High Lonesome Cover Sneak Preview
admin October 18th, 2011
Herb Marlow’s newest release, High Lonesome, will feature cover art by Lorna Dillon.
Each part of the West has its own distinctive characteristics that encompass geography, history and culture. Lorna Dillon sets her painting in rural California, home of many Spanish land grants and rolling foothills. The influence of the vaqueros and their elegant horsemanship is so classical that their legacy comes to life under her brush.
As a child, Dillon was intrigued by paintings in her family home. Her fascination was profound and the seed was planted. It lay dormant until the late 70’s when Lorna took up painting to see if her interest could be developed. She followed a long and laborious path filled with much trial and error, studying the styles, composition and techniques of other artists whose work she admired.
Gradually her style developed and her interests aimed her towards the western art genre. Livestock trade shows did double duty as both a source of subjects and sales. There she learned more about the animals and their various characteristics, sold a lot of art, gained discipline and brush mileage, and most importantly, Lorna says, “I met a lot of wonderful people in the livestock industry.” The ranching life felt very natural to her and she found the ambiance warm and genuine. Success and her reputation in the field grew.
After many years of this self-supporting and self-taught effort, workshops became a springboard for her to really begin to mature as an artist. Many well-known regional shows in the Western states led to her inclusion in the prestigious Prix de West Invitational at the National Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City for many years. That event has been “the pinnacle of my career” according to Dillon. She says, “I thank God for the guidance and the gifts that made it all possible.”
The cover image is a painting entitled SPRING RUNOFF. It is just one fine example of Lorna Dillon’s art. You can see more of her highly creative images at www.lornadillon.com.
