A First Meeting with a Western Legend

Although he doesn’t come from The West and wouldn’t restrict himself to the title of Western Artist, there is no denying the indelible effect William Matthew’s work has had on Western culture.

As with most of my subjects in any genre, it’s important that I have a genuine interest. And I’ve long been a fan of Matthews’ art, which was the reason for contacting Western Art Collector Magazine to see if they’d be interested in a feature on the iconic watercolorist.

At 76 years young he’s full of life and still has a strong desire to create art at a prolific pace. So having the opportunity to meet and photograph Matthew’s at work in his Denver, CO studio was a gift i’ll always be grateful for. A lot of artists can’t be bothered with this kind of thing, but he was welcoming and generous with conversation throughout our time together.

Shared Stories from Historic Ranches Across the West

Of the many compliments you could say about an artist, perhaps the best is that their style is instantly recognizable. And there’s no mistaking the renowned paintings he created of the American West, specifically of the buckaroos in nothern Nevada. There isn’t another artist alive whose work even vaguely resembled Matthews’. Which could be a big reason for his success, but it was also what drew me to him. Digest his paintings for a while and you’ll know they were created by a person that truly became part of the life. He was there. The light, colors, and textures of his subjects could only be made by a person with first hand experience. So naturally we talked a lot about our experiences having visited a lot of the same ranches. Oddly, a few days before writing this post, I came back from the Winecup Gamble Ranch - a place he frequented. A number of his paintings of the ranch grace the walls there and his book “Working The West” sits proudly on the coffee table at the big house. To further the conversation about shared experiences we also spoke about Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, where we both had work on exhibition at the same time.

Capturing the Atmosphere of an Artist’s Workspace

Matthew’s has lived a life in art. It is his life, and that’s obvious when you walk into his beautiful studio, which I’m told he hadn’t ever granted access to. The shelves are filled with books about design - previous profession and gateway into art. The floors are a beautiful hard wood that accents the rich walls filled with momentos from decades of travel, and of course, art. The upstairs loft feels like a break room of sorts, where Matthews goes to play one of the dozen guitars that line the space. All of this is obviously bathed in beautiful light from the north facing window that he designed along with the rest of the studio.

Photographing an artist like this in his sanctuary should never be taken lightly. And there is also a lot to consider when it comes to the plan of attack. First and foremost is respecting their time. Beforehand I had it in my head to set up a few strobes, but quickly realized that half hour would be better spent photographing documentary style as a fly on the wall with available light.

How Matthews’ Work Connects to Cowboy Photography

William Matthews’s paintings aren’t made to create a dramatic version of the American West. They are quite the opposite. His paintings are beautiful, but they’re also full of the real grit that comes with being a real cowboy. And that same grit is what I hope to portray in my photographs. So if you’re attracted to his style, you might also enjoy the photographs I make of working cowboys, which you can view HERE.

From Wild Fish to Glass Art: Photographing the Work of Martin Gerdin

A Fly Fishing Artist Who Honors the Fish

If you spend much time around fly fishing and have an appreciation for art, then you’ve heard the name Martin Gerdin. His hand-blown glass fish are more than just decorative pieces, they’re immaculate tributes. To the fish. To the places they live. To the hours spent chasing them in silence with and without victory. When I had the opportunity to photograph Martin for a recent magazine story, I knew right away this wasn’t just another artist profile. It was a chance to document someone who truly understands what makes fly fishing special.

Photographing the Process Behind the Glass

Martin’s Gerdin’s studio is located in Crawford, a small town in a remote section of southwest Colorado, which tells you a bit about him already. He doesn’t need the fancy street facing storefront, because for him, it’s only about the work. And that’s obvious seeing him in action. He cares. Sure, creating stunning glass blown fish is how he earns a living, but it’s also his passion. Glass blowing is a very delicate art, especially when dealing with a pieces the size of Gerdin’s fish. There are so many steps along the way that can cause each one to be ruined. And when that happens all is lost. Back to the beginning. As a photographer intent on documenting a process that cannot be faked, the only option is to be a fly on the wall and not get in the way. Martin and his team are constantly moving, back and forth from the work bench to the furnace, over and over. For this shoot I wanted to use strobes to light the scene in a way that wouldn’t draw attention to the light itself. Rather as more of a subtle enhancement. So the hard part was finding those places within the studio that the strobes and light stands wouldn’t impede his flow. Which was difficult at times, but he graciously told me when they needed to be moved and everything worked out just fine in the end. To be honest, there were times when I just wanted to sit back and watch. Looking at Gerdin’s work on his website or Instagram is impressive, but to see a final piece come to life before your eyes, is something else altogether.

**If you think creating glass trout for a living is all glamour, think again. It’s well over a hundred degrees in Martin’s studio when the furnace is running.

Where My Work Intersects with His

Martin Gerdin doesn’t create custom glass trout for fly fishing collectors by accident. It started out of his rabid obsession with the sport itself. The assignment to photograph Martin at work also didn’t happen by accident. As a photographer, it’s very important to me that the people and stories I work on, are ones I truly care about and have an interest in. So I pitched the idea to a magazine because I was a fan of his work and am also violently obsessed with fly fishing, which has led to a somewhat unhealthy amount of time on the river with both a fly rod and a camera. Like Martin, it’s my happy place.

See the Full Collection

Want to see more?
You can view my full collection of fly fishing photography prints [here]. Each image is available for purchase, and select pieces are also available for editorial or commercial licensing. If you’re a collector, or simply someone who loves the water, I think you’ll find something that speaks to you.