Charles M. Russell - The Cowboy Artist

Yesterday I had the opportunity to revisit an old friend when the wife and I delivered a new carving to one of my collectors. "Charles M. Russell, The Cowboy Artist" was completed back in 1998 after we had made the trip up to the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana. As it was before my pre-digital camera days this visit finally allowed us to make a new, more expansive photo record of this piece.

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Setting next to the Museum is Charlie's original studio. All the items seen in my little scene were based on the photos we took of the items he used. One little detail that I added I had completely fogotten about until it was pointed out by the collector during our visit. If you click on and enlarge the fourth photo in the Gallery album you will se a lit cigarette hanging over the edge of the left side of his painting table. Next to it are several burn marks left from previous smokes.

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The painting in the scene is based on a line drawing Charlie made of a group of Cowboys heading to town for a few drinks and only God knows what else. I stretched the canvas, just cotton sheeting in this case, over the frame, applied some gesso and then added some color to flesh it out. With Charlie bent over with his maul-stick in one hand and a wet brush in the other it really brings everything to life. His Montana Peak style hat hung on the top of the easel and the Buffalo skull, which is part of his signature, finishes everything off.

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I really love this little carving. Maybe someday I'll try to do another similar to it. I certainly don't see any way I could improve upon it.

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Comments welcome and lots of additional photos in the Gallery.