Equine Artist Orren Mixer Dies at 87

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Equine artist Orren Marion Mixer passed away at the age of 87

Renowned equine artist Orren Marion Mixer, whose portraits of western stock horses are distinctly recognizable, died on April 29 at 87 years old.

Mixer’s celebrity as a well-known western artist started during the 1950s and 1960s. Livestock, particularly horses, became his specialty, and his work graced the covers of Western Horseman, Quarter Horse Journal, Cattleman, and Oklahoma Today. In 1968, the American Quarter Horse Association commissioned Mixer to paint “the ideal American Quarter Horse,” and six other breed associations followed suit. He depicted the ideal Pinto, Paint, Palomino, Appaloosa, Buckskin, and Pony of the Americas.

Briefly retired during the 1980s, Mixer resumed his artistic productions in the mid-1990s, working from a studio near Arcadia, Okla. He was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame in 1993.

Mixer was born in Oklahoma City in 1920 to Florence Motter and Orren Marion Mixer Sr. After attending public schools, he obtained a scholarship to attend the Kansas City Art Institute from 1938-40.

Mixer worked in graphic arts in New York, Oklahoma City, and Fort Worth, Texas, before moving to San Diego to work in an aircraft manufacturing plant. He returned to Fort Worth in 1943 and joined the U.S. Navy. Stationed in Chicago, he was a visual aids graphic artist.

In his personal time, Mixer painted Western scenes, and his first sales came through a Chicago sporting goods store. Discharged from the service in 1946, he brought his wife, Evelyn Leonard, whom he’d married in 1941, back to Oklahoma, where he built a house and studio near Arcadia/Edmond.

Memorial services for Mixer are pending.

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13 COMMENTS

  2. well it seems he lived a great life! i think people should and always will apreciate what he’s done for the “art” and “horse worlds”

  6. Orren Mixer is my great grandpa, and even though its been 5 years
    Since he passed not one day goes by that I don’t think about him,
    Like right now I was reading some of the short stories people have
    Put on different websites every time I read one a few tears come to
    My eyes, and although I wasn’t that close to him we would still love
    Each other all the time, and I remember being 7, At his funeral looking
    in on him in his casket and just bauling my eyes out. I guess that was
    Very traumatizing for me and my body because I can remember it like
    It was just yesterday. All I can say is we all miss you grandad and we
    all love Wnd miss you very much! 🙂

  7. Orren Mixer is my great grandpa, and even though its been 5 years
    Since he passed not one day goes by that I don’t think about him,
    Like right now I was reading some of the short stories people have
    Put on different websites every time I read one a few tears come to
    My eyes, and although I wasn’t that close to him we would still love
    Each other all the time, and I remember being 7, At his funeral looking
    in on him in his casket and just bauling my eyes out. I guess that was
    Very traumatizing for me and my body because I can remember it like
    It was just yesterday. All I can say is we all miss you grandad and we
    all love Wnd miss you very much! 🙂

  8. I was suprised to find this today several years after his death. I met him personally For the Quarter Horse World Show in Ok. back in the late 80’s He was doing a special Signed Limited Edition Print NBR 47/250 called Mother’s Pride 1989, Which I purchased from him that Day. What a wonderful Gentleman, and what a nice visit I had with him. I am proud to be an owner of this Beautiful Photo. My Respects to his family.

  9. I was suprised to find this today several years after his death. I met him personally For the Quarter Horse World Show in Ok. back in the late 80’s He was doing a special Signed Limited Edition Print NBR 47/250 called Mother’s Pride 1989, Which I purchased from him that Day. What a wonderful Gentleman, and what a nice visit I had with him. I am proud to be an owner of this Beautiful Photo. My Respects to his family.

  10. I have a print painted in the 60’s of Top Moon. The original burned in the Spencer’s home fire. Why do we never see any prints of Top Moon?

  11. I knew Orren as a Customer years ago when I worked at Lawrence Photo of Oklahoma, He was a GOOD Customer and became a friend .; His Art was Fantastic. Tonight going thou some Old papers ,Found a auction sale Matlock and Carol Rose sale October 1981 and Orren signed the Cover of Matlock and Peponita which he painted. Great Cover and decided to google his Name and found out he died. Great Artist and Friend

  12. I was fortunate enough to come across two Orren Mixer signed and dated paintings. One is of KING and is signed and dated 93. The other is of GO MAN GO and is signed, “Best wishes to Jerry and Claire Dyess”. The 93 is inside the “O” of his name. I have since seen tons of his paintings online, and I was just wondering the value of a signed, dated copy? Anyone have any idea?

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