"Every painting starts with the horse for me–the way the light catches its gesture and movement." It's no wonder, since Jason Rich grew up riding, training and drawing horses on a small farm in southern Idaho. He spent many childhood summers on cattle drives with his uncle and couldn't imagine a better place to be than on the back of a horse.

His interest in art was fostered at a young age as well. His mother says, "He's been drawing horses since he could pick up a pencil." He studied art at Utah State University under Glenn Edwards, a talented artist and instructor who encouraged traditional and representation art in a department that mostly emphasized contemporary and abstract applications. Upon completing his education, Jason dedicated himself to pursuing art full time. "My wife and I lived in a basement. Our first baby slept in a closet. But we knew art was what we wanted to do."

Jason quickly established himself in the art market receiving much recognition for his art including the Arts for the Parks competition Grand Prize in 1997 and the Founders Favorite Award in 1999; Best new Auction Artist Award at the C.M. Russell Auction in 1998, and was the 2002 National Cattleman's Beef Association poster artist. In 2007 he was chosen as the featured cowboy artist at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum for their National Day of the American Cowboy event celebrating the 100th birthday of John Wayne where Jason gave demonstrations, interviews and workshops. At the Autry National Center's 2008 Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale he was the recipient of the first annual Spirit of the West Award. 

Jason currently lives on some small acreage in northern Utah with his wife, Kari, three children and three horses. "I live in the foothills now. I love that I can hop on my horse and be in the mountains in a matter of minutes."

Since Jason's career began, he's wanted to be part of the Cowboy Artists of America and is honored and excited to be a part of this elite group as they enter a new era.