#04 - Duke Beardsley

For the fourth episode of the Ranchlands Podcast, Duke III and I headed up to Denver to meet with our friend and renowned artist Duke Beardsley.

Beardsley is a sixth-generation Coloradan who grew up splitting time between Denver and his family’s eastern Colorado cattle ranch. For as long as he can remember, Duke has been drawing and painting scenes from the American West– ranchers, horsemen, anglers, plants, landscapes, and more. And over his career as an artist, he’s developed a one-of-kind approach to art that captures the west in a contemporary style that is completely his own.

Beardsley has been a fixture in our community for many years. His unique brand of western art appears all over our ranches– from the walls of the Chico Basin headquarters to the huge door of our Quonset. And perhaps more importantly, he’s been a trusted friend, collaborator, and mentor to many different generations of the Ranchlands team– especially Duke and Duke.

Those who call Beardsley a friend know that he brings optimism, humor, and creative energy to every interaction and relationship. So we’re thrilled to bring you this conversation that highlights his connection with our community, his deep friendship with the Phillips family, and his fascinating approach to art and creativity.

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• Duke Beardsley: https://www.dukebeardsleystudio.com/
• Episode Notes & Links: https://ranchlands.com/blogs/podcast/4-duke-beardsley

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 2:50 - How Beardsley first heard of Ranchlands
• 6:14 - Duke’s first thoughts upon meeting Beardsley
• 7:47 - Beardsley’s background in ranching
• 9:00 - Beardsley’s first impression of the Chico Basin Ranch
• 13:00 - Shared love of hard work and rough conditions
• 17:45 - What Duke has learned over the years from Beardsley
• 21:06 - What Beardsley has learned from Duke
• 23:09 - Why Ranchlands attracts interesting people
• 25:57 - Learning from the great Cam Schryver
• 28:19 - How Beardsley “found his voice” as an artist
• 35:20 - Background information on Duke’s Lineup Riders
• 39:50 - Duke’s thoughts on Beardsley’s creative process
• 41:57 - How and why Beardsley takes the road less traveled
• 44:02 - The value of stepping outside of your own little world
• 48:18 - Advice to a 25-year-old with dreams of living a creative life
• 54:00 - Why should a life-long city dweller care about the land, land stewardship, and conservation?
• 56:15 - What is a common misconception about ranching or agriculture that you’d like to correct?
• 57:03 - Can you name a few resources that have played a critical role in your understanding of land and land stewardship?
• 58:40 - When it comes to conservation and land stewardship, what is giving you hope?

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Questions or comments? Email us at podcast@ranchlands.com!