Brent Cotton: Capturing the Soul of Montana Landscapes Brent Cotton (b. 1972) stands as a prominent figure in contemporary landscape painting, particularly recognized for his masterful execution within the tonalist/luminist tradition—a stylistic approach that harkens back to the late nineteenth century and prioritizes atmospheric mood and subtle tonal gradations over detailed representation. Born in Blackfoot, Idaho, Cotton’s formative years were steeped in the traditions of his family's cattle ranching heritage, where he absorbed artistic sensibilities from his grandmother, a gifted waterco…