Sunday, March 10, 2013

Willie's War Horse


Wm.Wrigley Junior Company
leterhead

This is a piece I will be offering at the Western Heritage Artists Show next week in Great Falls, Montana, during Western Art Week. It is a two page letter from Wrigley's explaining why NOBODY in the U.S. will be able to purchase Wrigley's gum until the war is over. Along with a copy of the first page, I am also including the original second page, as well as the model that I used for the image I included. Bill Mauldin was a cartoonist whose war time characters included two soldiers with the names Willie and Joe. They (and he) were revered by every soldier. And every soldier got his share of Wrigley's!

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Candy Man - from C. M. Russell


The Western Heritage Artists Show will begin next Wednesday, March 13th at 6:00 PM, and will continue through Sunday, March 17th at 5:00 PM.  I've participated in this event for 4 years, and I'm pleased to say that every year it has become a more fulfilling experience. With an art show like this, each artist in a separate room, it is often difficult to get to know the other artists. Some return, some do not. There are several events that make it a little different than other shows in Great Falls during Western Art Week, and I'll point out just a few of them:

PREVIEW NIGHT

On Wednesday evening at 6:00 PM there will be an award ceremony and a welcome for the new artists for this year's show. The Lobby Show accepts one work from every participating artist, and the work is Juried earlier in the day. The artist rooms are open until 10:00 PM.

QUICK FINISH
to support the Lewis & Clark Foundation
Event begins at 6:00 PM Thursday evening 

This event offers patrons and supporters an opportunity to watch while the participating artists complete - or finish - a piece of art work in 45 minutes. It's like being in twenty studios and one gallery all at one time. The piece you see above will be completed by me. Last year's Quick Finish piece was a HUGE success, and I've used another piece from the C. M. Russell Museum Collection for this year's event. This little Russell 'Brownie' sits atop a birch bark and wooden candy box, and the Museum provided me with a high quality photograph to use as my model.

PAINT AROUND
and Roaring Twenties Sapphire Bash

This event begins at 4:00 PM on Friday, with the Paint Around beginning at 6:00 PM, as artists start a piece of art work, and then move to the next artist's station and work for five minutes using what has been provided by each artist. The event is followed by a Live Auction of the finished pieces. This event was also a HUGE success last year, and I'm participating again this year

.ART AUCTION BENEFIT
to support the WOUNDED WARRIORS PROJECT and
MONTANA WOUNDED WARRIORS

This is one event that shouldn't be missed. Beginning at 4:00 PM on Saturday March 16th, it will feature both a Silent and Live Auction. Please visit this page for a quick glimpse of what the Western Heritage Artists have provided to support our Wounded Warriors, not only nationally, but here in Montana as well. The piece that I have submitted for the Live Auction can be viewed HERE.

I hope to visit with old acquaintances and make some new friends as well!