114 YEARBOOK, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE [Vol. III. 



appropriate locality is then chosen to serve as background, and the 

 work begins. 



It frequently happens that the landscape which is to be painted, 

 is situated many miles from our headquarters at the agencj^, as was the 

 case with the Nevada, Blackfoot and Iroquois groups. Then it is 

 necessary to engage a team with an Indian driver to take the party 

 out to this location every morning. We provide ourselves with lunch, 

 coffee, cameras and water bottles, and after the easel is set up and the 

 painting begun — Dr. Barrett leaves with the driver to collect among 

 the Indians. They return in the evening, pick up the writer and his 

 impedimenta, and drive back to the agencJ^ 



If the weather is fine one can usually work several hours at the 

 background and spend the rest of the time on sketches in the neigh- 

 borhood, or on detail sketches of the background itself. But when it 

 is cloudy or rainy troubles begin. At such times one finds shelter 

 under an overhanging rock, or a tree, or anything that will keep 

 artist and sketches dry. At best such shelter is often very inadequate 

 and one gets thoroughly soaked. It is also very unpleasant when a 

 strong wind sets in and easel and sketching board are shaken like 

 leaves on a tree. For instance when on the Blackfoot reservation 

 such an extremely unpleasant situation arose. It was bright and sunny 

 but very wind}^ one morning when we drove out to the sketching place. 

 Although everything had been tied down with cords fastened to 

 heavy stones on the ground, a sudden strong wind struck the easel 

 overturning it with the sketch; blew over the umbrella, broke it and 

 would have carried it over a bluff down into the river below, if it had 

 not been caught in time. Fortunately all this happened before Dr. 

 Barrett had left for the day, so together we replaced everything and 

 fastened it down more securelj^, and the painting started. Later in 

 the day the wind died out and the work was continued without fur- 

 ther trouble. 



To be sure such incidents do not occur every day but they must be 

 reckoned with when working in the field and an artist must always be 

 prepared to encounter them. A violent storm or a thundershower is a 

 very serious proposition out in the desert or on the plains, miles from 

 any settlement, tree, or shelter of any kind. However, it is just this 

 lonesomeness which alwaj's gives these places their peculiar charm 

 and fascination. Often for daj^s not a soul is to be seen out in the 

 desert, except possibly an Indian passing on his pony, who stops a 

 few moments to watch the .work and possibly ask a few questions 

 concerning it. As one sits quietly at work he can usually have an 



