Below is a later Canada Geese painting in a winter setting.  Monte’s artistic progression can clearly be noticed in this illustration.

While the theme is similar of both pastels, the illustrations are different.  Also, as with Monte’s use of singular, vulnerable animals in his artwork, these two pieces appear to repeat a similar concept, but this time with small trees being dwarfed by mountains.

These two pieces also illustrate Monte’s success in his use of the color blue.  In his other paintings, when seen in person, the blue sky of a fall day appears quite realistic, while in these two pastels, his use of the color blue evokes a feeling of cold outdoor scenes.

The below piece is actually something he created for a large format pamphlet for Duck’s Unlimited in 2004.

Below is an earlier posted pastel of Monte’s.  Again, the similarities and dissimilarities of the two trees is striking.  There is a possibility the above image was reproduced from the below image and Monte added dissimilarities to the two trees and added the  Mallard Hen and Drake.

Of the illustrations, it appears there were only four distinct pieces.  The illustrations started out as pencil drawings and then were printed in ink.

When it comes to the waterfowl appearing in Monte’s pieces, Mallards, Canada Geese and Pintails make frequent appearances.  Early on, one other duck Monte frequently used was the Wood Duck.  As time went on for unknown reasons, Monte lessened his use of the very colorful Wood Duck.  Fortunately, Monte choose not to produce any piece including Coots/Mud Hens (he also would gladly point out Coots/Mud Hens were really not “ducks” as many thought and if you ever heard anyone refer to a Canada goose as a “Canadian” goose, the person was not to familiar with waterfowl).

Below is the pencil rendition of the Mallard ducks in the above illustration.  Note the cut out portions listing the information about the illustration and affixed for printing.

Below is an additional draft very similar to the above illustration.  While the imagery is similar, a more careful examination will reveal differences.  Also, as mentioned before, Monte did not place these illustrations side by side and copy preferred details.  He revealed in interviews and conversations many of his artistic creations came from actual observed imagery, places and things.

An examination of the bottom two illustrations will reveal the closer one looks, the more differences that can be seen.

Below is a detailed pencil drawing by Monte.  If one recalls, while this image is similar to one recently posted, it is different.

In the above image, the bird of prey is flying to the right of the tree, while in the previous image not only is the flight to the opposite direction, but the bird of prey is more detailed.

Below is another pencil drawing similar to other drawings by Monte involving large trees, a winter time setting and small animals.

As mentioned earlier, each Christmas season, Zelma, Monte’s mother, would hang the below image of an intoxicated Santa next to the living room light switch in her and John Ellis’ Monterey, IL living room.

Below is an image of an adult Jesus.  The origin of this imagine is unknown.

Below is a light, playful sketch of Santa confronting a hunter after the hunter has killed one of his reindeer.  Note below this sketch is a parody of a figure grasping Donald Duck within his fist. These two images are indicative of Monte’s biting, sarcastic humor.

An especially timely image for this part of the year.

This could be Monte’s depiction of Santa and his elves in celebration after a hardworking December 24th.

In July of 1974, Monte and three other men, one being Monte’s close friend Marv Robinson and cousin Bob Fidler, embarked on a canoe trip to the Arctic Circle.  This trip has all ready been mentioned and was one of Monte’s most cherished growth periods and troubling times. Monte later stated it was one of those experiences he physically and mentally would have trouble doing again, but it was something he would always be thankful for.

For his artistic creations, it provide many visual opportunities for later works of art.

The trip was so grueling, he was unable to complete things, such as updated journal entries and artistic sketches, as often as he had planned to do.  Later when he returned, an entry in the journal he tried to keep has an entry about attempting to re-create what he had experienced on this trip.

Below are pages not from the actual journal, but an attempt by Monte to create a more artistic version of his experiences, but like many of Monte’s endeavors, he abandoned his creation before it was ever completed.

As for Monte’s penmanship, he did not use rulers or straight edges when he wrote and he spent quite a bit of time practicing his form.

Below is a present day photograph of the main ditch which leads out to the lake at the Rice Lake State Conservation Area near Banner, IL.  At one time, many years ago, an old, towering tree did exist on the ridge of land along the south side of the ditch.  The tree has long since fallen and remnants of the tree no longer exist.  It cannot be recalled if this was a sycamore tree.  Note the similarity of the imagery in the painting and photograph.

Below is a photograph of a building which was once known as the Harper Restaurant and Mobile Service Station located outside of Banner, IL and across from the Rice Lake State Conservation Area.  The station and restaurant were owned and operated by Robert and Juanita Harper.  Robert passed away on February 27, 1988 and Juanita passed away on May 19, 1993. Her obituary states the two of them operated this business for forty-five years.

The below photograph depicts the station and restaurant, with the home of Robert and Juanita to the right of the business.

The photograph below depicts what was once the counter area of the restaurant.  Stools were located to the right of the counter.  The kitchen was off to the left.

The below photograph shows the kitchen area, located behind the cut out area of the paneled wall.  Additional sitting space is located to the left.

For a long period of time, Robert and Juanita’s service station and restaurant served a vital function to the Banner, Il area.  Local folks would congregate during the morning at the restaurant for coffee, company, news and gossip.  Workers in the area also frequently ate lunch at the restaurant.  Each day Juanita would have a “special” and while she was willing to make other items on the menu, it was let to be known, the courteous thing to do would be to order the “special” and be happy with it.

Often times, during periods when Monte and others would be working at Big Lake, they would find their way over to this restaurant for a midday bite to eat.

While taking the photographs of the restaurant and service station, one of Robert and Juanita’s sons stopped by.  He recalled a story once told by his father about a time when Robert stopped by Monte’s River Bank Gallery for a visit.  Monte was putting what Robert thought was the finishing touches on his latest painting.  He was quite surprised when Monte told him the painting was at least five to six weeks from being finished.

Below is an old photograph of the front room of Monte’s Riverside Gallery.  In this photograph is a P. D. Beckwith Round Oak Potbelly stove.  According to one website, stoves made by this company were of high quality and well sought after.  As of this time, it is unsure how Monte obtained this particular stove.  Monte used this stove to heat his gallery.

When the state of Illinois declined to allow cabin owners along the Banner Dike Road to renew leases on the land which their cabins were located, each cabin owner was responsible for destroying and removing the remains of their cabins.  Monte decided this stove was too valuable to leave behind.

The stove was carried over this walkway, which bounced under foot when walked upon, to another location.

Though the stove has not been fully restored, the below image is what one of these Round Oak P. D. Beckwith stoves originally looked like.