TRAILSIDE GALLERIES
Dustin Van Wechel-Passing Judgment
I’ve always felt owls have a particular look of judgement on their face — none more so than the great horned owl. Every time I’ve come across an owl in the wild, I have the sense they’re irritated by me…so I snap a few photographs then quietly skulk away, my head lowered in shame. No wild animal is as effective at inducing a feeling of shame than the judgey owl.”
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Dustin Van Wechel, b. 1974, United States
Since leaving a successful career in advertising to pursue fine art on a full time basis, Dustin Van Wechel has ascended to the top in the genre of wildlife painting. As a young boy growing up in Arizona, trips with his father into the high country instilled a deep love of the mountains and appreciation for nature, the environment and the animals.
Influenced by such iconic wildlife artists as Carl Rungius, Bob Kuhn, Tucker Smith and Ken Carlson, Van Wechel’s paintings are always intimate, presenting the viewer with a portrayal of the subject matter and ideas in each painting that they can connect with emotionally. Each painting tells a unique story, filtered through his own personal lens of the wildlife and landscapes of the West. Immersing himself in the serenity of the environment leads to unforgettable experiences with nature that he brings back to the studio to reimagine through his paintings.
His work has been exhibited throughout the U.S.in one-man shows, major art exhibitions and museums including the National Museum of Wildlife Art, the Autry National Center, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, the Booth Museum and the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. His numerous distinctions include the 2015 and 2022 Bob Kuhn Award For Wildlife at the Masters of the American West Show as well as the 2018 People’s Choice Award and 2015 Premier Platinum Award at the Buffalo Bill Show.
Dustin Van Wechel and his wife Yvonne call Colorado Springs, Colorado home.
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