Cover of May-June, '17 Muzzleloader

[Marc Adamchek]

What the heck kinda mocs is that guy wearing? Is that some kinda built in skate blade? In all seriousness, I have NEVER seen moccasins that looked like that before in my life, have you? If you have, please illuminate me. Many Thanks

 

[Black Hand]

Picture please.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Not sure they are mocs...

Here you go blackhand... http://www.legacygallery.com/portfolio/wright-waiting-for-his-fur-tally

 

[coloradoclyde]

Is that some kinda built in skate blade?

It appears to be a re-sole of some sort..

 

[Nativearizonan]

Those are Apache moccasins. With the adobe building behind him and that hat he has, I'd say he is meant to be a Taos based trapper, or at least in that general area of the SW.

Google Apache Tab Toe Moccasins.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I am inclined to agree with you.... :thumbsup:

The box next to him says St Louis, but I can't make out the other words....

 

[S.Kenton]

Does that say $28,000? Is that for the print?

 

[Black Hand]

They appear to have the soles of Apache moccasins (that odd extension at the toe), but the soles are too thick and the rest of the footwear looks like a Brogan (the seam at the instep and the laces). If they are Apache moccasins, they are not very well/accurately replicated...

 

[coloradoclyde]

Does that say $28,000? Is that for the print?

No!...Oil painting....the original I presume...


If you look at the pant leg you can see how far up the moccasin goes....The artist was very good at painting people....But, that door he is leaning against looks superimposed and crooked.

 

[mark/wi]

I think door is open and leans
because of the hinges that are used.

 

[S.Kenton]

Your right Clyde, the door actually looks as if it's gonna fall onto him. I noticed that right off the bat....not complaining nor critiquing, just noticing. I wish I could draw and paint an eighth of that good...lol

 

[S.Kenton]

I think door is open and leans
because of the hinges that are used.

Ahhhh... I see that now...and yes I think your right.

 

[Nativearizonan]

As far as the crooked door, New Mexico was, and to some extent still is, a showcase of primitive skills; at least before they started getting building inspectors in modern times.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if the artist used an existing door that looked just like that as a model for his painting.

I do think he failed to get the seam right on the moccasins, and that may have made the soles look too thick, but then again, if he had someone posing, his footwear may have had seams like that.

A lot of artists will pose someone and take a few photographs, then paint from the photos. I don't know whether this artist did that or not, but it is a common technique, used by many wildlife and western artists.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I think door is open and leans
because of the hinges that are used.

Dang!....good observation.... :hatsoff:

 

[rijerolmon]

I believe that you are most correct regarding this painting. I also believe that with the well earned national recognition earned by the artist David Wright and by reading the article about the model Michael Agee, both probably know more about their crafts than I.

 

[BillinOregon]

My understanding of the tabbed toe and the upturned toe also seen in Apache footwear was that this feature helped keep cactus quills and such from being driven into the toes as one moved quickly through the desert flora.

 

[tenngun]

They appear to have the soles of Apache moccasins (that odd extension at the toe), but the soles are too thick and the rest of the footwear looks like a Brogan (the seam at the instep and the laces). If they are Apache moccasins, they are not very well/accurately replicated...

Are those not typical Taos Shoes? They look like the shoes shown in mountain man sketch book, with the brush toe exttention

 

[Black Hand]

Are those not typical Taos Shoes? They look like the shoes shown in mountain man sketch book, with the brush toe extention

More information please...

 

[Claude Mathis]

 

[tenngun]

Do you have Hanson and Wilson mountain man sketch books? On page 38. A foot shaved board about 1 inch thick is cut out. A raw or thick veggi tan leather is wet and then tacked up around the form. When dry the sole is cut off the form leaving a outline of your foot bottom and with side up to the top of your toes the same sole type you see on peublo moccasins.
A vamp is made in an arrow head shape extending from the instep to the toes. This has a tongue extending about three inches up the ankle. A rectangle overlaps the edges of the camp and around the heal. The stitch itself is just a running stick through an edge of the thick sole through a welt then the vamp and ankle piece. They tie in front just like a shoe instead of a side button like a peublo mocc. It was a common poor mans shoe in New Mexico. I would think a Santa Fe trader migh pick a pair or two up and a trapper working out of New Mexico as in the painting. Looking closely at the painting it looks to me this is how it's tied in front seen under the edge of his leggings over the years I made about a half a dozen pair of these.i used to make them with double wool socks on for winter moccasins.