$ 75.00
This piece is titled "Spirit, Horse, Hunter" -Richard Ashburn. Mr. Ashburn is a guide from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He actually has "lived the life" of an actual mountain man for over thirty years.$ 65.00
It seems that everyone that Denny paints, becomes more than just a model, they have all become "good friends" as well. This is Denny's "good friend" Dave Behling, pronounced "Bayling." Dave is a well-known local around Cody, Wyoming. Dave is a master "leather-smith" as well as a master "gunsmith." Mr. Behling is a member of the "Single Action Shooting Society." The "society" was organized to preserve the "western style of shooting." All the members have aliases and a badge number. Dave's alias is "Buck Elliott," badge number 6177. Denny posed him with his favorite "Colt Peacemaker," a "single action" in a .45 caliber. Traditional oils on gesso-coated Masonite.$ 65.00
Denny's wife, Leigh, his reference photographer, took a fantastic photograph of this massive buffalo bull plodding through the famous Hayden Valley of Yellowstone September, 2004. The buffalo was then transformed into another shot of Hayden Valley that the artist preferred to give it more color and meaning in paint, hence the title it was subsequently given.$ 75.00
This is another of Denny's good friends that he met awhile back. His name is Gene Hartung. Gene was soon-to-be 72 years old at the time of this painting. Gene lives right across the Buffalo Bill Dam near Denny. He happened into Denny's store/gallery awhile back and Leigh, Denny's wife and photographer, immediately asked him if he would pose for Denny. He told her a story of how Denny's mentor, James Bama, had asked him the same question several years ago and how he had agreed to pose for James to take photos also. What a shame Bama never painted him! His loss was Denny's gain. Denny actually posed him in the exact same clothes that Bama did, except for his shirt.$ 65.00
This portrait of Jim Dunham, Director of Special Projects of the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, GA, is the third in the S.A.S.S. series in oils. He refers to himself as "Kid Rio," the name on his S.A.S.S. badge. Jim is one of the oldest members and one of the first to join S.A.S.S. some twenty years ago. For those of you who haven't seen the last two paintings of the S.A.S.S. members, the "Single Actions Shooting Society" is an international organization created to preserve and promote the sport of Cowboy Action Shooting. S.A.S.S. members share a common interest in preserving the history of the Old West and competitive shooting.$ 75.00
A "circuit," nowadays is called a "charge," was a geographical area that encompassed two or more local churches. Local Methodist pastors would met with their bishops annually for appointment to either a new circuit or remain at the same one, most often they were moved to another circuit. Once a pastor was assigned a circuit, it was his responsibility to visit each church in his charge at least once a year in addition to possibly erecting new churches. Because of the long distance between churches, the preachers would ride on horseback. They were called "circuit riders" or "saddlebag preachers." They traveled with few possessions, carrying only what would fit in their saddlebags. They traveled through wilderness and villages, they preached every day at any place available such as peoples' cabins, courthouses, fields, meeting houses, later, even basements and street corners. Unlike preachers of settled denominations, Methodist preachers were always on the move (most circuits were so large that it would take 5 to 6 weeks to cover their assignment). This is what boosted Methodism into the largest Protestant denomination at the time; bringing the church to the common people.$ 75.00
This piece is titled "Honoring The Dead." Like elephants, bison have been witnessed returning to the bones of the "fallen" to pay their respects.$ 65.00
This portrait is Gordon Bond of Land Of Lakes, Florida. "Shiloh Jasper Green," as he refers to himself, is a member of S.A.S.S., a/k/a the "Single Action Shooting Society," a national organization of quick-draw artists and shooting competitors.$ 75.00
One of Denny's latest painting is from his wife, Leigh's, photo shoot with a Native American Indian at the Mountain Man Rendezvous in Pinedale, WY. He is pictured here with his horse, "Apache," photographed in July 2006. The subject is an accomplished Actor, Stuntman, Authenticity Expert and Technical Consultant for nearly 50 motion pictures including "Dances With Wolves" and "Last of the Mohicans." His journeys have taken him all across the USA where he teaches, lectures and informs the curious public on Plains Indian history, culture, and corrects may of the myths and untruths propagated and compounded by generations of television and inaccurate historical portrayal. His mission is to undo the misunderstandings about the Native Americans from history and show the kinder, gentler side of their survival as a culture. He was kind enough to pose for Denny while he was there giving lectures on the Plains Indians history during the annual Mountain Man Rendezvous.$ 75.00
This was the second in Denny's Native America series, titled "The Courter." The subject is portraying a Northern Cheyenne, circa 1860-1870 and is "looking for a bride." Portrayed, he is wearing an eagle feather war bonnet trimmed with row-after-row of Italian glass beadwork that the Native Americans traded for. Above the beads is a row of small bells. The sides of the war bonnet have rows of long, white ermine hides, otherwise known as weasel. The sleeves and sections of the front of Michael's shirt are also trimmed with hundreds of rows of ochre and turquoise glass beads. Lining his shoulders and the back of his arms are rows of human hair strands, held tightly by metal beads.$ 75.00
This is Stan Bearpaw. Stan was 53 years old when this portrait was done and he is a full-blooded Cherokee. The great thing about Stan is that he is the "great, great, great nephew" of the famous "Indian Outlaw," Ned Christie.$ 75.00
This was the first oil that Denny ever painted. This portraiture is of Charles Bolin from Deland, Florida. "Cypress Scout," as Mr. Bolin refers to himself, is his alias as a member of a nationwide organization called the "Single Action Shooting Society," also known by their acronym "S.A.S.S." All members of S.A.S.S. uses an alias to compete. Denny was invited to observe one of their regional shooting range competitions in Florida in December, 2005.$ 75.00
This is bronze artist extraordinaire, Don Hershberger. Don was 55 years old at the time this was painted. He lives in nearby, Clark, Wyoming. Don has lived the life of a cowboy here in Wyoming for many, many years but he has always found the time to create. His bronze work consists of cowboys, horses, Native Americans and wild animals from the area. Don has several pieces in our art gallery here in Cody.$ 75.00
Denny's third painting of this Native American model is from his wife, Leigh's, photo shoot at the Mountain Man Rendezvous in Pinedale, WY July, 2006. He was paid handsomely to pose for Denny in Pinedale, Wyoming in July 2006 while he was there giving lectures on the Plains Indians history during the annual Mountain Man Rendezvous.$ 65.00
Portrayed here, Alan Baker of Cody, Wyoming in character as a middle-aged, William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. This study was the first of many photos taken of Alan for this portraiture. The greatest thing about this photo, it was totally "candid," taken on the veranda of Buffalo Bill's historical hotel, "The Irma," named for his daughter. Baker was waiting patiently for his turn to play his part in the 2004 "Cody Gunfighters" re-enactment when Denny's wife, Leigh, framed this fantastic millisecond in time. Medium: acrylics.