That's beautiful work, Chuck. Those look so authentic I want to tell you to be careful with them.
That would be up to the owner's/caretakers. While making things like this for me is a sort of "birthing" I also follow my Dad's dictum that one must cut the apron strings and so once out of my hands it becomes the property and responsibility of the new owner/caretaker- fortunately most folks understand that and for those that don't - well stressing over it is counter productive and since like most I've got enoough other stresses in my life (and currently more than my share it feels like) I have learned to "let it go". It was in many ways a hard lesson to learn and there are still those times, but.........
Slickshot- this type work has been my passion now for 51 years and the best part is when
1) I inspire others to reach for the gold ring
2) to give folks pleasure and a "feel good place"
sort of quick story - way back in the old daze I used to paint and do pen and ink - Charlie Russell was and still is in many ways my mentor/guiding light and like him I'd worked as a real sure enuff cowhand for a bit. In about 1971 I was invited to present my work at a show of western art in Santa Barbara, Ca. The day had gone Ok, but after 8 hours of folks mostly "just looking" I was a bit burnt out and ready to head back to the bunkhouse. Then about 15 minutes or so before closing an old time vaquero type - a type I recognized as the real McCoy, bow legs and all, wearing a real sure enough Stetson hat, California pants, and a pair of Paul Bond boots (one of the top 5 makers then and now) - showed up and I watched closely as he perused the gallery and worked his way towards me. He finally got to my work and I just sat and watched as he looked at my work for several minutes, while rolling a Bull Durham smoke one handed. After about 10 minutes he looked me up and down ( I was dressed similarly) and I waited with bated breath. He then cracked a smile offered me the smoke he'd just rolled, and then said, "Wa'll I reckon you been there and done that, shore enuff." He then turned and strode off and I darned near cryed..........one of the hi-lites of my life, not because it stroked my ego, but because I'd put a smile on that man's face.......doing that for me is like winning the lottery.........