[PROMOTIONAL SPOTLIGHT]
Animals of all shapes and sizes are featured in this promotional spotlight. Our editor worked with the four galleries to display sculptures and paintings that showcase what artists are creating today in this timeliness genre. Each work—classic or contemporary in style—highlights the movement, emotions and personalities of the creatures.
Barbara Meikle Fine ArtSanta Fe, NM(505) 992-0400 | meiklefineart.com
Barbara Meikle’s childhood spent sketching, riding and caring for horses helped pave the way for her interest in wildlife art. Much of her artistic inspiration comes from just outside her door in Tesuque, New Mexico, but a recent trip to South Africa to photograph zebras, lions, elephants and other creatures have become a new series. Describing the work, she says, “I’ll start with more naturalistic color, but as I grow more confident on the canvas I tend to throw in my emotional, expressive color—the turquoises, hot pinks, oranges and purples that reflect an emotional response, rather than a photographic one. The texture is just a part of that layering of color, sometimes thinner, sometimes thicker, I let the painting tell me what to do.”
Blue Rain GallerySanta Fe, NM & Durango, CO(505) 954-9902 & (970) 232-2033 | blueraingallery.com
Bryce Pettit has combined his love of nature and fine art to create a thriving career as a sculptor. During college he pursued a degree in biology, which followed with graduate studies in ecology, but a meeting with a professional artist gave him impetus to merge his interests. Pettit, who immersed himself in the foundry process to learn about the mechanics and science behind casting, captures the essence of wildlife in simple yet expressive forms. Each work is a new narrative that shares the spirit of the animal, rather than relying on finite details. According to the gallery, “His work often carries subtle symbolic meaning, inviting viewers to see reflections of themselves in the animals he portrays.”
DEGALLERYBryan, TX(979) 704-3090 | degallery.us
Carolina Dalmas’s nature-themed artwork reflects the texture and colors that she finds in the world around her. Art came early for Dalmas who began studying at a youth art academy when she was 7 years old. Flowers and birds are of particular interest, with the artist explaining, “I’ve always loved walking nature trails, quietly observing the flutter of wings and the songs hidden in the trees. Living in The Woodlands, [Texas], surrounded by native trees and wildlife has only deepened that bond…Birds remind me to slow down, to observe and to appreciate the simple beauty that surrounds us. Through my art, I hope to share a glimpse of that quiet magic.”
Legacy GalleryScottsdale, AZ & Santa Fe, NM(480) 945-1113 & (505) 986-9833 | legacygallery.com
As a child growing up in El Paso, Texas, Jim Eppler spent his time outside observing animals, which he would sketch and paint. His first art class was in high school after his family moved to Lubbock, and his studies continued as a student at Texas Tech University where he earned a BFA in studio art. Much of Eppler’s artwork is derived from the countless hours he has spent in nature watching and filming his surroundings. An adept painter and sculptor, Eppler’s paintings rely on the light to “underscore select components of movement and landscape,” while in the bronzes—often featuring colorful patinas—“it is the details of movement that are subtly emphasized.”
This story appeared in the June/July 2025 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Subscribe today to read every issue in its entirety.
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