THE ARTIST
TALIA WHATCOTT
HELLO!
I’m Talia Whatcott. I’m a western fine artist, illustrator, and graphic designer. I create artwork in several mediums, including oil paints, watercolors, graphite, charcoal, and ink, and I paint and draw digitally using a tablet and computer. My art speaks to true westerners, agricultural folks, and collectors alike. My aim is to depict Western life, both past and present, with authenticity, a little romance, and color. Horses and cattle are my subjects of choice for painting, but I’m best-known for my representations of cowgirls in my illustrative work. The western women I draw have been described as “modern pin-up cowgirls”, but with a whole lot more clothes and authenticity!
A LITTLE HISTORY
I grew up immersed in western culture and completely horse-obsessed. From a young age, I preferred spending time with animals rather than people. I closely identified with Fern from the book, Charlotte’s Web, but, instead of a pet pig, I had a beagle. Thanks to FFA, I started raising livestock in my teens, and working my show lamb was at the top of my list of summertime activities.
Painting, drawing, and playing music were my creative and emotional outlets. I devoured books, as long as they were about animals, pioneers, or adventures in the West. I used to spend hours analyzing the illustrations of Will James and Wesley Dennis, trying to figure out exactly what techniques they used. I blame my affinity for vintage/retro illustrations and design on the fact that the majority of my mom’s book collection consisted of books printed before 1980.
My parents took us on annual trips to Wyoming, where I experienced museums bursting with western artifacts and history, and most importantly, art. The artwork of Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell set the stage for my unrelenting passion for western art. My childhood wouldn’t have been complete without a devotion to western music—cowboy songs, fiddle tunes, and American folk songs were the background music to my life, and the soundtrack to every story in my head.
I always dreamed of being an artist, and for the longest time, I never thought it could actually become a reality. But that longing in my gut never went away, and I just kept creating. Now, all the things I grew up loving and the influences from my past are flowing out of my fingertips. Finally, I get to share it with all of you. Thank you for your support!
FUN FACTS
My husband is a hunter, fisherman, and avid outdoorsman, and I’m his favorite hunting buddy. Or at least I like to think so.
We have a three-year-old daughter who is strong-willed, but she’s also the sweetest, most adorable little thing ever. She might also be as animal-crazy as I was.
We love to raise and process our own meat animals. We also eat everything we hunt.
We hunt mostly elk, mule deer, and waterfowl.
The name “Wapiti Sage” comes from the fact that elk are my favorite wild animal and my favorite smell/landscape is sagebrush.
I’ve played the fiddle since I was five and have since picked up the banjo, guitar, mandolin, piano, cello, bass, and viola. I spent several years performing in country bands and singing western music.
I spent a few years as a rodeo queen, and I placed first runner-up at the Miss Rodeo Utah pageant.