David Powell (b. 1954), "Making A Stand", Watercolor, 15 x 24 inches, Shipping Dimensions: 26 x 36 x 3 inches

The overall appearance of this lot is Excellent. Evaluation performed for guidance only.This piece was evaluated under a black light. This piece is behind glass and has not been taken out of the frame for evaluation. Visit Scottsdaleartauction.com for a condition report, if available. Provenance: The Artist Joe Beeler Sold by descent in the family There is an immediacy to Olaf Wieghorst's work that comes only from experience. Having lived the life of a cowboy before becoming a full-time artist, he understood the split-second timing, horsemanship, and determination required on the open range. That firsthand knowledge infuses his paintings with an authenticity that has made him one of the most respected interpreters of the American West. In The Cowboy, Wieghorst captures a classic ranching scene at its most exhilarating. A mounted rider swings a loop as a fleeing steer surges across the foreground, the entire composition energized by the movement of horse, rider, and dust. Loose yet confident brushwork gives the painting a sense of spontaneity, while the open landscape and distant mountains place the action firmly within the vast Western frontier. Rather than idealizing the cowboy, Wieghorst presents him as a skilled working horseman, celebrating the traditions and everyday realities that defined life on the range. Coming from the private collection of Artist Joe Beeler, this work is a spirited example of the artist's enduring legacy in Western art.