Smoking Them Out 1906

Charles M. Russell made "Smoking Them Out" using quick strokes, creating a scene with lots of movement. The painting is filled with earth tones – browns, yellows, and tans – that give it a dusty, rugged feel. You can see how Russell used thin washes of paint to build up the landscape, letting the color of the surface peek through. The sky has these washy blues that just float above the scene, pushing the eye down towards the action. If you look closely at the horses, especially the one in the foreground, you can see how Russell used short, choppy brushstrokes to give the impression of muscles and movement, a flurry of action. There's a looseness that makes it feel alive. This piece reminds me a bit of Frederic Remington, another artist who captured the West, but Russell has a rawer, more immediate feel. It shows how painting can be about capturing a moment, a feeling, rather than just making a pretty picture.