Paige Weber shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Paige, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
What makes me lose track of time (or concentrate the most deeply) is painting or drawing. It’s really a meditation in making marks and crafting shapes with paint. And, when on a roll, I can do it for hours, tuning everything else out. If I have been overwhelmed with other business tasks or traveling, I can really feel the urge to return to the easel.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Paige Weber, and I’m an Idaho oil painter who finds inspiration in the rugged beauty of the American West. I specialize in equine, wildlife, and Western lifestyle paintings, drawn to those quiet, powerful moments that often go unnoticed – the subtle communication among horses, the grace of wildlife in their natural habitat, or the seasoned and hardworking hands of a woman administering healing touch to her horse.
There’s something magical about capturing these “silent stories” that unfold in nature and Western culture. My goal is to bring that authentic spirit of nature into collectors’ homes, painting not just what I see, but what I feel in those moments.
Horses and birds have become my muses in recent years – there’s an honesty and vulnerability in them that speaks to me. I’m currently honored to have work in the ‘Women’s Work’ exhibition presented by Cowgirl Artists of America and the A.R. Mitchell Museum in Trinidad, Colorado (running through September 20th), which celebrates the unique perspective women bring to Western art.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
I’ve been fortunate to have many wonderful mentors throughout my life. Of course, I have to start with my parents, who both demonstrated incredible work ethics. My mom was particularly instrumental in my art journey – she taught me to draw at a young age and showed me what it looked like to be a working artist. I watched her paint in her studio and travel to art shows, which planted early seeds about making art a career.
I also have to credit a boss I had in my early twenties who employed me for several years in the construction industry. He not only showed me I was capable of tackling challenging projects, but taught me invaluable lessons about business and gave me countless opportunities to grow. Those business lessons proved invaluable when I later started my own design business, giving me the foundation I needed to succeed as an entrepreneur. He wasn’t afraid to throw me into the “deep end,” and ultimately, those experiences gave me the confidence to pursue my college education.
Each of these mentors taught me different aspects of work – my parents instilled the ethic, my mom showed me artistic dedication, and my construction boss taught me fearlessness and business acumen.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
The most significant shift I made recently was about four or five years ago when I completely changed the trajectory of my art career. I had been pursuing design and illustration work, putting in long hours but feeling increasingly disillusioned. The joy had gone out of the work, and my husband and I had many long conversations about what was missing.
This was also during the pandemic, when the whole world seemed to be reassessing what really mattered. Finally, my husband looked at me and said, “Why don’t you just paint? It’s what you really want to be doing anyway.”
That simple question changed everything. I reignited my passion for painting wildlife and horses and haven’t looked back since. It has brought so many incredible experiences and people into my life. Looking back, I feel like I should have been on this path all along, but I’ve come to appreciate that my art journey has been a winding road of experiences that all contributed to who I am today. I’m grateful every day that I get to spend time at the easel doing what I truly love.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
For me, fads feel inauthentic—loud, forced, and somehow unnatural. In an age where trends roll across social media like waves (remember those bad eighties bangs?), it’s refreshing to encounter someone with a genuine point of view rooted in real meaning.
Foundational shifts are different entirely. They’re quietly confident and resonate long after the initial excitement fades. They’re born from something deeper—personal experience, core values, or profound connection to subject matter.
In my own work, horses and birds aren’t passing interests or trendy subjects. They’ve been consistent muses for years because they connect to specific, meaningful moments in my life and represent my deep love of animals and nature. That connection gives my work authenticity that I don’t think I could achieve by chasing whatever’s popular on Instagram.
I believe true foundational shifts endure, deepen over time, and continue to shape not just what we create, but how we create. They become part of who we are as artists, not just what we’re painting this season.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If immortality were real, what would you build?
If the years were infinite (and I had an equally unlimited budget), I would build an artist retreat in rural Idaho—a creative compound where my friends, family, and students could come to create and reconnect with themselves through art.
This has been a long-term dream of mine: crafting a space where people could step away from the noise of daily life and tap into the magic and healing power of art. I envision cabins with natural light, spaces for plein air painting, a central meeting space, and quiet corners for reflection and inspiration.
I truly believe anyone can be an artist with the right motivation, instruction, and environment. This retreat would be that environment—a place where creativity could flourish without judgment or pressure, where people could discover parts of themselves they never knew existed. With infinite time, I could watch countless people transform through art, which honestly sounds like the most fulfilling way to spend eternity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.paigeweber.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paigeweberart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paigeweberartist
Image Credits
© Paige Weber
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