Blue Buffalo Artists to be Featured at MonDak Heritage Center in October

The Blue Buffalo Artists are a diverse community of talented artists who have banded together to share their artistic visions through exhibits across the country. The core group originated in the western town of Cody, Wyoming and has now grown to include artists from Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Utah and Washington. The Blue Buffalos’ signature art show is held annually at the historic Irma Hotel, built by Buffalo Bill in Cody. The group displays a wide range of styles including traditional, historic western scenes, sensitive portraits, colorful rodeo and beautifully impressionistic landscapes. Subjects that inspire these artists also include wildlife, equine, and fishing themes.

The variety of media includes wood carving, pyrography, oil paintings, pastels, colored pencil pointillism, bas-relief wall sculptures created by splashing molten bronze into carved molds as well as traditional sculpture.

The group will be exhibiting at the MonDak Heritage Center, Sidney, Montana throughout the month of October, 2013. The Blue Buffalo Artists’ individual websites can be accessed through http://www.bluebuffaloartists.com and you see their creations on their Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/bluebuffaloartists.

Phyllis Waltman

Artist Phyllis Waltman was born on a small ranch on the rugged western slope near Delta, Colorado. As a child, she developed a deep love for horses and for art. Her artistic aspirations were put on the back burner for several years until midlife when she was working in an office and decided to take a look at what she might really like to do. She knew it needed to involve her two loves, horses and art and subsequently spent a year at an Arabian horse ranch in AZ. Not having time to also devote to her art, Waltman made the decision to pursue her art career, featuring horses of course.

Waltman majored in art at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. She worked in pencil for several years before moving to acrylic, adding color to her palette. She has created dramatic pieces art of professionally for over twenty-five years.

According to her bio, ‘Waltman’s focus is the horse. With precise, yet sensitive detail, she captures the expressiveness of these magnificent creatures as well as the semi-arid climate of Colorado, including its Western slope. Viewers are struck by the dry light that illuminates her scenes and surrounds her subjects.’

Waltman’s work has appeared in shows across the country, including the Churchill Downs Museum, and has received numerous awards. Her art has also been featured in articles in many prestigious equine publications.

Horse and art lovers will have the opportunity to view Waltman’s art as part of the Blue Buffalo Artists exhibit at the MonDak Heritage Center in Sidney the entire month of October.

Waltman stated, “Within the last fifteen years through my cousin Sandra (Obergfell) Tarr, I learned of a family connection to the Sidney Obergfell families and to date, I have attended three family reunions in Sidney getting acquainted with over 150 new family members through the Sidney Obergfells. So, it is really exciting to be able to have my work in Sidney.”