Donna Howell-Sickles

Original artwork for sale by artist Donna Howell-Sickles. Donna Howell-Sickles is a cowgirl artist known for combining imagery of rodeo cowgirls with classical mythology to depict the modern cowgirl. Howell-Sickles uses symbolism in her paintings of cowgirls to portray confident, happy women and the archaic heroine. Howell-Sickles’ cowgirl art is distinctly American art. Howell-Sickles’s paintings of women are confident, strong, and full of life. A Texas artist, Howell-Sickles now resides in Saint Jo, Texas. She combines her love of classical Greek and Roman mythology with cowgirl imagery. By alluding to ancient myths and how women have been portrayed through legend, Howell-Sickles creates an archaic heroine, one that is relatable for modern women as well. She first started painting cowgirls in 1972, after seeing an old 1930s postcard bearing the image of a cowgirl. Fascinated by the woman on the postcard, she began to learn more about the rodeo star cowgirls of the early 1900s. While the subtle meanings of the colors, animals, and symbols used in her paintings are not always apparent, the energy and joyous celebration of life jump off the canvas. Triangles, six-petaled flowers, bears, and apples are all feminine symbols that add to Howell-Sickles’ imagery. Howell-Sickles relates to the inner cowgirl spirit: self-reliant and hard-working. In 2007 she was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame.