Artist Bios

CAROL HAGAN

Style and Color:

Carol is self taught as an artist. She did not have formal art training, with the exception of taking two workshops with the late Joe Abbrescia, whom she considers to be one of her mentors. She has worked hard to develop her own style of expressing herself on paper and canvas. She has been referred to as a Contemporary Expressionist, and a Colorist. Her paintings come from her heart. They are a contemporary expression of her subject matter, both through her choices of vibrant color, and even the use of very little color, yet more gestural lines, and the textures and marks that she makes. Her work is constantly evolving and growing, as she develops and explores new techniques, in an effort to layer color and texture in more complex ways. “Even the simplest lines and slightest marks are fascinating in their own way. They are much like people, in that each mark, no matter how detailed or how simple, has its’ own voice….and has something to say. The smallest marks hold as much significance as the largest ones, in the story every painting has to tell.”

CHARLES FRITZ

Charles Fritz’s paintings are an honest approach to the world around him, depicting the landscape, life and history of the Rocky Mountain region. In explaining his style, he describes himself as an outdoor artist, preferring to paint on location, a strennous and time-honored approach to the changing moods of nature. He has traveled extensively in the United States and Europe studying the paintings and working techniques of artists whose work he admires. Working in the tradition of such groups as the California Impressionists, the Pennsylvania School, the Russian Itinerants, and the great Western artists and illustrators of the first half of the twentieth century, he defines himself as a Wetern representational painter. His paintings, noted for their accuracy, are the product of comprehensive research. Subject matter, composition, design, technique, and surface texture are all areas of particular interest for Fritz.

Rocky Hawkins

“My paintings are about expressing a visual experience that challenges and communicates with a sense of mystery in hopes to awaken the senses.  Mystery is a part of life where not everything is easily explainable.”

Mr. Hawkins, who makes his home in Montana, began displaying his fine art giclée prints at Rimrock Art & Frame in 2014. We hope you enjoy his work as much as we enjoy offering it.

Loren Entz

Loren Entz presents a unique picture of the West, capturing the adventure, solitude, untouched landscape, farm and ranch life, and a quieter, more domestic side of rural life. His paintings often depict the simple moments that make up the fabric of everyday life – mothers with their children, a father holding an infant at the end of a hard day’s work. Growing up in the farm country of Kansas, Loren could often be found drawing in the fields or forests during breaks from busy farm and ranch life. Many an hour was spent simply observing nature, especially before a storm when wildlife was the most active. Young Loren poured over the horse illustrations in Will James books and visited the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City which fired his artistic imagination and ambition. He made his first sale on a drawing of a cutting horse in action to a neighbor for all of 10 cents, who bought the piece to hang in a horse stable.

Terry Stensaas

“North of Big Timber is a beautiful ranch where I grew up. However, I had the wanderlust which led me to college in Tennessee and then to work in Pittsburgh, PA before coming home to Montana to complete my B.A. at MSU in Bozeman. After teaching one year North of Big Timber and two years in Bozeman, I was off to Alaska. A year later found me teaching near here in Wyoming. Following nearly a year of teaching there I met and married Joe, my husband of 44 years. I taught one more year and then we headed to the University of Wyoming where I finished an M.A. in Counseling. Between going to school, working, being a wife, the mother of three sons, and spending several years in the mission field, there was little time for painting. Also, being self taught, it took a good bit of trial and error for me to reach the point of marketing any work. Having retired several years ago, I now live near Big Timber and paint as much as possible.”

Marilyn Beth Hughes

Softly real, gently honest and focused paintings of watercolor. In over 25 years of being a professional artist and teacher, Marilyn has won many national awards, has her work in several museums and private collections from coast to coast. She has shown her work in the Russian Institute of Art, at the American Museum of Natural History and the Salmagundi Club in NYC as well as numerous group and solo shows.

She is a Fellow of the American Artists Professional League and a Signature member of MWS, NWWS, and the MTWS.

“Although I have studied at four major universities, the school of life has been my true guide.” Marilyn makes her home in Billings Montana and displays her artwork with Rimrock Art & Frame and the Depot Gallery in Red Lodge.

Marilyn has just released three beautiful giclée prints of her Billings Rimrocks paintings which will be available exclusively at Rimrock Art & Frame.

Robert (Rob) Johnson

Robert’s art career started at Commercial Art School in Minnesota and was hired right after graduation, by the Billings Gazette.

His first art show was displayed at the Billings Gazette, in which what used to be called: “Art in the Atrium.”

Inspiration for his work comes from Peter Max, Roger Dean, and other 60’s pop-art surrealist’s, and a love of nature found everywhere in Montana.

The medium he uses has evolved into what he calls, “Pen & Pixel.” A method of rough, pencil sketches of the subject on a large sketch pad.  Once the sketch has taken shape, He continually refines it with tracing paper, or onion skin over the top of the art and makes black, line art drawings. He draws multiple black & white line renditions until satisfied.  Then, the final line art drawing is made with multiple width drawing pens.

Terry Cooke Hall

One of my hopes is to be able to influence younger women that the world is available to them. Women are often told that they don’t have as much value as men, and this applies to all fields, even the creative field. I hope to be able to help younger women past that hurdle by overcoming misconceptions while developing a solutions-driven attitude. My goal is to inspire women through educational opportunities or even through one-on-one mentorships, and I will welcome occasions that accomplish my mission to the best of my abilities.

Since mid-2008, I have lived in Bozeman, Montana, with my husband, Scott, an avid fly-fisherman. We are blessed to have a home with land along a year-round river and a fabulous view of the Bridger Mountains. As much as I love the southwest and visit it as often as possible, this Montana home is a gift I will always enjoy.

David Graham

David is a true Montana cowboy, born and raised on a family ranch east of Miles City. His family’s deep roots in the western way of life greatly influenced his art career.  From an early age, David’s parents and grandparents helped him to appreciate history, art, and the universally beneficial practice of hard work.  He gives much credit to friends and family who encouraged him in the pursuit of his dreams and abilities.