Western Spirit Quick Draw Artists

Thank you to our

2026 Western Spirit Juried Art Show & Sale Quick Draw Artists

Quick Draw Artist Biographies

Afton

Gratitude and Joy are words to live and paint by, for contemporary western artist, Afton, of Sidney, Montana. Along with bold originality, she incorporates her appreciation for what she is blessed to see and experience as she enjoys nature and the lifestyle of the American West, aiming to capture the spirit and thrill through each piece.

With formal training and diverse experience across several mediums, Afton embraces a mixed media approach to best express her artistic vision. Painterly strokes, energetic splashes, mysterious drips, and fine details are all part of her expressive and intuitive style. Afton’s eye for interior design often ushers in rustic texture and elegant metallic

glazing, a natural complement to her earthy and authentic palette.

Since 2006, Afton has exhibited her work not only at her own gallery and frame studio, Bold West Art, but also at a variety of other galleries, exhibitions, and events. She is also an Out West Art Show artist at The Russell venue in Great Falls, Montana, and notably, in 2013, her artwork was chosen by George Strait for his Sixty #1 Hits

promotion.

Elizabeth Dryden

always fascinated Dryden. She breaks down subjects and themes into a magical exploration of color and shape. Further exploring cacti and various desert inhabitants in bright, vibrant Southwest scenes, she combines the paradoxes between longstanding traditional ideals against modern society. Buffalo Bill Cody, Dryden’s ancestor, holds the “Wild West” dear to her heart, often choosing the subject of bison in her work.

Dryden, a sixth generation Texan, grew up in Dallas and has recently married a professional bronc rider Cody Martin, and moved to Grand Junction, CO. As a signature member of the Cowgirl Artists of America and having participated in several past Art of the Cowgirl events, she is hopeful to use her creativity to celebrate the life of the values and virtues of the West.

Recent projects include designing the first commercial women's cowboy boots for Dixon Boot Company, album cover art for country artist Craig Bowen “A Good Place to be From”, collaborations with Double D Ranchwear, Fringe scarves and Sweetwater Pillows.

Texas native Elizabeth Dryden is a Contemporary Southwest Artist making a wave and grabbing the attention of the Western art scene and beyond. The many layers intertwined together in her mixed media work make each piece a lawless mystery to unfold. While colorful and lively in spirit, there are volumes of information to be discovered below the textured surface. Dryden is inspired by the mystery of the desert as a whole but focuses her artwork on the enchanting and indestructible flora and fauna that reside there. The subjects of Dryden’s work are primarily cacti and indigenous animals, which she uses metaphorically to express various life virtues hidden within the brushstrokes of paint and various paper and textured mediums.

The natural beauty of the American Southwest and Western lifestyle has

Kristi Rose

Kristi Rose paints from the heart. Her heritage brings a deep love for the land, animals and history to her art. She is a fourth-generation cattle producer located southwest of West, Texas. Her great grandfather founded the family farm in 1872, which thrives to this day and was recently placed on the Sesquicentennial Farm Roster. As soon as she could walk, she headed to her grandfather’s ancient barn and pastures to be with the cattle and horses, making marks with crayons and pencils to celebrate favorite horses and cattle. Artistic inspiration came from being exposed to the work of Will James, C.M. Russell, and Frederick Remington at a very tender age. The little girl torn between desires to become a cowboy, an artist, and a nurse eventually combined all 3 careers. Time was scarce but she continued to draw and paint, doing commission work as time allowed. After a serious

accident, her career as an ER RN transitioned to full time artistic commitment. Life changed in a moment but decades of experience as an accomplished horsewoman, reining horse breeder, competitor, and carded reining horse judge combined with experiencing the fragility of life firsthand in emergency nursing bring a unique outlook to her work. Daily life including time horseback and handling cattle during general ranch responsibilities and helping as needed at cattle works keeps her work authentic, fresh, and vibrant.

She may use oils, graphite, pastels, chalk, or pen and ink to distill a poignant moment on canvas or paper. Self-taught, she continues to study fine art composition and technique. Kristi currently has membership involvement with the Cowgirl Artists of America, Oil Painters of America, and the National Portrait Society.

Cody Winiecki

Cody Winiecki is a Loveland, Colorado based painter exploring the rugged life of the American West. His work is grounded less in spectacle and more in temperament. An interest in restraint, endurance, and the quiet discipline required to live and work in wide, demanding landscapes.

Influenced by Stoic philosophy, Winiecki approaches Western subject matter as a study of character. He is drawn to the moments that test resolve without announcing themselves. The steadying breath, the measured pause, the acceptance of responsibility. In these spaces, strength is not performative. It is practiced. His compositions emphasize clarity, balance, and atmosphere, allowing mood and posture to carry as much weight as narrative.

While many artists vividly capture the dynamic action and rich pageantry of Western culture, Winiecki has chosen a different lane. His aim is not to amplify the noise of the frontier, but to explore its stillness. By focusing on composure rather than spectacle, he carves out a visual language centered on endurance, patience, and

self-command.

The resulting work is contemplative and grounded images that suggest that fortitude often appears in quiet forms. Winiecki’s paintings invite viewers to slow down, to look beyond action, and to consider the kind of character forged in long horizons and honest labor. In a cultural landscape often defined by motion, his work lingers in calm resolve.