Charlie Russell was a professional painter, sculptor, writer and storyteller. Russell was born March 19, 1864, in St. Louis, Missouri. As a child, he crafted his own imagination of the American West by filling his books with drawings of wild animals and American Indians. At the age of sixteen he reached Montana, where he spent a little over a decade working on several 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 realism characteristic of his style. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay In his self-portrait, painted in 1900, Russell stands with his feet firmly planted on the ground and his hat tipped back; through his painting, he presents himself as a hardworking but open-minded person. He wears the red scarf and tailored boots that mark his unique character, as much as his quick intelligence, his short speech and his talent as a storyteller - illustrated in his amusing short stories and illustrated letters. According to Charlie Russell in his Charlie Russell Journal, “I am old-fashioned and particular 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 loves is lucky, and I am. Considered a modest and humble man, Russell considered his impressive talent simply “luck.” In September 1896 he married Nancy Cooper, who became his business manager. Under his help and direction, Russell gained national recognition and successfully publicized his works. Russell learned through observation, and his works improved after 1903, when he and Nancy traveled to New York. In bustling New York City, Russell began working with professional illustrators, where he enjoyed being part of an artistic community – something he did not have in Montana. Russell painted and carved in his log studio next to their Great Falls home, filling it with his extensive collection of Native American and cowboy artifacts. Russell made all of his major paintings in the studio after it was built in 1903. This studio was also a place where Russell created playful wax animals and clay figurines, all of which he enjoyed making. Mountain Mother expresses the lively personality of the cubs and the protective instinct of the sow. Russell's works were popular because of their narrative themes, unique style, and energetic action. Thanks to this, he was able to paint imaginary images. Native American 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 riding proudly on horseback. Indian Woman Moving Camp shows its respect for the talent, independence and courage of Plains Indian women. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Charlie Russell not only became 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 them. He needed it to realize that he had participated in the West; that he was a superior man for that. Even as a well-known artist, Russell loved – even more than his talents – his friendships and his place among ordinary people. Russell created over 4,000 works of art during his lifetime. He has 24, 1926.