Martin Grelle (American, b. 1954) Where Waters Run Cold, 2012 Oil on linen 42 x 32 inches (106.7 x 81.3 cm) Signed and dated lower right: Martin Grelle / CA / 2012 Signed, dated, and titled on the stretcher bar: Where Waters Run Cold Martin Grelle / 2012 PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT TEXAS COLLECTION PROVENANCE: Overland Gallery of Fine Art, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Private collection, Texas, acquired from the above, 2013. Martin Grelle's natural artistic talent was nurtured at an early age by two of the true luminaries of Texas Western Artists, James Boren and Melvin Warren. Both men were influential members of the prestigious Cowboy Artists of America (CAA), and both had established their studios in Clifton, Texas, when Martin was in high school. Both became his artistic mentors and shared both their knowledge of western art and their keen interest in western history. Grelle, himself, became a member of the CAA in 1995. Today he is one of the most accomplished and highly collected artists of the American West. He is one of only five artists to be twice awarded the Prix de West honor from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. He is perhaps best known for his vibrant and historically accurate studies of Northern Plains Indian life and culture, of which Where Waters Run Cold is a prime example. Grelle is a visual story teller with a strong narrative impulse, who is able to capture the details and nuances of the natural world. Of works like Where Waters Run Cold, Grelle has said, "I want to give the viewer the feeling of light. When they look at my work, I want them to feel like they are there. I also try to execute it in a way that leaves parts of the painting up the viewer's imagination, so they can enjoy the process of inventing the painting, along with me." Grelle's preparation for his portrayals of nineteenth century tribal life include a thorough reading of the history of the times, on-site visits to the areas he is depicting, and visits to museums to study the costumes and artifacts of the time period. The results are paintings that transport the viewer to an historic era that has the look and feel of a real place and real time. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved