Disappointments will come your way. Victories will be sweet!

Montie Montana was a Hollywood cowboy actor, stuntman and trick roper; famous for his ability to lasso anything that moved.

Koni and I lived in Duluth Minnesota when we were first married. One day I received a phone call from my oldest brother, Orlo. He was a geologist, and the sibling we felt an urge to become or at least try and match his success. He was hired to supervise an iron ore mine north of Palm Springs California. Who would have thought southern California would have iron ore, right?

The phone call was a welcomed surprise. An acquaintance of Orlo had told my brother about a business venture he was involved in. The gentleman spoke about needing a graphic artist to come on board to help with the visual and creative needs of the business. The project described was led by the best-selling, western author, Louis L’Amour. L’Amour had written 89 novels by the time of his passing.

L’Amour’s dream was to build a 19th century old western town in Colorado. The town, Shalako, would be complete with a main street with a livery stable, dry good stores, sheriff’s office, saloons, and quaint shops. Also included, was a one room school house and church with a steeple.

Unknown Artist’s Rendering of the Shalako Village Concept

A rodeo trick rider named Montie Montana was on the project. Montana was a Hollywood cowboy actor, stuntman and trick roper; famous for his ability to lasso anything that moved. He became well-known in the United States when he lassoed President Eisenhower at the president’s 1953 inauguration. I can imagine the Secret Service was a little embarrassed they allowed the incident to happen. 

I gathered up my portfolio and flew out for an interview soon after. At the interview, I met the cowboy! He appeared as a tall, lean ranch hand with all the trimmings. He liked my portfolio and asked, “Would you be interested in relocating to Colorado Springs?” I told him yes without hesitation. Colorado Springs was about 6 hours north of the project site and would be the headquarters for L’amour’s project.

I was told to wait as they were tying up loose ends and I would hear from them. I was very excited to say the least!

I waited patiently while a marketing research company was hired to evaluate to potential profitability of the Shalako and deliver their findings to the group. Unfortunately, the company said there was no profit to be made here. The western town would also be located in a wilderness area that would have to undergo an environmental study if it were to become a reality.

Unfortunately, Montie, who was producing Wild West shows around the country, had got himself in some financial straits and had to remove himself from the project.

Shalako was to remain a dream for L’Amour, and my dream to work for America’s most famous western writer came to an end.

The Yule by J.C. Leyendecker

I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  

It has been and enjoyable 2015, checking out Facebook every day and seeing the information you have all shared.

I wanted to share an artist with you whose work I have always admired the most. His name is J.C. Leyendecker. Some of you may have heard of his name and have seen some of his work or vice versa. However, some maybe have never had the pleasure of seeing his magnificent illustrations. He was one of the preeminent American illustrators of the early 20th century. He is best know for his numerous covers for The Saturday Evening Post. Between 1896 and 1950, Leyendecker painted more than 400 covers producing 322 covers for The Saturday Evening Post alone. He is credited with "virtually inventing the whole idea of modern magazine design"

Leyendecker's work will live on for many years to come. The image I posted is titled "The Yule" and has always been one of favorites.

Finally, best wishes to you and your loved ones as we end 2015 and head into the new year! 

Thanksgiving

Here we are: Thanksgiving is upon us once again. I’m always grateful for this time of year because it gives me the chance to look back and reflect on these past twelve months and everything God has blessed me with.

Tomorrow, when I sit at our dining room table and look at my wife, children and other family members, I will be reminded that they have been placed in my life as the most important gift I’ll ever receive. Oftentimes, during the hustle of every day life I find myself forgetting that these people who influence every aspect of my life are the most important.

I look forward to eating a meal prepared by the hands of my wife and loved ones, laughing, reminiscing and preparing for the next year to come. Is there any way to show any measurable degree of gratitude towards God? All I can do is try to imitate his goodness by being sensitive to the needs of others and working to be the best version of myself every day.

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

How Long Does it Take?

This is usually the first question I hear when someone is looking at my artwork.

“How long did that take?”

When I begin a new piece, I usually have every intention of tracking my time. When I worked as a freelance artist, I recorded hours carefully because that’s how I billed clients. Now that I work independently as a Minnesota artist, time is less about billing and more about the creative process itself.

The truth is, the time spent on a piece of pen and ink artwork goes far beyond the drawing board.

It starts with developing a concept. That includes observing everyday life, studying art trends, and waiting for ideas to take shape. I have to feel comfortable with what I’m drawing. If I’m working on something like a cowboy scene, for example, accuracy becomes important, and that can be challenging if I’m not deeply familiar with the subject. Often, ideas come from simple daydreaming. You would be surprised how often that happens in the life of an artist.

Once the idea forms, a good amount of time is spent gathering reference material and props. Finding the right person, animal, or objects for a scene can turn into a bit of a wild goose chase. When I set up a composition, I always go back to a basic principle: left to right. I want to guide the viewer’s eye intentionally through the artwork, so placement is critical.

A photo shoot is an important part of my process as a Minnesota pen and ink artist. It allows me to capture pose, expression, and the fine details that bring a scene to life. Something as simple as a hand requires careful attention, since every finger is unique. Lighting and shadows are just as important. If they are off, they can completely change the outcome of the piece.

When I begin drawing, I work slowly and deliberately. Rushing can lead to mistakes, and in detailed pen and ink artwork, mistakes are not always easy to fix. Sometimes correcting an issue means adding or removing elements within the entire composition.

The tools I use also require attention. Drawing pencils come in different brands, hardness levels, and richness of tone. Choosing the right combination at the right time is part of the process and can take experience to manage well.

Another challenge is overworking the paper. If too many corrections are made, the surface can begin to break down. In pen and ink work especially, layering too much pigment can cause what is known as waxing, where the tooth of the paper is essentially filled in and can no longer accept additional detail. At that point, it becomes a delicate rescue, if it can be saved at all.

When I believe a piece is finished, I usually step away from it. I either feel satisfied or slightly uncertain. Either way, I set it aside for a period of time. This break is important. After working closely on a drawing for so long, fresh eyes often reveal small adjustments or areas that can be improved.

When I return, I can usually see it more clearly.

In the end, creating a finished work of art takes far more time than most people realize. But that process is what makes it meaningful. And when I finally set down my pencils, I’m always ready to step away for a moment and appreciate what’s been created.

Yours truly,