David Kammerzell is an artist who reimagines the American West through a cinematic lens. For him, the West is not confined to history or geography; it is a state of mind, a myth that lives in stories, films, and collective memory. His paintings capture that vision, blending nostalgia with Hollywood-style mythmaking to create works that are as vibrant as they are reflective.
Nostalgia as an Artistic Lens
The origin of the word nostalgia in Greek means “the pain from an old wound.” For Kammerzell, this sense of longing and memory becomes an artistic force. His work does not attempt to reproduce the West as it was but instead recreates how it is remembered, imagined, and reinterpreted through culture.
By wrapping the Old West in a nostalgic wrapper, he invites viewers into a world that feels both familiar and dreamlike. His canvases often resemble the heightened colors and staged drama of classic Hollywood Westerns, reminding us of how myth often overshadows fact.
Early Career: From Illustration to Television
Kammerzell’s creative career began in the mid-1980s when he established himself as an illustrator. His client list quickly expanded to include Coors, Playboy, and Keystone Ski Resort. These early years allowed him to sharpen his technical skills and storytelling ability within a commercial framework.
By the early 1990s, he had transitioned into television, producing graphic animations for CBS Channel 4 in Denver. Just three years later, he joined Starz, a premium cable network with more than 17 channels. There, he thrived, earning industry recognition, including multiple regional Emmy awards. His dedication and talent led him to rise through the ranks, eventually serving as Department Head.
Despite his success in television, Kammerzell never abandoned painting. Whenever time allowed, he returned to the canvas, keeping alive the passion that would eventually define his career.
The Leap to Painting Full-Time
In 2013, after nearly two decades at Starz, Kammerzell made the pivotal decision to leave behind his television career and pursue painting full-time. This moment marked the true beginning of his artistic identity. Freed from the demands of corporate leadership, he was able to fully explore his fascination with Western mythology, nostalgia, and cinematic imagery.
The Artistic Vision: Hollywood Meets the Old West
Kammerzell’s art is not about accuracy or documentation; it is about myth. His paintings bring together the drama of old film posters, the rich color palettes of Technicolor cinema, and the archetypes of the Western genre.
The cowboys, landscapes, and characters he paints are not literal reconstructions of history but rather cultural symbols. They speak to how the West has been remembered, celebrated, and reshaped across generations. By Hollywood-izing the West, Kammerzell acknowledges both its allure and its artifice, creating works that celebrate the legend rather than the ledger of history.
Spotlight on a Painting: Working Title Tom
One painting that embodies Kammerzell’s approach is Working Title Tom, an oil on canvas that references both the film industry and the cowboy myth. The phrase “working title” recalls the behind-the-scenes process of filmmaking, hinting at the idea that the West itself has always been a staged production.
The painting honors silent film star Tom Mix, one of the first actors to embody the cowboy archetype on screen. In Kammerzell’s hands, Mix becomes a symbol of performance, nostalgia, and myth. Just as Mix brought the cowboy to life for audiences of his time, Kammerzell revives that legacy in paint, keeping alive the myth of the West while reframing it for contemporary viewers.
Awards and Recognition
Although his career as a full-time painter began only in the last decade, Kammerzell’s work has already attracted attention and acclaim. His background in illustration and television design gives his paintings a distinctive clarity and cinematic feel, setting them apart within the genre of Western-inspired art. Collectors and audiences alike are drawn to the way his canvases balance bold aesthetics with thoughtful reflections on memory and myth.
Conclusion
David Kammerzell’s journey from illustrator to Emmy-winning television designer, and finally to full-time painter, illustrates a lifelong dedication to visual storytelling. His paintings are not attempts to capture the West as it was but as it lives on in memory and imagination.
Through his work, the Old West becomes a place of bold colors, iconic figures, and cinematic drama. It is a world where nostalgia meets myth, and where history transforms into legend. For Kammerzell, the West is not a fixed place but a timeless state of mind, and his art ensures that this vision continues to inspire.
