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Donna Howell-Sickles has been part of the Texas ranching culture since she was born. Raised on a 900-acre farm, Howell-Sickles knew the true strength and joy of women in the ranching world, and yet, they were often depicted on the fringe of the culture: waiting for or watching the men come and go, gloriously, on horseback. Of course, Donna Howell-Sickles had a different experience of these empowered women.
I celebrate the now and the joy we can feel in being who we are, and where we are, at this exact moment. What makes us joyous is different for each person, but to me that’s what makes life worth it.
Donna Howell-Sickles.
After discovering her passion for her trade in her early 20s, Howell-Sickles never turned back. Before long, joyous, exuberant, capable western women became the central theme in her mixed-media artwork, accented, of course, with symbolism and metaphor, wildlife and memory. Below, enjoy this selection of new arrivals from Donna along with stories from the artist about each piece.
Frequently, my work shows the Cowgirl as the center of her world surrounded by companions, coworkers and the animals that defined the spirit of the West. Here, she has gathered the dogs, and the horses have gathered themselves behind them, as if she were about to tell them an old story they all know.
Every summer down in Texas, we have Whitetail fawns on the ranch and around the lake where I walk, reminding me of nature’s willingness to say something beautiful and fragile and true again and again. I am so inspired by their presence: such a beautiful delicate expression of the circle of life and resilience.
This fox painting was an attempt to capture the feeling of those weathered fences in many parts of the West that are such a part of the landscape and show how small man’s touch has been. This fox sat just a minute with a sense of appreciation for my admiration before he was off to his own business. The wildlife moves through that landscape and those structures with such ease, grace and speed, leaving us with a brief glimpse, but a timeless feeling.
I wanted to depict the strength, sheer size and force of the bison strolling toward the viewer through the tall grass prairie: peaceful, aware and observant.
I wanted to feel the horses surrounding her, interacting, giving and accepting care in that dusty, early morning corral.
When I think of pronghorns, I feel wide expanses of prairie with a big sky and a particular palette of muted green, tan, white, and black. It seems I only remember encountering pronghorns in arid landscapes of the West. They are such a unique animal, so well adapted to where and how they live. I also enjoy the drama of their coloring: the contrast of their white rear ends disappearing into the sage or the tall grass. As it is with most wildlife, that fleeting glimpse hangs in your memory and speaks of freedom.
