Charlie Russell was a professional painter, sculptor, writer and storyteller. Russell was born on March 19, 1864, in St. Louis, Missouri. As a child he designed his own imagination of the American West by filling his books with drawings of wild animals and American Indians. At the young age of sixteen he reached Montana, where he spent just over a decade working on various ranches. He drew in his spare time, gradually building his local reputation as an artist. His personal experience working on the ranch and his understanding of wildlife contributed to the characteristic realism of his style. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In his Self-Portrait, painted in 1900, Russell stands with his feet flat on the ground and his hat tilted back; through his painting he describes himself as a hardworking but open-minded person. He wears the red scarf and custom-made boots that were a sign of his uniqueness, as well as his quick intelligence, short speech, and talent as a storyteller, as shown in his entertaining short stories and illustrated letters. According to Charlie Russell in his Charlie Russell Journal, “I am old-fashioned and peculiar in my dress. I'm eccentric (that's a polite way of saying you're crazy). I believe in luck and I have a lot of it... Any man who can make a living doing what he likes is lucky, and I am. Considered a modest and humble man, Russell regarded his extraordinary talent as simply "luck." In September 1896 he married Nancy Cooper, who became his business manager. Under his help and guidance, Russell gained national recognition and successfully publicized his artwork. Russell learned through observation, and his works improved after 1903, when he and Nancy visited New York. In the bustling city of New York, Russell began working with professional illustrators, where he enjoyed being part of an artistic community, something he didn't have in Montana. Russell painted and sculpted in his log studio near their Great Falls home, filling it with his large collection of Native American and cowboy objects. Russell completed all of his major paintings in the studio after it was built in 1903. This studio was also where Russell created playful wax animals and clay figures, which he enjoyed making. Mountain Mother expresses the lively personality of the puppies and the protective instinct of the sow. Russell's works were popular for their narrative themes, unique style, and energetic action. Because of this he was able to paint fiction. American Indian women were featured in many of Russell's paintings, such as Indian Woman Moving Camp. The plains tribes provided the artist with the opportunity to show Indian women proudly riding their horses. Indian Woman Moving Camp shows its respect for the talent, independence and courage of Plains Indian women. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Charlie Russell didn't just become the favorite son of his home state of Montana; also the personification of the West itself. He chose to honor only the ways of the West as he saw it. He needed to realize that he had taken part in the West; that he was a superior man for it. Despite being a well-known artist, Russell loved, even more than his talent, his friendships and his place with ordinary people. Russell completed over 4,000 works of art during his lifetime. He lived in Montana for 46 years and knew his subject well, setting the standards for many 24, 1926.