Some artists paint the West. And some artists live it—quietly, steadily, with a reverence that shows up in every brushstroke. Durango artist Jim Rey is one of those rare creators whose work feels less like an image and more like a memory you’ve always carried.
I first met Jim in 2018 when I was working at Sorrel Sky Gallery. Every December, without fail, he brings in his annual western-themed Christmas painting. These pieces have a magic to them—snow swirling around cowboys and horses, lantern light glowing softly against winter skies. Collectors look forward to that painting each year as a holiday tradition, and it usually finds a new home almost immediately.
But the greatest part of those moments isn’t just the artwork—it’s Jim himself.
Jim was born in 1939 in San Bernardino and grew up around the Palo Alto, California area. He spent his childhood summers on his grandfather’s ranch in northeastern California, where he first developed a deep connection to horses, wide-open land, and the rhythms of ranch life. Those early experiences stay with him and continue to shape the way he sees—and paints—the world.
Today, Jim and his wife, Sharon, live outside Durango, where they raise their five children and where he continues to paint the landscapes, horses, and people that inspire him. Visiting his studio feels like stepping into the living heartbeat of the West. Sunlight pours across canvases. Horses stand mid-motion. Cowboys lean into saddles. The land itself seems to drift in through the windows.
Standing there, listening to Jim talk about his process and the places and people who have influenced him, I became an even bigger fan—not just of his paintings, but of him as a person. Jim paints with honesty, affection, and a deep respect for the world he knows so well.
His work extends well beyond Colorado. His paintings are in museum exhibitions and private collections across the country and around the world. His imagery appears on the covers of Louis L’Amour’s books, and his art is also featured on editions of the iconic western TV series Bonanza—a perfect match for his authentic depictions of the West.
And yet, his art remains deeply rooted here in Durango. You can still find his work at Sorrel Sky Gallery, where that annual Christmas painting tradition continues to delight collectors and ignite the holiday spirit.
What I love most about Jim’s art is its sincerity. There’s no showmanship or pretense—just an honest reflection of Western life. Horses depicted with tenderness. Cowboys shown as real working folks. Landscapes conveying the quiet truth of ranch country.
Jim Rey’s work encourages you to slow down, breathe, and connect with something genuine.
And if you’re fortunate enough to meet the man behind the canvas—like I was in that warm Durango studio—you immediately understand why his paintings resonate so deeply. The West isn’t just his subject.
It’s his story. His memory. His heart.
