Royal Wade Kimes: Art

Among Royal Wade's many talents as a songwriter, composer, producer, singer, entertainer, horse trainer, there's a whole other side you've yet to discover. Royal Wade is also an artist. Below are some of his more requested pieces -- a limited number of originals and prints are available in his online store! (Please note: images below are low resolution scans in order to protect the artist's copyright.)

**OFFERED FOR THE FIRST TIME!**

Old Man Smith

Royal Wade Kimes has been asked to make available a print of "Old Man Smith" of the famed novel, Eminent Domain and Old Man Smith. This drawing is so life-like it is almost haunting. Not only does Old Man Smith's eyes follow you across the room, but his face looks as if it turns to follow as well. The detail of this drawing is second to none. Captured in this print is realism, and somehow RWK has made time stand still, while gazing back into another time. If you have read the book, then this is a must-have. If you haven't read the book, and you purchase this picture first, then the book becomes even more real as you and Old Man Smith take your stand against all odds.

A Cold Day

When I was a boy I used to see horses standing in ice, snow, and cold horse trailers. A horse lucky enough to be in a horse trailer with blowing snow and sleet… well, he was one lucky horse. This one peers out knowing it just don't look good out there.

Doubleload

Chris Lane is sitting on the back of the load of cross ties (ties are made for the railroad). Scribner is the guy sitting on the front of the wagon holding the double-barreled shotgun. This was in 1910 in my hometown, Chester, Arkansas. Those mountains behind them are exactly what it looks like there. In the picture you can see the fallen tree tops where they cut the trees to make the ties. The picture got its name because they have a load on the wagon, and a load in the gun… thus "Double Load".

The 1800s Cattle Barons Stockyard
St. Louis, Missouri

The original sold for $15,000, and the average print sells for $150.00.

450,000 head of cattle was sold through this market every year during the late 1880s and early 1900s. Charles Goodnight was instrumental in all this happening as they (the Cartel) would drive cattle from Colorado, Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, and many other places to this stockyard. The stockyard ran 24/7; it had its own bakery, feed store, hardware, and yes, it had its own brothel house. Seems they thought of everything, right down to taking care of the boys who came in with the herds, "drovers" they were called. This stockyard sat on 100 acres and it was high ol' times!! There are 19 men in this work of art, and to date there have only been 18 found. This is a piece you can look at over and over and see something different every time. (Hint -- check out the horseshoe prints where the cowboy rode in the gate. Didn't see that, did ya?)

The Attitude

This is an Indian who was dressed up for a big time "pow wow" of a party. He is young, stout, good looking and taking nothin' off no one. How do I know this? It's in the eyes… "The Attitude" is in the eyes.

Little One

I fell in love with this picture. The leather wrapped around the little Indian baby and the look on its face. I hesitate to call it a "her" or a "him". I'll let you, the owner, decide who you have hanging on your wall. I'll let you name your own "Little One".

Waiting On Floyd

This is Flora Wyatt at 18 years old, somewhere in Oklahoma in the 30s. She had hid Pretty Boy Floyd under her bed and he got away that night. However, he was caught sometime later. She and the shady looking character waiting there with her, whose name is Jimmy (that's all we know -- never could get his last name), are waiting on Pretty Boy Floyd to get out of prison. I got this story from Flora before she passed. If you look close, you can see a scar on the chin of Jimmy. I suspect he was quite the guy. The car is one of those cars built with canvas, very hard to make canvas look like canvas… felt I conquered a very difficult thing with that.

Clippo The Clown

Clippo was a great clown who had planned to open a show for me, but suddenly fell ill and we lost him. When he wasn't being a clown, he ran a fishing guide service on the Great Lakes in Michigan. I loved him very much; he was cool.

Nathan Bedford Forrest

A date with the devil was what it was called if you were sent out to catch this clever colorful General of the South. He was the only General that had not attended West Point, and was considered by most as the best General of the bunch. He was the first American to fight with gorilla war tactics. His eye will follow you all over the room -- you cannot get away from this guy.

Dressed To Go

Dressed To Go really should have been named Dressed To Kill, but I thought it a bit strong. Dressed To Go is an Indian who could have been a scout in the union army and was very fond of his top hat and blue coat. Then again, don't ya wonder, if just maybe… just maybe he killed the man who wore it and had his picture taken thereafter.

The Longing

This was a gal I saw while getting a haircut on Music Row. I was sitting there waiting my turn thumbing through a mag and there she was. I liked her chiseled bone structure, and I loved the longing look she had while sitting on the end of the bed. It was like she had been made love to, and then he left. She was watching… looking in the direction that he went. At least that's the way it came to me. I made the eyes have a yellow ting without using anything but lead -- I also have her reflection on the pole.

Miss Mischievious

This is a little girl of 2 years old going to church for Easter Sunday. She just happens to be my niece. Her name is Ricky. She's now 9 years old and a living doll. Yes sir, if I were her Daddy, I would get a blacksmith to work now! Ball and chain around them pretty little ankles. She is a very smart girl… so smart she would figure a way out of the ball and chain thing.

Judge Isaac Parker

Judge Isaac, well, he was the hanging Judge of Fort Smith, Arkansas (on the border)… thus the title of my song. Isaac was the judge in the AR/OK territory. He was sent there to clean up that part of the country. It was infested with outlaws of every kind.

All images are copyright protected by Royal Wade Kimes. Any duplication or use, without authorized written permission exclusively from Royal Wade Kimes, is strictly prohibited.