Folk Art Animal Paintings

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Artist Jessica JH Roller paints a playful portrait of a king toad surrounded by white daylilies. "He lives in a quaint cottage alone, but he has a human friend ...

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Artist Jaime Ellsworth paints a portrait of a long-legged horse adorned with distinctive white markings on its legs and muzzle. Jaime uses bold black strokes to...

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Artist Jaime Ellsworth captures a clever brown dog skillfully balancing a red ball and a black bird on its head. With curious gazes, the critters turn to their right as if something has piqued their interest. The two-tone backdrop of ochre and moss green sets the stage for this endearing scene.

About the Artist
Jaime Ellsworth paints animals. Her career as a cowhand never got off the ground, so she stumbled into art never knowing it would complement her passion for animals so completely. Most subjects are her own, but lately she has expanded out of her corral to include bears and beasts not commonly seen on San Juan Island, in the Pacific Northwest, where she's lived for the last 30 years. She suspects it will be years before she runs out of inspiration or has jeans that aren’t covered with paw prints or paint.

Words that describe this painting: dog, bird, ball, whimsical, happy, playful, animals, acrylicpaint, portrait, profile, primitive, animals, primitive, acrylic painting, brown

Dog Ball...

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Artist Nick Bontorno displays four horses grazing in a wide field. The muted background directs the focal point toward the charcoal...

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Artist Nick Bontorno presents a spotted horse walking through a cactus field in a red desert. Its white main gently sways as it plods across the canyon. In his distinct primitivist style, he renders the subject with minimal representation. The fiery hues create a vibrant and energetic display.

About the Artist
Interested in how things feel rather than how they look, artist Nick Bontorno creates poetic gestural work expressing his love for animals, people, and the desert. He spent ten years working on a horse ranch in Wyoming, teaching him to love the grace of horses and the beauty of the land and seasons. Growing up with limited means, Nick found ways to express his creativity through painting pictures on cardboard and drawing on fogged windows. He persisted and studied representational art and portraiture at The Lyme Academy in Connecticut but ultimately became a self-driven artist with a distinctive approach. "My work has evolved to be more ethereal, and I'm increasingly interested in the essence of what I'm painting," shares Nick. His ideas come to life in a small studio in Provo in an old Studebaker repair shop from the 1950s. Nick's art has been featured and acclaimed in Jackson, Wyoming. In his free time, he grooves on playing the guitar, singing with his wife, playing pool, and fixing old cars.

Words that describe this painting: horse, cactus, desert, canyon, animal, cliffs, acrylicpaint, profile, western, primitive, animals, western, primitive, acrylic painting, red

Painted Horse...

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Andrea Doss presents a whimsical fantasy piece of woodland animals playing musical instruments. The pale crescent moon gives a silvery glow as the raccoon, frog, and squirrel serenade at night. "Band practice was on every Tuesday and was usually a chaotic affair," says Andrea. "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star...

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Artist Jaime Ellsworth depicts a sturdy white stallion with its face out of frame. A girl with a red skirt—also obscured from perspective—stands on its back...

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Artist Nick Bontorno displays two horses facing away from each other. Their contrasting black and red coats allow both subjects to ...

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Artist Nick Bontorno paints a black horse running toward the distant desert bluffs. He renders the subject with minimal representatio...

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A young Latin girl travels the desert on a pink horse in artist Nick Bontorno's piece. The muted background directs the focal point to...

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Two pink horses run through a broad expanse in artist Nick Bontorno's piece. The vibrant red hues of the galloping equines radiate an ...

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Artist Nick Bontorno paints a lone horse standing in a vast canyon. The pale blue tones and minimal representation display a relaxed resonance throughout the barren pastoral landscape. His painterly approach further creates an atmosphere of fanciful whimsy. "I focus on how the piece feels rather than how it looks," shares Nick.

About the Artist
Interested in how things feel rather than how they look, artist Nick Bontorno creates poetic gestural work expressing his love for animals, people, and the desert. He spent ten years working on a horse ranch in Wyoming, teaching him to love the grace of horses and the beauty of the land and seasons. Growing up with limited means, Nick found ways to express his creativity through painting pictures on cardboard and drawing on fogged windows. He persisted and studied representational art and portraiture at The Lyme Academy in Connecticut but ultimately became a self-driven artist with a distinctive approach. "My work has evolved to be more ethereal, and I'm increasingly interested in the essence of what I'm painting," shares Nick. His ideas come to life in a small studio in Provo in an old Studebaker repair shop from the 1950s. Nick's art has been featured and acclaimed in Jackson, Wyoming. In his free time, he grooves on playing the guitar, singing with his wife, playing pool, and fixing old cars.

Words that describe this painting: horse, desert, canyon, animal, night, evening, acrylicpaint, primitive, western, cliffs, monochrome, animals, western, primitive, acrylic painting

Blue Horse...

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Artist Jaime Ellsworth presents a black horse along with three white doves flying nearby. A pale full moon rises from above, illuminating the animals. Layers of...

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Artist Nick Bontorno presents an image of a white horse speeding through a vast canyon. The crescent moon peeks from the cliffs, ca...

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Artist Jessica JH Roller paints her pet cat, Poppleton, with a striking color palette. "I wanted to create that contrast between my cat's...

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Artist Nick Bontorno shares an image of two black horses running through a green field. The waning moon fades into the night, casti...

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A woman rides a horse toward crosses in the night in artist Nick Bontorno's piece. In his distinct primitivist style, he renders th...

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Artist Nick Bontorno exhibits wild horses running in the desert. The pair sprawl through the canyons with reckless abandon. The pink and turquoise hues create a vibrant and energetic display. Nick's painterly approach further creates an atmosphere of fanciful whimsy.

About the Artist
Interested in how things feel rather than how they look, artist Nick Bontorno creates poetic gestural work expressing his love for animals, people, and the desert. He spent ten years working on a horse ranch in Wyoming, teaching him to love the grace of horses and the beauty of the land and seasons. Growing up with limited means, Nick found ways to express his creativity through painting pictures on cardboard and drawing on fogged windows. He persisted and studied representational art and portraiture at The Lyme Academy in Connecticut but ultimately became a self-driven artist with a distinctive approach. "My work has evolved to be more ethereal, and I'm increasingly interested in the essence of what I'm painting," shares Nick. His ideas come to life in a small studio in Provo in an old Studebaker repair shop from the 1950s. Nick's art has been featured and acclaimed in Jackson, Wyoming. In his free time, he grooves on playing the guitar, singing with his wife, playing pool, and fixing old cars.

Words that describe this painting: horse, desert, canyon, animal, acrylicpaint, primitive, western, cliffs, running, galloping, profile, pair, duo, animals, western, primitive, acrylic painting

Turquoise Runners...

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Two little bunnies sit watching the sky, counting star wishes, and discussing dreams in artist Andrea Doss's whimsical piece. They find solace in the middle of ...

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Artist Johansen Newman illustrates a nude portrait of a woman in the deep woods. She uses her unique combination of colors, patterns, and details, presenting a tattooed woman with flowing hair basking in the brilliant sunset light, surrounded by pygmy owls. Johansen draws fascination from the majesty of birds of prey and how they enhance the beauty of the human body. "The peacefulness of the ethereal moment is interrupted by the piercing eyes of the woman and her feathered friends," shares Johansen.

About the Artist
Artist Johansen Newman captures various characters through charming scenes that often weave nostalgia. A reflection of her fondness for edge and funk prevails in her dynamic portrayal of humans with animals and objects of their affection. As a toddler, her mother gave her crayons and allowed her to draw on the walls of her room. She pursued a degree in painting and printmaking, then furthered her education by studying with Bil Baird at his puppet theater in New York, ultimately forming her puppet troupe. Years of crafting puppets, designing scenery, writing stories, and performing shows developed her arsenal of skills—going on to be an award-winning fiber artist exhibiting throughout North America. She integrates these learnings into her current art practice. "My paintings capture fragments of a tale in a time and place that was, is, or has the promise to become," says Johansen. She works at her studio and display gallery at Gorse Mill Studios, a 19th Century textile mill building in Needham, MA. Her woodworking shop doubles as her home studio, where she constantly evolves her compositions to satisfy her aesthetic. Johansen's work has been featured on the cover of local publications, in pictorial essays, and toured museums across the United States. She was a professional and published illustrator for more than 35 years, including two dozen children's books, three of which she also wrote. Besides creating art, she finds herself an enthusiast of vintage collectibles, jukeboxes, signages, tin toys, neon lights, cookie jars, carnival chalkware...

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A grey bird swoops past a dog and dives into a berry bush in artist Jaime Ellsworth's playful piece. The playful work captures the whimsical sense of their unex...

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A mouse, a bunny, and a fairy-winged dragon share afternoon tea in artist Andrea Doss' whimsical work. While sitting on charming mushroom stools, the creatures ...

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Artist Johansen Newman shares a portrait of an older woman in a chic floral dress and fishnet stockings. In a deep blue Mid-Centu...

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Artist Johansen Newman paints a portrait of two men with their shaggy-haired dog and two cats. A diverse array of potted plants f...

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Artist Johansen Newman presents a contemporary portrait of a young tattooed woman. Her fiery red locks draw the viewer's attentio...

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Artist Johansen Newman paints a portrait of a blonde tattooed woman in front of a wall of pictures. Two gray cats sit with the sa...

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Artist Johansen Newman paints a portrait of a man with three crows perching on him. She depicts a starry night, palm trees, and c...