Don Oelze

1965 - 0000

Don Oelze is the son of American parents from the West, who lived and worked as missionaries in New Zealand for the first eight years of his life. Don remembers as a child listening to his parents tell stories about growing up in Arizona and Montana and watching Daniel Boone on TV every afternoon in Auckland. In fact, he credits his grandfather and grandmother for sparking his interest in Native American culture. Don’s grandfather collected Native American artifacts he found on his property and in the surrounding area. And, his grandmother sent him a handmade Indian outfit when he was six years old that sparked his interest in drawing Indians, though he remembers, “While this thoughtful gesture cemented my fascination with cowboys and Indians, it also resulted in my getting into trouble at school, because I spent more time drawing Indians than paying attention to my teacher.”

When Don was eight, the family moved back to the United States, where he continued to paint and draw through his high school years. After high school he attended the Memphis College of Art for a year, followed by Memphis State University, and finally Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire, where he studied Japanese and art, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. After college, Oelze moved across the country to Seattle, Washington, where he befriended and began working with a Native American artist who made totems. Encouraged by his friend and co-worker, Oelze produced his first large Native American painting, discovering in the process what would become his favorite subject.

In 1995, Oelze’s interest in Japan led him to move to Tokyo, Japan, where for the next decade he taught English and translated financial documents. However, he found the work very stressful. "You worked from early in the day until 10:00 p.m.,” he said, and "I started painting again to relieve my tension and stress.” For inspiration he bought Art of the West magazine. “I used to buy [Art of the West] magazine in Tokyo, Japan at the tower records in Shibuya... couldn't wait for the next issue to come out... It was how I learned about Western art and all those who are connected with it,” he recalled.

When his paintings began selling well in the western United States, he and his wife, Utako, moved to Montana in 2004 to live and work, later saying, “America was the place I always wanted to return to, and the American frontier was the best symbol of the country in my mind.”

Oelze’s career as an artist got a big boost when officials from the Calgary Stampede called to invite Oelze to enter a competition for the painting that would be used for the Stampede’s 2010 poster. His painting of the legendary rodeo bull, Outlaw, won the poster competition and the original painting sold for $135,000, setting a new art auction record at the Calgary Stampede.

“Most of my paintings are historic in theme with the aim of preserving moments from Native American life and exploring various aspects of the Old West. I always say that I paint for the 10 percent of people who really know the history of [Indian] tribes and will appreciate my efforts to make sure my work is as accurate as possible.” Oelze’s method of working typically involves scheduling two major photography shoots a year. “I begin with a list of ideas I want to paint and then I hire the models, primarily Blackfeet, and have them reenact these poses. After these photo shoots, I come back, sketch out my ideas and then start painting on canvas.” He describes his studio as, “covered with Native American accouterments,” that he says inspire him every time he walks into his studio.

WHEN EVERY SHOT COUNTED Oil on Canvas 32 1⁄8 x 34 1⁄8 inches