We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
The Charles M. Russell Museum Art Show and Sale wrapped up its latest show on August 22, 2022. This prestigious event has featured not only classic works of the famous artists himself but a multitude of very talented and highly recognized artist from all over the state of Montana. The first Auction was held in 1969 and has grown exponentially in the years since. To be included in one the shows was an ultimate honor, especially to the Western Artists right here in Montana. One of those artists was none other than the late Kristi Billmayer. Kristy first showed her work at the C.M. Russell Art Show in 1985 and was selected as the recipient of the "People's Choice Painting" award in 2008 by the Great Falls Advertising Federation. Her painting 'Motley Crew' featured one of her favorite subjects, Border Collies. Upon winning the award Kristi stated, "I am flabbergasted. I am utterly amazed, and I am deeply humbled.
Kristi Karol Dresser was born on September 23, 1954, in Cincinnati, Ohio, eventually moving with her family to Laramie, Wyoming and then Butte. She graduated in 1972 as Valedictorian of Butte High schools largest ever graduating class. While attending Montana State University Bozeman she met Larry Billmayer. "Love at first sight for me," said Larry. "I think I had to convince her." The couple married on July 6, 1974, in Butte and held their reception at Lydia's Italian Supper Club where an uninvited guest, Evil Knievel made an appearance. After the couple married, they moved back to the Billmayer family ranch near Hogeland, Montana. Together they raised two boys, Alex and Casey. Their sons now run the ranch with the couples six grandchildren, the sixth generation to work the land.
Kristi's love for animals was her defining characteristic said Larry, "If there was a gopher on the road you better be slamming on the breaks." Kristi's love was genuine and real as it gets, "She had a love for horses. We were at a sale in Butte, and she saw this gray horse. Not much to look at but her dad bought it for her for $50. Two years later she was the State Equestrian Jumper runner up on that horse and I asked her, 'how did you know' and she just said 'I saw it in his eyes'. That was the kind of love she had."
That genuine love played a major role in Kristi's painting and contributed greatly to her success as an artist. Through the years Kristi received numerous awards and accolades and was part of many significant Art Shows, including more than twenty years in Great Falls at the C.M. Russell Art Show. Her work was published in the Pastel Journal on multiple occasions and in 1997 she had the privilege of showing her artwork at the Governor's Mansion for three months. Kristi began her career as an artist dabbling in art, sketching and drawing some before they were married but her love for it really took off after the moved back to the ranch.
Kristi's specialty was pastel painting and she excelled at it. "She tried some oil painting and a sculpture or two, but she really preferred pastel," said Larry. Her primary subject matter included horses, dogs, buffalo, animals of all sorts. She did do a few portraits but not many. Kristi was more than an artist and was an extremely talented quilter, gardener, baker and photographer as well. "She would go out and take lots of pictures and then she would make her paintings from them," commented Larry.
Early on Kristi primarily just displayed her work around the house until her confidence grew and when she was ready to share them with the world, she had no hesitation. "She started out at the Montana Seed Show in Harlem displaying her work there. The Methodist Church in Havre used to have an annual Art Show and she put some work in that show as well," said Larry.
Kristi in one interview explained why she does her work with her preferred medium, "I work almost exclusively in pastel because the immediacy of the medium allows me to develop a painting rather rapidly while the idea and inspiration are still fresh and exciting. I feel I have only begun to unlock the possibilities of this magical medium." Through the years Kristi has been the recipient of numerous jurors' and peoples' choice awards and has had her paintings displayed in several galleries and private collections throughout the United States.
