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Sunday, September 20th, 2009
Alan Baker as Buffalo Bill

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This is Alan Baker of Cody, Wyoming in character as a middle-aged, William “Buffalo Bill” Cody. The photo reference used was taken by my wife, Leigh, when we were in Cody, Wyoming, September of 2004. This study was the first of many photos that Alan so graciously posed for. The greatest thing about this photo is that it was totally candid. We stepped onto the porch of Buffalo Bill’s historical hotel, The Irma, named for his daughter. Alan was waiting patiently for his turn to play his part in the nightly Cody Gunfighters re-enactment when Leigh snapped the photo.

This is an acrylic painting on 1/8″ thick museum-grade Masonite board. The Masonite is gesso-covered board called “Gessobord” made by Ampersand. The overall size of this painting is 16″ x 20″. This was my first painting in 34 years.

I started my process by penciling the major lines to the board. This is version one after applying the paint to the background, his Stetson and his face.

Alan Baker as Buffalo Bill

Version two shows the under-base for Alan’s hair. I added more under-base to his face.

Alan Baker as Buffalo Bill

Version three shows more of the middle layers of his hair with much more to come. I also started the process of painting the soft leather fringed coat.

Alan Baker as Buffalo Bill

Version four, I painted in the full under-base of his coat.

Alan Baker as Buffalo Bill

On version five, I added many of the details and darker shadow areas on his coat. I also laid down the white areas of his embroidered shirt. You can see in the final version, the many hours of work to paint in all the embroidered roses and leaves. Also, if you look closely, you can see the whole piece had many small details added to all areas. All the shading on his face was then completed. The last layers of his hair was added. I put the last coat on the background and then signed it. This piece took roughly fifty hours to complete.

Alan Baker as Buffalo Bill

Here are three close-ups to see some of the details up-close and personal. Thanks for riding along. Stay tuned, there are many more of my work in progresses to come.

Denny

Alan Baker as Buffalo Bill

Alan Baker as Buffalo Bill

Alan Baker as Buffalo Bill


Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
Alan Baker as Buffalo Bill

View the work in progress »

Buy this print
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.

Edition of 350.

Original is available. $5,000

Inquire today about purchasing the original. Call 307-899-2052 or email info@karchnerwesternart.com

Measures: 16″ x 20″

This framed original is currently on display at the Plainsmen Gallery in Clearwater, FL.



Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
Cody the Legend
Buy this print
This is a “pencil” of William F. Cody in his later years. This piece was drawn using a very obscure photograph for reference that Karchner obtained from an anonymous source in Washington, D.C. This “pencil” is soon to be archived in the Buffalo Bill Historical Centers private library. For a library of 250,000 photos, the BBHC was shocked they had never seen this portrait of Cody. What a find on Karchner’s part!

Pencil on heavy-weight illustration board.

Edition of 250.

Original donated to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center 2004 Art Auction, Cody, WY–Private Collection.

Measures: 12″ x 18″



Sunday, August 30th, 2009
William F. Cody
Buy this print
This “pencil” was drawn using a photograph for reference taken by photographer, Eugene Pirou in Paris, France in 1896.

This piece was published in the Buffalo Bill Historical Centers, “Points West” Fall 2004 Magazine. The title of the article is “Building the West”, written by Karchners’ good friend George Mongon, Deputy Director of the BBHC.

Pencil on heavy-weight illustration board.

Edition of 250.

Original is unavailable.

Measures: 7.8″ x 10″




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