Homestead, oil, 9˝ by 12˝ “A small farm, with animals grazing, catches my attention on this trip out beyond any city I might be visiting at any given time. Being able to enjoy the countryside, I’m always collecting images, and my senses experience the aromas of the seasons.”
Painting subjects that range from landscapes, portraits, and figures to still lifes, wildlife, cowboys, and Native Americans, he is proficient in many mediums but prefers oils. “Oil painting is a medium that is forgiving,” Afsary says. “It is easily corrected, if something needs to be corrected or changed. This is not always possible when using watercolor.” When Afsar y picks up his brush, he transcends the qualitative use of his colors, and his brushwork is masterly. He becomes totally absorbed in what he is creating, attempting to convey the depth of his feeling for the subject. “I experience many moods and many feelings,” he says. “Some days
ever ything goes easily, and I’m happy and pleased with the progress. Other times, the success of what I am striving to achieve is challenging, and I put the brush down and rest for awhile before reviewing and considering the next step.” Afsary’s success in meeting those challenges is apparent in the many awards he has earned for his work, including Best of Show from the Eiteljorg Museum in 2007, the Staff Choice Award from the Charles Russell Museum in 2009, and the Williams Award for Collectors Reserve from the Gilcrease Museum in 2010. He is a member of the Cowboy Hall of Fame and the
34 ART of the WEST • January/February 2015
Northwest Rendezvous Group. There is more to Afsary than his art however. He has three children: James, Bonnie and Jacqui and two grandchildren McKenna and Keaton. But, like most professionals, he is best known for his art. Afsary’s paintings have found homes with art lovers throughout the world, collectors who place great value on his work. That little boy, who was so fascinated by the artist he watched at work in the shop window so many years ago, has clearly mastered his craft. Vicki Stavig is editor of Art of the West.