C.O. Bar: C.O. Bar: Bill Owen Depicts the Historic Babbitt Ranch

This is a FIRST EDITION that has been SIGNED by Author!
(See Photos) Beautiful Color Illustrations

U.S.A.: Northland Publishing, 1982. Hardcover. Book Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Pristine/Fine. 1st Edition. oblong oversize

Cowboys on Canvas Artist Bill Owen knows ranches of the Southwest. For some 35 years, he's been painting scenes from the contemporary cowboy's way of life to record this chapter of American history. Those traveling north of Highway 89 are treated to Owen's images as he captures a moment from Babbitt Ranches. The scene is a triptych, three separate paintings that fit together to make one large image and can be seen on a billboard about 35 miles north of Flagstaff. "It is a painting of the Cowboys at noon catching fresh horses to finish the day. The Cowboys will get off their horses, throw each other their ropes and make a rope corral that they bring their remuda into," he says. Owen visits Babbitt Ranches six to eight times a year, has ridden with the cowboys and has documented the life of the contemporary cowboy in a book about the CO Bar. "Babbitts is my favorite ranch. It's a combination of the people, the way it's run, the cowboys, the country, the livestock, the horses and the way it's all handled. They do everything the way it should be done in the tradition of how a ranch should be run." The Wickenburg artist gave the ranch permission to use the triptych. He says he has a great deal of respect for the people of Babbitt Ranches and considers it an honor to visit and paint. "It is such a reward for me to have them look at that triptych, be thrilled with it and give it their stamp of approval. I want my paintings to be the measuring stick for documenting cowboys of today