Biography
Brooke Wetzel is a Montana contemporary oil painter of landscape and mood. Her artistic process began in childhood while spending time trying to emulate her father’s artistic skill and admiring the work of her great uncles who were illustrators for Walt Disney Studios. Being raised in both Montana and central Idaho is where she learned to be explorative and developed a great love for the land. Impassioned by nature, particularly water and sunlight, Brooke’s art is characterized by movement, emotion, luminous light, and reflection, with loosely brushed paint and areas of sharp focus. Whether it is extensive backpacking trips into the mountains or dropping the anchor of her boat and sleeping on the lake to watch the sunset and rise, she is on a constant quest for the “special effects” of nature. Spending time in the wilderness studying, photographing, and painting is essential to her work as that is what informs her art.
Secondary to the landscape, Brooke might add a small subject in her paintings, often inspired by her Native American heritage, sightings of wildlife, horses or fisherman. It wasn’t until after Brooke continued her education in business and settled down to start a family that she realized her greatest joy and life calling was to express her view through a paintbrush. In 2009, young to the world of art and primarily a self-taught artist, she began to take her artistic skill more seriously. She has since spent a substantial amount of time learning independently and mentoring with other artists. She participates in group and solo shows and her work is in many private residencies across the country.
Recent exhibitions and galleries include The Russell: An Exhibition and Sale to benefit The C.M. Russell Museum: Great Falls, MT, The OutWest Art Show and Sale: Great Falls, MT, The Traveling The West Show at the Southwest Gallery in Dallas, TX, Miniatures by The Lake Show: Coeur d’ Alene Gallery, Coeur d’Alene, ID, Resplendence: Annual Solo exhibition at McCall Golf Club, McCall, ID, Western Masters Heart of The West Art Show and Sale, Coeur d’ Alene, ID, Artist Along The Bitterroot Studio Tour: Bitterroot Valley, MT, A. Banks Gallery: Bozeman, MT, Black Jack Ranch Gallery, Beartooth Gallery: Red Lodge, MT, and Dick Idol Signature Gallery: Whitefish, MT
