Dick Mueller, Pencil Artist

Dick Mueller is a pencil artist (graphite and colored pencil) with countless awards to his name who has been drawing as long as he can remember. He was recognized as early as first grade with his excellent renditions of fire trucks and barns. Growing up Iowa during the age of great radio programs, Mueller was captivated by the old western programs like Gunsmoke, Hopalong Cassidy, Roy Rogers and Death Valley Days. His love of the Old West came early and has stayed with him throughout his entire life.

While continually working to expand his skills and natural talent through his school years, Mueller also attended the Minneapolis College of Art & Design (formerly the Minneapolis School of Art) as an industrial design major. From there he was hired as a technical illustrator for the space program at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis. While working as a commercial illustrator, Mueller also painted in his spare time, easily selling his work outside his “regular job.”

It was a client, more than 20 years ago, that suggested he try colored pencil to get the details he so carefully crafted into his paintings. He laughs at the uninformed who think pencil work is not in the same league with painting. Not only does colored pencil give him the ability to create near photographic representations in his work, he says; “Brushes dry out, but pencils don’t! There is much less mess and it’s so much easier to get the fine details I’m after.” These details help Mueller capture the feelings and emotions of his subjects, whether human or animal.

FIND MY WORK

Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour 2024

November 22, 23, 24 AND
November 29, 30 & December, 1, 2024
10am-5pm

Studio #2 on the map
38611 N. Grapevine Road
Cave Creek, AZ 85331

Current Exhibits and Shows

Current Exhibit
Desert Foothills Library
See “On Alert”

February 27, 2025
Phoenix Zoo
See “Waiting For Mom”and “I’m Hungry”

Coyote Crossing Studio

Coyote Crossing Studio

38611 N. Grapevine Road
Cave Creek, Arizona, 85331

Work Samples

Western Life

Growing up Iowa during the age of great radio programs, Mueller was captivated by the old western programs like Gunsmoke, Hopalong Cassidy, Roy Rogers and Death Valley Days. His love of the Old West came early and has stayed with him throughout his entire life.

One More To Go

Title: “One More To Go”
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 29″W x 23″H
Price: $1600

On Alert

Title: “On Alert” (on exhibit at the Desert Foothills Library)

Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 35″W x28″H
Price: $3100

They Can Run, But They Can’t Hide

Title: “They Can Run, But They Can’t Hide”
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 32″W x 25″H
Price: $2700

The Boss Looks Cold

Title: “The Boss Looks Cold”
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 26″H x 22″H
Price: $1550

Squeeze Play

Title: “Squeeze Play”
Medium: Pencil
Dimensions: 30″W x 25″H
Price: $2400

Welcoming Committee

Title: “Welcoming Committee”
Medium: Pencil
Dimensions: 24″W x 18″H
Price: $2000

Quit Yer Bitchen!

Title: “Quit Yer Bitchen!”
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 27″W x 23″H
Price: $1875

Footloose Life

Title: “Footloose Life”
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 23″W x 20″H
Price: $1150

Hooves

What do these animals have in common? – they all have hooves.

elk pencil drawing

Title: “After The Mud Bath”
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 26″W x 22″H
Price: $2375

buffalo pencil drawing

Title: Grass & Water, What else Do I Need?
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 22″W x 18’H
Price: $1075

horse pencil drawing

Title: “Salt River Beauty On The Rocks”
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 32″W x 25″H
Price: $2900

Easy Rider

Title: “Easy Rider’
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 27″W x 24″H
Price: $2100

A Pair of Beauties

Title: “A Pair of Beauties”
Medium: Pencil
Dimensions: 28″H x23″ W
Price: $1850

Rugs on the Hoof

Title: “Rugs on the Hoof”
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 30″W x 25″H
Price:$1850

Shoofly’s Horse

Title: “Shoofly’s Horse”
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 27″W x 24″H
Price: $1950

Rides Like a Cadillac

Title :”Rides Like A Cadillac”
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 23″W x 28″H
Price: $2100

Wildlife

“My studio is located on a hillside overlooking Grapevine Wash in quaint Cave Creek, Arizona. We are visited by abundant wild life: mule deer, the namesake coyotes, javelina, quail, bobcats, jack rabbits and numerous birds, rodents and reptiles.”

owl pencil drawing

Title: ‘I’m Not Scared Mom”
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 25″W x 16″H
Price: $1150

bobcat pencil drawing

Title: “Resting In The Shade
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 25″W x 16″H
Price: $1100

Fourever Ravens

Title: “Fourever Ravens”
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 22″W x 19″H
Price: ?1250

Waiting For Mom

Title: “Waiting For Mom” (In Phoenix Zoo Show 2/27/2025)
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 23″W x21″H
Price: $1750

Visiting Ancestors

Title: “Visiting Ancestors”
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 30″W x22″H
Price: $1800

Lookin’ For A Lizard

Title: “Lookin’ For A Lizard”
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 25″W x 18″H
Price: $1750

Lookin’ For Some Action

Title: “Lookin’ For Some Action”
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 25″W x 20″H
Price: $1800

I’m Hungry

Title: “I’m Hungry” (In Phoenix Zoo Show 2/27/2025))
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 29″W x 23″H
Price: $1500

What’s That I See?

Title: “What’s That I See?”
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 15″W x 22″H
Price: $1450

Landscapes

“In Arizona I never run out of things to draw – archaeological sites, National Monuments, rustic ranches, mountains, etc.”

Canyon Sentinel

Title: “Canyon Sentinel
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 28″W x25″H
Price: $2000

Wooden Cadillac

Title: “Wooden Cadillac”
Medium: Pencil
Dimensions: 30’W x23″ H
Price: $800

Tonto National Monument

Title: “Tonto National Monument”
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 35″W x29″H
Price: $3250

desert landscape

Title: “Welcome To My World”
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 26″ W x 22″H
Price: $1900

Jewel Of The Creek Circa 1998

Title: “Jewel Of The Creek Circa 1998”
Medium: Colored Pencil
Dimensions: 30″H x 24″W
Price: $1200

Portraits From the Past

Find old family photos in Grandma’s attic?

Want to bring your ancestors to life?

Title: Cowboy Jack

portrait of a woman and baby on a horse

Title: Etta and Bill

cattleman sitting in cow chair recliner

Title: The Cattleman

men playing a poker game

Title: Seebodes Saloon

farmer helping little girl feed baby cow

Title: Al and Bill Feeding Doggie

two men in saloon drinking

Title: Al and Lawrence at the Rivers Saloon

Commissions

“I welcome commissions and have done them as large as 8’ x 4’ and as small as 6” x 4”. I also have a specialty called Portraits From The Past bringing old family portraits to life.”

Title: Dale Huston’s Retirement

Title: Grandpa Siemens

Title: Jerry The Barber

Title: Fober- Holick Family

Title: Great Grandpa Novak

Title: Dave

Title: Together Forever

Title: Drawing on Skull

Title: Udall Men – Livin’ the Dream

Title: Carefree Javelinas

Title: Chuck Wagon by Springerville

Title: Stalking

Contact

Coyote Crossing Studio
38611 N. Grapevine Road
Cave Creek, Arizona, 85331

480-595-1106