Outsider Art

Artist Comments
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...

Artist Comments
Artist Kira Yustak reveals a diverse perspective of a thriving forest. Inspired by her deep connection with the earth, Kira depicts a large root system below th...

Artist Comments
Artist Andrea Doss presents a whimsical narrative of a fairy reading a book to animals in the forest. "She read all sorts of books, but her favorite kind were f...

Artist Comments
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...

Artist Comments
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...

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

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

Artist Comments
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...

Artist Comments
Artist Alana Clumeck illustrates a diverse herd of horses in the wild west. "To create a pattern of horses, I cut out a horse shape and repeated the pattern across the canvas," shares Alana. She outlines each horse in oil pastel and then fills the shapes in with different neutral tones using acrylic paint. Leaving one horse to paint in full detail, she outlines it with red oil pastel so that it pops and stand apart from the rest.

About the Artist
Australian-born Alana Clumeck was raised by artistic parents who owned a pottery studio during her youth. Although she grew up throwing pots, it wasn’t until she was pregnant with her second child that she began painting as creative therapy. For Alana, being an artist is entwined with motherhood. She works from her home studio, so she often paints while watching her children play. When the kids are at school, painting becomes precious meditative time alone. “Since my discovery of art came as a form of therapy, I still use it to paint out my thoughts or feelings,” says Alana. “I will often use symbolism within my paintings to represent how I feel.”

Words that describe this painting: horse, equine, equestrian, western, primitive, animal, mixed media, large, desert, herd, animals, western, primitive, mixed media artwork, black

The One...

Artist Comments
Artist Jodi Dann illustrates juicy lemons growing from a flowering tree branch. "I enjoy perusing the produce in markets for lemons to use as a subject for my p...

Artist Comments
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...

Artist Comments
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...

Artist Comments
Artist Alana Clumeck portrays five horses treading a vast western landscape. A moody storm brews in the sky moments before a downpour. Alana applies black swirl...

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

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

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

Artist Comments
Everyone said the old dragon was grouchy, grumpy, and mean. Some even said he was dangerous and should be left alone. "A monster!" others cried, warning their c...

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

Artist Comments
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...

Artist Comments
A dancing lady throws her arms in the air with fervor in artist Libby Ramage's mixed-media piece. The work expresses the exuberance of a young girl in a flowing...

Artist Comments
Artist Lee Smith paints a playful pack of dogs leaping headlong, intent on the fun. Bold linework with teal highlights outlines their rich golden hues. The wh...

Artist Comments
Two nude figures join hands in artist Libby Ramage's arresting primitive piece. The elderly couple braces themselves going into an uncertain future. "The first ...

Artist Comments
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 ...

Artist Comments
Artist Libby Ramage presents an image of two human figures and an insect. She paints the glove crimson and attaches beads and pages of a book for a revolutionar...