Billy the Kid Gets Framed For Good

 June 15, 2024

   Some people think Billy got framed, and now they can say with some certainty that he, in fact, has been framed.

   And, how.

Amy Gauthier's labor of love is about to reopen

   Thanks to Amy Gauthier, the current owner—and savior—of the historic Ellis Store in Lincoln, New Mexico, two of my paintings, portraying the Kid at the back door of said store, have been framed with the floorboard wood that Billy actually walked on.

   While Amy and her crew were rehabbing the room in the Ellis store that the previous owners claimed was the room where the Kid stayed, they found termites and had to rip up a portion of the floor to salvage the room. Here is a photo of the Kid room showing the original wood before it was replaced.

   At my request, Amy shipped me a few of the better pieces of wood and here are the raw boards, next to three new paintings of the Kid.

Ellis Store Floorboards and BBB paintings

   And here are the two finished pieces, framed with the actual floorboards that Billy the Kid walked on.

Billy at The Rear Door of The Ellis Store

I & II

(both framed with the floorboards he walked on)

   Both pieces will be on proud display at the BBB Billy Art Show at the Ellis Store on Saturday, July 13.

   There will be a dozen other original paintings of the Kid from the BBB collection, including this one.

"Coffee With The Kid"

("His Face Went to Everyone's Heart")

 

"Advise persons not to engage in painting."

—Kid from Kingman