Teal Blake
Teal
Benbrook, Texas
Teal Blake
Teal Blake (b. 1978) is a celebrated Western artist based in Fort Worth, Texas. Raised on the rugged eastern slopes of Montana’s Rocky Mountains, he was immersed in ranching culture and Western art from childhood. His father’s studio walls were adorned with paintings by C. M. Russell, and stories inspired by Will James fueled his lifelong connection to the cowboy world.
Blake began painting professionally in 2005, choosing watercolor as his primary medium to authentically capture the raw, unvarnished essence of the traditional West. His artworks feature cowboys with unshorn beards, horses with tousled manes, and the genuine grit of ranch life. Often painting from life, he joins ranch crews for early-morning cattle gathers or rainy, card-playing campouts, creating art directly from experience rather than staged setups.
In 2014, Blake was invited to join the prestigious Cowboy Artists of America and has since received numerous accolades, including the Joe Beeler Cowboy Artists Foundation Award and first place in watercolor at the Phippen Museum. He has also earned multiple CAA water-soluble medals (Silver in 2015, Gold in 2016, 2018, and 2024) and the CAA Mixed Media Gold Medal in 2024. Additionally, he was named Artist of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists in 2017. His work has been widely featured in publications such as Western Horseman, Southwest Art, Western Art & Architecture, Western Art Collector, Ranch & Reata, and The Cowboy Way.
Initially, Blake explored rodeo at a professional level, competing in bull riding, heeling, and roping. However, he eventually returned to his artistic roots after winning Best Watercolor and Best in Show at the 2008 Phippen Museum exhibition. After moving to Texas in 2005, he also embraced oil painting, inspired by the vibrant palettes seen in Cowboy Artists exhibitions.
Teal is represented by several galleries, including Maxwell Alexander (Los Angeles), Medicine Man (Tucson), Legacy (Scottsdale and Jackson Hole), and Claggett/Rey (Colorado). When he is not painting, he lives with his son, Luca, in the Fort Worth area, often working alongside ranch crews and embracing the traditions he vividly portrays.
Artwork
Teal’s love for the tradition of ranching and cowboying is unparalleled: He is often up before dawn gathering the cavvy, camping out on the wagon for weeks on end and playing cards with the crew during a rainstorm. His portrayal of ranch life and the handful of people keeping it alive is an authentic one. With no models, no costumes, simply being fortunate enough to work and ride alongside his friends and muses, he captures his material and inspiration firsthand.
In 2014 Teal’s labor, talent and accomplishments earned him an invitation into the renowned Cowboy Artists of America. He has also been honored with several awards, including the Joe Beeler CAA Foundation Award and 1st Place Watercolor at the Phippen Museum, and has been featured in such magazines as Western Horseman, Western Art & Architecture, Southwest Art, Ranch & Reata and The Cowboy Way.
In 2011 Teal created “We Pointed Them North,” an art show held in Fort Worth, celebrating the memoirs of Teddy “Blue” Abbott. Teal’s work appeared on the cover of the Big Bend Saddlery catalog in 2012 and 2013. His painting “Morning Gather” was used for the cover of Some Horses by Thomas McGuane.Teal and his son, Luca, currently reside in Fort Worth, Texas.
