21 Under 31: Young Artists to Watch in 2014

Montana

Kasey Nixon, Grizzlies on the Rocky Mountain Frontier, oil, 18 x 24.

Art Education: I have mostly learned to paint through the exhaustive study of past masters and contemporary painters. My grandfather, a gifted carver, kept me steadily supplied with magazines filled with amazing wildlife art. It was there that I discovered masters like Bob Kuhn, Carl Rungius, and Robert Bateman. I have diligently studied their work since then. In addition, I grew up about a half mile from the great collection of C.M. Russell’s work in the Montana Historical Society Museum in Helena. I have spent countless hours studying it.

Creative Spark: The most important sparks come from real experiences I have out in nature.

Second-Choice Career: I recently graduated with a master’s degree in mental-health counseling. I am still determining how my art career and my counseling career will interact, but I see them as very closely related and complementary.

Other Passions: I am an avid fly-fisherman and hunter.

Biggest Fear: I am terrified of zombies. Zombie movies are pretty much my worst nightmare.

Pet Peeve: Traffic. I spent time in bigger cities during graduate school, and for a Montana boy, city traffic is almost unbearable.

Favorite Studio Music: I love classical and Irish music.

Favorite Work by Another Artist: WHEN THE LAND BELONGED TO GOD by C.M. Russell.

Price Range: $500 to $5,000.

Featured in the September 2014 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
Southwest Art September 2014 print issue or digital download Or subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss a story!