I was raised in Helena, Montana and have spent my entire life in the American West, including Oregon, California, Idaho, and back to Montana. My art stems from my experiences in nature. As an avid outdoorsman, I find inspiration for my work while fishing and hunting in the rivers and mountain ranges of the Western US. For me, a piece of art is not simply a recording of a scene, but constitutes a unique statement of the experience, and the emotions felt while encountering nature. Technique and style, while critical to the process of being able to capture such encounters, are secondary to my effort to capture a feeling or memory. The subjects of my paintings are the things that have deep personal meaning to me. Whether it is a landscape or a wildlife piece , there is always a strong and very personal memory attached. My paintings range from high detail, to loose impressionism, depending on what I am trying to achieve in the painting. My hope is that the viewer will be able to concisely understand the scene being portrayed, as well as experience an emotional reaction of their own. The viewer should also be able to decipher something about the artist, and their experience and moods that underlie the finished piece. I am a self-taught artist, but this is misleading, as I have spent countless hours independently studying the masters, and striving to understand their techniques and philosophy. I have many influences in my art, and the list is continually growing as I meet new artists and discover master works I have never known. Charles M. Russell was my first great inspiration, having grown up in Russell’s old stomping grounds in Montana. Others include Carl Rungius, Wilhelm Kuhnert, Bob Kuhn, Chet Reneson, George Carlson, Rembrandt Bugatti, T. A. Daly, Winslow Homer, Clyde Aspevig, and so many others past and present. Thank you for taking the time to view my work!
-Kasey A. Nixon