Carrie Fell demonstrates her art in Beaver Creek
If you go ...
Who: Artist Carrie Fell.
Where: Horton Fine Art, Beaver Creek.
When: Thursday. 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and again from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
More information: Call 970-949-1660.
Carrie Fell’s artwork is unmistakable. At first sight, one is attracted by her vibrant colors, fluid lines and rich storytelling. Her work depicts the lives of cowboys and cowgirls roaming on horseback, exploring the latitude of a not too familiar wild, wild West. There are buffalo, large bulls interlocking horns and just about any wild critter these cowboys will meet in their travels.
After 25 years of depicting the lives of cowboys and cowgirls of the West, Fell, who prefers not to be called a “Western artist,” approaches life like a cowgirl herself. Her portraits are faceless because they depict the mythology of the Western life rather than a specific person. The cowboy as a scout of new territories well defines Fell’s artistic journey, constantly challenging herself to explore new lines and a greater balance between colors, shapes and light, depicting movement on a flat surface called canvas.
Fell’s work reflects the beauty and soul of the West. Different from many artists, she is not interested in its outer landscapes. This Colorado native is more interested in describing the journey of life using the icons of the West, but depicting them with such fluidity of lines and boldness of color choices that it becomes evident that the exploration is her own personal journey.
Skillfully Fell creates positive and negative space using acrylics and oil washes. Her lines lead the viewer further and further into the convoluted evolvement of colors and into comprehensible shapes. These “inner landscapes” have boldness and courageous, exploratory energy.
“I want my art to play a personal role in people’s lives. If a painting moves you at some deeper level, then I have reached my goal,” she said.
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The cowboy lifestyle
The cowboy lifestyle is a nomadic one. Moving the herd is dictated by the weather, the seasons and the stars. Similarly, Fell’s artistic expression is constantly evolving in its nature — the daring use of colors and kinetic lines is not hemmed in by rules, but is guided simply by her artistic talent and intuition. She hopes that the audacity of her exploration will keep uncovering the great artistic qualities that viewers and collectors appreciate about her art.
“Whether they (art critics) will define my genre as ‘Western’ or ‘contemporary’ is a matter only time will tell,” Fell said.
Recently, Fell was chosen by the Vail Valley Foundation to design the poster and marketing materials for the 2015 World Alpine Championships. Fell has donated her artwork to several local charitable events, including the popular Taste of Vail.
Fell will demonstrate her painting technique at the Horton Fine Art gallery in Beaver Creek on today from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and again from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
For further information, contact Horton Fine Art at 970-949-1660.