Behind every painting in Tough Luck is a story. Some begin in a Colorado round pen, others in a quiet moment after a day's work, or alongside a group of riders moving horses across open land. For Jeremy Booth, these experiences are more than references. They are the foundation for a body of work shaped by observation, memory, and a deep respect for the people who continue to live and work in the American West.
In this four-part photo essay, Booth reflects on a selection of key works from the exhibition, sharing the moments, individuals, and details that inspired each painting. Together, these stories offer a closer look at the real-world encounters behind Tough Luck and the personal connections that continue to inform his evolving vision of the contemporary cowboy.
Tough Luck (2026)
48 x 60, Acrylic on Canvas
Tough Luck is the painting that gave this show its name. The reference was captured in a round pen in Craig, Colorado, and the cowboy in the saddle is Zane, manager at Sombrero Ranches. He's holding a slicker in his hand, a raincoat, something every working cowboy keeps close.
The bold color and dynamic energy in the background weren't in the original photo. They were added intentionally to amplify the intensity of the moment. The burning oranges and deep shadows push the scene beyond documentation and into something more charged.
That resilience is at the heart of this body of work and everything the cowboy represents to me.
Unbroken (2026)
24 x 30, Acrylic on Canvas
Unbroken is a portrait of Zane, the same cowboy from Sombrero Ranches featured in Tough Luck. Where that painting captures a moment of pure intensity, this one is quieter. His head is down, hat pulled low, lost in his own world.
The Southwest landscape behind him wasn't from the original reference. It was added to place him in a setting that felt right for the figure. The desert terrain, mesa, and cactus against that bold teal sky give the portrait a sense of scale and solitude that the original didn't have.
Zane became a recurring subject in this body of work for a reason. There's something in the way he carries himself that says everything about what this work is trying to capture.
Nothing Left (2026)
36 x 36, Acrylic on Canvas
Nothing Left takes a different approach. Rather than the full figure, this one moves in close on the detail. The chaps, the boot, the spur. Everything a working cowboy wears has a purpose, and there's a beauty in that utility that feels worth painting on its own.
The reference was captured in Colorado, a quiet moment of rest with a cowboy's leg propped on a fence rail. That stillness after the work is done is something just as worth capturing as the action.
The deep blues of the sky and landscape push the warmth of the gold forward, making the detail of the garment the clear focal point. It's a painting that shows the details of a hard day's work.
In Good Company (2026)
60 x 48, Acrylic on Canvas
In Good Company is the only painting in the show with multiple figures. Two cowboys and a cowgirl are moving horses across the land in Colorado, a moment of shared work.
The horses in this painting carry their own history. Known as the Marlboro herd, they were used in Marlboro commercials for roughly eleven years. There's a legacy to these animals that adds another layer to the scene.
Color is always pushed in my work, but here it went further. The bold reds, golds, and blues were amplified to match the feeling of the moment.
While each painting begins with a specific memory, person, or place, together they speak to the resilience, character, and enduring spirit that continue to define the American West. These stories reveal the lived experiences behind the work and offer a deeper understanding of the moments Booth chooses to preserve on canvas.
Tough Luck is on view through July 10 at Square One Gallery. To learn more about the exhibition or inquire about available works, follow the link below.
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