Snapshots on the Way to Bozeman Montana

Some snapshots

A True Western Hero, Johnny France, Portrait Painted by Todd Connor

Johnny France is probably the most well known person in our area. He speaks haltingly, but it's because he was nearly killed, when a horse kicked him in the head. He's very lucky to even be alive today.
He's had two TV made movies, and a segment on A&E's Channel's Fugitive Chronicles, titled "Nichols", made about an incident that happened years ago when he was sheriff of Madison County. Recently the Robert Redford movie, "Buck" feature Johnny in it. Buck, the main character, said he owed his life to Johnny France. When you click the link to A&E's website, below the video viewer you'll see a selection of shows. Click on the on called "Nichols".
Here is the link to the episode of Nichols

PLAINS WARRIOR - First Bronze Colored today

This is my first copy of PLAINS WARRIOR to be finished in bronze.
I purchased a 24 inch human armature from http://truformarmatures.com/ and I've decided to use it for a Sioux Warrior bronze. Title will be "Plains Warrior"
My online gallery is at http://bronzesbydavidlemon.blogspot.com/



Pictures of the colored bronze. Remember, the colors will in some cases intensify or decrease in intensity, once the wax finish is applied. I'll be photographing the finished bronze on Monday.

Starting Geronimo - A Bronze by me, from 1978, brought to my studio

I started the design of the Geronimo piece today. Didn't get far though. Was visited by a young man who acquired one of my early bronzes (see pictures of it at http://adayinthelifeofalemon.blogspot.com). He was a good Samaritan and loaned money to a lady who needed to pay her rent. She had a hard time paying him back so she gave him this bronze as payment. This bronze is worth thousands more than what he loaned. He's going to try and sell it to help himself out and hopefully help the lady out as well.
Visit my Gallery online http://bronzesbylemon.blogspot.com
TruForm Armatures
http://www.truformarmatures.com/



Photographs of "Parting Shot" from 1978

Geronimo and Turning on the heat in my studio

Photos of Geronimo

Home Alone Today

2011 Ennis Montana Hunters Feed

The town of Ennis is located on the banks of the Madison River in the Madison Valley, in southwest Montana. Every October, the Friday preceding the annual big game hunt, the people of the town and the valley, put together their best chili, pasta, or Mexican dishes, made from local game. They're given an entry number and then they hand out their food to everyone who walks down the street. The visitors to this feed come from all over the country and the world. They then vote for the food, by their number, and one of them will win bragging rights for the coming year. It's so much fun. The people are friendly and outgoing. The food is terrific. You don't go home hungry.

Researching and Sketching Ideas

Just for a smile....

A Day At The Foundry - A New Project Hinted At For Next Week

Delivered the two clays of 4 Bears and Worth Many Horses to Don, who'll be showing them in Las Vegas. I met up with him at Northwest Artcasting in Bozeman Montana. He was loading a monumental cowboy on horseback piece by another artist, into the back of his truck, for the same show in Vegas.
I then looked over the first waxes of Prairie Warrior.
Then back at my studio later that afternoon, I prepaired the TruForm armature for a new piece I'll be starting next week.
My gallery online...http://bronzesbydavidlemon.blogspot.com
You can buy your pre-made armatures from http://www,truformarmatures.com

Crating up clays for transport

All artists at some point have to crate up their work. I try and show how I crate up two of my clays.
Visit my gallery online where you can purchase my work
http://bronzesbydavidlemon.blogspot.com

COURTING - Four Bears and Worth Many Horses - getting the clays ready for trip to Las Vegas

This piece portrays the dilemma of courtship. This Blackfoot Warrior, "Four Bears", has practiced for weeks, to compose the perfect song for his flute, to impress his love interest, "Worth Many Horses". He's perplexed, because she seems not to be paying attention to him, and she's hiding her feelings. She has been moved.
These two pieces are sold as a pair or separately.
My Gallery Online
http://bronzesbydavidlemon.blogspot.com

Molds Shown of Prairie Warrior and I Wanna Be Like You Daddy

Had to do a little work on "Prairie Warrior's" shield. While there I show you the latex molds being made of those two pieces.
My online gallery http://bronzesbydavidlemon.blogspot.com

TruForm Horse Armature Arrives Today

This horse armature is 1/4 life-size scale. It can be combined with TruFom's 18 inch human armature, which is also 1/4 life-size scale, to create a horse and rider.

My Gallery Online
http://bronzesbydavidlemon.blogspot.com

TruForm Armatures
http://www.truformarmatures.com/

Gold of Autum Found in Yellowstone Park Today

Took a short drive to Yellowstone National Park this morning.
Established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, Yellowstone Park became the first national park. Yellowstone National Park is located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho. Yellowstone was the first national park in the world, and is known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features, especially Old Faithful Geyser, one of the most popular features in the park.
It has many types of ecosystems, but the sub alpine forest is dominant.
Native Americans have lived in the Yellowstone region for at least 11,000 years.The region was bypassed during the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the early 19th century. Aside from visits by mountain men during the early-to-mid-19th century, organized exploration did not begin until the late 1860s. The The U.S. Army was commissioned to oversee the park just after its establishment. In 1917, administration of the park was transferred to the National Park Service, which had been created the previous year.
Hundreds of structures have been built and are protected for their architectural and historical significance, and researchers have examined more than 1,000 archaeological sites.