Fred Harman Art Museum
Fred Harman, who died in 1982, was one of the founders of the Cowboy Artists of America. In addition to becoming one of the country's foremost painters of the American West, he was also the creator of the world-famous cartoon strip, "Red Ryder and Little Beaver." Fred Harman was also an established sculptor and illustrator. He was likewise a great humanitarian. Come celebrate the life and art of this great historical figure at The Fred Harman Art Museum.
The gregarious Fred Harman lived and worked at one time or another in various parts of the U.S. but his heart was always in Colorado, particularly the Southwestern part known as "the four corners." He was truly a cowboy (and later rancher) who had a remarkable talent for capturing and interpreting his special world into artistic forms.
Recognition and real success came slowly to Fred Harman, but his optimism and perseverance never lagged. He was born in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1902, but his parents moved to Pagosa Springs, Colorado when he was just 2 months old. His father had previously homesteaded in Pagosa in 1891. His life really began in the land of cowboys and Indians what with Ute, Apaches and Navajos living in the same proximity as the ranchers.
During those early years, Harman seemed to be in and out of Missouri a great deal. Apparently he exercised his artistic talent from the very beginning as his first printed picture appeared in a St. Joseph newspaper when Harman was only 6 years of age. The self-taught painter was not as happy in school as he was on ranches or when he was drawing. After 7 years of formal education, he dropped out of school and ultimately joined the army. It was the time of World War I.
1922 found Fred Harman in Kansas City working at his first commercial art job. He was one of three cartoonists making film ads for a moving picture company. Fred and one of the other cartoonists, Walt Disney, formed their own company, but, alas, they went broke after a year. Disney went to California to pursue a career and Harman returned to his beloved Colorado.
Not much later, the struggling young artist was back in St. Joseph. The short-lived Pony express had been founded in that city in 1861 and though it only survived for a mere 18 months, it created enough interest and excitement to make its own niche in the lore of Western Americana. It was only natural that Fred would be interested in this brief chapter on history. He did a goodly amount of artwork related to that subject including illustrating pertinent books. He even designed the costumes for an MGM film about The Pony Express. It was during this period that he met pretty young Lola Andrews, a musician. On their very first date, Fred took Lola to the Premier of "The Pony Express" film.
A year later Fred married his Lola and in 1927 their son Fred was born, like his father, in St. Joseph. By the end of the 1920's the young family was in St. Paul, Minnesota where Harman entered a partnership to form an advertising business. All though this and after 3 years of it, he took his family to Colorado where he and Lola built their own log cabin on the San Juan.
Misfortune loomed again in the form of the National Depression. Fred Harman, like so many others was broke! Fred had two younger brothers, each of whom was a good artist in their own right. Earlier they had gone to Hollywood and made a success of animated cartoons. They had their own studio and produced the popular Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes. So, Fred loaded up his canvases and went to Hollywood.
Harman had a big exhibit of his work at the Stendahl Art Galleries in Los Angeles, but not one piece was sold. Not very encouraging for a young artist but it didn't get Harman down, instead he decided that he would do a comic strip and he created "Bronc Peeler". Since no one else was interested in presenting the strip, Fred syndicated it himself, and again went broke.
All was not in vain, however, as his work caught the attention of Eastern publishers and he went to New York City. Fred worked diligently in the big city during the 