Artist: Merri Ellen Kase
Stockyard Cattle Drive
Fort Worth has iconic character, blending culture with traditional cowboy ways. My goal was to convey elements of its status as the city “Where the West Begins.” The subtle image of longhorns in the background gives a nod to the city’s heritage and the state flag in the background signifies the “Texas Pride” that every Texan feels.
Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos)
The Northside has an abundance of Hispanic culture and residences. To pay respect to that heritage, I wanted to depict a colorful and meaningful image that honors, remembers and celebrates the life of all those who have come before us; as well as giving hope to our own mortality.
Prickly Pear Cactus
The rich colors and beauty of this cactus is found all over Fort Worth and, since 1995, it is the state plant of Texas. It is commonly used in Mexican folk medicine and by Native Americans because of its well-rounded list of positive health benefits. With the beauty of this cactus and the subtle image of horses grazing in the background, the image helps depict the western cowboy heritage.
Merri Ellen Kase is a native Texan whose vibrant realism style depicts close-up subject matter while emphasizing color and texture. Whether her subjects are flowers set against a backdrop of western icons, whimsical arrangements of objects such as Americana toys, or portraits of longhorn steer, her skilled use of realism compels the viewer to take a close look. In her paintings, Kase creates worlds that are fun, visually engaging, and honor the history and traditions of the American West.
Kase earned a B.F.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and has won many design and illustration awards. In 2009 and 2011, respectively, “Gumby and Friends” and “Dr. Duck” were selected as finalists in the prestigious Hunting Art Prize competition. “I enjoy creating paintings that make people smile. I love pops of color, detailed visuals and using humor to evoke good feelings for those who see my work,” Kase said.
Her commissioned work is held in private collections nationwide and her paintings are regularly included in solo, group and invitational shows. Kase’s paintings have been featured in “ON Magazine,” “The Dallas Morning News,” and “The Southern Maryland” newspaper. Her work has been exhibited in galleries in Santa Fe and Dallas.