In 1890, Charlie Russell did produce a portfolio of artwork entitled the Studies of Western Life but generally speaking Charlie Russell did not consider himself an artist.   Most of Charlie Russell ‘s work at this time was either given away or threw away.

In 1896, at age 32 Charlie Russell ‘s life changed when he married Nancy Cooper she was sixteen years old. Nancy and Charlie Russell settled in Great Falls, Montana.

Charlie Russell built a working studio. Now keeping Charlie Russell working in the studio was easy. Keeping Charlie Russell from giving away his artwork was extremely difficult. It was actually Nancy who recognized the worth and value of her husband’s art work.

Russell greatly admired the American Indians, especially those of the Northern Plains, and spent the summer of 1888 visiting often with the Blood Indians in Alberta, Canada. This experience affected him for the rest of his life, and can be seen in the many detailed works he created of Plains Indians.

To learn more about the life and works of Charlie Russell, please visit the Charlie Russell Museum.