Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale
“May The Four Winds Blow You Home Again”
The Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale
September 14–19, 2026 | Cody, Wyoming
Dear Friends,
I'm delighted to share that May the Four Winds Blow You Home Again will be offered at auction this September as part of the 45th Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale. I was honored to be invited to participate for the first time after the selection committee reviewed my body of work.
I was even more surprised to learn that the organizers had chosen the painting as the promotional image for their full-page advertisement in the current issue of Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. Seeing the finished ad was both exciting and deeply meaningful.
As I considered what to create for the show, I found myself returning to the work of Kathryn Woodman Leighton. Inspired by one of her wildflower paintings, I began exploring the subject more deeply, ultimately creating May the Four Winds Blow You Home Again as an homage to her work.
The moment also feels wonderfully full circle. In the September/October 2023 issue, Fine Art Connoisseur featured my work in its Five to Watch article. To see my work in its pages again—this time in connection with the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale—holds special significance for me.
I'm sincerely grateful to be included in this nationally recognized celebration of Western art, facilitated by the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce and hosted at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.
The Story Behind the Painting
For many years, trees were my favorite subject to paint. Today, I find myself increasingly drawn to wildflowers. Unlike trees, which are rooted and enduring, wildflowers remind me to slow down and appreciate the beauty of the present moment before it slips away with the changing seasons.
This painting also honors the legacy of Kathryn Woodman Leighton, whose beloved wildflower paintings beautifully captured the landscapes of Montana and Wyoming.
The title, May the Four Winds Blow You Home Again, was inspired by the remarkable journey of wildflower seeds. Carried by the wind across mountain meadows, open prairies, and quiet valleys, they are resilient travelers—free to wander, yet always finding their way home.
Built across ten transparent layers of paint, I wanted the flowers to feel much like they do in nature—alive with light, movement, and the gentle rhythm of the wind.
Watch the Painting Come to Life
One of the questions I'm asked most often is how these layered acrylic paintings are created.
If you're curious to see how ten painted surfaces come together to become a single work of art, I'd love to invite you into my studio through a short video on my YouTube channel.
▶️ Watch the Painting Come to Life
If you're on Instagram, I've also shared a series of seven short videos (each under 45 seconds) documenting the entire process—from the first layer of paint to the finished, framed artwork.
Learn About the Event
If you'd like to explore this year's Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, you can learn more here:
▶ Explore the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale
Thank you for following my work, encouraging my curiosity, and supporting me over the years.
Moments like these are never the result of a single painting. They grow out of years of experimentation, persistence, and a willingness to keep exploring new ideas.
Your continued interest in my work means more to me than you know.
With gratitude,
Janell James
Schedule your private gallery visit today.
“Creativity is contagious, pass it on.”
– Albert Einstein
“The world will try to convince you that art is a luxury. It is not. Art is medicine. It heals in ways that cannot be measured or explained. It reaches places therapy cannot touch.”
-Unknown