“I often try describe my work as graphic
tonalism. I try to capture the shapes that I see
and really distinguish those lights and darks,
shadows and highlights, by using colors that
kind of invoke the speculation of the viewer
as they look into the scene,” Gardner says.
“I want to get the viewer involved and pull
them into the painting so they can think
about what is going on, and the roles of these
cowboys. The colors are there to say something
deeper about these ranching scenes and why
cowboys are so important.”
The American cowboy is always at the forefront
of Gardner’s work, primarily because he
believes in what they are doing and the
significant role they’ve played in the American
West, but also because he knows many
cowboys and respects all that they do. “There
is a long history of cowboys in the West, and
how they’ve faced challenging issues that
arise, including conservation, water issues,
the pressures on the land as the population
grows and the lifestyle the lead,” Gardner says.
“They’ve chosen this way of life, which isn’ta wealthy one, but they’ve chosen it based
on the land, the livestock or the commitment
they’ve made to pass it on down their family
as it has been, for many times six or seven
generations or more. These guys are the true
outdoorsmen.”http://www.westernartcollector.comFor a direct link to the
exhibiting gallery go toA Ranchers Winter, oil on canvas, 28 x 28”