Creatively titled “Medicine Man” (yes, I was tired at that point!) this painting depicts the Apache Medicine Man, known by his adorned hide cap. It is interesting how similar customs and traditions vary according to tribe and region of the country, or the world for that matter.

Settlers West American Miniature Show is Saturday, February 11th, and it promises to be a great event! The Reception begins at 5:30 and the Drawing is at 7:00. This painting hangs with my other there, “Vantage Point”. If you’ll be in the Tucson area, don’t miss the show!

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. He 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 is the Founder/Director of the Plains Horse Archery Association.  He can be found on Facebook.

“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.

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.

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 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.

I just received word that this painting won the People’s Choice Award at the Clymer Museum of Art Exhibit and Auction, May 20 & 21. Of course I was thrilled! “She Loves Their Stories” is an oil, 24″ x 24″.

In many cultures, the willful Magpie is seen as a messenger, a harbinger, a being that can travel between the dark and the light, the good and the bad. The wily magpie is also seen as one that stands in the doorway of new realms, bringing word of other events and places. This wise woman is thrilled by a visit from her magpie friends, enjoying the stories they have to tell of their forays into other worlds and realms. They bring good news.

Her dress speaks of a past raid on another tribe and the procurement of new horses for the People. This particular dress does exist and is on display in the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. It is attributed to be Sihasapa Lakota (Blackfoot Sioux) circa 1890.

I am happy to announce that this dear girl, Clementine has been picked as a poster girl for the Montana Land Reliance. You will see her pretty face in advertising – promoting “Cows, not Condos.”

In their own words, the Montana Land Reliance is an organization that “provides permanent protection for private lands that are significant for agricultural production, fish and wildlife habitat, and open space.

The immediate accomplishments of MLR’s conservation work are measured in miles of stream banks and acres of land and habitat protected from unchecked development. The lasting benefits of MLR’s work are the perpetuation of a lifestyle and economy that rely on responsibly managed private land and increasingly valuable Montana open spaces that will continue to nourish the spirit of future generations.”

I am proud to say that we have Conservation Easements on our ranch through the Land Reliance. I can’t say enough good things about this group and the job they do in helping others protect some of Montana’s agricultural land, open space and wildlife habitat in perpetuity.

“Clementine” is an oil, 12″ x 12″.

I have wrestled some with whether I have “the right” to paint Native Americans, much as I love the subject. The interplay of historical subject, sacred story, beautiful design and artistic treatment of clothing and everyday things are too much to resist as an artist. But – I am thinking that I may try to tell those stories in a way that may give me a little more ownership of the subject. This painting is the first of those. I believe there had to have been some some positive encounters between the Native American and the white man during the terrible years of the early reservation period. This is my version of one of those presumed encounters. “Like Kind” is an oil, 30″ x 30″.

This is a painting I did about 5 years ago. I loved the story, as is usual for me! I was just contacted by a man who liked this painting, and who has traveled the country on a motorcycle, taking pictures and then writing a book of his life and adventures. I’ll bet the book is quite interesting, as his site and facebook page look to be! If you are interested in hearing more about that, his site is www.americabymotorcyclebook.com