Editorial View
The Gallery's Perspective
Three quietly different moments of a single life sit together in this warm, narrative print. The figures read as stages rather than strangers: the young woman on the left leans forward with an open smile and bright scarf—eager energy—while the middle figure stands with folded arms and a steadier gaze, and the seated elder, fingers curled around a ball, returns the gentlest, self-contained smile. Donna Howell Sickles uses a narrow, vertically split composition and a sunlit golden backdrop to link them visually while letting each posture and expression tell its own story. Soft, sketchy line and washes of ochre, blue and cream give the scene a familiar, gentle warmth; the dark dog at the older woman’s feet adds a note of loyalty and domestic comfort. The overall feeling is one of continuity and acceptance—an image about growth, memory and the quiet strength that comes with time.
The Artwork
About A Family Tradition Limited Edition Print
A FAMILY TRADITION, LIMITED EDITION PRINT
I wanted to show three ages of women, who all might be the same woman at different times in her life. The youngest on the left leans forward—she’s eager to go out into the world. The older woman on the right, while a little more cautious, values who she is and folds her arms as if to safeguard her thoughts and emotions. The oldest woman represents that time of life when we no longer seek too much attention from others; she’s comfortable being herself.
Collector Details
What to Know About This Piece
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About the Collection
Donna Howell-Sickles is a renowned cowgirl artist celebrated for her mixed media paintings that blend contemporary Western imagery with symbolism and references to classical mythology. Her work often portrays confident and empowered female figures, capturing the spirit of the American cowgirl. Raised on a 900-acre farm in Texas, Howell-Sickles draws inspiration from her rural upbringing, infusing her art with authenticity and depth. Her distinctive style and contributions to Western art have earned her a place in the Cowgirl Hall of Fame.
Artist Signature
Signed by the artist
This piece is artist signed and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.
Image Rights
Image copyright © 2026 by Donna Howell Sickles.
Authorized Source
Authenticity & Documentation
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"They have energy, wit, wisdom and self-awareness. They have charm, style,
independence and a love of animals that goes beyond the mythic. They are the
cowgirls of Donna Howell-Sickles.
It all started with a postcard. Howell-Sickles came upon a 40 s-era, hand-
tinted postcard of a woman dressed in wild west gear astride a big sorrel horse
above the inscription, ""Greetings from a real cowgirl from the ol Southwest.""
""This was a wonderful image in that the colors were printed over the black and
white processing,"" Howell-Sickles says. ""And her bright red lips were printed
just slightly off-center. That quality of the real and unreal fascinated me.""
That postcard started the Texas Tech University graduate on a search for her
own American cowgirls, ones who were strong and joyous.
The search led to rodeos and Wild West shows, dating as far back as the 20 s
and reaching up until today. ""I kind of got acquainted by name with all of
these old rodeo women,"" she says. ""Wonderfully, wildly atypical for their
time."" And from their inspiration and her own love of life and art, Howell-
Sickles created a new cowgirl for the 90 s and beyond.
Now her images are eagerly sought by collectors, galleries and museums and
adorn the walls of many a person who admires bold colors, decorative design and
symbolic strength. Howell-Sickles has had more than a dozen one-woman shows and
was named the featured artist at the American Woman Artist show at the National
Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming. Her book Cowgirl Rising was
published in 1997."
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