For a kid growing up in northern England, there was nothing more exotic and intriguing than depictions of the American West. At least that was the case for artist Andrew Bolam, who recalls watching the Lone Ranger and John Wayne and fantasizing about what it would be like to roam amongst buffalos, cowboys and Native Americans. Now, as an adult, this fascination comes to life through his artwork.

They say, “Go big or go home.” And that certainly seems to apply to J. Todd Paxton’s approach to his art. From his monumental statues of Native American warriors to his large-scale patina-on-steel paintings, the sheer scale of his work alone is enough to produce a visceral feeling. But he also uses texture, color and life-like details to tap into human emotion.

Paint where you live. This is a motto artist Jerry Salinas has come to live by and it took a move to the sunny Southwest to shift his perspective. Previously living in Chicago and other dense urban areas much of his life, Jerry’s subject matter often focused on city life. But after moving West, he began to see the rich history and saturated colors that surrounded him…that quickly became his muse.