Whether it is the poetry of a mustang in gallop or the sublime beauty of the southwestern landscape, Cheryl Koen’s paintings reflect the spirit of the west and its inhabitants. The wide open spaces conveyed in her work are meant to invoke a feeling of nostalgic connection with the Wild West and dreams of times past.
Ms. Koen was influenced by the French Impressionists, but her unique style, as evident in her work, is a rare mix of realism and impressionism. Her portrayal of light and shadow gives a strong sense to the settings of her paintings. Soft olor and dazzling sunlight have become her trademarks. As an equine painter, Cheryl Koen’s goal is to capture the essence and gesture of the horse.
The Artist has a fascination with portraying movement in herds of horses. Her works where horses are moving through water, in particular, invoke a spirit where the viewer can almost hear and feel the splash of the horse’s hooves as they cross to the other side.
Cheryl Koen has developed a sensitivity to the texture and color of beautiful scenery for which our area is known. From the moodiness of gathering clouds to horses basking in the sun or wading through the Rio Chama, that essence of her plein aire paintings is captured on her magical canvasses.
Always an Artist, Koen has spent a lifetime studying and honing her skills.
After studying art in college and from several present day masters, in 1998 Koen pursued her passion for painting full time. This “leap of faith” has been recorded in the book “What Next? Women Redefining Their Dreams in the Prime of Life” by Rene Pederson.
Cheryl Koen is an ongoing associate member of the prestigious national association of Oil Painters of America. Thus, the OPA after her name.
We are thrilled to have the original work of Cheryl Koen here in the Gallery Collection of La Posada, and as with all of our accomplished, living American Artists, her work is available for sale at her studio prices. La Posada does not mark up the price of the art for sale, and we welcome you back to the hotel with our Collector rate each time you return, providing you purchase a piece of art from the hotel. The Collector rate is half priced and there are no daily
resort fees.
Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing original art from the hotel or if you have any questions about our artists.
Sara Eyestone, Art Curator
505-954-9668 saraeyestone@yahoo.com
