Show Preview | Altamira Fine Art: Donna Howell-Sickles

Jackson, WY
August 26-September 7

Donna Howell-Sickles, Glad to Be Here, acrylic, 48 x 57.

This story was featured in the August 2013 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Order the Southwest Art August 2013 print issue, or get the Southwest Art August 2013 digital download now…Or better yet, just subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss a story!

The cowgirl has been the core of Donna Howell-Sickles’ colorful paintings for more than 30 years. Focusing her work on women and their roles in the American West, Howell-Sickles explores her fascination with the timelessness of the cowgirl spirit. In recognition of her work with imagery that celebrates the cowgirl, she was inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in 2007. In her solo show, opening on August 26 at Altamira Fine Art, Howell-Sickles continues her journey into the hearts and minds of western women. The gallery hosts a reception for the artist from 5 to 8 p.m. on September 6, the day before the show closes on September 7.

Donna Howell-Sickles, You Are So Sweet, charcoal, 22 x 30.

Howell-Sickles’ newest works explore the relationships between cowgirls and a menagerie of western animals. “There’s more wildlife, such as deer and antelope, in my most recent paintings, and fewer horses,” explains Howell-Sickles, who has created approximately 10 new works for the exhibition. “I also am including a few charcoals on canvas in the show. This is a process I’ve done before but haven’t done in a while. I’ve noticed that my charcoals on canvas almost have an elegance to them that I find in etchings.”

Howell-Sickles notes that some of the women in her paintings are her friends and neighbors. A girlfriend is one of the three women in her 48-by-57-inch piece GLAD TO BE HERE, which Howell-Sickles says is a celebration of friendship and the joy of being where, and who, you are.

“Rich with symbolism, Donna Howell-Sickles’ lively paintings embody the power of the feminine in the American West,” says Meg Daly, sales assistant at Altamira Fine Art. “With her signature graphic style and precision with the human form, Howell-Sickles animates the connections between cowgirls and their animal companions. Joy, vibrancy, and community nearly jump off the canvas in her work.” —Emily Van Cleve

contact information
307.739.4700
www.altamiraart.com

Featured in the August 2013 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
Southwest Art August 2013 digital download
Southwest Art August 2013 print issue
Or subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss a story!