R.G.
Finney: Premier Wildlife and
Western Artist
After
serving 13+ years in the military and being decorated seven
times as a Green Beret, R.G. Finney traded his combat boots
for cowboy boots and his rifle for
a paintbrush. It was a good trade . . . The well trained soldier
is now a highly disciplined artist, and his artistic expressions
in oil and bronze have led him to be recognized as one of
America's premier wildlife and western artists.
Born
in Canada, Finney now calls Wyoming "home"; however, many
of his paintings reflect a tropical theme, inspired by four
years on the lush island of Kauai. Although most of his current
oils are photo-realistic representations of Western subject
matter, Finney's more "Visionary Art" depicts a combination
of majestic mountains, verdant valleys and cascading waterfalls
with huge cats in the foreground obviously influenced
by the islands of Hawaii.
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"Serene Domain"
Oil on Canvas by R.G. Finney
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"Lands End"
Oil on Canvas by R.G. Finney
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A warrior at heart,
Finney now defends wildlife conservation. The compelling realism
and extraordinary detail of his work express a true appreciation
of nature and a commitment to preserving it. In 2002 Finney's
admiration of wildlife, combined with his unique and prolific
talent, won him a commission from Folsom Graphics in Green
Bay, Wisconsin the exclusive publisher of Finney's
work. This noteworthy commission, entitled "The North American
Twenty-Seven," is a collection of 27 original oils on canvas,
each featuring a different great wild animal of North America.
The final canvas is slated for completion in 2005.
Finney's distinctive work
has been exhibited in galleries and private showings throughout
the country, and he is one of an elite few U.S. artists invited
to display at the Mzuri Art Show. His artwork has appeared
on numerous magazine/book jacket covers, as well as in feature
articles in national publications including: The Saturday
Evening Post, Good Housekeeping, Parade, Artists of the Rockies,
Southwest Art, USA Weekend, and Wildlife Conservation Magazine.
Finney's art has also found a popular market being reproduced
on limited edition collectable plates, stamps and coins.
To the delight guests,
many of Finney's paintings and sculptures are displayed right
where they're created at Spirit West River Lodge. Original
bronzes and oils, as well as Giclees (digital reproductions
printed on 100% cotton canvas), complement the western decor
of the lodge and are often purchased by captivated admirers.
Adjacent to the lodge, R.G.'s studio beckons visitors to a
sneak preview of his latest work-in-progress; and some guests
visit Spirit West expressly for the purpose of meeting the
artist and watching him paint.
Both at war and at
work, R.G. Finney has passionately represented America; therefore,
it's not surprising that his art is now owned by such distinguished
Wyoming residents as Governor Jim Geringer, Congressman Craig
Thomas, Senator Al Simpson, Senator Malcom Wallop, and Former
Secretary of Defense and now Vice President of the United
States Dick Cheney. An original oil painting "Forest Fires
Campaign - 1987" also hangs in the Chief of the U.S. Forest
Service office in Washington D.C. Many of Finney's original
paintings, sculptures, collector plates, limited edition prints
and collector coins are in private and corporate collections
around the world.
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