Cowboy Paintings

Nothing says Americana more than cowboy paintings. They are among some of the most popular type of art. Cowboy paintings resonate with so many people in so many different ways.

Different generations can relate to this type of art and find commonality. They are so much more than just a man in his hat or a man on his horse. There are museums that dedicate entire galleries just to this art because it so beautifully captures life in the early West.

Cowboy paintings center around an extremely pivotal time in America. The West was growing in size and geography. The West was considered wild for so many reasons.

There wasn't the sophistication of the East nor the overseas traveling that brought fine things from Europe and other places. The West was a vast geographic area on the other side of the Mississippi.

Much of it was still only inhabited by Native American's, buffalo, and many other creatures that people from the East had yet come in contact with. The wild West was not for the faint of heart or people that didn't want adventure. There were vast plains, dessert lands, and mountains that looked like they could touch the sky.

Many artists have tried to capture this in their cowboy paintings by trying to accurately portray what that time was like. There are some that are very simple and some that are very ornate.

Some are whimsical with humor woven in to the work. Others capture the beauty of that time. There are so many different styles that one is sure to find a painting that can suite their preference.

Most cowboy paintings center around the cowboy himself or herself. There were plenty of cowgirls in the wild West. There are amazing works that have been done to replicate how rugged it really was back then.

Works showing the man and his trusty stead is probably one of the more popular portrayals. Chaps worn, saddle blanket caked with dirt, spurs on well worn boots, dirt rimmed hat, unkempt beard, and calloused hands are an accurate portrait of a cowboy.

Many other pieces of work portray the well known cattle drive. Dust flying as high as the eye can see as the cattle were driven down the valley towards the awaiting river below is often depicted.

Another synonymous piece of work is of the nighttime campfire, whether it is a group of cattlemen sitting around eating chow after a long days cattle drive or one sitting by himself. There is often a glow from the fire that seems to capture the look of what was often a lonely life.

Having a piece of this type of art is a great addition to any home. Since there are many styles, there is sure to be one that fits every home. Think of it as another way to honor the way we were.

It wasn't that long ago that we traveled West on horseback and in a covered wagon. Lives were lost in the search for better living. This was a sacrifice that many were ready to make. No one was more willing to do so than the American cowboy.

Betz Gallery is an expert in Giclee , cowboy paintings and reproductions.