Western artist John W. "Jack" Wryn, 85, 1507 6th Ave. NW, died Friday in a local hospital where he had been a patient since Tuesday.
Born in Indiana, his artistic career began in 1907 when he was working for the old Como Company. He met Charles M. Russell who encouraged him to get some paints and see what he could do after seeing several of Wryn's pencil sketches.
Wryn enjoyed telling of Sunday morning gatherings at Russell's cabin and in 1966 stated that he would "hate to see them tear the house down" when controversy was raised
about preserving Russell's home.
The first painting Wryn sold, titled "Capturing an Outlaw" went home with a Mr Alderice of Brooklyn, N.Y., who was in Great Falls selling linens to the not-quite completed Rainbow Hotel.
In 1912 Wryn went on the Webster Vaudeville Circuit doing a chalk talk act where he met his wife.
After spending several years in Kansas City, he returned to Great Falls in 1918 and took up painting again in 1946. In 1961 his work was exhibited in the Russell Gallery and the Tribune photographed him with one of his better known works, "Wheat Harvesting on the Winn Wolverton Place," a contemporary depiction of a combine and pickup truck in a golden wheat field.
Chapel of Chimes is handling funeral arrangements.
Born in Indiana, his artistic career began in 1907 when he was working for the old Como Company. He met Charles M. Russell who encouraged him to get some paints and see what he could do after seeing several of Wryn's pencil sketches.
Wryn enjoyed telling of Sunday morning gatherings at Russell's cabin and in 1966 stated that he would "hate to see them tear the house down" when controversy was raised
about preserving Russell's home.
The first painting Wryn sold, titled "Capturing an Outlaw" went home with a Mr Alderice of Brooklyn, N.Y., who was in Great Falls selling linens to the not-quite completed Rainbow Hotel.
In 1912 Wryn went on the Webster Vaudeville Circuit doing a chalk talk act where he met his wife.
After spending several years in Kansas City, he returned to Great Falls in 1918 and took up painting again in 1946. In 1961 his work was exhibited in the Russell Gallery and the Tribune photographed him with one of his better known works, "Wheat Harvesting on the Winn Wolverton Place," a contemporary depiction of a combine and pickup truck in a golden wheat field.
Chapel of Chimes is handling funeral arrangements.
Western artist John W. "Jack" Wryn, 85, 1507 6th Ave. NW, died Friday in a local hospital where he had been a patient since Tuesday.
Born in Indiana, his artistic career began in 1907 when he was working for the old Como Company. He met Charles M. Russell who encouraged him to get some paints and see what he could do after seeing several of Wryn's pencil sketches.
Wryn enjoyed telling of Sunday morning gatherings at Russell's cabin and in 1966 stated that he would "hate to see them tear the house down" when controversy was raised
about preserving Russell's home.
The first painting Wryn sold, titled "Capturing an Outlaw" went home with a Mr Alderice of Brooklyn, N.Y., who was in Great Falls selling linens to the not-quite completed Rainbow Hotel.
In 1912 Wryn went on the Webster Vaudeville Circuit doing a chalk talk act where he met his wife.
After spending several years in Kansas City, he returned to Great Falls in 1918 and took up painting again in 1946. In 1961 his work was exhibited in the Russell Gallery and the Tribune photographed him with one of his better known works, "Wheat Harvesting on the Winn Wolverton Place," a contemporary depiction of a combine and pickup truck in a golden wheat field.
Chapel of Chimes is handling funeral arrangements.
Born in Indiana, his artistic career began in 1907 when he was working for the old Como Company. He met Charles M. Russell who encouraged him to get some paints and see what he could do after seeing several of Wryn's pencil sketches.
Wryn enjoyed telling of Sunday morning gatherings at Russell's cabin and in 1966 stated that he would "hate to see them tear the house down" when controversy was raised
about preserving Russell's home.
The first painting Wryn sold, titled "Capturing an Outlaw" went home with a Mr Alderice of Brooklyn, N.Y., who was in Great Falls selling linens to the not-quite completed Rainbow Hotel.
In 1912 Wryn went on the Webster Vaudeville Circuit doing a chalk talk act where he met his wife.
After spending several years in Kansas City, he returned to Great Falls in 1918 and took up painting again in 1946. In 1961 his work was exhibited in the Russell Gallery and the Tribune photographed him with one of his better known works, "Wheat Harvesting on the Winn Wolverton Place," a contemporary depiction of a combine and pickup truck in a golden wheat field.
Chapel of Chimes is handling funeral arrangements.
