Commissioned painting to help Canyon bike path

Freedom Bank president Don Bennett has teamed up with Whitefish artist Colt Idol in a fundraiser for the Gateway to Glacier Trail project

Bennett commissioned Idol to paint “Discover Freedom,” a 6-foot by 4-foot oil painting of a bald eagle flying near Logan Pass.

Idol began work on the piece in the beginning of April and worked on it for about a month. The 22-year-old artist has created a fine piece of work.

Now the public can own one of the 200 embellished giclée of the original. Idol will be on hand at the bank Aug. 22 for an unveiling of his work and to add personal touches in paint to each print as well as an original signature.

The prints will be sold for $350, and $100 will go toward the trail project, which will run along U.S. 2 from Coram to West Glacier. The hope, Bennett said, is to raise $20,000 for the trail project, which has reached 95 percent of its fundraising goal.

Idol has been painting for a couple of years. He’s better known in sports circles as a standout basketball player for the Whitefish High School Bulldogs. He said he never took an art class in high school — they were always full.

He went to Montana State University to play basketball, but two ACL surgeries later and a micro fracture in his knee after he transferred to Carroll College ended any hoop dreams.

So Idol turned to art. He’s always liked to draw, and he’s had an excellent teacher — his father is well-known artist Dick Idol. The family has a gallery in Whitefish, and Colt’s work is in high demand. He’s not only busy with commissions, he also provides work for galleries across the West.

“It’s been unbelievable the response we’ve had,” Colt said of the Whitefish gallery, which opened a little more than a year ago.

People can pre-order a print of “Discover Freedom” by calling the Freedom Bank at 892-1776. Ask for Stefanie or Cameron. The unveiling event will start at 4 p.m., with wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres.