CENTRAL CITY – Gary “Whoa” August has been drawing recent crowds with his live painting at the Gilpin County Arts Association. They stay to enjoy more of his works in the upper gallery. 

August has a distinctive style of painting, using both his right and left hand, separately and sometimes simultaneously.

This ambidextrous skill allows him to work on two “canvases,” or, in his case, quite often, two vinyl records.

August said the records allow him to sell his art for less, appealing to kids and adults alike. 

Themes of the American West permeate his style, including many nature scenes, usually involving bodies of water or animal imagery. 

The most significant animal he paints is an eagle in flight, his signature mark.  August explained, “If they're in the left, that's a left-hand painting. If they're in the right, it's a right-hand. If they're in both, I used both hands on this painting.”

He described his left hand as lighter, so he employs it to paint soft things like clouds and water. His right hand is firmer and tends to outline subjects in the foreground. 

Every record painting comes with its original album cover. August has been sourcing old records from the nearby thrift store, Ermel’s Emporium.

August is somewhat new to the Gilpin Arts scene, but not to Colorado, having lived in Estes Park for several years. 

He said his two-handed work would catch people’s attention as he painted along the Big Thompson River “en plein air,” the French word for painting outdoors.

One of his unique paintings—an eye floating in space with a misty UFO hovering above it—begs the question, “What inspired this piece?”

August said he had not believed in ETs or UFOs until a fateful day in 2022, when he had a personal encounter. He was riding in a car with a friend when a meteor flash caught his attention. They looked up and saw a UFO floating above them for about 30 seconds, and then, without a sound, it disappeared. 

A few of August’s paintings are not on display, since he has chosen them for entry into the Gilpin Arts 78th annual juried show, debuting on Saturday, June 7, 2025, with a family-friendly opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m.

To check out his two-handed artwork and attend the show, visit the Gilpin County Arts Association above the historic Washington Hall at 117 Eureka Street in Central City. And who knows, you might catch August painting on records with both hands!