subject matter to find an artist.
Betty J. Billups . Idaho . waow
"Betty Jean Billups is a superb Impressionist painter, blessed with the talent to produce rich and colorful paintings of her everyday experiences. She paints powerful works of visual delight and honest truth.
Using a bold brush and solid colors, she paints from her heart and her soul."
— (Mr.)Jean Stern, Director Emeritus, The Irvine Museum
Jenifer Cline . Colorado . waow
It is the connection, the joy – the reluctance to leave the scene that inspires Jenifer Cline to paint. She considers the sense of place, the effects of light and the linkage of heart and soul to the earth as the most important aspects of her work. She paints exclusively in oils en plein air.
Colette Claros . Texas . waow
Collette Claros feels a deep passion for painting people and conveying emotion through her art. She is especially drawn to painting the human face and form. It is thrilling when that face becomes real and starts pushing through the canvas.
Victoria Castillo . Texas . waow
Victoria Castillo is a figurative painter whose work focuses on women in light-infused settings, usually gardens and intimate interiors. She studied painting at Washington & Lee University and at the University of Maryland, graduating with honors. After college, Victoria has lived and worked in both Europe and the US. Most recently, she completed an intensive, classical, live model painting and drawing program at Studio Escalier in France.
Judith Brunko . Colorado & Arizona . waow
Judith Brunko loves the dramatic movement of the human figure and how it relates to the landscape of Colorado and Arizona, which she calls home. The people of the West and Southwest are what fuels her art. She portrays the figure in dance or costume evoking an emotion of time and place. Utilizing color, form and delicate brush strokes she creates a story.
Yvonne Bonacci . California . waow
Yvonne was born and raised on a cattle ranch. Horses and art have always been her passion. It's no surprise horses and people are her favorite subject. Many of her works are done on commission. She has taught workshops in the community for over 25 years. She works in a variety of mediums, and has won many awards over the years. Yvonne was inducted into the Elk Grove Community Hall of Fame for her accomplishments as an artist in 2020. Her paintings have hung at the California State Capital and at Washington D.C.
Ashwini Bharathula . Arizona . waow
Ashwini Bharathula (b.1984) is a representational fine artist specializing in oil painting based in Chandler, Arizona. She paints primarily alla prima in oils and prefers to paint directly from life. Her subjects span flowers, portraits, and landscapes.
Bruce Bingham . Texas . waow
Having completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Oklahoma in 1978, Bruce Bingham has pursued further education by attending over 36 workshops and courses taught by renowned artists from around the globe. Bruce has recently returned to the United States after spending a decade living abroad and has chosen to settle in the vibrant city of Austin. Embracing the city's eclectic atmosphere, Bruce finds inspiration in capturing the local color and unique venues that Keep Austin Weird! Bingham paints in lush, sensual oils that don’t just depict life...they celebrate it. Every brushstroke is a tribute to the beauty we often overlook. And every piece is a portal—to feeling more, noticing more, living more.
Debra Keirce . Virginia . waow
Debra Keirce paints and draws the first few chapters, so art lovers can finish the story. Drawings and paintings that make your heart smile.