Western Oil Paintings

Western oil paintings are truly a piece of Americana. They are able to depict a time in our country that seems to be slipping by. Sure, there are still cowboys, but these pieces show them as they once were.

They used to roam our city streets where now cars and SUVs drive down. It wasn't uncommon to see a herd of cattle going down Main Street, as where now it seems to be done as a tourist attraction rather than much else. Western oil paintings remind us of a time that wasn't that long ago, and for some in our country, a life they still live.

There are many western oil paintings on the market. They are available online, in stores, art galleries, and art fairs. It is quite easy to find one and put a piece of America's history in one's home.

They really do tell a story of the American West. Back when most of the civilized America, as they called it, was on the East side of the country, there was still so much to be discovered out West.

There were frightening tales of travelers heading West and what they encountered along the way. There were threats of weather, famine, no access to water, animals they had never encountered before, and mountains that had never been crossed.

It was a wonder why people still ventured across the Mississippi River to see just what was on the other side. Many Western oil paintings depict the struggle and hardship people faced coming across our nation on horseback or by covered wagon.

People discovered the West so that we can have all that we have today. Most of them were risking their lives for something better like a better life, more space, and a greater opportunity that they no longer felt they could achieve in the bigger cities of the East.

Another way Western oil paintings portray our past is through the lives of cowboys and the rough and rugged wild frontier. These paintings or portraits capture the true grit of this time.

They may be portraits of infamous outlaws or famous lawmen of that time. There were also women of notoriety that have been photographed and painted by numerous artists. These all help tell us about our past and help us hold on to those memories.

There are most likely more paintings of cowboys and their lives than any other type of Western art. It is easy to figure out why that is. There is a mystique that the cowboy life has always carried.

There are true cowboys, even today, and it's a life that has created books, movies, mini-series, and television shows. Clearly it's a way of life that fascinates most American's.

It was a sometimes a very lonely life. Other times, it was full of adventure, trials, and triumphs. There are numerous pieces that depict the dusty cattle drive roaming through the desert plains in search of water.

Other pieces express the fatigue of a long cattle drive as they journey over mountains in waist deep snow or knee deep mud brought about by torrential downpours on already saturated ground. There are also other amazing pieces of art that show the end of a long day around a camp fire with the sun setting in the background.

No matter what the artist has used for their imagery, they are able to convey their message on to canvas. Making this type of art some of the most popular type of art and some of the most displayed art in our homes.

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