Not Out Of the Woods — An Interview with LR Montgomery

LR Montgomery is no stranger to the woods. Nor does he want to be.

Montgomery grew up near Potlatch, Idaho, and spent happy hours of his childhood hunting and fishing with his dad and his uncle. He still enjoys being outdoors and has a love of nature that shows through in his paintings.

The Dishman Hills is one of his major passions. He has been painting there for 30 years and has donated some of his art to auctions to spark interest in the area. He would love to try to get people to join and be members of the Dishman Hills Conservancy. “I see so much beauty there, and it is so easy to get into conversations with people who love it as much as I do.” Named Dishman Hills Conservancy’s artist-inresidence, Montgomery tells me he knows lots of artists who would like to have that residency.

But his love of the outdoors is not confined to the Dishman Hills. “There is a man who is always bribing me to paint his woodlot. Then there is the St. Joe River, which I also love to paint. To me, you get down on the riverbank and there it is. How can you go wrong with all that beauty right in front of you? I think I have sold every piece I have done on the St. Joe. It takes your breath away. There is a magnetism that draws people to it.”

Looking at nature, again and again, he sees that each time is a little different. Every nuance depends on the day, the time, and the weather, and he wants to share each of those experiences with others. Montgomery paints mostly with oils. His love of the outdoors and the beauty he finds there are evident in his many paintings.

“I do a lot of plein air painting, where I go outside and paint. There is only so much time in which to finish. I try to make observations and do as much with notes and color notes as I can. Later, I might make a big painting from a little one.

“I try to do a painting in about four or five hours. We believe what we see, and we paint it and don’t question it. Then I let it sit for a few days. Sometimes I’ll throw a painting away, and my wife will rescue it out of the trash. I am my own worst critic. I have a little round mirror that I use to get a second opinion of what I do.”

There are heroes in Montgomery’s own journey in art. He admires and is inspired by some of the masters like Renoir, Monet, and Van Gogh, and he holds Spokane artists in the highest esteem. “I think the artists in Spokane are the best artists in the world,” he says and praises each one for the willingness to share, to encourage other artists, and to help others succeed in any way they can.

“We have so many talented people right here. It’s a great place for the arts. I have so much fun in what I do. There are so many projects and sites to paint and other things I like to be involved in that sometimes it feels like there are not enough hours in the day to get them done.”

His wife, Carole, receives his praise for being the one who works behind the scenes to help him do what he does. They do shows all over the West, and she is the one who puts it all together. She is also his business manager, which frees him to do what he does best ― what he loves ― and that is to paint.

Montgomery has a passion for conservation and preserving outdoor wonders for kids and adults to enjoy. “Kids need more time playing in piles of dirt and being outside.” He would like to see everyone working to preserve places like the Dishman Hills for kids of all ages to have adventures. Recently, he did a project with the Latah Creek area. He says he wants to see it preserved so people can go there and enjoy it.

“Share with other people. Whether you are an artist, a musician, or a writer, support from others makes the creative career possible. Gardening, farming, and being a craftsperson are the hardest jobs in the world.” Montgomery values hard work and persistence, and most importantly, the faith that you will realize the fruits of your labors. He listens to Mozart while he paints. The volume of the composer’s works impresses him because his prolific creativity motivates him and encourages exploring what he can do. Montgomery is also a fan of Ernest Hemmingway. After all, Hemmingway shared his life experiences in the stories he wrote, and all because he lived life to the fullest.

“People commission me to paint their farms, and they become friends, and in a way part of my own family. And definitely become a part of my life. I enjoy meeting the people who collect my paintings. I love my collectors; they are so kind to me.”

Circumstances of the COVID19 outbreak have changed the paradigm of how to market artwork. However, Montgomery and his wife have found ways to stay connected. For example, in previous years, he has done many art shows throughout the area, but this year was different because of the pandemic. They have a studio in their home and participated in an art tour that accommodated considerations for the virus this year. “Carole is the brains of where we can go and where the audience is,” he is quick to say and gives thanks to Denny Carman for organizing the event.

You can find examples of LR Montgomery’s art and a wealth of further information about the longtime Spokane artist at: http://www. LRMontgomery.com. 14 ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE