An Original Illustration by Nicholas Firfires used by DELL Comics for their July-September 1952 #7 issue of "BUCK JONES Comics"

Nick's father-in-law was none other than famed Hollywood Western Cowboy Star Buck Jones. Here is an original illustration that Nick created for DELL Comics for its July-September 1952 issue of "BUCK JONES Comics". Also pictured are photographs of actual issues of the publication in both in English and Spanish.

The American version was published by DELL Comics in the July-September 1952 Issue #7

The Spanish/Mexican version "AVENTURA BUCK JONES" #326 was published in 1964

Here are a few more recent acquisitions. I really enjoy the unusual works that depict everyday life back in the day. Stagecoaches often used teams of mules rather than horses as is the case with this particular oil painting that Nick created after joining the "Cowboy Artists of America" of which he was a founding member.


This second oil painting depicts a cattle buyer checking out the herd and is parleying the particulars with a trail boss. I've loved this painting since I first saw it!

This watercolor was done in 1958 and is very similar to one of my other recently acquired works by Nick. I truly enjoy the action that he was able to bring to life in depicting broncos and other subject matter!

These are some of my recent acquisitions...

This first oil painting is not dated. Its title is "OLD SAM". The second is a watercolor created in 1960 and it is not titled. I'll let it speak for itself...Yeehaa!!!

Hand made cards for the love of his life, Maxine!

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A few more cards for Nick's cowgirl, Maxine...

Here are some more cards that Nick enjoyed creating for the love of his life...

World War II watercolors

These are three watercolors that Nick most likely created during World War II while serving in Europe. They're what your average GI wanted to see!

For additional information on Nick's time spent in Europe, please cut and paste the following from a website I found: http://www.lonesentry.com/unithistory/thunderbolt/index.html

"The Sentinel", Painted in 1980

I'll work on taking a better photograph of this wonderful painting another day.

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Created by his hand for the love of his life, Maxine!

A few more works from my collection

The above oil painted in 1960 has been up on my site for sometime; however, this is a larger and more detailed image.
Oil Painting of vaqueros at work.
Very nice watercolor done for one of the Rancheros Visitadores events in the 1950's or 1960's.
This is a small oil of a stage coach and its four horse team. This particular subject matter is not seen very often in works by Nick Firfires. I love it!

Another Biography:

Born in Santa Barbara, CA on Nov. 10, 1917, a descendant of the California vaqueros. At an early age Firfires began riding horses and drawing cowboy subjects. He worked with horses until age 24 and then moved to Los Angeles to study at the Art Center and Otis Art Institute. Following service in WWII, he was a successful illustrator of western magazines until 1957; he then devoted himself to easel paintings. From his studio in Santa Barbara came an abundance of figure studies, western genre, and various other subjects. Depressed due to the death of his wife, he died of a self-inflicted bullet wound on Sept. 22, 1990. Member: Cowboy Artists of America. Exh: Biltmore Gallery (LA), 1960, 1966 (solos); Saddleback Inn (Santa Ana), 1969; Cowboy Hall of Fame, 1969 (silver medal).

Source:
Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940"
Artists of the American West (Samuels); American Western Art (Harmsen); The Cowboy in Art (Ainsworth); Santa Barbara News Press, 9-25-1990 (obituary).

Two watercolors from the early 1960's

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These are the quintessential portrayals of cowboy and vaquero life as Nick knew them to be. Also, two of my favorites from my collection. They were painted in 1963

Charcoal Drawing of an Indian

Here's another fantastic charcoal drawing!

A Beautiful Plein Air Watercolor

Here's one of my latest acquisitions. it is a beautiful little watercolor that was most likely painted sometime during the late 1940's or early 1950's. It's a wonderful plein air work by this gifted artist.

A Luncheon Menu from May of 1954

The above Lunch Menu was created by Nick and used on May 4th, 1954 for the "Santa Cruz Camp" of the Rancheros Visitadores.

Here is a seated indian done in charcoal

May 1958 Rancheros Visitadores Artwork

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Nick was a member of the famed Rancheros Visitadores of Santa Barbara. As a result, he was always being asked to create different works that would be used for numerous applications.

Here are some examples of a Luncheon and diner menu design that Nick painted for the May 1958 Rancheros gathering. The first watercolor was ultimately used. The four others were proven to be even too risque for the Rancheros and were never actually used for the 1958 event.

Additional acquired works by Nick Firfires

A letter from a friend of Nick firfires

Garth,

Sending along a couple more pictures of the Firfires work. An interesting note on this one is that Nick, himself made the frame of wormwood and did the framing.

All the best, Darrell & Jean

Dear Garth,

Sorry it's taken so long to get this to you. Had some trouble getting hold of some of the material we wanted to send.

This copy is from the 1990 program of the Santa Barbara Old Spanish Days Fiesta Rodeo & Stock Horse Show. That year, Nick & Maxine Firfires were the joint Honorary Vaqueros for the show. Most of this you may already know, but there might be some surprises for you:

"Maxine and Nicholas Firfires have worked with the Santa Barbara Fiesta Rodeo for 22 years. Nick was born on November 10, 1917 in Santa Barbara. He attended school in Santa Maria, spending most of his spare time on the ranches of northern Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. This is the same land that the Vaqueros worked. By the age of 14 he was breaking and training horses. Nick began drawing while still a youngster, studying in Los Angeles at the Art Center and the Otis Art Institute. In 1941 he joined the United States Army and served overseas with the 308th Combat Engineers. His outstanding efforts resulted in the Bronze Star and 5 Battle Stars. Along with combat service, he sketched and painted for Army publications, including many portraits of outstanding military personnel. Nick did many "on the spot" watercolors of World War II in Europe. His artistic efforts brought citations for serving above and beyond the call of duty. Following his discharge in the autumn of 1945, he opened a studio in Santa Barbara. For 12 years he drew hundreds of illustrations for western publications. He also painted cover illustrations for books and magazines. While earning a living with his commercial work, he continued to study and work at fine art. In 1958 he left the commercial work behind to devote himself completely to fine art. He moved back to the ranch life before having his first show. That first exhibition of his work in Los Angeles was very successful and Nick had no more thoughts of returning to commercial work. Since his first show, his western paintings have been exhibited and collected around the world. Nick was an original member of the Cowboy Artists of America from which he resigned in 1975. He is also a member of Rancheros Vistadores, and has not missed a ride since 1946. With his wife, Maxine, Nick now lives in the home and adjoining studio they designed and build in Montecito in 1972.

Maxine Jones Firfires, wife of Santa Barbara artist Nicholas Firfires, is the daughter of the late famous cowboy movie star, Buck Jones. Maxine was practically born to her love for horses and skillful horsemanship. Her mother, Dell Jones, was a well known trick rider for Zack Miller's 101 Wild West Show. Maxine herself was a trick rider in her fathers Wild West Show & Circus. She has raised, trained and ridden horses and mules all of her life. She also attended art school in Los Angeles and is an accomplished artist, but says that one artist in the family is enough and leaves the painting to Nick. Maxine has been active for many years in support of the Los Angeles Children's Hospital. She is also a member of the Santa Barbara County Cowbelles, and Sage Hens riding Groups."

The Nick that I knew was much more comfortable at the corral around the horses, than in a room full of people. Maxine was the social mixer of the two. She was always the picture of western elegance, and comanded attention when entering a room. It was she who did most of the promotion of Nick's work. Nick was great friends with another wonderful western artist named Paul Solosy of Arizona. As young men they often played cards together, with Nick getting a chance to display his talent for cooking. In many of Nick's paintings you can see the influence of the Cuyama Valley in California, where he spent much of his time during his early years. A good example of this influence can be seen in his painting "Roundup". I could almost take you to the spot that inspired the scene. Having been a cowboy & horseman all my life, I can attest to the fact that Nick's work captures the life and the details perfectly. I hope this has given you a little more insight on the man.

Sincerely, Darrell

World War II, Europe, and, Nick Firfires

During World War II Firfires used his natural artistic ability to create wonderful works on paper in order to report the many exploits of of our military, daily events throughout war torn Europe, and, the lighter side of being an American soldier in Europe.

Below is a link to a website I found on-line. Cut and paste it and follow the exploits of the 83rd United States Infantry Division: The Thunderbolts!

It is really informative and will be worth your time!


http://webspace.webring.com/people/ld/dstahlarson/thunderbolt1.html


________________________________________________________

"Gathering Them In"

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"Scattering of the Hands"

"Overland Stage"

"THE SORREL BRONK" 1970

"CUTTING THE GATHER"

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Untitled Pen & Ink

Portraying western scenes in oil painting and watercolor comes to Nicholas Firfires, directly from experiences of having lived the western life of a cowboy, riding the range and breaking horses. He was a descendant of California vaqueros.

He was born in Santa Barbara, California, and worked on his family ranch near Santa Margarita and on other ranches in Santa Barbara county. As a child, he showed great interest and skill in drawing animals, especially horses, and after graduating from Santa Maria high school, he attended the Art Center School and the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles.

In 1941, he enlisted in the Army and was with the Combat Engineers in Europe, where he did many illustrations for military publications and also portraits of Army personnel. After the war, he opened a studio in Santa Barbara and illustrated for Western magazines while working on easel paintings. His illustrations included "Buck Jones," a popular comic strip and "Gene Autry".

He had his first one-man show in 1960, and was so successful that he turned exclusively to fine art painting, depicting both historic and contemporary Western scenes. A particular focus has been the Spanish influence on California culture in a style that is Realist and Impressionist.

In 1969, he won the silver Medal Award for watercolor in the Fourth Annual Exhibit of the Cowboy Artists of America at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. He was a founding member of the Cowboy Artists of America.

Source:
"Contemporary Western Artists" by Harold and Peggy Samuels
Cody Old West Show and Auction catalogue, June 2002

"Early California Vaquero"

N.S. Firfires "Nick" was born in Santa Barbara, California.

It is said that Firfires makes an immediate and lasting impression of authenticity in his western genre paintings, and this authenticity comes from his childhood when he began riding, breaking and training horses at the age of ten.



Firfires was a member of the Rancheros Visitadores riding group that also included Ed Borein and Joe DeYong, both well-known Vaquero artists of the past.

Firfires was also a member of the Cowboy Artists of America. He had sold out one-man shows in the Biltmore gallery in Los Angeles, California.

In his paintings, authenticity goes far beyond correctness of costume and saddle, even beyond cowboy types, horses and cattle breeds and their anatomies. Firfires had a knowledge which can not be faked, which gives his paintings their striking reality. He needs no arty frills; what he paints is in his blood, the blood of a Vaquero.

Biography From: CALIFORNIA WESTERN GALLERY