By Caitlin Bittner
On the top of the hill just past Effigy Mounds, there is a basement studio full of artwork that follows the life of its creator, Andrew Wroble.
Born in Casper, Wyo., Wroble had a long trek to becoming a resident of Harpers Ferry, Iowa. Yet, his love of art has made most of the journey with him. Wroble said his first real interest in art came out of being drafted into the United States Army and sent to Europe in the 1970s. “I love being an artist,” said Wroble. “Ever since then, I’ve always painted and I’ve always drawn.”
Wroble recalled his days spent at the Top Hand, Cate and O’mea Cattle Company, in Libby, Mont. “The environment controls art,” said Wroble.
And, in Montana, Wroble’s art was confined to what he described as “saddlebag drawing.” “It was on the back of those U.S. Forest Service posters,” laughed Wroble. “I’d take one down and then someone would put one back up. I had a lot of paper.”