Donna Howell-Sickles

The Gathering Place, acrylic on canvas, 36″ x 36″

( b. 1949)

Texas

https://www.donnahowellsickles.com/

Bio:

Donna has taken the image and idea of the cowgirl beyond charcoal lines and into reality. She identifies with the self-reliant, hard-working spirit of the cowgirl and has been exploring the layers beneath the cowgirl’s engaging exterior for more than 40 years. In 2007 Donna was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame. Her work is in the collections of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, the C.M. Russell Museum, and other prestigious museums.

Artist's Statement:

My love of figure drawing, the American West, and mythology fueled my creative process from the very beginning. Before I discovered the image and rich identity of the women who shaped the West, horses alone were enough to hold my interest, speaking to me of strength, beauty, and the ability to survive. I still use the cowgirl to tell current stories for and about women, using an eclectic collection of images and ideas from both the past and the present. My art tells the stories, with dignity and joy, of Western women, our animals, and this rich land on which we depend. It reflects my admiration for the strong western women and connects their stories to other women’s stories from around the world; stories that tell of the beauty, depth, and joy of a living, with an appreciation of the hopes and struggles we share.