Animals featured in Western paintings

Animals are the stars of a new art show opening at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum.

“Animal Impressions: The Art of Narrie Toole,” opens in the museum’s Arts Corridor on Dec. 17. A reception is planned for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The exhibit features impressionistic western oil paintings, and canvas and paper giclées of farm and ranch animals and wildlife indigenous to the west. The show features 32 pieces, ranging in size from 8 x 10 to 48 x 60.

Toole, who lives in Alto, N.M., near Ruidoso, is a native of Kansas. She had always lived on farms or ranches and it’s her experiences growing up in these rural settings around animals that inspire her work.

Toole didn’t begin to paint professionally until 2004, but she quickly found success as her paintings found their way into international collections, galleries and prestigious art shows.

“Growing up in western Kansas gave me something few have nowadays… a chance to live the life of a cowgirl,” Toole said. “Daily routines of ranching, using horses and working with cattle, attentiveness, perhaps life or death, for something or someone, gave me respect and admiration for the animals I portray. Reading these animals and wildlife was and is something I enjoy so much and want to convey to others. Realizing that I may be in the last generation to live ranching as we know it, I portray each animal’s individual spirit and in my way, honor the ranching way of life.”

The animals that play such an important role in that way of life are captured vividly in Toole’s impressionistic style and her use of bright colors.

The show will be on display through April 4, 2010. For more information, please call (575) 522-4100.