Meet Doris Hubbell | Horse Ranch manager & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Doris Hubbell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Doris, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
I fell in love with an American man and moved to Colorado 30 years ago!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
First, I am a native of Switzerland, born and raised in a little town near Lucerne called Ebikon. After high school, I went to a Swiss college to be a teacher in handcrafts and art. I taught school for about 8 years close to Luzern, in Switzerland. When I was 28, I found I was burned out teaching and needed a change. My father inspired me to take a four-month break to go travel to the American Southwest. We bought an old 24-foot motorhome and my sweet friend Romy and I took off on a great road trip in the States. We both did not speak English. Romy and I had to explore and learn everything by communicating with hands and smiles!

Lots happened, but most importantly I found my husband. Meeting Gary definitely changed my life! (that’s a story by itself, hahaha)

So there I was, in love with an American and leaving my home country and career to explore this new way in Colorado. Gary is and was always an entrepreneur and we started out getting married and having children. Yes, that quickly! We have Reed & Jake, our two great smart sons, who are now 26 and 28 years old.

One thing I loved about my husband right away, from the get-go was that he loved horses. My girly dream in Switzerland was always to be with horses. Well, it’s very expensive and privileged to have horses in Switzerland. So I worked as a teenager at a stable nearby but never owned a horse. So when we got married my family gave me “a black beauty” Arabian gelding as a wedding gift.

My husband is a pro photographer and he took amazing images over all these years. I also developed the talent to see the world through the lens and capture memories. I knew one day will come when I will express some of these images in art.

Our lifestyle was a ranch lifestyle with horses, hunting, and always Labrador Retrievers involved. We actually were outfitters in the Colorado Rockies in Marble for about nine years (1999-2007). That’s also where we raised the children most of their childhood. We never had time for ourselves but learned to “run and gun” to keep up with kids, horses, dogs, raising 100 acres of horse hay on our ranch, and taking photos.

Today the kids are out on their own and very successful young men. We are still living on our horse ranch, “Grandview Ranch”, raising horse hay and Labrador retrievers, boarding horses, and riding ours in the summer and fall – for pleasure only! The outfitting business got sold in 2008. My hubby became a well-established ranch real estate realtor & developer in Hotchkiss, Colorado with his business, United Country Colorado Brokers & Auctioneers.

Only two years ago, I began painting. I use my life experiences from Out West, expressing my love of horses, dogs & people! I started with a three-day painting clinic in February 2020 taught by a well-established oil painter and grabbed the technique and took off.

Today I have time to paint, manage our hay ranch, train our horses, and raise puppies with my husband. I use a multi-media way of art expression. My photography and oil painting technique creates canvases in all sizes. Commission work makes me the most money right now. Our website includes photography from my husband and myself, also pdf’s of some of my painted art that a buyer can get as a print order: Www.OutWestArt.com

For my future I foresee many appreciative customers hanging my pieces all over their homes.

Our life was always “a give and a take to make it!” We had many inspiring years and did many different things and won and failed but always loved what we are doing.

As we were developing and learning in our time of being outfitters, horse trainers, and parents, we attended a horse training clinic with one of the old-time master horse trainers, Ray Hunt. “In difficulty lies opportunity!” he said, and we’ve never forgotten those words of wisdom.

We managed to always make the best out of everything and follow the desires and dreams we felt in our hearts. We are going to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary and my 30th year in America as a proud American in 2022.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We have mountains to hike, bike, ATV and ride also rivers to fish and lakes to boat on it. Beautiful camping location and Air BnB’s and lots of wineries to taste wines and orchard fruits. The link below is a great way to find your way around:

www.coloradodirectory.com/places

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My inspiring husband, Gary

Website: www.outwestart.com

Instagram: outwestkunst

Facebook: outwestkunst

Image Credits
Photos by Gary & Doris Hubbell, Art paintings by Doris Hubbell