Maynard Dixon, and daily painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Cloud in the Sky, 2013, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on canvas, 16x20

Last Week I watched an award-winning documentary about artist Maynard Dixon called Art and Spirit.  Maynard drew or painted every day, and that, of course, made him into an excellent draftsman as well as a fine painter. he was particularly know for his fine  clouds. 

He left art school without graduating, deciding that painting from life would give him what he needed, and found early success.  As his reputation grew as a painter of the west, he began to wear Stetson hats and cowboy boots to enhance his image.

Just as I am passionate about painting the Everglades, Maynard Dixon's passion was painting the land and people of the west.  He spent time exploring the western landscape by every means of transportation including accessing remot areas by horseback.  He lived among and painted several tribes of native Americans and his images are rich, colorful and memorable.

The video is full of his paintings, and his story is told through his own voice and people who knew him.  It was a wonderful documentary!  Ask your local library to get you a copy, or see a snippet here.