For many years, Frederic Sackrider Remington’s bronze sculpture, Bronco Buster, has set atop my library bookcase. I’ve always been fascinated by artist depicting cowboys and Indians.

I was born in New Mexico, hardly more than sixty years after sheriff Pat Garrett shot William H. Bonney, aka, Billy the Kid, deader’n a door nail. I even knew one person, A. J. Crawford, who claimed to know “the kid”personally. A. J. was ninety-nine years old when I was in high school.

The way I understand it, A. J. was a sheep herder during the Lincoln wars (war between the cattlemen and sheep herders in Lincoln County New Mexico). Instead of taking wages, he took sheep until he manipulated it into a small fortune. Later in life, he owned a chain of hotels.

My dad did contract work for A. J. painting his hotel rooms, and I couldn’t wait to meet him and have a chance to talk to him about his days in the old west. I finally got my chance one day while helping my dad. The little gentleman and I sat and talked for almost an hour until my dad reminded me that I was there to work. What an exciting day that was.

So, needless to say, the art of the Southwest has always been one of my favorite genres. Although I have not painted or drawn in the Southwest vein, my brother, Lynn Burton, and my daughter’s father-in-law, the late James Frederick have.

Another really great Southwest artist that I am privileged to say that I am familiar with is the artist, Gary Niblett.

Gary graduated from the same high school that I did. He was in my brothers graduating class one year before me. He went on to become an award winning artist. His work is copyrighted and can not be shown without permission, but if you are interested in viewing it, one of the sights that shows his work is embedded in my brothers painting, Chief and Skull. Just click on the picture, and it should take you there.