If it weren’t for a musician cancelling a two-month recording session 17 years ago, today we more than likely would not be enjoying the wonderful paintings Michael Blessing creates at his studio in Bozeman, Montana. Faced with eight empty weeks on his calendar, Blessing, who at the time owned and operated a recording studio, decided to spend that time down in his basement—drawing.

“My wife had been an art major and encouraged me,” he says. “I have two daughters, and they would bring me little trinkets to draw. Then my wife gave me an image from a National Geographic magazine and said, ‘Let’s see if you can really draw.’” That image was of a young boy in New Guinea, preparing for a ritual that would mark his passage into manhood.

Blessing accepted his wife’s challenge and drew the boy. Energized by what he had accomplished, he decided to get some training and took his drawing to Ralph Wagman, an art instructor at Montana State University. “I showed the drawing to him, and he said, ‘You could take this image and get into any art school,’” Blessing recalls with a bit of amazement, even after all these years.

Michael Blessing

The Wild Bunch
Oil
36″x48″

“The brazen and legendary exploits of this bunch deserved a little neon treatment. I love the story—as the tale goes, this photo was taken just down the street from the sheriff’s office—and I love the history.”

Michael Blessing

Ready to Dance
Oil
12″x12″

“I couldn’t resist this little guy’s focused image. His silent confidence pulled me back to memories of my own youth as a young musician getting ready to perform.”