Spirit of the west

J.R. Monks, a member of the Montana Watercolor Society, is a contemporary visual storyteller of the West. His Experience as a rancher and his families’ stories of ranching and living on the land is inspiration that is fueled by his desire to portray stories of the West.

Despite a lifetime’s sojourn in the west, he considers himself a stranger in a strange land, an observer of an incredible powerful place. He simplifies what is perceived to be reality and creates paintings from an emotional response.

His paintings are marked by bold brush work, strong design, expressive color choices, and a unique sense of light.