three-day event.
In Luke Frazier’s Forest Sentinel, included in
the Skull Society show, a formidable elk stands
with commanding presence in the center of
the composition. “Elk are some of the most
vocal of the deer family—the bull elk bugle
is a rugged and beautiful sound to hear in the
wild,” Frazier comments. “A herd bull gets his
moniker by being a bigger badass than the
other bulls. He’ll run off all suitors, and on
occasion, fight to the death for the breeding
rights of the females.”
“The event has become a cornerstone of my
career, and it was such an honor to be invited,
and among the inaugural members of the
[Russell Skull Society],” says Randy Van Beek,
who has participated in The Russell for more
than 25 years.
“It’s a huge honor,” Collins says of his recent
inclusion in the Russell Skull Society. “[I’m one
of the] landscape contemporary impressionist
guys. Most of the other guys are pretty
traditional Western artists, extremely good
artists, so it’s exciting because it’s different...I’m
really thankful that they’re allowing me to be
a part of it.” One of Collins’ pieces, Dreaming
in Color, features the artist’s classic aspen
landscapes. “It’s not about the colors but the
relationships of the colors,” he says. “Colors
are only beautiful when they’re neighboringsomething that complements them. It all has to
do with the harmonies you’re using.”
The Russell Skull Society of Artists Suites will
run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. all three days and is
free to the public.Russell Skull Society
of Artists Suites
March 21-23, 2019
Mansfield Convention Center,
2 Park Drive South, Great Falls, MT 59401
(406) 727-8787,
http://www.cmrussell.org/the-russell-eventChad Poppleton, Hazards of the Trail, oil on panel, 30 x 48"Luke Frazier, Forest Sentinel, oil, 36 x 48" R. Tom Gilleon, Winter Lodge, oil, 36 x 36"