Martin Grelle, Western Art & Architecture, The Messenger, April/May 2014

April | May 2014

From Cowboy to Contemporary

Steve Kestrel Flies High Martin Grelle: The Messenger Marshall Noice’s Homecoming Architecture in the West: A Seaside Transformation

plus:

Wanderings: Portland, Oregon Intuitive Interiors: San Francisco’s Jiun Ho Sacred Space: A Denver Sculpture Garden

The

Messenger Martin Grelle captures the history, majesty and timelessness of the American West Written by

Myrna Zanetell

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f the present mir-

rors the past, 2014 promises to be another banner year in the life of Texasbased painter Martin Grelle (GREE-lee), who will celebrate his 60th birthday on September 17. Grelle’s down-to-earth nature and youthful countenance belie the fact that not only has he been a Prix de West Artist and a member of the Cowboy Artists of America (CAA) for nearly two decades, but he has also attained the rarified status of painters whose large works regularly command prices in the six-figure range.

Cowpunchers working their herds on the oak- and cedar-covered hillsides surrounding the family farm just outside his tiny hometown of Clifton, Texas, first inspired the fledgling artist to dream of capturing their robust spirit in paintings that might one day hang in prestigious galleries and Western museums across the United States.

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Passage at Falling Waters Oil on Linen | 52 x 66 inches | 2013

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Bird in Ground’s Song Oil on Linen | 40 x 30 inches | 2013 104 WA

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Although he had been drawing and

A Rest in the Sun Oil on Linen | 40 x 52 inches | 2013

Eschewing formal art training, Grelle

painting from the time he was a youngster and his works

remained in Clifton in order to help his ailing father run the

had begun to receive awards at local fairs, doors did not

family business, a distributorship for Mobil Oil Company.

open for Grelle until 1971 when James Boren and his wife,

Boren continued to mentor the young artist’s endeavors,

Mary Ellen, relocated to the Clifton area. Boren had recently

and another CAA artist, Melvin Warren, also lent a hand.

retired as director of the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma

Their encouragement was rewarded when the Texas Art

City where, as one of the earliest members of the Cowboy

Gallery in Dallas began to exhibit Grelle’s paintings, and in

Artists of America, he had helped facilitate the first CAA

1977 Grelle was invited to participate in the first exhibition

exhibition in 1966.

of the American Indian and Cowboy Artists in San Dimas,

“At first Martin was a bit in awe of my husband’s reputa-

California.

tion,” reflects Mary Ellen Boren. “But after meeting Jim around

Collectors and prestigious art organizations also began

town on several occasions, he finally worked up the courage to

to be impressed by this remarkable new talent, and in 1995

ask him to look at his work. Martin was still in high school so he

Grelle was not only invited to show his work at the Cowboy

had no idea what a promising future lay ahead of him. However,

Hall of Fame in its first Prix de West Invitational, but in

Jim recognized the teen’s potential and decided to become

October of the same year, he also attained the coveted goal

his mentor answering questions and critiquing his technique.

of membership in the CAA, which he had dreamed of and

When Jim completed his new studio a few years later, he offered

worked toward for more than 20 years.

Martin the use of his old one, which was in the original farm-

Art aficionados now compete for the privilege of own-

house on our place. It quickly became clear just how committed

ing a Martin Grelle painting. The artist’s annual one-man

Martin was to honing his talent when we looked out to see the

exhibition at Scottsdale’s Overland Gallery is traditionally

light burning brightly at 2 or 3 in the morning.”

sold out, and at venues such as the Scottsdale Art Auction

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and the Prix de West, his paintings have

Following Old Ways Acrylic on Linen | 24 x 24 inches | 2013

set new personal highs for the artist, the

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varies only slightly in size from the original

most recent of which neared the half-million-dollar mark.

masterwork. When tastefully framed, these prints definitely

His paintings are also being offered for resale at several New

represent a very desirable piece of art.”

York galleries and even at Sotheby’s auctions.

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Waters, which measures 40 by 50 inches,

Insightful observations as to this unprecedented popu-

Because Grelle originals are in such high demand, Larry

larity of Grelle’s work come from Trudy Hays, director of

Smith, owner and CEO of Somerset Fine Art, relates that

Overland Gallery of Fine Art, Grelle’s exclusive gallery.

many who admire the artist’s work have found a satisfactory

“Martin is an incredible figure painter as well as being a

alternative in the form of giclées — limited-edition reproduc-

phenomenal landscapist; he is equally competent at render-

tions printed on fine-art canvas or watercolor paper. Smith

ing both cowboy and Native American subjects. I believe it is

explains, “The giclée printing process is of such high quality

this amazing diversity of abilities which really distinguishes

and most works are printed on canvas so the final product

his work,” she says.

closely resembles the original painting. In fact, our Grand

“Martin is also an exciting storyteller who manages to

Edition giclée of Martin’s newest release, Passage at Falling

develop a strong individual narrative behind each composi-

tion. He does a great deal of research before beginning a

others. To accomplish this, he has not only given numer-

piece to make certain it is as historically accurate as he can

ous demonstrations and donated work to a large number of

make it. Like a good writer, Martin then fleshes out his

charitable organizations, but for the past 22 years, he and

story with intricate details, making certain the dress and

fellow CA Bruce Greene have taught an annual workshop,

landscapes are appropriate to the period, and even going

mentoring aspiring artists. Grelle is also currently president

beyond that, revealing to the viewer what the subjects are

of the Joe Beeler Foundation, an educational nonprofit that

doing and why. His incomparable use of light and texture

offers scholarships to students who are interested in working

brings the narrative to life, giving his work a very painterly

in the Western genre.

quality,” offers Hays.

As the newly installed president of CAA, Grelle is work-

Early in his career, Grelle painted the subject matter

ing with a number of others to implement plans for the orga-

he knew best: the working cowboy. However, as he trav-

nization’s 50th anniversary in October 2015. A few events

eled further afield, stories of the Native American began to

under consideration for the landmark celebration include a

challenge his imagination. Much of his recent work is set

retrospective exhibition to accompany the 50th-annual show

from the latter years of the fur trade era through the 1850s.

and sale, as well as the publication of a new CAA book, writ-

Ideas also come from visits to southeastern Montana where

ten by Byron Price, which will document the group’s history

he takes advantage of photo shoots with Native American

over the past half century.

models, primarily members the Apsaalooke (Crow) tribe.

Grelle enthuses, “I’m very excited about this challenge.

He emphasizes, “I don’t like scenes that look too posed, so

In perspective, we are truly a legendary group. Just look

some of the best ideas have come from candid photos taken

at the list of artists who have put the CA brand by their

in between photo shoots.”

name over the past 50 years. No other group of artists has

During the past four decades, Grelle has garnered an

remained together for that long, and to my knowledge, we

impressive list of honors including People’s Choice Awards,

are the only group of living artists which has ever had a

a Ray Swanson Memorial Award and a Silver Award at the

museum (the former CA Museum in Kerrville, Texas) built to

annual CAA exhibitions, as well as being a winner of the

honor their work. The founding members of the CA started

Buyers’ Choice Awards at both the CAA and the Prix de

an organization that has been a driving force in saving rep-

West. He is also one of only seven artists to be a double

resentational art in this country. Western aficionados, even

recipient of the coveted Prix de West Purchase Award, which

up through the 1990s, realized this was a huge accomplish-

places the artist’s painting in the permanent collection of the

ment, but many from the current generation are not aware of

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

who we are and why we are still here. My mission is to get

While these awards have placed him in the category of

that message out.”

being one of the nation’s most sought-after Western artists,

There is little doubt that Grelle’s message will ring out

Grelle regards being the father of two sons, now pursuing

loud and clear as he continues to immortalize the history,

their own dreams, as his most rewarding accomplishment.

beauty and timelessness of the American West in paintings

Neither has success diminished Grelle’s innate sense of

that are well on their way to becoming masterworks of the

loyalty and gratitude toward friends and those who have

21st century.

“brung him” over the scope of his career. Bubbling over with pride, Mrs. Boren shares, “Everybody in Clifton just loves Martin.” This reality was evidenced by the fact that more than two dozen Clifton area residents traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in May 2013 to attend the opening of a joint retrospective exhibition Grelle shared with fellow CAA member, Herb Mignery.

Because he strongly believes his talent is a gift entrusted to him by God which must be shared and not taken for granted, Grelle strives to pass on what he has received from

Having written about Cowboy Artists of America members and a plethora of other Western artists for more than two decades, El Paso-based freelancer Myrna Zanetell has stored up a wealth of memories. “My favorite Martin Grelle story occurred following the induction ceremony at the CA Museum in Kerrville, Texas, in the spring of 1996.

When they took the family portrait, instead of saying the traditional “cheese,” [Grelle’s] two young sons loudly responded, “CAA.”

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