C.M. Russell Museum: Cowboy artist was lousy student with a vision. Savvy wife ran the business as he became a famous western artist

The studio of famed western artist Charles Marion Russell is much as he left it and is part of the nationally known museum named after the man who lived from 1864 to1926. Known as one of America’s greatest artists, he lived the life he captured on canvas, creating a fine historical record of Western cultures, landscapes, and wildlife.

Story By Christene Meyers

Photos By Bruce Keller

"The Carpe Diem Kids"

FAMED WESTERN artist Charlie Russell was a lousy student with a talent for drawing. Born in St. Louis, he didn't like school much. At not quite 16 years, he convinced his parents to let him leave formal education to set out on his own for Montana.

In 1880, in the wide open spaces of Big Sky Country, he worked as a sheepherder and didn't enjoy that either. But the man who would become one of the world's most famous western artists had a vision. Luck played a part, too, in the people he met, places he landed.

Charlie Russell's paintings range from elegant landscapes to comical observations. He painted and sketched more than 2,000 works in his lifetime. His artwork is acclaimed for its attention to detail and depiction of life as it was in the early days of the west's settlement.

The cowboy painter spent time on his paintings and drawing, often trading sketches for room and board and drinks at the bar. Gradually, Russell made a name for himself and eventually exhibited widely in the U.S. and Europe.

His success is due in great part to his business savvy wife, Nancy Cooper Russell, who is given proper credit for her role in his fame at the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls. They met in 1895 at a dinner party at the home of one of Charlie's friends. Nancy was the live-in housekeeper. She caught Charlie's eye. They courted and were married the next year.

The artist cultivated friendships with native Americans, and captured their strength, elegance and connection to the earth.

C.M. Russell Museum has an international reputation.

Its 3,000-plus pieces of Western art are beautifully curated a large complex covering an entire city block of town. It's well worth a couple days to explore the museum and beyond.

Great Falls is a pretty, mid-sized city -- around 60,000 people -- nestled between mountain ranges, rivers and wilderness areas. Most visitors spend a couple days -- at least one at the cowboy painter C.M. Russell Museum. There are hotels and restaurants for most budgets.

The home and studio of famed western artist C.M. Russell is visited by thousands of tourists each year. Here, Bruce Keller and Christene Meyers tour.

Cowboy painter's C.M. Russell Museum doesn't feel overwhelming despite its breadth.

It includes an impressive 16 exhibition galleries, educational programming spaces, a research center and a lovely outdoor sculpture garden. A favorite of visitors is Russell's fully-restored home and studio.

What strikes the viewer of his art is his eye for a vast country in transition, with all its virtues, and vanities. Near destruction of the bison, racism, ignorance and intrusion of the white man into nature and native life are all astutely documented. Culture, landscape and wildlife all take a turn and often mingle in his detailed paintings.

Charlie Russell and his wife, Nancy, made a successful team. She understood the business end of the partnership. He was happy to be the artist.

THE HOME HAS a charm unique to the west, with a glimpse into the life of the family. The studio is charming, with Charlie's sketches, personal effects and architectural nuances. It's a studio that looks loved and lived in, a National Historic Landmark, where he lived and created for 24 years alongside his astute wife and business partner Nancy Cooper Russell.

Plan to spend at least three hours in this treasure of the Treasure State.

More information or to visit: cmrussell.org

Seeing Legoland or Disneyland, a park, a new hotel, a museum, with children gives adults a new perspective. Here, Cookie in green, with her niece Amarylla, and her two kids, Peny and James.

UP NEXT: If you haven't traveled with a youngster, consider it! Take a niece or nephew, grandchild or favorite little person with you on a day outing or a long trip. We often take part of a trip with our family, and find it enriching and eye-opening. It enhances a journey -- long or short. You'll likely plan your time better and make use of resources you might not consider without another generation or two along. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on family, performance, the arts, nature and more.