Robert Walton, was VERY active in the fine art field for over 45 years. This new web site was created in order to keep in touch with those patrons who have supported Robert over the years, with the purchase of over 6000 of his paintings. Robert truly was blessed!
Many of paintings shown here, were created during the last 2 months of Robert's life, before he became ill. Some originals are still available, but all are available as Canvas Giclee Prints, in editions of 200, to honor the day that he was taken from us, on the 20th.
March 18 thru March 22, 2021 (2020 was cancelled due to the virus) The Western Heritage Artists Show held in Great Falls, will honor Robert's life and creativity, having their poster for 2020 with one of his past creations. The event will be held at The Holiday Inn (on the Hill) in Great Falls Montana. We will have his last originals displayed in ROOM 105 and offered to a handful of fortunate patrons, along with some gorgeous Canvas Giclee Prints (editions of 200, to honor the day he was taken from us, on the 20th). Hope you can come and be part of this special few days!
If you have great memories of your friendship with Robert, please share them with his wife, thru email, or possibly written down for her to treasure! Or if you have any questions, or would like to order any of his images (that we have on file), as a Canvas Giclee Print, please contact us.
Thank You, and God Bless!
Betty Jean Billups (Walton)
In the seven years Robert and I were together, he faithfully painted daily from about 7:30 til about 6 in the evening, unless he had an errand to run, or a show to attend! To me, his studio, while he was painting, was a very sacred space, so in 7 years, I was only in there one time getting something. He was working on the painting that is showing on this his home page, titled: "The Final Goodbye”. He ALWAYS started with his skies and worked down to the bottom, without fail. With his sky as you see it, the awesome beauty of the setting sun actually OFF the canvas to the right, first time I EVER questioned any of his art choices, why he had the wonderful light so far off the canvas. He merely replied: “That is where I want it”. What a Master!! Truly a powerful statement with the finished painting!
Viewing his vast and magnificent creations, I never entered his studio while he was painting, because to me it was a very sacred area when he was creating. I noticed Robert probably only used 2, maybe 3 photo references for any one painting, and he had over 2 dozen 24” file drawers filled with photos he had captured over those 45+ years, so he had plenty of reference, just used very little when painting!
The balance of what you see in any of his paintings, was created from his soul and his memories!
From about 12 to 27, Walton climbed the local mountains of Washington State, his favorite being Mount Rainier! His paintings seldom
were created WITHOUT one of these magnificent ranges! And with one expedition, he and the others on the team,
scaled one face of Mount Rainier, that had never been climbed!
At the end of 2018, Robert had his bursa burst on his right elbow, and thus it was in a cast for all of November and December, unable to paint. I have zero recall of those months, not a very "happy" time for Walton. His normal day was spent from around 8 in the morning
til 5 or 6 at night, in the studio, creating and capturing the beauty that you see in his work today!
Finally the first days of January he was released from this "sling prison”, and he was back to painting 12 hours daily, up thru the entire month of February 2019. Early March, Robert took these last dozen or so paintings to get scanned and have canvas giclee prints made, for his up coming shows in Washington and Montana. During these days, I would peek into his studio, and he would be sleeping at the easel, numerous times! The last time, his arm extended, with his brush resting actually ON the canvas he was working on, and asleep! That day, I suggested that he needed to see his Doctor. That was the last day Robert was ever in his studio!
After being admitted to the hospital, I believed he was coming home soon, so I followed thru with his prints, and ordered a variety of sizes for each painting, got stretcher bars, and ordered frames so they would be ready for his up coming shows in Washington and Montana.
But instead, I had to say good bye to this wonderful man, whom I was blessed to be with, the final seven years of his life.
Now, pulling my heart and mind together, I have gotten another domain name
(since his “robertwalton.com" domain was closed at the time of his death, by his family).
The new domain is:
www.robertwaltonart.com
and also thru my web site:
www.robertwaltonfineart.com
So either will bring you to his wonderful work, each a tad different! And each has some paintings that the other one does not!
Just for a nice surprise any time you visit one of them!
Thank you for dropping in.
AND should YOU have stories or memories that you have of your time with Bob, Please share them with me!
They are really all that I have left! Except for his "occasional" showing up...in the oddest ways! ;+)
Since he is no longer "here" this will probably be the only Blog, that will be shared!!
Always, with love, Betty J. Billups
