Walter J. Allison was born in Tacoma, Washington to Walter J. Mesplie (Yakama) and Rena Ford (Nooksack) in 1954.  At the age of 3 months, he was adopted by Roy "Papoose" Allison (Blackfeet) and Naomi Mesplie Allison (Yakama) who raised both Walter and his older brother Roy in Montana along side the Great Blackfeet Nation.  Walter completed his high school education in California and returned to Montana where he farmed for 20 years.  During the off season his jobs varied from rough necking on the oil rigs, maintenance in a local hospital, to carpentry and drywall.  He  moved to Washington State for 13 years where he studied carpentry and worked for local tribes and construction companies.

As a self-taught artist, he now works mostly in oils.  His paintings depict various experiences in his life, as well as his friends and individuals that he has encountered in Montana and the Great Northwest.  His spiritual awareness and respect for his Native culture has inspired many of his paintings with messages for all, in hopes to increase the understanding of the Native American.

My friend and mentor, "Nikki Davidson" has taught me a lot about painting and hope to do portraits like her...someday. I have been studying techniques from Nikki for quite awhile and in my opinion, she is the best I have ever seen and is why I started studying under her. She did this portrait of me (www.shutupandpaint.com, recently and has captured my inner self. I am very honored and privileged that she chose me to be her subject. Nikki is a California artist that now resides in Georgia and I am extremely happy that Nikki is my friend.

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