Glacier is artist's backyard

Glacier National Park is home ground for artist Allen Jimmerson.

Jimmerson has lived in Columbia Falls since he was two years old. He has been painting full time for 15 years, since he had a voluntary lay-off from the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co.

When he was 15 years old, a high school freshman, he took a painting class. It was a dream fulfilled from when he was a young boy. But, he was not able to continue because he wasn't advanced in his craft enough to make a living.

He went to work at the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. plant, where all of his family at the time worked as well. In his spare time he continued to work on his painting.

But then he had a chance to take time off from the plant in 2000 during a voluntary layoff.

"It was a no brainer" to take the year off from the plant, he said. "When I worked there my goal always was to become a full-time artist."

By the end of that first year, he had a studio at Snappy Sport Senter and no one wanted him to go back to work at the plant, he said. He was now a professional artist and his work would be showcased throughout the West, including several covers for Cabela's, the giant outdoor equipment company.

The artist bug runs in the family. His mother is a painter and raised five children. His brother, Dan, is an artist in a different sense, performing magic shows.

Last week, for the first time, the public was invited on exclusive Red Bus plein air tours of Glacier National Park by the Hockaday Museum. Artists Mark Ogle, Nicholas Oberling, Rob Akey and Jimmerson were part of the tours. Two buses with two artists each went to Two Medicine for the day. One of the buses carried 11 guests to watch Akey and Jimmerson paint at Running Eagle Falls for two hours. About the same watched Ogle and Oberling.

Jimmerson started by sketching in pencil, then with acrylic paint. Conversely, Rob Akey saw a different scene at the falls and began with oil paint. They both painted the falls with Rising Wolf Mountain in the background.

Eight years ago, Jimmerson participated in the first plein air paint out. He has painted the falls before, but not from the same location.

After 45 minutes, he stepped back from the easel with the canvas completely painted, then continued working on the water. He moved around the painting for the next hour adding layers and depth. He used a palette knife to add texture to the rocks and trees.

"I just need to get the right color in the right spot," Jimmerson said, bringing laughter from the guests nearby.

He said that he was trying to get movement in the waterfall.

Jimmerson was about to add more opacity to the waterfall when light rain started to fall. They packed it up to avoid the shower.

A few minutes later it was raining heavily, chasing the bright Red Bus back to West Glacier, capping off a fine day of work.

Paintings created during the plein air event benefit the museum.

The paintings will remain on exhibit and for sale at fixed prices at the museum thru July 25.