YOUR PAINTING STYLE IS A DIRECT REFLECTION OF YOUR LIFE, HOW DOES THAT SHOW UP IN YOUR PIECES, AND DOES IT HELP WITH THE CREATIVE PROCESS OF CREATING NEW PIECES? I know the people in all of the paintings, they’re friends or people I have worked with within the places that I’ve been. I don’t paint from just one photograph. I take photographs when I go out on the ranch and use about thirty to forty photographs to reference a painting. Robert Henri once said, “If you’re going to paint history, paint your own history and it will become history”. I think because I experience it all, it adds more heart and authenticity to a painting. I think people can see the heart and soul that you put into each piece. WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS FOR CREATING NEW PIECES OR COMING UP WITH NEW CONCEPTS? I’ve always got something in the back of my mind to do. Whether it’s a place I’ve been to, I want people to experience the west through my eyes through the work I do and what I see. I want people to feel like they’re there and experiencing it on their own. As far as the details, growing up around cowboys, farmers, and ranchers all my life it is the little details that stand out to me. The details of how a horse or calf holds its ears or if they were off on their own somewhere. All these little details of life make a difference in each piece. CAN YOU DESCRIBE A MOMENT OR EVENT THAT CHANGED THE COURSE OF YOUR CAREER OR DRAMATICALLY INFLUENCED YOU IN SOME WAY? The red letter moment was when I was introduced to Candy Bedner at Trailside Galleries in 1975. She took me under her wing, I was just a country kid, and she taught me how to act in the art world. She took care of me and made sure the collectors were the right collectors. That moment was a big day. She didn’t have any children, but I had always told her she was my art mother. When she passed, her obituary was written saying “is survived by Tim Cox, her near son and his wife, Suzie.” Another moment was when William Whitaker, who taught at Brigham Young University in the art department, contacted me to be one of the five students he chose from all over the world to be in his special art class. The class was five days a week, six hours a day and that helped improve my drawing and I learned a lot about painting there. HOW DID YOU COME TO BE AWARE OF CHRIS LEDOUX AND HOW DID YOU COME TO COLLABORATE WITH THE DRINK JUST LEDOUX IT BRAND? I’ve listened to his music forever. I remember when we lived in Eagle Creek, New Mexico, in the ’80s and early ‘90s listening to his music while I was painting. I’ve always known of his music. Drink Just LeDoux It brand had contacted me through my website because they had seen and thought my paintings would go well with their brand for their Western Skies vodka line. It was really important to us that a portion of all proceeds from Drink Just LeDoux It went back to the Chris LeDoux Memorial Foundation. That was a big deal, plus our whole family has known Chris LeDoux’s music and still listens to it to this day. I thought it was an honor, a great thing to do, and a great cause to be a part of. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CHRIS LEDOUX SONG? Chris LeDoux’s song, “You Just Can’t See Him From The Road” is one of my favorites. JUMPING INTO THE LABELS OF THE WESTERN SKIES VODKA LINE, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE PARTNERING WITH A BRAND THAT PROMOTES THE WESTERN WAY OF LIFE? That’s important to me, carrying on the western way of life, keeping it out there and keeping it alive. That’s very important to Suzie and me as we both grew up around the cowboy way our whole life. We’ve always had horses and been around horses. We just have always loved that lifestyle and raised our kids in that lifestyle. The deep roots of the western way of life are important to keep alive and for people like Chris LeDoux’s brand and keeping it out there is just awesome. IN CONCLUSION, HOW DO YOU HOPE TO INSPIRE PEOPLE WITH YOUR WORK WHETHER IT BE ON A VODKA BOTTLE OR HANGING IN THEIR HOME? I want people to have something they can enjoy looking at and have them wishing they were there in that moment. I hope it helps make people want to be a part of the western experience and lifestyle. We get emails every day from people telling us how they’re inspired and how they love to just sit down and look at my paintings because it takes them away to a calmer and more peaceful time. They just enjoy seeing the art and feeling like they are there. cowboylifestylenetwork.com
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