Ruth Soller » Blog

This Lone Star Quilt in red, white and blue was pieced by my great-grandmother Laura Cline Chance for my father Lloyd Stephens. My grandmother Lela Mae Chance Stephens had it quilted by a group of ladies in her hometown Cornerville, Arkansas. This treasured heirloom was passed on to me by my father. The beautifully hand-carved leather western saddle belonged to my riding instructor Corinne Schindler who manages Acres of Opportunity Ranch for rescued horses in Lafayette, Colorado.

I love the idea of combining these symbols of American patriotism with the legendary cowboy of the American West. This is one of my most realistic paintings to date as I spent a lot of time and care in modeling the diamond pieces of the quilt and the carved and stitched leather of the saddle. I'm very pleased with the result and hope that you enjoy the painting. Read More

 

I'm thrilled my oil painting "Bell Dance Taos Pueblo" is chosen for an Award of Excellence in the Manhattan Arts International " Spirit of Resilience " online exhibition featuring eighty outstanding artists worldwide. My painting is available for purchase here: https://www.ruthsoller.com/workszoom/3779663#/

 

"The Puebloan tribes continue to live and work at Taos Pueblo showing the spirit of resilience since 1350 A.D. I painted Bell Dance Taos Pueblo of the pueblo at dusk lit by campfire. Energy and movement are shown by beads and bells on the costumes. The fire crackles and pops as the wafting smoke symbolizes the mystery of the traditional dance."

 

You may view the show here: healing-power-of-art.org/the-spirit-of-resilience-exhibition

 

Inspiration and Process - At Leanin’ Tree Museum of Western Art in Boulder, CO (now closed), I discovered Kenneth Riley’s inspiring 1991 oil painting “Dance Progressions” and began planning my own adventure into painting Native American dancers. My visit to Taos Pueblo and experience of Native American dancers at the motel fire pit gave me ample resources. Painting began with the evening sky, the mountains, and the Taos Pueblo as seen at dusk with a foreground campfire. I painted the darker elements of the elaborate Bell Dance costumes in analogous cool colors and then painted the hair and firelight glow of the skin tones. Several layers of progressively lighter tones built up the swirling skirts. 

 

 

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On a crisp spring morning at Zapata Ranch, a wrangler releases quarter-horses out into green pastures. A chestnut, bay , sorrel, and palomino lead the herd while a white stallion plans his move to win the lead.

This original oil on linen is painted around the edges and is ready to hang unframed. Check out the View in Room feature below to see this painting in a variety of settings. You may purchase directly using PayPal and please contact me if you have questions. Read More

Our cowboy guide Brain led us on the two hour sunset ride up into the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area and along breathtaking views of the changing skies and lengthening shadows of the wild sage. As we neared the rim of Devil’s Canyon I saw ahead that we were planning to traverse a one yard wide ledge jutting out from the red rock cliffs with a sheer drop-off of at least 200 feet into the canyon. As my horse Midnight neared the narrowest point I was sitting straight and very, very still while clutching the saddle-horn with white knuckled hands as my heart stopped. I kept my gaze on Brian up ahead, fearfull to look over the edge of the cliff. My heartbeat resumed as we soon reached more solid ground and Brain stopped to “give Midnight a chance to catch her breath”.

We had spectacular view on the deepening blues, violets, and mauves of the shadows and the brightening reds, corals, and golds of the last rays of the sun hitting the canyon rims. Below us lay the town of Fruita and the Colorado River meandering through the lush green vineyards and fruit orchards carpeting the valley. Beyond the valley were the Little Bookcliffs fading into the distant haze. What a joyful experience!

Next time you are in the Grand Junction, Fruita, or Palisades area, consider spending a few hours on horseback exploring the canyons in an exciting and memorable ride. Read More

This original oil painting was commissioned by one of my new collectors of the Pawnee Buttes National Grasslands. We arrived early to photograph the sunrise in the park and I took shots of the wildflowers in bloom. Although this is a remote location acessed by a dirt road, several campers were on a bluff overlooking the buttes. Raptor nesting areas were blocked off from hikers. At sunrise all was peaceful and quiet.

Do you have a favorite location that you would love to have an original painting of? Please email me [email protected] to discuss your idea. Read More

Each morning at Zapata Ranch the wranglers would round up the herd into the corral and select the horses to work that day. Wranglers then tied the horses to a line while saddling and tacking the horses to be ridden. The remainder of the herd was driven out to pasture for the day.

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Each morning on Zapata Ranch the wranglers bring the horses into the corral for assignments; remaining horses are driven out to pasture for the day. 

My purpose is to emphasize the importance of conservation of nature and preservation of the rich and vivid history of the West. The Nature Conservancy’s vision is to preserve threatened lands by securing water for nature and by restoring forests to health to benefit wildlife. Medano-Zapata Ranch covers 100,000 acres adjoining The Great Sand Dunes National Park. Zapata is a working guest ranch with a herd of trained quarter-horses, a bison herd and cattle herds along with numerous wildlife species. My time at Ranchlands was spent observing, sketching, sculpting, photographing and painting horses.

 

 

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Zapata Ranch Roans Red and Blue, oil on panel, 12x16, $600

 

I participated in Jill Soukup's Painting Horses Workshop at Zapata Ranch near Great Sand Dunes National Park in Southern Colorado. Our class of twelve students from around the United States and Canada included professional artists, horse breeders and trainers, a greeting card designer and a toy brand manager. We experienced sketching, painting, and sculpting horses from life along with studio work and demonstrations and presentations. Zapata Ranch is a working ranch and is part of The Nature Conservancy in Colorado. Wranglers include recent college graduates in fields of animal science, land management and water conservation who work for a season. A professional chef prepares fresh meals daily from local meats and vegetables and herbs grown on the ranch. Herds of cattle and bison are herded by quarterhorses working on the ranch. 

 

This piece is one of a series I am creating from my sketches and photographs from the workshop. I observed these red and blue roans in the corral and chose a background of the nearby sand dunes. This painting is available from my home studio. 

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Walker Ranch, oil plein air, 9x12, SOLD

 

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We Coloradans value and honor the traditions of the Old West, and March 9-11, 2018 is your opportunity to immerse yourself in the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo sponsored Equine Art in the Park at the National Western Complex, Denver, CO. I'm proud to exhibit my painting from Zapata Ranch near Mosca, CO, Wrangler Amy at Zapata Ranch, 30x24, and my painting form the historic re-enactment  at Walker Ranch west of Boulder, CO, Walker Ranch Settler, 16x20. 

 

Celebrate 25 years of the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo! Get your tickets today at www.RMHEtickets.com.

 

 

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I was amazed to view this nostalgic scene one block from my home and felt I had traveled back in time one hundred years. A bearded farmer had hitched his handsome Belgian Draft team to a horse-drawn hay mower. In this work I am experimenting with creating texture using a paint scraper. My intention is to focus on adding more texture to my oil paintings in order to add interest and drama. Please leave comments about what you like about my new textural effects.

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The Russell is a fine art exhibition and four-day fundraising event. The Russell events include an educational component for the public through supporting activities and materials. This exhibition and sale offers the opportunity for thousands of individuals (including students) to view quality art created by a large and varied group of nationally known artists. It enables the Russell Museum to become a more financially stable institution better able to carry out its mission. Western Art Week has been taking place in Great Falls, Montana, since 1969.  This is the fifth year that the C.M. Russell Museum will host an event to solely benefit the Museum.

Night the Stars Fell on Bents Fort (c) Ruth Soller, oil, 24x30

The Russell: Sale to benefit C.M. Russell Museum

March 21, 2014: First Strike Friday Night Auction
Civic Center Convention Center

Great Falls, Montana
4:00- 6:00 p.m.
The First Strike Friday Night Auction will give art buyers an opportunity to get acquainted with up and coming artists’ work and build their collection of fine art. Hosted refreshments and light appetizers will be served.

Link to The Russell catalog:  

https://www.cmrussell.org/catalogue-of-art-the-russell-auction

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Twilight Trail Ride (c) Ruth Soller, oil on linen, 16x20, $1200, Room 185

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