Whitney Gardner: Western Oil Painter - Epi. 320, Host Dr. Mark Sublette

Whitney Gardner brought in new paintings for the New Young Guns
Group Show, which opens in a few days so we decided to record a
podcast at my studio in Tucson. The show features Jordan Walker,
Josh Gibson, Maeve Eichelberger, and today's guest, Whitney. Now,
she's been on the podcast before, which we filmed in November
2022, the same day I began representing her in my gallery. Two
years and 100 episodes later, Whitney sheds light on what she's
been up to the last couple of years.

It's really quite interesting to speak to an artist at the
beginning of their career, and then again while they are on the
rise. You can feel it. It's wild to watch that cascade of
interest pool up in smaller circles and eventually overflow into
the Western art world at large. That's pretty much what's
happened with Whitney since I've known her. She's won all these
awards in the last two years and been picked up by another
reputable gallery in Santa Fe, McLarry Fine Art. They had a show
for her which did well, extremely well actually. 

These kinds of things begin adding up and next thing you know
you're in museums, articles are being written on you in major
magazines, and your art career is no longer a dream but a
template for the next up-and-coming artist.

I think all of these artists that make up the New Young Guns will
feel that in some form or fashion. That's what you want as an
artist. To be recognized by people for your hard work,
dedication, and what you have to say. That being said, there are
all-new responsibilities and considerations that come with having
a shiny new platform like this.

People tend to think "oh, fame is so great," or "wow, selling art
is easier than ever." Well sure, it can be, but it also has the
other aspects that go along with it. It becomes a duty of sorts
to continue and produce work that resonates with people... and if
it doesn't, well then you may not be able to pay the bills.

Anyhow, this podcast was so fun. It's been a privilege to get to
see Whitney's journey over the last two years. This upcoming
show, which is going to be a really terrific will put her skills
and the skills of her peers on full display. I genuinely hope you
can make it.