Authentic Western Art has always held a special place in my heart. I grew up on a family-run cow-calf operation in Southeastern Colorado and my family has been involved in agriculture in the area since the beginning of the Twentieth Century. Through my art, I hope to document, preserve, and honor the culture and values of ranch life in the American West. I convey this through authentically captured snapshots of my family and friends, who continue to preserve Colorado's shortgrass prairies, and put in long, hard workdays to provide food for the world. I endeavor to authentically portray real cattlemen and women and the animals in their care.

I strive for realism, not only in my subjects, but also through meticulous rendering. Working in dry media, graphite or charcoal, allows me to have the control necessary to achieve fine detail. While my primary medium is graphite, I also integrate charcoal and carbon pencils as a means of extending my value range. The physical characteristics of each of these media cause them to reflect light differently, which I manipulate to convey texture, atmosphere, and light. Combining multiple media in this way results in an image that is not simply black and white, but includes a range of warm and cool tones. My process is both additive and reductive, and utilizes a variety of layering and blending, as well as etching and erasing techniques to create depth and replicate realistic textures. The result I strive for is an image reminiscent of a gelatin silver photographic print, with a nostalgic, yet timeless, feel.

If you would like to know a little more about me, my art, or my processes, please subscribe to my newsletter. The newsletters cover a wide range of topics and give a behind the scenes look into my art adventure. 

EXHIBITIONS, JURIED SHOWS, COMPETITIONS, & AWARDS

• 2026 - "Strokes of Genius 18 - The Best of Drawing", Artists Network, Finalist (HEADING FOR TIMBER) (Juror: Annie Murphy Robinson)
• 2026 - "Stampede Western Art Show & Sale", Greeley Stampede, Island Grove Events Center, Greeley, CO
• 2026 - "Western Spirit Art Show & Sale", Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, Cheyenne, WY
• 2026 - January 2026 BoldBrush Art Contest & Exhibit, Honorable Mention – Semi-Pro Class (LOST IN THOUGHT)
• 2025 - "24th Annual Art Expo", Lone Tree Arts Center, City of Lone Tree and the Lone Tree Arts Commission, Lone Tree, CO, First Place - Drawing (REELING ONE IN) (Juror: Bobbi Walker)
• 2025 - "Main Street Gallery Fine Art Show & Sale", Main Street Gallery, Brighton, CO, People's Choice (SPRING MORNING SHADOWS)
• 2025 - "2025 Drawings Competition", Art & Color 365 magazine (www.artandcolor365.com), Special Merit (TRAPPERS LAKE)
• 2025 - "Strokes of Genius 17 - The Best of Drawing", Artists Network, Finalist (TRAPPERS LAKE) (Juror: Megan Seiter)
• 2025 - "Portraits Gallery", Tri Arts Project, Cantril School, Castle Rock, CO
• 2025 - Quarter 3 Guest Artist, Main Street Gallery, Brighton, CO
• 2025 - "Stampede Western Art Show & Sale", Greeley Stampede, Island Grove Events Center, Greeley, CO
• 2025 - "Colorado Governor's Art Show & Sale", Loveland Museum, Loveland, CO
• 2025 - "2025 All Animals Competition", Art & Color 365 magazine (www.artandcolor365.com), Special Merit (STANDING GUARD)
• 2025 - "Western Spirit Art Show & Sale", Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, Cheyenne, WY
• 2024 - "Main Street Gallery Fine Art Show & Sale", Main Street Gallery, Brighton, CO, Best of Drawing (REELING ONE IN) (Juror: Sheri Farabaugh)
• 2024 - "23rd Annual Art Expo", Lone Tree Arts Center, City of Lone Tree and the Lone Tree Arts Commission, Lone Tree, CO, First Place - Drawing (LOST IN THOUGHT) (Juror: Gene Youngmann)
• 2024 - "Strokes of Genius 16 - The Best of Drawing", Artists Network, Finalist (RIDGE) Finalist (LOST IN THOUGHT) (Juror: Rick Schaefer)
• 2024 - "Stampede Western Art Show & Sale", Greeley Stampede, Island Grove Events Center, Greeley, CO, People's Choice - 1st Place (REELING ONE IN)
• 2024 - "2024 Drawings Competition", Art & Color 365 magazine (www.artandcolor365.com), Special Merit (LOST IN THOUGHT)
• 2024 - April 2024 BoldBrush Art Contest & Exhibit, Honorable Mention – Enthusiast Class (SPRING MORNING SHADOWS)
• 2024 - "Colorado Governor's Art Show & Sale", Loveland Museum, Loveland, CO
• 2024 - "Western Spirit Art Show & Sale", Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, Cheyenne, WY
• 2023 - December 2023 BoldBrush Art Contest & Exhibit, Honorable Mention – Enthusiast Class (RIDGE)

• 2023 - "22nd Annual Art Expo", Lone Tree Arts Center, City of Lone Tree and the Lone Tree Arts Commission, Lone Tree, CO Second Place - Drawing (BABY BALDY) (Juror: Eriq Hochuli)
• 2023 - "2023 Drawings Competition", Art & Color 365 magazine (www.artandcolor365.com), Winners Tier (RED ROAN)
• 2023 - "Colorado Governor's Art Show & Sale", Loveland Museum, Loveland, CO
• 2023 - "Western Spirit Art Show & Sale", Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, Cheyenne, WY
• 2022 - “21st Annual Art Expo”, Lone Tree Arts Center, City of Lone Tree and the Lone Tree Arts Commission, Lone Tree, CO Honorable Mention (RED ROAN) (Juror: Collin Parson)
• 2022 - “Best of Parker Artists Guild”, Schoolhouse on Mainstreet, Parker Artists Guild, Parker, CO Second Place (REELING ONE IN) (Juror: Phillip Bernal)
• 2022 - "Strokes of Genius 14 - The Best of Drawing", Artists Network, Finalist (RED ROAN) (Juror: Ken Procter)
• 2022 - "Western Art International Online Juried Art Exhibition", Fusion Art (www.fusionartps.com), Artistic Excellence (REELING ONE IN), Honorable Mention (GOOD HANDS), Finalist (MORE THAN JUST A HORSE)
• 2021 - “20th Annual Art Expo”, Lone Tree Arts Center, City of Lone Tree and the Lone Tree Arts Commission, Lone Tree, CO (Juror: Janice Sugg)
• 2021 - “Best of Parker Artists Guild”, Schoolhouse on Mainstreet, Parker Artists Guild, Parker, CO, First Place (GOOD HANDS)
• 2021 - “New Western Talent 2021”, Western Gallery, https//western.gallery (Jurors: Cindy Atkins, Ed Roberson, Emily Wilson)
• 2021 - 2021 Artistic Excellence Competition, Southwest Art Magazine, Top 100 Finalist (DRESSED TO THE NINES) 
• 2021 - November 2021 BoldBrush Art Contest & Exhibit, Honorable Mention – Enthusiast Class (NO ESCAPE)
• 2021 - March 2021 BoldBrush Art Contest & Exhibit, Honorable Mention – Enthusiast Class (PULL IT TOGETHER)
• 2021 - February 2021 BoldBrush Art Contest & Exhibit, Honorable Mention – Enthusiast Class (TWISTER)
• 2020 - “144 Exhibition and Sale”, Parker Arts, Culture, & Events Center (PACE Center), Parker Artists Guild, Parker, CO (Juror: Rose Frederick)
• 2019 - “Best of Parker Artists Guild”, Schoolhouse on Mainstreet, Parker Artists Guild, Parker, CO, First Place (TUCKERED OUT)

PUBLICATIONS

• The Best of Drawing, Special issue presented by Artists Magazine and American Artist, Winter 2025
• "2025 All Animals Exhibition", Art & Color 365, Winter 2025
• "2025 Drawings Exhibition", Art & Color 365, Summer 2025
• "2024 Drawings Exhibition", Art & Color 365, Fall 2024
• The Best of Drawing, Special issue presented by Artists Magazine and American Artist, Winter 2024
• "Artist Focus: Andy Pelster", Western Art Collector, March 2024
• "2023 Drawings Exhibition", Art & Color 365, Fall 2023
• The Best of Drawing, Special issue presented by Artists Magazine and American Artist, Winter 2022

Photo by Wintergrass Photography, LLC, 2020