LIFE
deep in the arts
Artist Mike Capron Painting History We Share Land, You Share Horses by Jefferson Spilman
M
ike Capron is a well-known Texas cowboy artist and a U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran. Capron says he has always been fascinated with riding, roping and painting. After graduating from high school, he eventually landed his first “real” cowboy job working on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation. Then in 1965, Capron enlisted in the Marine Corps and served as a radio operator in Viet Nam. When his enlistment ended, he returned to Texas and to being a cowboy. Capron’s art education has come from a variety of sources to include correspon-
60
dence and individual lessons. Since 2012, Mike and his wife Anne have resided in the small West Texas town of Sheffield, Texas, near the Pecos River. Capron’s studio is on Main Street in the old General Store and is a gathering place for friends, cowboys, residents and travelers. When asked about his approach to art, Capron says, “I appreciate art all the way back to cave paintings. Charles M. Russell’s paintings excited and convinced me of the importance of accuracy and believability, especially horses.” He adds, “Before I paint, I must have an emotional connec-
SHEFFIELD
PECOS TRAIL REGION