Lorenzo Chavez

Mr. Chavez was born in New Mexico in 1959 and has been painting professionally since he was 12. His meticulous renderings and fluent technique have earned him numerous awards and many devoted collectors trhoughout the United States. He is considered by many to be the West's premier pastel painter. He has been the recipient of awards and honors from such notable groups as the Pastel Sociey of America, the C.M. Russell Art Auction, and the Coeur d'Alene Art Auction. In 2004, his paintings were awarded the prestigious Silver Medal of Excellence from Pastel Journal magazine.

The bulk of Mr. Chavez's recent work is devoted to plein air landscapes. He typically chooses to paint that corner of the world which we often overlook; the play of light and shadow across a snow-covered meadow, a stand of trees along a fenceline, and the lazy bend in a mountain stream are common themes. The artist's passion for his craft and his visceral connection with whatever landscape he finds himself in weave a powerful undercurrent of emotion and accessibility, a message that is never lost on his audience.

Mr. Chavez is a charter member of Chaparral's Plein Air Exhange group and has traveled to Italy and the British Isles for this exclusive plein air invitational event. His work has been featured in Southwest Art, Pastel Journal, Artist Magazine and in three recently published fine art volumes.

  Reflection        pastel, 14 x 11       $1,200    

Montana Meadows       pastel, 12 x 18       $1,400

Shadows and Showers       pastel, 14 x 18       $1,600

      A Quiet Canal       pastel, 16.5 x 16        $1,600  

Sierra Morning        pastel, 18 x 24       $2,500