Renowned cowboy artist Tim Cox started his artistic journey in a small worker’s cabin on a rundown ranch in Arizona, painting without electricity. Today, he has made a name for himself on his own ranch in New Mexico, becoming a highly acclaimed artist. At a recent exhibition last month, he was recognized for his lifelong achievements.
Despite being 67 years old, Cox continues to hone his cowboy skills during his spare time, engaging with art enthusiasts, and sharing joyous family moments with his grandchildren and loved ones.
“I always feel like I should play the role of a cowboy when I’m on the ranch,” Cox said in an interview with The Epoch Times.
He explained that when he used to visit neighboring ranches in the past, he would bring his own horse instead of borrowing the ranch owner’s. Originally intending to capture painting materials, he often returned empty-handed because he was too busy tending to the cattle, ending up only seeing their hindquarters.
Cox’s professional career began at the age of 8, wrangling cattle on a remote ranch near Duncan, Arizona. This led him into the world of galleries and Western art collectors. He is dedicated to authentically portraying modern cowboy life, which is reflected in his intricate and realistic oil paintings: cowboys paying attention to the subtle angle of a horse’s ear, the exchange of gazes, and even the slight limp in their gait.
During his school years, Cox’s talent shone through. Around the age of 14, he would drive a 1958 Chevrolet to school with a hunting rifle and live coyotes or bobcats—animals he captured to earn some pocket money. He always doodled in class, and his teachers quickly recognized his talent, prompting them to find an art teacher for him.
“At the age of 12, I sold my first painting to my 8th-grade teacher,” he said.
The search for a suitable art teacher ultimately ended in a pharmacy in Duncan, where pre-made hamburgers were heated in the oven and soda flowed from a fountain. Cox would often go there with friends for milkshakes, all while observing pharmacist Hal Empie casually painting Western landscapes.
“He taught me how to prepare fiberboard with gesso,” Cox said.
Empie not only taught him the craft but also introduced him to the famous Polish portrait painter Frederic Taubes, who later found great success in New York, and other teachers like H.T. Clothier.
At the age of 17, Cox signed with his first gallery and began making a living through painting—initially struggling financially. He married his beloved Suzie, and they lived in a deserted worker’s cabin on a remote ranch without electricity, sustaining themselves by hunting deer for food.
Being a cowboy during the day and an artist at night, Cox would retreat to the bathroom, the only place with white walls, hanging two Coleman lanterns, one on each side of his head. “The lighting wasn’t great, but that’s how I had to work,” he said, managing to complete 10 to 12 pieces of art each year.
Despite his talent, physical strength, and truly cowboy lifestyle, Cox did not consider himself an “art world insider.” A mentor named Candice Bender took him under her wing, teaching him and other Western artists how to integrate into the more refined art world. Meanwhile, Suzie supplemented their income by selling prints and calendars. Years later, they finally purchased their own ranch.
When asked why they moved, Cox replied, “Because of the children.”
“Where we used to live, the nearest telephone was a one and a half-hour drive away,” he said. “The closest place for groceries was two and a half hours. The children attended school in a one-room classroom. “We needed a different place for them to go to school. Eventually, business in painting improved, and we soon paid off the ranch loan.”
Over the years, Cox honed his painting skills from a cowboy’s perspective. He remembers how cowboys always appreciated detailed paintings. Truthfully portraying nature, such as how windmills reflect wind speed, is his way of escaping reality and drawing inspiration.
His works are available for purchase on the “Tim Cox Western Paintings & Fine Art” website, known for its expansive skies and towering, sometimes ominous clouds. He follows traditional oil painting techniques: covering sketches with large color blocks and layering on details. This requires intense concentration and significant tool consumption.
“I use about 30 brushes, if not more, for one painting,” he said. “They are small but precise brushes.”
“I always thought the more I paint, the faster I’d get,” Cox said, but in reality, it’s the opposite. “The more I learn, the less I can slack off.” He said that nowadays, completing a piece takes even longer than before because he sets higher standards for himself. His latest work “Taking Them to Water” shows more subdued contrasts in tones yet exhibits his utmost delicacy. The scene of a cowboy on horseback evokes a sense of tranquility and peace.
In January of this year, Cox’s over 50-year artistic journey was celebrated at the “Heart of the West Gala” held by the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg, Arizona, where dozens of his early and new works were displayed.
Over the years, he has received numerous awards, including the 2003 Prix de West Grand Prize. He joined the prestigious Cowboy Artists of America in 2007, serving as president multiple times and currently holding the title of honorary member.
When discussing his sources of inspiration, Cox looks back on the past and forward to the future.
Reflecting on the past, renowned Western painter Bill Owen helped him develop a color palette system and remains one of his most revered artistic idols.
“He later became a very, very close friend of mine,” Cox said. “If you want to understand ‘cowboy artist,’ you should interpret this term with his photos and stories.”
Owen passed away suddenly from a severe heart attack on a ranch in 2013, while doing what he loved. Cox said, “That’s a good way to go.”
Looking ahead to the future, Cox said the cowboy spirit continues to be passed down through generations in their family. In a painting from 2020, he depicted his granddaughter C.J., a teenager at the time, who had been riding horses before she could even walk. The painting titled “Glory of Freedom” expresses her emotional release after the lifting of COVID lockdowns. She gallops like the wind, set against a rare sunset backdrop.
Regarding the story behind this painting, he quoted his grandmother Stella Blevins Cox: “She said her most cowboy-like, most free moments in life were when she was galloping at full speed on horseback.”
Tim Cox’s Selected Artwork Collection:
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This lengthy rewritten article showcases the artistic journey and life experiences of cowboy artist Tim Cox, from his humble beginnings to his renowned success in the art world. His dedication to portraying the cowboy lifestyle authentically through his intricate oil paintings reflects his passion for art and his deep connection to the Western spirit.