Jessica Crabtree

Bama’s career reads like a cross between that of Norman Rockwell and Charles Marion Russell. Born 1926 in Manhattan, his early career paralleled that of Rockwell (as a commercial artist and illustrator, including work with the Saturday Evening Post). But like Russell, he became a “child of the West” after moving to Wyoming in the 60′s to be closer to the subjects he desired to portray.

Since then he has become a living legend of Western art. His extensive portfolio covers nearly 50 years of work in capturing the iconography of Western lore, from cowboys to mountain men, in gorgeous life-like realism. He is one of the most renowned painters of Native American portraits (which makes up a sizable share of his portfolio), generally painted from live models in historical attire. One of the things I appreciate most about his work, aside from his skill in realism, is the historical integrity and his no-nonsense, un-romanticized treatment of the subjects.

“James Bama’s modern realism approaches the larger-than-life romance of the West from a new angle. The subjects of his portraits are real people, doing real work, with the history of generations past written in their faces and the surrounding landscapes. ”

Profile from The Greenwich Workshop

JAMES BAMA: Gallery and Artist Profile from The Greenwich Workshop

There are so many stunning paintings in his portfolio I had a hard time choosing which ones to feature in this post, so I’ve included just a few of my favorites (click images for larger view).

“Young Plains Indian”

“Old Arapaho Storyteller”

“Little Fawn”

March 19, 1864: Birth of Western artist Charles Marion Russell

Raised in Missouri, Russell showed an early fascination with art and the West. He realized both at 16 when he left home to work on a Montana sheep ranch, where his obvious creative talent quickly drew attention. His early experiences in the northern Great Plains led to a prolific body of paintings depicting Western life and landscapes, including many portraits of the Piegan, Crow, Cree and other Indian nations before the onset of the reservation era.

Left: “A Cree Indian”
Above: “The Beauty Parlor”

By 1897 he opened a studio in Great Falls, Montana, where his career burgeoned under the shrewd management of his wife, Nancy. His works quickly became popular with collectors across the country, including celebrities such as Will Rogers. Like Rogers, he was renowned for his earthy wit and sincerity, and his deep attachment to the land he loved so much. He died in 1926 leaving thousands of paintings and sketches, bronze sculptures and carvings, and numerous literary works, all influential in memorializing the West in its Golden Age.

The Charles Marion Russell Museum
http://www.cmrussell.org/

Extensive online gallery of Russell’s paintings:
http://www.charlesmarionrussell.org/

“This is the only real American.
He fought and died for his country.
Today he has no vote
No country and is not a citizen
But history will not forget him.” (1914)