Daphne Clark "Prairie Princess" in Gallery II

Artwork by Daphne Clark from the book “Prairie Princess” by Jessie Veeder.

The James Memorial Art Center is honored to host Daphne’s art in Gallery II during the month of November.

Daphne was raised in rural North Dakota, near the Montana border, where she spent much of her adolescence at her grandparent’s ranch; chasing cows, building fences, milking cows and helping check for spring calves. She has always loved to be outside enjoying the nature that North Dakota and Montana have to offer. Over the years, Daphne has watched the ranching life and quiet natural areas in North Dakota and Montana disappear, giving way to an oil-based economy.

Daphne writes, “Every day in America, there is a loss of rural areas. Through my paintings, I am trying to capture this lifestyle, and the land before it disappears altogether. I want to provide a window into the world of the people who work here and commemorate the disappearing landscape and animals in these areas.  

 I have lived all my life near the border of North Dakota and Montana, and it is here that I spend time in these rural areas. I can step out my door into the landscape I want to paint either on location or from my reference photos. I use impressionism to convey how I see these places and their beauty.

 I believe there is a story in these rural areas just waiting to be told to the rest of the world and I want to tell that story.”