WHITNEY HALL'S oil paintings combine the inspiration of the wild Northern Rockies and the intense color of the Southwest. Born and raised in San Diego, Whitney studied under a wide variety of contemporary California impressionists, expressionists, and colorists, focusing her studies mainly on figurative drawing and painting. After moving to Montana in 2008 she was introduced to Russian Impressionism and the Northern Rockies’ deep legacy of animal painting that changed the course of her work from human to beast. Despite her four-legged subject matter, her approach is still figurative at its root, with a focus on the design and character of each animal she paints. Today her colorful animal compositions reflect this mixed art heritage with their constant push and pull between technique and intuition, form and expression, harmony and contrast.

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In 2010 Whitney was the youngest artist to be juried into the C.M. Russell Art Auction. In 2011, she was published in Southwest Art Magazine as one of “21 Under 31: Young Artists to Collect Now” and received the Award of Excellence in the Oil Painters of America’s 2011 Western Regional Exhibition. Her work has since been juried into many national shows and auctions, including the 2014 Russell Auction, the 2014 and 2015 Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, and the 2015 Celebration of Fine Art.

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ARTIST STATEMENT:

I believe a horse is to look at as much as it is to ride. Coming from a figurative background, I see in horses the same form and movement that would make a dancer or athlete beautiful. They come in an unending variety of sizes and builds and temperaments, and I don’t believe I could ever grow tired of painting them. Through my paintings I want to give a new perspective from an animal who has been one of the single most important forces behind what we know of as ‘The West.’

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I also bring to my work a fascination with color theory. I carefully design the palette for each piece to balance the harmony and contrast of the colors. The result is a painting full of rich intense color but also bringing a subtlety that a more aggressive approach to color would not fully showcase.

 

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AWARDS AND EXHIBITIONS:

2017

• 2017 Coors Western Art Show and Sale: Gallery at the National Western Club, Denver Colorado, January

• 27th Annual Celebration of Fine Art, Scottsdale Arizona, January 16th – March 27th

• 18th Annual Stampede Western Invitational Art Exhibit & Sale, Greeley Colorado, June 23rd – July 4th

• 36th Annual Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, Cody Wyoming, September

• 11th Annual Miniatures by the Lake, Coeur d’Alene Galleries, Coeur d’Alene Idaho, September

• The Brinton 101, Brinton Museum, Big Horn Wyoming, November – December

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2016

• 2016 Coors Western Art Show and Sale: Gallery at the National Western Club, Denver Colorado, January 9 – 24 2016

• 26th Annual Celebration of Fine Art, Scottsdale Arizona, January 16th – March 27th 2016

• Brinton Museum Small Works Show, Big Horn Wyoming, September 12th – October 18th 2016

• 35th Annual Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, Cody Wyoming, September 2016

• 10th Annual Miniatures by the Lake, Coeur d’Alene Galleries, Coeur d’Alene Idaho, September

• 4th Annual Art for Horses Art Show & Sale, Parker Colorado, September 16th – October 30th 2016

• 2016 Mountain Oyster Club Contemporary Art Show & Sale, Tucson Arizona, November – December

2015

• 25th Annual Celebration of Fine Art, Scottsdale Arizona, January 17th – March 29th 2015

• Heart of the West Art Show & Sale, Couer d’Alene Idaho, August 20th – 22nd 2015

  • Live Auction Artist

  • Quick Finish Artist

• Brinton Museum Small Works Show, Big Horn Wyoming, September 12th – October 18th 2015

• 34th Annual Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, Cody Wyoming, September 2015

  • Live Auction Artist

  • Quick Draw Artist

• 9th Annual Miniatures by the Lake, Coeur d’Alene Art Galleries, Coeur d’Alene Idaho, September 2015

2014

• The Russell Auction, C.M. Russell Museum, Great Falls Montana, March 2014

• Icons of the West National Exhibition, Dana Gallery, Missoula Montana, May 2014

• Whitefish Summer Art Social, Ironhorse Country Club, Whitefish Montana, June 2014

  • Silent Auction Artist

• 33rd Annual Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, Cody Wyoming, September 2014

  • Live Auction Artist

  • Quick Draw Artist

• 8th Annual Miniatures by the Lake, Coeur d’Alene Art Galleries, Coeur d’Alene Idaho, September 2014

2013

• Whitefish Summer Art Social, Ironhorse Country Club, Whitefish Montana, June 2013

  • Quick Finish & Live Auction Artist

  • Silent Auction Artist

• Western Masters Art Show & Sale, Great Falls Montana, March 2013

  • Juried Artist: “Off the Wall” Art Auction

  • Exhibitor, Room 286

• 7th Annual Miniatures by the Lake, Coeur d’Alene Art Galleries, Coeur d’Alene Idaho, September 2014

2012:

• Whitefish Summer Art Social, Ironhorse Country Club, Whitefish Montana, June 2012

  • Quick Finish & Live Auction Artist

  • Silent Auction Artist

• Western Masters Art Show & Sale, Great Falls Montana, March 2012

  • Friday Night Quick Finish Artist

  • Juried Artist: “Off the Wall” Art Auction

  • Exhibitor, Room 286

2011:

• “Award of Excellence,” Oil Painters of America’s 2012 Western Regional Juried Show

• Southwest Art Magazine’s “21 Under 31” Artists to Watch Now, September 2011

• Western Masters Art Show & Sale, Great Falls Montana, March 2011

  • “Off the Wall” Art Auction at the Western Masters Art Show & Sale, Great Falls Montana, March 2011

  • Exhibitor, “Western Masters Art Show and Sale,” Great Falls, Montana, March 2011

• Juried Show, “Ex Arte Equinus IV,” Presented by Art Horse Magazine, March 2011

2010 & Earlier:

• Custer County Art Center’s 2010 Traveling Collection

• Two-Woman Show: “Finishing Touches,” Bozeman, Montana, December 2010

• C.M. Russell Art Auction, Great Falls Montana, March 2010

• Custer County Art Center: “31st Annual Southeast Montana Juried Show”

• Breckenridge Fine Art Center: “18th Annual Juried Art Competition,” Breckenridge Texas, August 2009

• Four-Woman Show, “Four Perspectives,” Escondido, California, June 2008

• Juror’s Choice, Juried Show: “Top 100,” Southwest Art Association, March 2008

• Honorable Mention, Juried Show: “Lifelong Learning,” Artists Gallery, March 2008

• First Place, Juried Show: “December Show,” San Dieguito Art Guild, December 2007

• Invitational Exhibition, “Student Show 2007,” Boehm Art Gallery, Palomar College, May 2007

• Best of Show & First Place, Juried Show: “Celebration,” Artists Gallery, December 2006

• First Place & Second Place, Juried Show: “Noah’s Art ‘06,” Artists Gallery, August 2006

• Juried Show, 2006 Fine Art Competition, San Diego County Fair, June 2006

• Invitational Exhibition, “Student Show 2006,” Boehm Art Gallery, Palomar College, May 2006

• Invitational Exhibition, “Student Show 2005,” Boehm Art Gallery, Palomar College, May 2005

 

 

PUBLICATIONS:

• May 2013: “Art of the Horse” Artist Focus, Western Art Collector

• May 2012: Artist Focus, American Art Collector

• September 2011: Feature Article, “Get Out” Art & Culture Magazine, Bozeman Chronicle, Bozeman Montana

• September 2011: “21 Under 31” Artists to Watch Now, Southwest Art Magazine

• March 2011: “Ex Arte Equinus IV” Limited Print Art Book, Presented by Art Horse Magazine

 

 

EDUCATION:

• 2004 – 2007: Palomar College, Focus on Illustration and Oil Painting

• 2007: Watts Atelier of the Arts, Focus on Figurative Drawing

• 2010 – 2011: Workshops & Mentorship with Robert Moore

 

 

MEMBERSHIPS:

• American Women Artists

• Society of Animal Artists