Afton was born in Williston, North Dakota and grew up just across the state line in Sidney, Montana. Her father also practiced art, and from a young age, both of her parents, and grandparents, greatly nurtured her art interests with projects and classes. Attending western art shows with her family, working in her mother’s gift and décor store, and also in a western art and framing gallery starting as a teen, were invaluable experiences.
With a love for the Badlands, Afton studied art on a full scholarship to Dawson Community College, nestled along Makoshika State Park in Eastern Montana. In 2006, she opened her studio, Bold West Art, offering fine art and custom framing. A favorite award was received in 2013 when George Strait chose her artwork for a promotional poster design. In the Summer of 2022, she completed a massive outdoor wildflower and barbed wire mural in downtown Sidney.
Afton cherishes spending time in the outdoors with her husband and daughter, deeply appreciating nature and the lifestyle it offers. It is where she finds inspiration overflowing with rich and earthy colors and wild and serene subjects.
Statement
As a lifelong Montanan from along the Badlands and Yellowstone River, I am especially drawn to rugged and wild subjects. The aim of my artwork is to stir up joy and gratitude for nature and the West, through originality that balances bold and stylish with rustic and grounded.
With my interior design experience, I have ushered in a textured "mud" base to integrate an atmospheric and earthy dimension. I use a mix of media to create translucent layers and painterly strokes with lush splashes of color. "Intuitive Realism" is how I describe my expressive and detailed style.
As an avid outdoorsman, I spend substantial time on the water and in the field with my family. Much of my inspiration flows from this as I have a profound respect for nature and that lifestyle. My art is not just a visual experience, but an invitation to ponder, and connect.