THE KING OF PULP

Whether you realize it or not, you’d likely recognize the work of A.R. Mitchell. He was a prolific painter who indelibly influenced the imagery associated with the American West.

Arthur Roy Mitchell (1889-1977) was born and raised near Trinidad, Colorado, growing up on the tail end of the era that would be considered the Wild West. He walked the walk of being a ranch hand and ‘real’ cowboy before he brought it to life in the vibrant, vivid paintings that would grace the covers of more than 160 pulp novels between 1920 and 1940, at times appearing on half a dozen titles on a single newsstand at once. He was revered for capturing the authentic essence of the lifestyle, as he was painting what he knew, even his girlfriends. Unconventionally, A.R. had little interest in selling his paintings, so his collection remained primarily intact and now resides in his namesake museum in his hometown.

Touring the A.R. Mitchell Museum was remarkable in all the ways you’d imagine – awe at the sheer scope of his work and recognizing works we didn’t even realize were his. It’s rare to get to peer (posthumously) at the process of an artist, but A.R. seemingly kept every sketch, doodle, and drawing; in some instances, you can view what the curators call a trifecta, the complete collection of reference photo, concept sketch, and finished work.