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.

Tara Kemp . Oregon . waow

“I strive to preserve the beauty in nature through my work. It is something of an act of preservation and in a way an act of rebellion to bring to the viewers attention the beauty of our endangered natural world.”

A “values” painter, Tara loves attuning to shadow and highlight, noticing the way a color changes as it moves into shadow or light, and reflects colors from it’s surroundings. 

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Canine, Dogs, Horses, Landscape WAOW . Canine, Dogs, Horses, Landscape WAOW .

Nancy Smyth . Florida . waow

My art journey began as a child and has been a constant throughout my life. Although I received my BFA in College, I did not start my full-time career as an artist until later in life as my earlier career was in the corporate world. I am now focusing on my new path as a portrait artist that specializes in equine and canine art.

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Jody Martin . Texas. waow

Born in Lubbock, Texas, Jody is the daughter of the late Conny Martin, artist, and C.B. Martin, builder, photographer, and watercolorist. Always passionate about art, Jody never doubted that she would become an artist. She earned her degree in art from Abilene Christian University, and went on to study painting under Hall of Fame artists, Daniel Greene and Emily Guthrie Smith. She values most the education she received from her mother, Conny Martin. Under Conny's tutelage she learned classical drawing and contemporary design. 

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Suzie Varner. Texas. waow

The western artist, Susie Varner says as a child with ADD it was difficult to be still, but put a pencil in her hand and she could sit for hours! Some might even say Susie was born with a pencil in her hand, for as long as she can remember she longed for a horse, drawing them was the next best thing. Born in Chickasha, Oklahoma; #7 out of ten children in a two bedroom house, it was often chaotic and a spot in a corner with scrap paper and a pencil gave her solace.  Susie says there was so much love in that little house, it taught her to seek God given talents and she feels blessed to have found her gift. Much of her inspiration comes from living in the country and owning horses. As a child, she copied art from western artists, Charles Russell and Frederic Remington and feels that is where her love for western art comes from. 

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Shanelle Deater. Colorado. waow

BIO – Born in a small Kansas town, Shanelle Deater discovered her love of art early in her father’s paintbox. The paints, powders, and mediums were too fascinating to pass up. Shanelle Deater is now an accomplished, classically trained artist, a member of Oil Painters of America, Plein Air Artists Colorado, the Guild of Nature and Science Illustrators, the American Society of Botanical Artists, the Rocky Mountain Society of Botanical Artists. Ms. Deater paints landscapes, still lifes, portraits, and botanical subjects. She enjoys the challenge of painting in a traditional manner for its high level of precision, standards and subtlety.

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Teresa Lynn Johnson. New Mexico. waow

Teresa Lynn Johnson, an artist based in New Mexico, has been refining her oil painting expertise for many years, with a focus on western landscapes and both wild and domestic animals. Teresa was born in Coleman, Texas, and spent her formative years living on a secluded four-hundred-acre farm, where she engaged with animals and explored nature daily. This environment fostered her love for wildlife and natural settings.

 

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Cindy Compert . California. waow

Born and educated in New York, Cindy has been painting as long as she’s been holding a paintbrush. She did her first commission at age 15 and after a long career in IT, she is now painting full time as she travels around the world with her partner Kevin in their Jeep. Getting off-road enables her to access unspoiled places that few will ever experience. Her goal is to share that beauty and inspire others.

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Judy Sprague . Colorado . waow

Judy is a fine artist working in the mediums of oil, pastel, and ink,  and live in the beautiful state of Colorado. She has been drawing or painting since she was a child in Tennessee, finally earning an art degree in her late thirties, but didn't pursue painting professionally until the last 25 years when she retired from a career in Education. Tosday she is pleased to have earned the recognition of  Associate Member Women Artists of the West, Master Signature Member  of the Pastel Society of Colorado and a Signature Member of the Arizona Pastel Artists Association.  Her art is exhibited in galleries, juried art exhibitions throughout the United States, and on her web site.

 

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Mary Arnold . Idaho . waow

Jessie Rasche is a professional artist who paints in her Brookings home studio, and out on dusty farm roads. 

Growing up in Seattle as the only child of an artist, Jessie got a lot of encouragement for her creative endeavors, and studied Fine Art at the Pacific Northwest College of Art. 

Even so, a career path as an artist wasn’t clear and Jessie went back to school in Psychology and general sciences before a short career in social work, and then as an illustrator and media developer.

16 years ago, with family encouragement, Jessie followed her dreams of becoming a professional artist, and began selling her small paintings online and through galleries.

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Ann Currey . Tennessee . waow

Ann developed a love for art from her Grandmother's influence who also instilled a great love of travel, both have remained treasured parts of her life. "Each painting is a recognition of thankfulness for the incredible beauty God has graciously bestowed upon us." Tennessee, USA

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Cathryne Trachok . California . waow

Having grown up in Nevada, and California, Cathryne sees the world with a Western viewpoint. She uses that western foundation to look for inspiration in old and new experiences. She looks at art as communication across cultures, time and experiences!

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Laurie Pace . Texas

Laurie Pace aka Elle Pace is a contemporary painter from Texas. She is a member of WAOW and proud to be part of this incredible group of Women Painters. Together they bring their art to tell the story of yesterday and today of the west. This strong internationally collected artist from over 40 countries, enjoys painting Western Art. She has been an artist represented by Mirada Fine Art in Denver since it opened in 2010. Her past galleries were Jackson Hole, La Jolla, and in Park Cities. She loves doing commission paintings for her clients.

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