Person Record

Metadata

Name

Stirling, Dave

Born

1887

Birthplace

Corydon, Iowa

Notes

Born in 1887 in Corydon, Iowa, Dave Stirling enjoyed painting from a young age. After high school, he attended Cummings Art School in Des Moines, Iowa and later studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Chicago. Dave came to Estes Park in 1916 and shortly thereafter fulfilled his dream of living in the mountains. Dave thrived professionally as a talented landscape artists and keen salesman. By 1965, Dave reported to have painted thirty thousand paintings - roughly six hundred paintings a year!
Shortly after his arrival in Estes Park, Dave purchased property and built a studio on Fall River Road east of Horseshoe Park. As Rocky Mountain National Park expanded its boundaries, it surrounded Dave's property, which he nicknamed "Bugscuffle Ranch." Dave opened his studio every summer for fifty-three years until he sold it to Rocky Mountain National Park in 1970. Dave and Jack each maintained individual studios on the property as they developed their careers.

Many people remember their visits to the Stirling studio. They were often greeted with a smile and could listen to art history lessons or peruse the gallery for a number of hours.
Dave and Jack Stirling lived life to the fullest. They were beloved citizens of Estes Park and gave back to the community. At age twenty-nine, Jack fell victim to heart complications related to life-long diabetes while dancing at the Riverside Ballroom. Dave, who had already lost his wife and daughter, continued to paint and was a prominent leader in the Estes Park art community until his death in 1971 at the age of eighty-four.

Children

Jack Stirling

Related Records

1972.025.012a - Print, Photographic
Photograph of painter Dave Stirling at his easel in his studio in Horseshoe Park. Stained and beveled wood frame with the inner frame gilded. ***Photo by John Tinsley - please credit whenever reproduced*** Marks: Back of frame has "16 x 20 - 3203" Lower right hand corner stamped in gilt "J. Tinsley"

Record Type: Photo
1972.025.012b - Frame
Frame only of photograph of painter Dave Stirling at his easel in his studio in Horseshoe Park. Stained and beveled wood frame with the inner frame gilded. Photo by John Tinsley. Marks: Back of frame has "16 x 20 - 3203" Lower right hand corner stamped in gilt "J. Tinsley"

Record Type: Object
1972.025.013 - Painting
Oil painting on board "Hazy Autumn" by Dave Stirling. Framed in gilt and brown with an inner frame of tan linen. The outer edge is raised "autumn" design in gilt over plaster. Purple mountains in high background with dark indistinct trees with areas of gold aspen. Mostly dark in color. Marks: On back of painting board are several notations "Hold/ Nelson/ Warren, Min" , "Flynn/ Parsons" , "Addie" , "Hazy Autumn/ Dave Stirling/ Estes Park, C...

Record Type: Object
1973.027.003 - Painting
Framed oil painting, "Dave Tells a Story," featuring Dave Stirling seated with a book. Frame is intricate gold design with velvet matting piece. Handwritten on back of frame is "Christmas 1963" and "Dave Stirling Studio 1964"

Record Type: Object
1974.005.203 - Newspaper
Information on Jack Stirling with his drawings as well as text about Dave Stirling with his photograph and signature.

Record Type: Object
1977.018.001 - Book
Book "Pye Eyed Pete's Unnatural History" by Dave Stirling c1943

Record Type: Object
1981.004.004 - Book
"Pye-Eyed Pete's/ Un-natural/ History" by Dave Stirling of/ Estes Park." in black lettering on blue paper cover. Pen and ink sketches by the author. Humorous stories of fictitious animals. 44 pgs. Marks: On front cover stamped "Public Library/ Estes Park Colorado". On back cover in black.

Record Type: Object
1983.065.002 - Book
Pye-Eyed Pete's Unnatural History by Dave Stirling. Orange paperback, pen and ink sketches by the author. Marks: signed in pencil "Dave Stirling"

Record Type: Object
1984.028.015 - Postcard
White postcard print with a pen and ink drawing of Dave Stirling by Lyman Byxbe Marks: under drawing in pencil "Byxbe"

Record Type: Object
1984.028.021 - print, photographic
National Park Outfitting Company building after a snow. Located on the north side of Elkhorn Avenue. The Log Cabin Cafe is to the right (east). Sign above the store reads "Sporting Goods". The store is still decorated for Christmas with garlands and lights. Dave Stirling is standing with a snow shovel next to car buried by snow parked in front of the store. Marks: On reverse stamped in oval "Grace Gift Shop / Estes Park, Colo. / Permatone...

Record Type: Photo
1985.096.009 - Booklet
Brown leatherette type cover with gilt title. "The Infamous Dude Dictionary Rocky Mountainania" by Harriet Peters, Dave Stirling and Richardson "Dick" Rome. Bound with plastic spiral.

Record Type: Object
1987.069.045 - Book
Pye - Eyed Pete's Un - Natural History by Dave Stirling of EP - blue green paper cover with title & author on cover - also has bright yellow dust cover with sketch in red on cover - pen & ink sketches by author - dedicated to Raymond Gregg famous naturalist Rocky Mountain National Park. Marks: priced has been inked out

Record Type: Object
1988.052.001 - Book
Pye Eyed Pete's Unnatural History - by Dave Stirling with pen & ink sketches by him - dedication to Raymond Gregg Rocky Mountain National Park naturalist - orange paper cover with title - caricature & author - dust cover is tan with orange $2.00 - signed by author in pencil & dated 1959 copyright 1943

Record Type: Object
1989.087.001 - Painting
Evening Lights oil on canvas by Dave Stirling set in antiqued gilt pine frame. On back of painting in pencil "L.M. Medlenka/Crowley/LA. "in pen "Ship in Oct./ Retouch/ Ant. gold UK frame." In ink "Catalogue/2430H/20045/5705or/57DS" Also paper sticker showing Dave at his easel with the notation "This original painting from the collection of Dave Stirling,/ Doctor of Fine Arts/ Resident landscape painter of Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park...

Record Type: Object
1990.010.001 - Painting
Painting--oil on matte board--"Summer Evening, Estes Park" by Dave Stirling. Signed in lower right corner STIRLING On reverse in white "Summer Evening/Dave stirling/Estes Park, Colo. 40/8"

Record Type: Object
1990.058.001b - Booklet
Dust cover (of book 1990.058.001a) in yellow artists paper with red block print of a cowboy. The Infamous DUDE Dictionary, Rocky Mountania. A tonic for sane people going crazy. 25,000 Buyers fell for this masterpiece. By Harriet Peters, Dave Stirling and Dick (Richardson) Rome. On inside dust cover fold over Price 1.00/One buck/ also has title and authors on spine.

Record Type: Object
1997.043.001 - Painting
Oil painting of Longs Peak framed by aspens in the fall. Oriented vertically, primary colors are orange, yellow and green. Titled "Autumn Aspens." Framed in gold-painted wood frame, decorative knobbing on frame near painting; backed with archival backing board and screw-in type clips.

Record Type: Object
2004.029.006 - Book
"History of Estes Park Including Facts About Longs Peak, Trail Ridge Road, Big Thompson Canyon" by Harold Marion Dunning. Stapled, 64 pages. On cover: etching of clouds and mountain top. On reverse: map of Estes Park area.

Record Type: Object
2005.001.055 - Book
Book with blue cover. In orange ink is: Pye-Eye Pete's Un-Natural History. A picture of a cowboy leaning on a stick wearing a hat, vest, and chaps. Written by Dave Stirling of Estes Park. Light blue paper cover covers yellow paperboard binding. Inside front page signed: To me dear friend, Dr. H.A. Minassian, Dave Stirling.44 pages. First edition.

Record Type: Object
2007.033.023 - Book
"The Infamous Dude Dictionary Rocky Mountainania: A Tonic for Sane People going Crazy-10,000 Buyers fell for this masterpiece" by Harriet Peters, Dave Stirling and Dick Rome Red sleeve over a yellow cover First page has Silver stickers adhered to it and is inscribbed with a blue pen "For Harry-Christmas, 1945- In hopes that before too long you'll have occasion to be using the words defined in here. Fran" Original copyright 1934 16th, 17th,...

Record Type: Object