Deanna Skillman is a born and raised Montanan. She grew up ranching with her family in the wide open spaces of Montana and Wyoming. Having only attended one semester of college, Deanna is primarily self taught, pursuing the American West in days gone by. Inspiration is drawn from family photographs of ranch life. After that semester, Deanna decided that art could be learned and taught outside of a classroom. Over the next several years Deanna raised three boys with her husband Robert while still pursuing her love of painting and drawing. In 2017 she started her own sip and paint business which she named Deanna's Traveling Canvas. The business got her and her family very involved with the Greybull, Wyoming community where Deanna and her husband opened Bob's Diner and Bakery in the fall of 2020. After opening their restaurant, Deanna was finally able to have her own gallery to display her work alongside works from other artists within the community. Within the community she has been working with other artists to get the art scene more integrated into Greybull to help grow its economy and promote local artists. In the spring of 2022, along with fellow artists, she helped create the Big Horn County Arts Guild. In February 2025, Deanna opened her first private gallery with her family where all her artwork is on private display. She works in the following mediums: Acrylic, graphite, oil and pen and ink. Her themes include working ranch cowboys, Native Americans, dreamcatchers and abstract war horse subjects. She paints through abstract expressionism from real life subjects. 

 

 ARTIST STATEMENT:

Deanna paints the west the way she sees it through abstract expressionism and vibrant colors. She feels there are no rules to art, but only to paint what makes her happy.

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AWARDS:

Best in Show Inaugural Day's of '49 Art Show "Lone Night Watch"

First Place 2-D Inaugural Day's of '49 Art Show "Lone Night Watch"

WAA 2019 Convention: First Place Miniature "Apsalooke at Crow Fair"

WAA 2019 Convention: Honorable Mention Acrylics "Wyoming 307"

WAA 2019 Convention: Honorable Mention Mixed Media "Lone Raven"

WAA 2019 Convention: Honorable Mention Governor's Show "Tepee Sunset"

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SHOWS/GALLERY DISPLAYS:

Private gallery: Deanna Skillman Fine Art at Skillman Art Productions

​The Mammoth Quick Draw Art Show November 2024-January 2025

The Mammoth Quick Draw Art Show November 2023-January 2024

Cody Country Art League Spring Community Art Show 2024

The Mammoth Quick Draw 2024

The Mammoth Quick Draw 2023

Big Horn County Arts Guild Inaugural Winter Art Gala 2023

Big Horn County Art Guild Quick Draw/Finish 2022

Cody Country Art League Miniature Show 2021

Personal Gallery at Bob's Diner and Bakery in Greybull, Wyoming 2020-present

Wyoming Artists Association 2019 Convention and Show

Deanna Skillman Introductory Art Show at Lisa Kunkel Photography Gallery 2017

Beauty of the Big Horns Art Show 2017

Johnson County Art Guilds Show in Buffalo, Wyoming 2018

Dancing Buffalo Gallery in Virginia City, Montana 2019-present

Western Art Show at Lisa Kunkel Photography Gallery 2018

 

​​​UPCOMING SHOWS:

Second Annual Day's of '49 Art Show June 14-16, 2025

Fourth Annual Day's of '49 Quick Draw June 14, 2025

Feature artist Washakie Museum and Cultural Center Spring 2026

Feature artist summer 2023 Greybull Public Library Grand Opening May 18-August 18

Inaugural Day's of '49 Quick Draw

2nd Annual Day's of '49 Quick Draw

Inaugural Day's of '49 Art Festival

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Organizations:

Skillman Art Productions Owner/Co-Founder 2025 

Wyoming Artists Association Vice President Fill-in 2019 Convention

Wyoming Artists Association President/Treasurer 2020 Convention(Cancelled)

Big Horn County Arts Guild Developer/Organizer

Big Horn County Arts Guild President 2021-2024 term

Skillman Art Studios Owner/Co-Founder

Deanna's Traveling Canvas Owner/Founder

Judge for Greybull High School's Art in the Dark Show 2018