Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • S P R I N G 2 0 1 7 40 WHAT WAS A TYPICAL WORKDAY LIKE FOR ZACH? Well, this depended on whether he was flying or paint- ing and the time of year! In winter and spring Zach spent most of his time in the studio and painted 10-12 hours a day six days a week. He would have two or three started at the same time, as he would say, "to keep things interesting." He would take breaks during the day to go play with the dogs and cook. His life as a bush pilot seems very different from his life as an artist...using both left-and-right brain. How do you explain this unusual mix of careers? Many aspects of Zach were unique and his talents really were endless. Zach was so for- tunate in life that he found not only one, but two things he was extremely passionate about, fly- ing and painting. Both passions fed the other and wouldn't have existed on the same level with- out each other. He needed the flying to witness the wonders of nature and for the adventure. e painting gave him a sense of peace. He truly loved the wild animals and wanted to share their stories. Going to Alaska to fly would reenergize him for the studio. He would come back with a whole new set of visions to create. By about July, he would need to get back outdoors and away from the studio. But he would miss fly- ing when he was painting and painting when he was flying. e two balanced him out. WHAT WERE A FEW OF HIS FAVOR- ITE PAINTINGS AND WHY WERE THEY HIS FAVORITES? is is a tough question because each one represents a moment and experience in Zach's life, but Ghosts of the Arctic shows Zach's favorite place and animal. He spent many days chasing these ghosts around the Brooks Range. Every time he looked at this painting, it reminded him of his favorite place. Grizzly Dreams because the model for the bear was our dog Fishhook. She was lying in the studio with a scrunched face which reminded Zach of sleeping bears with bellies so full of fish they couldn't move. DO YOU (KERRY) HAVE A VISION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF ZACH'S MEMORY THROUGH HIS ART? Zach's art is a gift and the stories the paintings tell will continue to be shared with the world. Numbered prints are available for all of Zach's work and select originals will be offered for sale. I will continue to promote and sell his art. Zach's piece Snowy Sisters will be auctioned off at the CM Russell Art Auction in March. Zach was working on a chil- dren's book about the adven- tures of Randy the River Otter and I will publish the book in addition to other books using Zach's original art. Eventu- ally I would love to get Zach's paintings in museums because his style and storytelling need to be preserved for generations to come. We are also working on setting up an art scholar- ship in Zach's name. WHAT WOULD ZACH BE WORKING ON IF HE WAS WITH US TODAY? Zach would be in his studio painting and listening to a TED talk. He was working on an animals- of-the-Arctic series. He wanted to chronicle all the animal's stories and their interactions with one another. e Arctic is not a ONE OF ZACH'S FAVORITE THINGS WAS TO WATCH WILD ANIMALS INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER. THE ANIMALS CAPTIVATED AND INSPIRED ZACH. HE PAINTED THE SCENES HE WITNESSED FROM MEMORY, NOT PICTURES. M O I S T M O O S E S N O W Y S I S T E R S

• Cover