I posted this painting last fall, but I thought I would show it again now, as it is going to be in the C.M. Russell Auction on Friday night, March 20. It will be Lot #122. (I will also be showing in Room 176 at the Heritage Inn during the show.)

I enjoyed this endeavor as the subject is my husband, Tom Gilleon – Mr. Tipi – who has been known to stroll in at the last minute with his auction pieces. I had fun with this as it’s the only way I could get away with painting a Gilleon tipi! So tip your hat to the ol’ codger. Today is his birthday!
24″ x 28″ oil www.cmrauction.com

Another sadness for the art community and beyond. How much more can we take? Sculptor Joe Halko died this Wednesday, March 11, at the age of 68, after suffering a series of debilitating strokes. Joe was a very kind and gentle man, loved by all who knew him.

We are lucky to have many examples of his fine work in the community which will serve as continuing comfort, inspiration and tribute to Joe.

I sent this “card” out with notification of Joe’s funeral. The landscape is Joe’s beloved wild country, Gibson Lake in the Sun Canyon area and near the Scapegoat Wilderness on the east slope of the Rocky Mountains in Montana.

The geese are Joe’s and are escorting him away.

To begin, I thought I might include my painting that was selected to be in the 2009 C.M. Russell Art Auction. The painting is titled “Just One Last Touch”, and is an oil, 24″ x 28″of artist Tom Gilleon “touching up” his painting while it hung in a Russell Museum show last year. While I did stretch the truth here, I had fun doing so, as this is the only way I could get away with painting a Gilleon tipi! www.cmrauction.com