Growing up on a ranch in north central Montana sparked my interest in animals. I was the kid who was always bringing home all sorts of critters - from new kittens I'd find in the barn, to dogs, to horses and wanting to bring the baby calves inside the house. I always had a pack of dogs following me around as I set off on my various adventures.

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My animal companions are often reflected in my art. In school, I was constantly sketching and drawing instead of taking notes. Dogs were my primary focus early on, and I eventually added horses into the mix.

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I graduated college with a degree in graphic design. Throughout my college years, I became more involved with the ranch, and even established a little herd of my own cows. I loved the inspiration the ranch life brought me, but I disliked how little time I had for art and creating. My art seemed to always be on the "back burner." At the end of 2018, I made the decision to sell all of my cattle, and decided to make the leap and focus on art as a career.  That plan again changed slightly as my husband and became first time parents in 2019 and our 2nd son in 2021, but I still find time to get some time in the studio as much as I can.

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I specialize in realism wildlife acrylic paintings, ink stipplings (pointillism) and pencil sketches. My love of wildlife and animals has been a constant theme of my work as I generally focus on wildlife and ranch life.   

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My favorite part about being an artist is that you can go anywhere you want with just the stroke of a paint brush, pen or pencil. The possibilities are endless, and the sky is literally the limit. Being able to capture personalities of pets, special moments and memories, and telling an amazing story through a wordless picture has inspired me to continue challenging myself to become a better artist. One thing I have always found to be true...

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Live Life, Enjoy the Ride

Karlie (Kafka) Butler

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