Martin Grelle

Martin Grelle’s images of the American West, both contemporary and historical, reflect his deep understanding of the wide open vistas of the southwestern landscape and of the pioneering spirit of the people who live there. Such portrayals comprise his 18th annual show at Overland Gallery in March 2006.

A member of the prestigious Cowboy Artists of America since 1995, Grelle credits the group with contributing to his growth as an artist and as a person. “I know that my association with them has been a catalyst for growth that I may not have known otherwise,” he says.

His artistic development has been noted by collectors, his peers, and other prominent art organizations. In June 2005 he became one of only five artists to have won the top award twice at the Prix de West Invitational show at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, winning first in 2002. He also received the Nona Jean Hulsey Ramsey Buyers’ Choice Award at the show in 2004.

Grelle traces his interest in art to his youth, growing up in the foothills country surrounding his hometown of Clifton, Texas. He had a natural gift and inherent desire to paint the rural areas of central Texas. It wasn’t until he was 18, and met cowboy artist James Boren, that he knew that he could realize his dream of becoming an artist. Boren and Melvin Warren, both CA artists, moved to Clifton when Grelle was still in high school. Both influenced his painting and his desire to become a CA. He supported himself by painting part-time and driving a truck for his father’s gasoline distributorship. After several years, Grelle was able to leave trucking and pursue his art on a full-time basis.

Grelle’s dedication to research, exploring historical and social aspects of the old and new West, is evident when standing before his paintings. Scenes are crafted with an understanding of the landscape and the people. Technical expertise is honed with each new work. Such attention to both the basics and detail has enabled him to carve for himself an impressive niche in the Western art world. Working mainly in oil and acrylic, he paints with a moderate amount of detail, emphasizing color and texture to create visual imagery, and light and shadow for dramatic effect.