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Joe Velázquez

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About Joe
1942 - 2021

Joe Velázquez’ fascination with the emergence of our nation led him to the exploration of the many stories that occurred during this short but colorful time in history.  His focus was primarily on the fur trade era encompassing the Mountain Men, Voyageurs and the northern Native American cultures.  He was diligent with the historical accuracy of the accouterments used in depicting the stories of this period in time while portraying the passion and tenacious spirits of the characters who traveled those trails. Joe’s interest in this period of history was kindled while in college when he first read Guthrie’s classic novel, The Big Sky. 

During the early years of his career, Joe worked in several mediums: bronze, charcoal, pastels, water colors along with oil paints.  As the years passed, the demands of multiple mediums caused him to focus on oil painting even though he had a great love for the others, especially bronze. 

Joe was an avid student of history spending many hours of research in the design of each painting.  His library was extensive. “Today I have over 400 books - perhaps 6 which are novels with the rest being  journals and historical texts. The journals are remarkable.  They place you in the time and at the moment. You can’t get closer to it than that”. €� His consultants were acclaimed experts in their various fields of historical focus.  Joe traveled to various historical sites to explore the life style of the people whose story he would ultimately tell.  He established close relationships with many re-enactors who relive, with passion, a period in by-gone years that is known only in history books or loosely depicted in docudramas.    

Velázquez began his journey as a creative thinker very early in life.  While his father was away from home during World War II, his mother would treat him with crayons and paper when she returned from her shopping trips.  His penchant for art was reinforced throughout his high school years as he was sought after by acquaintances to create drawings of family members, sweethearts or movie heroes.  Joe earned money for college by creating architectural delineations for local builders.  These endeavors would play a significant role in his future as a professional fine artist.  The accurate creation of the visual representation of a proposed building from floor plans, gave Velázquez a succinct understanding of perspective and an objects relationship to its environment.

Joe studied art at Colorado State University in the early 60’s and was significantly influenced by one of his instructors, John Sorbie.  He was a tremendous motivator for the serious student of art.  Joe reflected, “When I took his courses it was as though he lit a rocket and I was riding it”. 

Joe considered himself a “student for life”.  The creative process of telling a story on canvas encompasses extensive skills and knowledge which need continual enrichment. He was inspired by great masters such as Dunn, Remington and Russell – including contemporary masters like James Reynolds, George Carlson and Howard Terpening.  Joe did not replicate the painting style of any artist but did find it inspiring to study their processes and philosophy of paint handling and color management.  His library contained many books about early and contemporary masters including such artists as Fechin and Klimt.   Joe felt the understanding of the diversity in artistic styles was essential to the developement of his own unique painting style.

Velázquez also enjoyed plein air painting as an exercise for the analysis of nature’s palette.  For him, there was no better way to study true color than being outdoors experiencing and observing the elements of nature at work.

Joe’s creative passion was the exploration of the human spirit … whether it was a by-gone moment in history or a snippet from yesterday’s fare.  His creatuve challenge began as he envisioned the role light, shadow and shade would play in the accurate depiction of the scene emerging from his canvas.  The play of light is what causes the mystery of form and shadow to become a visual feast, an emotional experience.  Velázquez’ use of color depended on the ambiance of the story to be told. Sometimes his color usage was very bold and brilliant.  Other times it was soft and monochromatic.  The emerging story would guide him through the developement of his palette.

Joe’s paintings are more than the telling of a story.  They are a reminder of the fragility of the world and its people we treasure.  When a painting is complete, Velázquez judged its success by the emotion it evoked from the viewer. 

   Joe’s paintings and sculptures are held in corporate and private collections throughout the
US, Canada and Europe.

Honors and Recognitions:

 Artists’ Choice Award:  for the painting, The Calm of Day’s End, received at the
Stampede Western Invitational Art Show,  Greeley, CO, 2012

Featured Artist: Jackson Fall Arts Festival, Jackson, WY,  September 13-19, 2010
      Painting: Season of the Mountain Men

Sculpture commission: Spirit of the Bear by the Bear Dance Golf Course, Castle Rock, CO

First-place honors: Bronze sculpture, Arsata, awarded at the 1986 North American
      Sculpture Exhibition.

      The painting The Big Hitch was selected for the cover of the 1984 US West Telephone Directory.  
      29 million copies were printed.

 Invitational Shows

Heart of the West Art Show - Live Auction, Coeur d’Alene, ID - 2015

Coeur d’Alene Art Auction, Reno, NV - 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

CM Russell Live Art Auction, 2009, 2014

Stampede Western Invitational, Greeley, CO - June 22 - July 4, 2012

Western Masters Art Sale and Auction, Great Falls, MT - 2012, 2014

Mountain Oyster Club Show, Tucson, AZ - 2009, 2011, 2012

Night of Artists, Briscoe Western Art Museum, San Antonio, TX -  2019, 2020

 Works acquired by the following museums:

Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta 

 Palm Springs Desert Museum, California

Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, Vermont

Leanin Tree Museum of Western Art, Boulder, Colorado

Morris Museum, Augusta, Georgia 

Briscoe Western Art Museum, San Antonio, Texas

Works featured in the following books and publications:

Western Art Collector

Art of the West

Southwest Art

Cowboys and Indians

JJournal of the Early Americas

The Story of Leanin Tree

Art and Enterprise in the American West

Mountain Green the Beautiful

 Chief Red Cloud, 1822-1909

Crazy Horse, 1842-1877

Sitting Bull, 1831-1890

2005 Artists Blue Book

Wilderness Way

Eagle’s Eye

AskArt
 

Copyright  Joseph E. Velazquez
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