I'm Your Huckleberry - Thom Ross
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Time to read 3 min
Who's your huckleberry?
The expression, "I'm your Huckleberry," has been traced back to King Arthur lore. When a knight swore allegiance to a lord or damsel, they would drape a huckleberry garland over his lance, a symbol that he was their champion, their defender. The phrase can also be traced to the classic Mark Twain novels, where Huckleberry Finn is the loyal sidekick of Tom Sawyer.
"I'm your Huckleberry," was re-popularized in the classic Western movie “Tombstone” (1993). Val Kilmer, as Doc Holliday, says to Johnny Ringo, “I'm your Huckleberry, that's just my game.” The saying means, "I'm the one for the job," "Name the place, I'll be there," and "I'm your man (or woman!)." If you enjoy art and American history, artist Thom Ross is your Huckleberry.
Thom Ross
“My love of history, my enjoyment in story-telling, and my passion for painting … supplies as much in artistic enjoyment as it does in the contemplation of history and the people and events which so shaped it.”
Thom Ross works in various media including painting, book illustration, and life-sized recreations of historical scenes. Favorite subjects include Cowboys, Indians, and historical battles in the American Indian Wars. Ross has illustrated at least 20 books, including a history of baseball. In 2001, Ross published a book, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Words and Pictures. In 2002, Thom Ross illustrated the 100th-anniversary edition of Owen Wister's novel, The Virginian. Enjoy more works by Thom Ross on our website. And, when you're looking for great art, "We're your Huckleberry!"
“This one came to me in a dream. Four lawmen, led by Pat Garrett, rode at midnight under the stars. Both the stars in the sky and the "star" badges on their vests are wooden stars that have been attached to the canvas and painted. The stars in the sky are intended to reinforce the idea that this is a theatrical production … the story is being danced out on a stage with all the props; this is why that halo of light is in each painting; it is there to represent the spotlight in the theater.” — Thom Ross
"Pat Garrett and his men chased Billy the Kid out on the Llano Estacado during the winter of 1879. I did this painting while reading Homer's 'Iliad,' so I made these lawmen into mythical centaurs. I have used the centaur creature many times before when painting figures of our American myth so I can tie our myths to the great myths of antiquity. It's all the same story, the dates, the people, and the events may change but it's always the same story.” — Thom Ross
"The triumphant Wild West company returned to New York in the spring of 1888 on the chartered ship Persian Monarch, the voyage saddened by the death of Old Charlie. Colonel Cody's first impulse was to take the carcass of the horse home and bury him at North Platte, but he finally decided to give his old pard a handsome burial at sea. Wrapped in canvas and covered with the American flag, Old Charlie was brought on the deck while Colonel Cody delivered his final farewell, 'Old fellow, your journeys are over...Obedient to my call, gladly you bore your burden on, little knowing, little reckoning what the day might bring, shared sorrows and pleasures alike. Willing speed, tireless courage...you have never failed me. Ah, Charlie, old fellow, I have had many friends, but few of whom I could say that...I loved you as you loved me. Men Tell me you have no soul: but if there is a heaven and scouts can enter there, I'll wait at the gate for you, old friend.'" — Thom Ross
