Duke Beardsley - Art in the Big, Bold American West

Duke Beardsley was well on his way to a career in medicine, when, just before med school, he took a hard turn onto a new path when he decided to pursue art as a full-time vocation. Since then, he has become one of the West’s most revered artists, producing paintings of cowboys, anglers, and the Western way of life in a style that is uniquely his own. His work is big, bold, and completely original, and it continues to grow and evolve in ways that surprise even Duke himself. • Thanks to a childhood spent between Denver and his family’s eastern Colorado ranch, Duke has been immersed in cowboy culture for as long as he can remember. He has been drawing non-stop since he could hold a crayon, and as a child (sometimes to the dismay of his parents) he demonstrated a proclivity for sketching western scenes on the walls of his family’s home. Duke is also a committed conservationist with a deep devotion to preserving the West’s landscapes and heritage. This eclectic mix of experiences and interests, combined with a formal art education, allows Duke to produce works that are ambitious, inspiring, and engaging. • I stopped by Duke’s Denver studio earlier this week, where we had a fun and wide-ranging conversation. We chat about his decision to change his career goal from medicine to art, and the value he gleaned from a formal art education. He explains that life-long obsession with drawing on walls, and he tells some stories about how, as an adult, drawing on walls has led to surprising professional opportunities. We talk about his artistic process, his meditation practice, and how he managed his extroverted personality in the solitary world of creating art. He also discusses why land conservation is an issue that is so near and dear to his heart, and offers up some excellent book recommendations. • This was a lot of fun and I really appreciate Duke inviting me into his studio. Be sure to check the episode notes for links to everything we discuss, and check out Duke on Instagram, Facebook, and his website. ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/duke-beardsley/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED 2:40 - How Duke describes his work 3:30 - Growing up between Denver and eastern Colorado 5:15 - Artistic energy in Duke’s family 6:30 - Duke’s early path toward medicine 8:30 - Transition to art school 9:40 - Biggest lesson learned from art school 12:20 - Focusing his art on horses and the West 14:20 - Life post-art school 15:30 - How Duke’s art is different now from 20 years ago 18:30 - Drawing on the wall 20:20 - Why Duke paints big pieces 21:31 - Story behind Duke’s line ups 24:45 - Getting in “the zone” while painting line ups 26:40 - Working on multiple pieces at once 27:50 - Working with galleries 29:00 - Process for commissioned paintings 31:45 - Extrovert or Introvert? 34:30 - Duke’s artistic process 38:00 - Duke’s meditation practice 41:00 - Drawing on the wall at Las Pampas Lodge 44:00 - Working with Fishpond 45:50 - Passion for land conservation 49:30 - Favorite books 52:34 - Favorite films 54:00 - Surprising activities 54:45 - Most powerful outdoor experience 57:00 - Favorite place in the West 58:40 - Best peice of advice ever recieved 59:45 - Duke’s request of the listeners 1:00:30 - Connect with Duke online