Valley verve: Inspired by great outdoors

Jeff Hudspeth is a folk artist and a cowboy.

“I grew up in the country and have always enjoyed the outdoors and everything in nature,” he said. “The most beautiful painting was made by God when he created the great outdoors. I’m just trying to capture some of that beauty.”

Hudspeth, 24, has always been artistic. He still has drawings of deer and scenery that he did when he was 7, and he has done carvings on antlers.

Six months ago, Hudspeth quit smoking, and in January, he completed his first oil painting. “It was of a mountain. I threw it out.”

He has continued to paint because it relaxes him. “For me, painting is a way to relax and just get away from the everyday stress from life and work,” he said.

Not one to join art groups or take classes, Hudspeth is a solitary artist who will practice and work to overcome his flaws. Time will fine-tune his skills. He considers painting akin to taking a walk by himself through unspoiled territory.

Hudspeth works at a sawmill in Colville. He has been married just over a month and has two children. He has not gone to college and high school didn’t appeal to him much.

He began showing at Art, Music and More in the Valley Mall recently and has already sold one seascape. Self-taught, Hudspeth paints what he loves – waterfalls, lakes, mountains and streams running through lush green hills, all things that one day may be tainted by human expansion.

Hudspeth is a simple man, inspired by the likes of Thomas Kinkade and Bob Ross. His work is simple and calming to look at. He has no great aspirations but to inspire others with his work.

“I only hope that as people look at my paintings they’ll be as inspired as I am,” he said. “If I was to ever give another young artist some advice, I’d give them this quote from Winston Churchill, ‘Never, never give up.’ ”