Raised on his family's cattle ranch in Idaho, Brent Cotton was inspired to become an artist by his grandmother. He works in a variety of media, but oil is his favorite and plein-air tonalist landscapes are his specialty.

At first Cotton painted in an illustrative style similar to the work he saw in sporting magazines and he carved song birds and gamefish out of wood. His work was good enough to catch the attention of Wally Grewe, an art representative. Grewe introduced Cotton to professional painters including Guy Coheleach and Christine Verner. It was Verner who invited Brent Cotton to study with her at her studio. Cotton later attended workshops by Jim Wilcox, John Moyers and Howard Terpning.

Cotton became good friends with ...