Grant Redden

Grant Redden: Wyoming Landscapes and Cowboy Soul

Grant Redden’s artistic journey began amidst the rugged beauty of Southwest Wyoming, a landscape deeply ingrained in his family's heritage as sheep ranchers. Growing up on a sprawling ranch encompassing 21,000 sheep and 300 cows instilled within him an unparalleled understanding of rural life and the profound connection between humans and animals—themes that would become central to his distinctive artistic vision. From a young age, he possessed an innate fascination with painting, fueled by observations of the surrounding environment and the spirited personalities of livestock like Columbia ewes and merino rams. His parents’ pioneering spirit – his mother born in a log cabin on the Henry's Fork of the Green River – profoundly shaped his worldview and instilled a deep appreciation for independence and self-reliance. This upbringing fostered a lifelong fascination with Wyoming history and its enduring traditions, informing his artistic sensibilities. Unlike many artists who pursue formal training, Redden honed his skills through self-study and mentorship from esteemed living masters—Sorolla, Sargent, Zorn, von Zugel—and deceased giants like Rembrandt and Turner. These influences broadened his stylistic repertoire and deepened his grasp of artistic principles. Joining Cowboy Artists of America in 2012 marked a significant milestone in Redden’s career, propelling him into the spotlight of the American Western art world. Recognized for his exceptional talent and dedication, he garnered numerous awards—six gold medals and two silver medals for oil painting, a silver medal for watercolor painting—and was honored three times as “Best Body of Work” at Cowboy Artists of America's annual exhibition. His paintings capture not merely visual representations but also the essence of Wyoming’s spirit: the quiet dignity of cowboys tending their herds, the vibrant energy of summer pastures teeming with wildlife, and the solemn grandeur of winter landscapes under a blanket of snow. Redden’s technique is characterized by meticulous attention to detail and an expressive use of color—particularly in his oil paintings—which imbues his canvases with palpable emotion. He strives to convey not just what he sees but also what he feels, mirroring the soulful connection between man and animal that defines his artistic inspiration. His landscapes are rendered with a masterful blend of realism and impressionistic brushstrokes, capturing both the precise contours of the terrain and the atmospheric subtleties of light and shadow. Similarly, his animal portraits reveal an uncanny ability to capture their individual character—their gaze, posture, and subtle movements—transforming them into compelling embodiments of Wyoming’s wildness. He is primarily self-taught but gives credit to his mentoring by major master artists who recognized his talent. He took workshops, studied deceased and living masters and painted outside to improve his knowledge of color and values, and eventually got some of his artwork into a few galleries. In 1997 he took the leap into full-time work as an artist. Inducted into Cowboy Artists of America in 2012, Redden’s work has been awarded six Gold Medals for Oil Painting, two Stetson Awards voted on by active members of CAA for the best group of work and the Anne Marion Best of Show at the 2017 CAA show. Redden and his work have been featured in several magazines including *Art of the West*, *Cowboys & Indians*, *Southwest Art*, *Western Art Collector* and *Western Art Architecture*. Charlie Russell Riders in honor of Steve Rose The estate of the late Jackie Loring Grant Roberta M. Eldridge Miller The estate of the late Major General and Mrs. Don D. Pittman Lenny Sadler in loving memory of, J.D. and Betty Sadler and Russ and Dortha Sadler Scottsdale Art Auction Barbara and Roger Simons in memory of Faydra and George Simons, true Western enthusiasts Wendie and Steven Olshan Dr. Mary Dahlgren Mr. and Mrs. Paul Slavik Cathy and Mike Stieb