For our final introduction, let me tell you a little bit about myself, Leslie Thompson, Adult Audiences Manager. I work within the education department, primarily with our Adult Programs. In addition, I organize continuing education for our docents and manage special events hosted at the museum. Every day is different, but usually I am planning or preparing for an upcoming program, which often involves conducting research about a certain topic related to our collection, gathering together all necessary materials, and coordinating with staff.
The best part of my job is having the opportunity to not only learn about a variety of subjects, but to be able to share this wealth of knowledge with the public and engage with fellow art enthusiasts. They traveled everywhere!
As a teenager, Russell moved from the established city of St. Louis to the uncharted Montana Territory. Several of them toured Europe, as was the custom of artists at the turn of the century β both Leigh and Charles Schreyvogel studied in Munich and Edwin Willard Deming in Paris.
And of course, each of these men traveled to the American West, as best captured in their artwork. Russell thought he was a better watercolorist than a painter of oils, which is probably why a third of his artistic output was in watercolors.
Watercolor is a difficult medium, so I admire anyone who can produce a good watercolor painting. For example, Russell layered the watercolors to create a thicker buildup of paint, as if they were oil paints. But above all else, I like the simplicity and elegance of this painting. Charles M.
