Grelle, Martin, 1954-

This well known contemporary western artist was born and raised in the small picturesque town of Clifton, Texas, where he still resides. Martin Grelle was deeply stimulated by the sense of his small western town and its people. Grelle began to paint at an early age, and at age eighteen he met noted Cowboy Artists, James Boren and Melvin Warren when they both moved to Clifton, Texas for inspiration.

Since Grelle started studying with James Boren and Melvin Warren, he began mainly depicting western subject matter. In 1995, Grelle was asked to join these two artists in the highly recognized association; The Cowboy Artists of America. Grelle normally paints with a moderate amount of detail, determined to highlight color and texture. Currently he has been doing what he calls "period paintings", using historical western and Native American backdrops and events to create visual narratives. This very successful western artist has won many prestigious awards, such as the winner of the Prix de West Award from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Center. You may find his works in many private collections around the world. This particular painting, "Camp Meat and Mules" was created by Martin Grelle especially for the 2008 Jackson Hole Art Auction, and was sold for $316,250