Introducing our 2026 Paradise Ramble Featured Artist: Joe Wayne
Our featured artist for this year’s Paradise Ramble is Livingston-based painter and sculptor Joe Wayne. Reflecting a fresh interpretation of impressionistic landscape and portraits, Joe’s oil paintings and bronze sculptures have been featured in galleries across Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, and South Carolina.
As our Featured Artist, we have selected Joe Wayne’s oil painting, “Broken Light on Water” as the cover art for the 2026 Paradise Ramble poster that will adorn walls and windows throughout Park County this summer.
“Broken Light on Water” by Joe Wayne. Oil painting on canvas.
We recently had a chance to chat with Joe about his featured painting:
“This is a prime example of what I think of when I think of Montana’s beauty, and something that really reads as Montana. This could be anywhere in the Rockies—Paradise Valley, over by Missoula, Flathead—it’s definitely Montana. You can see how it’s easy to be moved by the landscape here. There are so many things to paint, it never ends. And if you can’t find something, it just means you’re in a bad mood.
When you think of Montana you definitely think of water. We’ve got a lot of lakes, a lot of rivers and streams. […] This particular piece was painted on the Boulder River, and it’s quite a rough road getting up to this point. My wife and I just bought a camper and came up to this spot. It rained all the first day we were there. The next day it was just this glorious day, and we went outside and painted four paintings a piece.”
Joe Wayne, Western painter, sculptor, and horseman. Photo provided by Joe Wayne.
Who is Joe Wayne?
Born in Whitefish, Montana, Joe now lives and works in Livingston, where he finds inspiration in the mountains, forests, and waterways of Park County. Joe’s love for art began as a child. He started painting when he was only eight years old, and he says he always knew he wanted to be an artist.
“I started painting very young,” Joe said while showing us around his studio. “I was always interested. I was one of those annoying kids—I had this book I had made thick with all my drawings and I tried to show them to somebody, anybody that would look at them.”
Thankfully, Joe’s parents saw that early drive and passion and cultivated his artistic talent.
“My folks thought, ‘Well, this is something that he’s kind of interested in, let’s put him in classes.’ So as soon as I was done with classes at school, I would ride my bike across the most dangerous intersection in Missoula and I would go to art classes. Then I would come home and do my homework and play or paint or whatever. I did that from third grade on. I did all kinds of things. I did pottery. I think I even did candle making once.”
While painting was his first love, as he grew older he became more enamored with sculpture. Although, it was not an easy medium to break into as a young artist.
“There’s not a lot of people that teach sculpture. So, by working in clay and doing pottery—there’s something about having your hands in that clay that’s just very creative. I did a lot of woodcarvings when I was young, and I think that was the beginning of my free-standing sculptures.”
All of that formal art training paid off, because Joe was offered a full ride art scholarship to Western College in Dillion, Montana. He also studied at the Colorado Institute of Art in Denver as well as at Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming.
Joe Wayne painting in his studio. Photo by Tricia Erikson.
His break came when he decided to take a job at a foundry in Bozeman, where he began to put his skills to work and learn from experienced artisans. That’s when people started to notice his art.
“…I thought, ‘I’m just going to move to Bozeman, start working in a foundry, and I am going to learn from people that do it for a living rather than people that talk about it for a living. That was a huge leap forward for me. So I learned how to do it from people who do it for a living and I started getting into galleries and getting articles and that was the beginning.”
These days, which medium does Joe like more, painting or sculpture? He says this on his website:
“When asked whether I prefer painting or sculpting, it’s really difficult to choose. They both compete with one another for my time and attention. Painting feeds the instant gratification; while sculpting is a much slower process where I’m able to take my hands and create and mold a 3-dimensional piece. By doing both, I feel I have a deeper, well rounded sense and understanding of the creative process.
The excitement and impressionistic expression I enjoy in the field carries over to the studio. The inspiration of nature and the accomplishments of the masters and some contemporaries is what fuels my desire and passion to paint and sculpt.”
Keep an eye out for Joe Wayne’s “Broken Light on Water,” the cover art for our 2026 Paradise Ramble poster, which will be posted all across Park County this summer.
Paradise Ramble
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Sage Lodge, Pray, MT
“For the Love of Park County,” the Paradise Ramble gathers neighbors together to celebrate community and philanthropy.
Every July, the Park County Community Foundation organizes the Give A Hoot campaign to inspire generosity towards local nonprofits and ensure the livability and lovability of our community. Two-thirds of each ticket is a tax-deductible donation. We want you to feel good while having a great time! There is no additional fundraising at the Paradise Ramble. Join us for a relaxed, fun evening!
Learn more and purchase your tickets here.