About

From salmon fishing in the Aleutian Islands and teaching art for the University of Alaska, to riding the range and gathering cattle on northern New Mexico’s sprawling ranches, Rush Cole lives what she paints. Proficient in graphite, colored pencil, pen & ink, pastel, watercolor, acrylics, and oil, Cole’s art has been included in juried national exhibits from New York City to Los Angeles. Her awards are numerous, including “Best Of Show” in the National Watercolor Society. A life-long horsewoman, Cole rides the same lands that the pioneers, cowgirls, cowboys, and American Indians did in the legendary Wild West. Horses of all breeds and kinds are a major focus in her art. Rodeos, roundups, trail riding, and ceremonial Pueblo Dances are also an important part of life for the artist; her personal experiences with the colorful cultures of the American West are evident in her compelling artwork. The magnificent Spanish Horse is the subject of several series of paintings by Rush Cole. “ORIGINS: Past & Future” portrays world-class P.R.E. (Pura Raza Espanola) against backdrops of prehistoric cave art from France and northern Spain. “Kings Of Spain” depicts purebred Spanish stallions with backgrounds of gold and silver leaf. More recent additions to Cole's "ORIGINS" Series include American Bison and Texas Longhorn. Rush Cole's creative images are included in countless private and corporate collections in the United States and abroad. Commissioned in 1982 by the city of Corpus Christi, Texas, she created a mural depicting its history, culture, and environment. Measuring eight feet by twenty feet, acrylic on canvas, the mural covers five hundred years of documented history and is on permanent display in the American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas. Always an enthusiastic fan and supporter of American rodeo, Rush received the honor of having her painting selected as the official poster of the 65th Annual PRCA Rodeo De Santa Fe 2014. Cole's artwork was also chosen for her hometown's rodeo event in 2015.