http://www.artq.net/ArtistWork.asp?artist_id=SAWKD1402861008530640 Denny Karchner - Online Art Gallery - Artist Portfolio en-us Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:49:27 PST http://www.artq.net/ArtView.asp?artwork_id=AAHC54243241165530036
Original is 18" x 24" on "museum-grade" Masonite.

Original is for sale - $7500

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It is traditional oils on Ampersand Masonite "Claybord." The overall size is 24" wide x 15" high. Original sold.

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As you look out our front window here on the Lower South Fork of the Shoshone River, which faces southwest, you see the famous landmark, called "Castle Rock" about three miles away. It juts up from the valley floor and stands all by itself. It rises several hundred above the floor of the valley. "Castle Rock" actually climbs to 6,010 feet (1,831.85 meters) above sea level. Here at the ranch we are about 5300 feet above sea level to give you an idea how high it is.

As the "Castle Rock" sign says: "John Colter, famed among the famous breed of Mountain Men, passed this landmark late in the fall of 1807 while on business for the fur trader Manual Lisa. Searching for Indians in order to conduct trade, he also hunted salt caves reputedly located near the headwaters of this stream then known as the 'stinking water.' On his journey, Colter not only discovered this later named Shoshone River but he also became the first recorded white man to visit the upper Wind River, Jackson's Hole and Yellowstone Park. His lonely trek, compounding the normal dangers of savage wilderness by mid winter passage of a broad and lofty mountain range, lives in history and legend an epic of fortitudinous exploration."

There is a lot of other history that is based around this famous landmark. To this day, you can still see the original "teepee rings" around the base.

The piece 24" x 18", traditional oils on Masonite. Original is SOLD.

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Rick is a senior in high school and he is 18 years old. Rick has been riding since the age of two. He specializes in "team roping" and "calf roping." Rick has four horses that he rides and trains. His pride and joy is his horse "Money." He started team roping and calf roping during his freshman year in high school and has been participating in the SC High School Rodeo Association since that time. He is also a member of several professional rodeo associations. He will travel up to ten hours away to compete most weekends. Rick has won several of these professional rodeos and competed in the 25th Annual George Strait team roping competition in San Antonio, TX this March. After graduation in May, he is planning to attend Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant, Texas where he will further his education and still be able to learn more about his true passion, rodeo riding.

Rick is posed with his favorite saddle that his Dad bought for him. It's a high-end "Courts" roping saddle handmade by a company called "McMaster Custom Tack" in Texas. It is one gorgeous piece of work!

The piece is traditional oils on the Ampersand "Gessobord" Masonite. The size is 24" x 20" overall.

Original- Sold

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Michael was kind enough to pose for Denny in Pinedale, Wyoming in July while he was there giving lectures on the Plains Indians history during the annual Mountain Man Rendezvous.

Original is SOLD.

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The overall size of this painting is 16" x 20". The medium is acrylics.

Original is for sale $5000.

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"Ned Christie's story is one of tragedy. He was a suspect in the killing of a lawman. It was shown later that he did not do the killing.

Still, as a suspect, the lawmen entered the indian territory in pursuit of Ned Christie, but neighbors announced any approaching posse. Each time Ned was prepared and his marksman skills held them off. The pursuers usually left with a number of wounded.

He is the only man in history that it took several years for the U.S. Government to get who stayed at his own home the whole time. Ned was an Executive Council Member, or Senator, in the Cherokee Nation at the time of Dan Maples' killing. Ned went directly to the Chief and said he was going to go talk to Judge Parker to clear himself. Many people talked him out of it, knowing that Parker would never let him come, probably hang him on the spot. So, he went home to his wife, and family. He never left. As a Cherokee Senator and a member of the Keetowah Society, he firmly stood his ground that the U.S. Government had no jurisdiction in the Cherokee Nation. At the time, they didn't. In fact, he actively and feverishly spoke out against the Curtis Act and the impending Dawes act on the floor of the Council.

On one occasion, a posse which included Heck Thomas managed to sneak unnoticed to Christie's cabin. After the cabin caught fire, Ned's son bolted for the woods. The lawmen thinking it was Ned Christie wounded the boy. Finally, when Christie ran, Heck Thomas fired. The bullet fractured his nose and made his right eye sightless.

From this point, Ned stayed at a place known as Christie's Mountain. It was a fortress of sorts with a thick walls made of stone and wood. Numerous attempts were made by posses to dislodge Christie from the fort. All had to retreat with wounded men. Finally one group of lawmen arrived with a cannon and some dynamite. They used the cannon to topple the walls, then using a moving wall built from an old wagon, they moved toward the fort under gunfire. Finally, they used the dynamite to blowup the building Christie occupied. Chiriste ran after the explosion, straight into an officer. Ned was shot dead.

His stance against the government resulted in his death. He was a patriot who held up the laws of his Nation, and is honored by Cherokees.

In the enrollment and allotment of the Cherokees which followed his death, most members of his family in Wauhillau were denied allotments and enrollment. Even though they were fullbloods, and their parents were forced to walk the Trail of Tears. Ned Christie is buried in the Christie Cemetery in a "town" called Wauhilla, OK."

This piece is traditional oils on Masonite. The size is 18" x 24" overall.

This piece is traditional oils on Masonite. The size is 18" x 24" overall.

Original for sale - $7500

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He wears a bright red, white and blue blanket wrapped around his waist. The blanket is one like those the U.S. Government gave the Indian Chiefs of that time. Just out of sight, on Michael's chest, is a "Presidential Peace" medal, also given to the Indian Chiefs. Lastly, the fan he is portrayed holding was made from immature eagle feathers. Hanging from it are more ermine furs and leather thongs that are below his right hand. Michael hand-made all the authentic regalia that he is shown wearing.

This piece measures 17" x 23," medium is traditional oils on "Claybord," gesso-coated Masonite.

Original for sale - $7500

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It is traditional oils on Ampersand Masonite "Claybord." The overall size is 24" wide x 15" high.

Original for sale - $7500

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Original on "Claybord" Masonite.The overall size of this piece is 12" x 18". Pencil on heavy-weight illustration board.

Framed original available - $5000

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The overall size of this piece is 12" x 18". Pencil on heavy-weight illustration board.

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

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This portraiture is of Charles Bolin from Deland, Florida. " Cypress Scout, as Mr. Bolin refers to himself, is his alias as a member of a nationwide organization called the " Single Action Shooting Society," also known by their acronym " S.A.S.S." All members of S.A.S.S. uses an alias to compete. Denny was invited to observe one of their regional shooting range competitions in Florida in December, 2005.

The piece is traditional oils on the Ampersand "Gessobord" Masonite. The size is 18" x 24" overall.

Original Available $6000

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The piece is traditional oils on the Ampersand "Gessobord" Masonite. The size is 18" x 24" overall. The reference photograph is from the Mountain Man Rendezvous in July 2006, Pinedale, Wyoming.

Original is SOLD.

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The overall size of this piece is 12" x 18". Pencil on heavy-weight illustration board.

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

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The "Great Divide" runs from the north though the center of Yellowstone National Park and right atop these massive mountains that I have behind Sheldon and his horse. The "Tetons" were named by the early French fur traders that thought when they first saw them that they reminded them of womens' breasts! Thus the name, "Grand Tetons!" The Tetons rise 13,770 feet above sea level from the valley floor which is already 6,530 feet above sea level.

The piece is traditional oils on "museum-grade" Masonite and the size is 18" x 24" Original available - $9000

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This is a commissioned piece that I was asked to do after Curt passed away in February 2006, things moved ahead with more commitment. As time went by between then and now, Cheryl, Curt's daughter, and I had discussed the portrait of her "Daddy." At first discussion, it was going to be a graphite in my tight style, but with my evolution into oils, we agreed that I would "paint the man." Paint the "man" in his true elements, that is what I did. The photograph that was provided to me by the Gowdy's photographer showed Curt sitting along a trout stream in Wyoming wearing his favorite Stetson, turquoise bolo tie, antelope pin, and his prized fly rod and reel. The Gowdys asked that I title this piece "The Cowboy On The River."

Original is 18" x 24" on "museum-grade" Masonite.

Original is Sold

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This piece measures 16" x 20," medium is acrylics on "Claybord," gesso-coated Masonite.

Original is for sale - $5000

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With a showdown battle in Pennsylvania anticipated, the colorful 23 year-old George Armstrong Custer was jumped past most of his peers and made a brigadier general by George G. Meade. After Gettysburg, Custer fought other battles. Aside from his Civil War service, he is best known for his defeat and death at the Little Bighorn River on June 25, 1876. This is a postwar portrait, since Custer did not display the insignia of a major general until after April 15, 1865.

The overall size of this piece is 14" x 18". Pencil on heavy-weight illustration board.

Original sold.

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Because of the long distance between churches, the preachers would ride on horseback. They were called "circuit riders" or "saddlebag preachers." They traveled with few possessions, carrying only what would fit in their saddlebags. They traveled through wilderness and villages, they preached every day at any place available such as peoples' cabins, courthouses, fields, meeting houses, later, even basements and street corners. Unlike preachers of settled denominations, Methodist preachers were always on the move (most circuits were so large that it would take 5 to 6 weeks to cover their assignment). This is what boosted Methodism into the largest Protestant denomination at the time; bringing the church to the common people.

My model was the first rider out in last year's 2006 Annual Mountain Man Rendezvous in Pinedale, Wyoming. He was so striking and stood out from all the other actors. He rode out on a beautiful "Blue Roan" horse. The horse appeared to be all black (actually black hair with silver mixed in) that matched the man's all black regalia from hat to boots. The man just blew me away. I turned to Leigh and made the quick statement, "that preacher is a painting for sure." The man even nodded at me as if he knew on his last ride by us. After the event they announced that most of the actors would be available for photographs. We made a beeline straight over to the man. It was spitting rain the whole time we were there, the sky looked like it would open anytime. As we introduced ourselves the rain stopped but the grey sky remained. The man was so gracious to pose in whatever position we asked. As I directed the shots, I don't know why, but I asked him to please look back over his right shoulder. I even heard Leigh react to the two-second preview in her camera's LCD screen. I knew it was going to be "the shot."

It wasn't until weeks later that the title came to me while listening to Don Henley of the Eagles singing the lyrics to "The Last Resort." The spiritual song is about the settlers moving across the plains seeking and praying for the next "paradise." I was studying Leigh's photograph of the circuit preacher as the song played. It was at that moment that it hit me. There was a reason that I had asked for the "look over the shoulder." Then the title came to me like a revelation.

Proudly I present to you, Festus Krause of Cora, Wyoming. Festus was playing the part of a 1860-1870 era "Circuit Rider." Festus is actually a rancher and works the oil fields outside of Pinedale, Wyoming. Festus is a "class-act." Even though he is not a "real" preacher, he is a man to be well-respected. Thank you, my good friend.

This piece measures 16" x 20," medium is traditional oils on "Claybord," gesso-coated Masonite.

Original is for sale $8000.

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All the clothing, regalia, props, jewelry and such are hand-made by Michael to help explain, educate and nullify myths and legends about the Plains Indians history through demonstration, story-telling and careful and accurate responses to questions posed by his audiences. Michael has posed and been painted for the last 30 plus years by well-known western artists such as Frank McCarthy, James Bama, Howard Terpning.

The piece is traditional oils on the Ampersand " Gessobord" Masonite.

Original is for sale $7500

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The size on this piece is 16" x 20." Traditional oils on gesso-coated Masonite.

Original is for sale - $7500

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The photographic reference was taken by the famous Civil War photographer, Matthew Brady.

Image area 14" X 18", Original on "Claybord" Masonite.

Framed and matted original available - $3900

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The piece is traditional oils on my Ampersand "Gesso Claybord." The overall size is 14" x 24.

Original is SOLD.

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My favorite place in this entire world is standing in the Rocky Mountains above "tree level" in the month of October. I have found a place called "The Bridger Wilderness Area" just outside of Pinedale, Wyoming. It was named after the famous explorer, Jim Bridger. It is over a million acres in size with several thousand trout-filled lakes. It is located 70 miles south of Jackson Hole and 110 south of Yellowstone National Park. I go there to hunt and guide for the Rocky Mountain Elk.

I could go on and on about how beautiful this place really is and what it means to be there, but I won't. Words could never do it justice. So I will just let my "pencil" and its "title" try to say it for me.

The original is 7.75" x 10.25" overall. It is drawn on medium weight, hot press Crescent Illustration Board. German made Faber-Castell Drawing Pencils were used. The majority of the "pencil' was done with a #4 and a #6 lead, while the remainder was darkened with #8 lead. Total time to complete was over 26 hours.

Original Not Available.

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The photographic portrait reference was provided courtesy of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyoming, portrait photograph reference was taken in 1909 by Edward S. Curtis.

The overall size of this piece is 12" x 18". Pencil on heavy-weight illustration board.

The original was donated and accepted for permanent placement in the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia, October, 2005.

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One of his famous quotes is: "Education is your greatest weapon. With education you are the white man's equal, without education you are his victim and so shall remain all of your lives. Study, learn, help one another always. Remember there is only poverty and misery in idleness and dreams - but in work there is self respect and independence."

He very much wanted the Crow to continue as a people and their customs and spiritual beliefs to carry on. His efforts on their behalf ensured that this happened.

He was the principal chief of the Mountain Crows, or the Apsáalooke, of the Crow Nation.

Photographic reference was provided by the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, portrait reference photograph taken by Edward S. Curtis.

The overall size of this piece is 12" x 18". Pencil on heavy-weight illustration board.

Original available $3900

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The photographic reference was taken by the famous Civil War photographer, Matthew Brady.

Image area 14" X 18", Original on "Claybord" Masonite.

Framed and matted original available - $3900

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This piece is traditional oils on museum-grade Masonite. The size is 16" x 20" overall.

Original for sale - $6500

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This piece is a traditional oil, on a "Claybord," Gesso-covered Masonite. The overall size is 16" x 20". Original available - $5000

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Denny had the privilege of meeting Jim at the museum while visiting October, 2005 while delivering the two pieces of art the museum requested for placement in their permanent collection at the Booth. There was something quite special about Jim. He is also an artist. He, along with another guy at the museum who reads stories of the old west, portrays the famous western artist, " Charles Russell." While the reading progresses, Jim draws really great rough sketches that Charles Russell was so famous for. Medium is traditional oils on " Claybord," gesso-coated Masonite.

The piece is traditional oils on the Ampersand "Gessobord" Masonite. The size is 16" x 20" overall.

Original - Sold

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Reference photos made available by the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, WY.

The overall size of this piece is 12" x 18". Pencil on heavy-weight illustration board.

Original is SOLD.

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The piece is traditional oils on the Ampersand "Gessobord" Masonite. The size is 18" x 24" overall.

Original is SOLD.

]]> http://www.artq.net/ArtView.asp?artwork_id=SNVE5410861009024026
The original is 8"x10.5" overall. It is drawn on medium weight, hot press Crescent Illustration Board. German made Faber-Castell Drawing Pencils were used. The majority of the "pencil' was done with a #4 lead, while the remainder was darkened with a #6 and #8 leads. Total time to complete was 15 hours. Original available - $1100.

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The original is 8"x10.5" overall. It is drawn on medium weight, hot press Crescent Illustration Board. German made Faber-Castell Drawing Pencils were used. The majority of the "pencil' was done with a #4 lead, while the remainder was darkened with a #6 and #8 leads. Total time to complete was 18 hours. Original available - $1100

]]> http://www.artq.net/ArtView.asp?artwork_id=HKNE541086100903066
The original is 8"x10.5" overall. It is drawn on medium weight, hot press Crescent Illustration Board. German made Faber-Castell Drawing Pencils were used. The majority of the "pencil' was done with a #4 lead, while the remainder was darkened with a #6 and #8 leads. Total time to complete was 16 hours.

Original is SOLD.

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The overall size of the original is 8"x10 1/2". Total time to complete is approximately 20 hours.

Original available - $1100

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Original available - $1100

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The overall size of the original is 8"x10.75". Total time to complete is approximately 17 hours

Original available - $1100

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