I’ve had a lot of fun with this painting. It’s the biggest oil I’ve done, 60″ x 48″ although that’s small in comparison to the scenics and murals I used to do – sometimes 30′ high. That was a different life and scenario though. I premixed color then from a palette of one gallon cans of acrylic paint. It did take me quite awhile after the mural phase of my life to adjust to painting small paintings like this one!

“Shades” is based on research gained from an artist’s rendezvous I attended last summer. My model is Jay Red Hawk, a Lakota Sioux from South Dakota. Jay is quite knowledgeable about the history of the plains Indians and their encounters with the white man over time.
He has been playing & making Siyotanka ( Northern Plains Courting Flutes) for 22 years that are traditionally hand carved, and has performed with those flutes in many venues, including the ’92 “Good Red Road / Sacred Hoop Concert; as a soloist with the MN Orchestra in ’95; and has recorded music for 20 documentaries, including “Dakota Exile” (PBS) which won a Grammy for sound.” He has also been in movies and documentaries, as has his horse Lady who is now 25 and just officially retired. Jay also participates in events put on by the Plains Horse Archery Association.  He can be found on Facebook.

Many nights we wake up to the sound of the coyotes howling in the field near the house – or sometimes much closer than that, just outside the backyard fence. The dogs go racing out the dog door to the safety of the backyard, but absolutely showing them who’s boss. I have respect for the coyote as he is a survivor and very ingenious when he’s hungry. This painting is 10 x 12 and will be in the Settlers West “American Miniature Show” in Tucson on February 11th. The show is really great. Don’t miss it!

“Warrior” is one of the paintings I’ve done from the pictures I took at The Artists’ Ride this summer. Juwan Lakota was a great model, very proud and self assured. I wanted to portray that in my painting. I can imagine that he would have been a great warrior of the plains, had he lived in an earlier time.

As I understand it, the painting of a man’s face and body among the plains tribes during the buffalo days was said to be a form of mental conditioning. The process drew on the natural powers of the universe to enhance the individuals own personal power and gifts. Each tribe had some tradition as to the use of color and design, but each warrior would paint himself with personal protective designs and colors before they engaged in battle with an enemy. It was believed that prayers said were taken into the paint and when applied, the power of the prayers were conveyed upon the wearer. The combination of color and motif was very important to the individual, who saw it as his ‘medicine’, his personal protective spirit. Red was the accepted color of war.

The base for red paints was varied. Some red was derived from red clay. A brownish red paint could be made by baking yellow clay over ashes until it turned red. Red paint was created from berries, dogwood bark or beets. Because of the ceremonial uses many tribes had for red paint, the bright vermilion red paint offered to tribes by European Fur Traders was highly sought after at a very early date.

This warrior also wears a feather with a red spot, which was indicative of his killing an enemy.

Warrior” is an oil, 36″ x 24″.

Juwan Lakota was a great model. Now having his permission, I can give you his Facebook page. He is interesting in more modeling, or related work I am guessing that honors his Oglala Lakota Sioux heritage. Movies too, perhaps? Artists of all persuasions, take note! Juwan is also interested in poetry and is studying Sociology and Native American Studies in college. He’s a multifaceted guy.

Sheila, last night as I walked to the ponds just before dusk, I saw your work everywhere – the last light of the sun causing the earth to come alive with color in that half hour before dark, the pink and green reflections in the ice of the pond juxtaposed with the bare branched trees above,  the soft pinks and grays of your landscape and the deer that move through it. So many of us are trying to reach you now. We feel you as we attempt to paint with more color, as we try to better understand the intricate design of a horse or a deer  – the things you knew so well. In your honor I attempt to learn and grow as an artist. I wish so much you were still with us.

This is Sheila’s painting below. It is called  ”Just Before Dark”  and is an oil, 24 x 48. It is a phenomenal piece.

After doing the barn chores this morning, I headed out as usual on the 4 wheeler to give the dogs a run. This time of year I often have on a heavy coat, neck warmer, an earband and a hat with ear flaps. Today, at 30 degrees with the wind blowing I can tell you that that was not enough cover! I came back the last 2 miles with the neck warmer covering everything but one eye as I maneuvered home without getting frostbite. The line for comfortable 4 wheeling is abut 35 degrees I’ve decided! My dog Boone is running so fast, he doesn’t know the difference, but I sure do!

On to arty things, consider this your invitation to the Lodestone Gallery Miniature Show in Great Falls. The show opens tomorrow, Dec. 3, but the Artists’ Reception will be on December 9th from 5-ish I’m guessing. I am showing these two pieces.

The Prize  8″ x 8″

Silver Ribbon  9″ x 12″

It is all I can do to make this post, but I need to do so to honor a dear friend and a great artist. Sheila Rieman passed away on Thursday, Nov 17th, 2011. She was traveling (as she was always traveling) to an art show in Billings, MT. She was just outside of Billings when she had a car accident that took her life.

Sheila was a bright spot in so many people’s lives. She was always laughing and fun to be around, a true friend, always there to help, a hard worker, an amazing multi-talented person, a great teacher, a great artist. I can’t tell you how much she’ll be missed – by so many.

Just last week I tore the following poem out of the paper, meaning to file it away. In seeing it now I know that it was meant for Sheila. She has lived her life close to nature, with her own animals and the wild ones that frequent her space. Her great art has been a tribute to all of those things. Sheila, my friend, my family, I can’t tell you how much we will miss you. The world won’t be the same without you.

“The Song of the River” by W.R. Hearst

The snow melts on the mountain. And the water runs down to the spring.

And the spring in a turbulent fountain, with a song of youth to sing,

Runs down to the riotous river, and the river flows to the sea.

And the water again goes back to rain, to the hills where it used to be.

And I wonder if life’s deep mystery isn’t much like the rain and snow.

Returning through all eternity to the places it used to know.

For life was born on the lofty heights and flows in a laughing stream

To the river below who’s outward flow ends in a peaceful dream.

And so at last when our life has passed, and the river has run it’s course,

It again goes back o’er the selfsame track to the mountain which was it’s source.

So why prize life or why fear death, or dread what is to be?

The river ran it’s allotted span till it reached the silent sea.

Then the water harked back to the mountain top to begin it’s course once more.

So we shall run the course begun till we reach the silent shore.

Then revisit earth in a pure rebirth from the heart of the virgin snow.

So don’t ask why we live or die, or whither or when we go,

or wonder about the mysteries that only God may know.

I did this painting a little while ago, but thought I’d post it now. This is of my dog Boone, a Border Collie. Boone loves to run, and gets into trouble when he’s “herding” the cows or horses without human involvement! He’s found that this is ok though and he can run like the wind in the process! Oh, my good dog Boone. “A Reason to Fly” is an oil 24 x 30.

For our 100 Mile Radius Show, I chose to do this painting of an old motel sign on the Montana high line. This is quintessential Montana of the 1950 – 1960′s. There are still quite a few funky old signs of this era scattered across the Montana countryside, probably not because anyone had the foresight to see what great pop cultural art they might become over time, but because nothing ever changed enough in the area to warrant putting up a new sign. You have to love that about Montana!

Galata is a tiny town with a current population of 67, give or take. Sadly for these old towns, the younger generation moves away, leaving just a few of the die hard older generation to hold down the fort. I thought the sign, and the focus on a town like Galata was important for my view on this 100 mile radius – a snapshot of Montana from my perspective.

“Motel Galata” is an oil, 48 x 36.

I am busy doing sketches now in preparation for the Western Masters Art Show and The Russell Museum Auction next March. These six months will go by pretty quickly as I need to get a lot of work done!  Winter is conducive to spending lots of time in the studio, although I’m hoping we have a long, beautiful fall. We deserve it after last winter and spring!

I just ran across the image for this painting and thought it was timely. This subject is of the Kalispell / Whitefish, MT. area and was a painting I did during a quick finish benefit show for the Hockaday Museum last fall. The western side of the Divide is so pastoral and picturesque, very different from our more rugged East Slope country. “The Golds of Autumn” is an oil, 12″ x 12″.

I posted an image of this painting in March but was never quite happy with the piece. I redid it recently and do like it better. I thought you might be interested in seeing the redo. It is still called “Story Teller”, and is an oil, 18″ x 12″.

This is the original painting.

And below is the redo.