Winston Publishing

cm russell museum portfolio • 13 What's In A Name?.. watercolor. Dan Knepper painted this right after an 8 million dollar Mark Rothko was discovered to be a forgery. The background is the Rothko painting upside down. The ferrell on the brush says 'Rothko,' but there's no paint on it. time Knepper's art has been featured in the Charlie's March Roundup Live Auction. "e Coors family bought one of my paintings, then flew my son and me out to their ranch in Colorado for a few days," Knepper says. "My painting hangs in the master bedroom at the ranch with a spotlight. It's an honor." Knepper paints landscapes in oils and prefers to paint portraits in watercolor from his home in Jackson Center, Ohio, the home of the Airstream trailer. "I can do portraits in oils, but my watercolor tends to be more photogenic," he explains. A former art teacher, Knepper said he learned to paint by hosting workshops at the schools and bringing in nationally known artists to teach them. "I was teaching art in the small schools here and I wasn't learning fast enough myself," he explains. "I learned faster from the nationally known artists." Later, Knepper quit teaching to paint full-time. Knepper credits his mother for fueling his passion for art. "My mom painted pasture murals of horses and scenes on my bedroom walls," he explains. "And she painted Disney scenes on my window shades. I think that really influenced me." Knepper's mom joined his family on a trip through Montana a few years ago. at trip inspired Knepper even more. "My focus became even clearer when we visited Montana," says Knepper, whose art is featured in a Whitefish, Mont., gallery. "It was amazing, I thought to myself, 'this is what I want to paint – the last wild places.'" Charlie's March Roundup features many wild western artists. roughout the weekend, visitors have the option to participate in a sealed bid sale. "is sale features nine important historical art pieces that are consigned by collectors who set a minimum bid," explains Braaten. "ere are pieces by Charlie Russell in the sale." Artists in the Sealed Bid Sale include C.M. Russell, O.C. Seltzer, Edgar Paxson, Frank Tenney Johnson, Phillip R . Goodwin, and Franz Trevors - with a historic scaled mural recreation of Russell's masterpiece mural that hangs in the House Chambers in the Montana State Capitol. "e sealed bids will be opened on Sunday morning, Charlie Russell's birthday," says Braaten. "It really ties a bow on the weekend." Dan Knepper - Fishing Bearfoot 18" x 24" Oil

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