Paint Parties Click Menu "Register For Class" ~ Van Leigh Lavar ~ Western Art & Artist/Teacher/Illustrator/ Lecturer ~ Instagram ~ COMMISSIONED PORTRAITS

El Rey de las Montañas

(The King of the Mountains)

Ojo del Toro

(Eye of the Bull)

His Lordship, Sir Seamus the Highland Calf

(A Thighearnas, Sir Seamus an Calf Gaidhealach) Gaelic

Cow Curls 18x24 Oil on Canvas

El Toro de los Vientos (The Bull of the Winds) by Van Leigh 28x30 inches oil on canvas

**El Rey de las Montanas** (The King of the Mountains) by Van Leigh 28x30 inches oil on canvas

**Ojo del Toro** (Eye of the Bull) by Van Leigh 28x30 inches oil on canvas

**Yuletide March of the Crows** (A Thighearnas, Sir Seamus an Calf Gaidhealach) Gaelic by Van Leigh 28x30 inches oil on canvas

Please email for more information: fineartsinthepines@gmail.com

Animalia and The Hall of Bulls ~ because I am inspired both by my Native American heritage and my reverence for art history, I have chosen to paint cattle with reverence and respect. Cattle are the most ancient and historical of all art subjects, as evinced by the cave paintings in Lascaux, France. (although my current works are reflective of Bovine, I am available for all animal commissions, canine, feline, equine. bird etc. . . . ) I am a member of Cow Girl Artists of America.

To continue, my family heritage includes champion bull riders and ranchers who tended the herds on the ZX Cattle Ranch in Eastern Oregon. The ZX Ranch is one of the nation’s Largest Cattle ranches. Interestingly, by the end of the 1930’s the ranch owned 230,000 acres and further leased another 1.5 million acres. I can only imagine the early artists in Lascaux, being consumed with recollection of the power and spirit of the Auroch bulls (Upper Paleolithic cattle.) So much that they created what archeologist have deemed, “The Hall of Bulls.” (Gallery of Cattle)Truly cattle are our ancient, collaborators of art culture and arbiters of appropriation. I created my own series, titled, Sala de Toros (The Hall of Bulls) to honor this first art gallery and its subject matter. Moreover, I carefully, choose to add my own present-day, visual experiences within this genre. I have included cameo appearances of crows, who in modern times have a symbiotic relationship with cattle. In creating this series, I worked from memory, firsthand sketches, and photos references. An additional muse is Rosa Bonheur, (16 March 1822 – 25 May 1899), the most famous, female artist of the last century. She was renowned for her style of animal art, called Animaliere.

Most excitedly, this will be my upcoming series of special Bovine, in a project headed by agencies in several European countries. It is thus, that I continue the homage to our beloved bovine. My paintings in this series are medium to large, painted on either toned canvas, linen, or board, using oil paint.

My work is to be found throughout the world as decorative imagery on many different products including collectible phone cards, puzzles, key chains, mouse pads, and cutting boards. Additionally, many of her limited edition prints are now found on the Secondary Market. I am an internationally, recognized canine artist and was invited to display at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2009. I was also commissioned by, The California Waterfowl Association to illustrate and design their first, limited-edition, collectible ornament.

She has illustrated 4 books to date and is working on several more. I am listed in Who’s Who Among American College and University Students 1997, for work in the conservation and restoration of several polychrome statues belonging to the Catholic Church. Her illustrated books include:

Tucker’s Tale by Christopher Walsh, Surf Doggy USA by Barbara Boyer, Mr. Topper the Magical Pot Bellied Pig by Liam Maher, and her own book, Pillow Land Puppies which she wrote and illustrated, it includes an appendix of the classic prose by Francis Thompson, “The Hound of Heaven.. “ The Squirrel Superhighway by Anna Morrisson.

Director of Academy Art of the West.

Ms. Lavar teaches ongoing classes and specialized seminars.