Jeff Walker hard at work

Born and raised in Great Falls, Montana, Jeff Walker's youth was spent observing, inspecting and recording Montana's stretch of bird life, ridges, and prairies. He graduated from Great Falls High School, received a degree from Montana State University in Bozeman, and did graduate work at Eastern Montana College after a stint in the Army. He taught secondary level art at Great Falls High, but soon left teaching to pursue a full time career in painting. Inspired by the watercolored prints of Audubon, the mediums of etching and watercolor soon became united under Walker's touch in small edition etching prints, pulled by hand, then watercolored individually. This gradually gave way to an interest in oil painting. Walker is a naturalist in heart and spirit, and the Montana landscape endures as his principal inspiration.

Walker lives, observes, and paints Montana's seasons from his home and studio near Fort Shaw; overlooking the Sun River valley and prompting an endless supply of vistas from which to choose. To maintain a healthy balance from work, he can often be found in his garlic patch, the garden, or in his berry vineyard anticipating the next batch of wine.

Walker has been a long time participant in the C.M. Russell Auction, both as an artist juried into the competition and as an exhibitor. He has exhibited his work at the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana, as well as other museums and shows statewide.

"Benchland" 8" x 10"