By DEVIN HEILMAN

Staff Writer

COEUR d’ALENE — Robert Reed was only 15 when he put the finishing touches on his first holiday masterpiece.

It was on the window of a Hinky Dinky grocery store in the small town of Fremont, Neb. He painted a 30-foot manger scene to delight shoppers as they scurried in and out of the supermarket that holiday season. Reed said he even received an art scholarship for his work.

"As an artist, Christmas is a magical time," said Reed, now of Coeur d'Alene. "Artists are observers of life. Varieties of visual experiences are at their peak of the year."

At 65, Reed celebrated his 50th year bringing holiday cheer to local businesses and creating welcoming, whimsical holiday scenes through his artistic talent.

"Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Hayden and surrounding communities are permeated with the spirit of Christmas and the New Year's peace and goodwill in every aspect, from the high schools and college and private individuals singing their carols on street corners and in front of local businesses oblivious to their listeners," he said. "You see it in their eyes, their smiles and in their voices. Such joy!"

Contributing to the merriment of the season is something Reed treasures.

"I see everybody else doing their part,” he said. "All the businesses make Christmas, inside and out. It's a lot of work. This is just my part.”

Reed uses acrylic paint to make scenes that blend seasonal themes with representations of the different businesses for which he paints.

Skyler Shannon, owner of AOC Dental Laboratory in downtown Coeur d'Alene, has commissioned Reed's talent for the past three years. He said he thinks quite highly of Reed's work.

"I enjoy that he comes by every year and he does a tooth theme," Shannon said. "He did a Christmas tree with teeth ornaments, which was cool. He did a neat one last year where he did teeth-shaped hats on Santa Claus and this year it's the teeth all the way across."

The dental lab's front window shows a string of cartoonish, merry molars in colorful hats atop snowy pine boughs. Reed said he spent about six evening hours on this piece, intermittently trekking to the adjacent 24-hour Laundromat to warm up from the cold. He painted about seven different local business windows this year. 

"I'm happy to do it," he said. "I got another chance to spread some Christmas and New Year cheer."

Reed said his family was quite artistic and encouraged him to refine his talents from a young age. He has illustrated books and enjoys painting windows of private residences when asked. He said he hopes to provide classes and demonstrations in the near future to share the joy of painting "like that happy Bob" Ross.

Reed said he tends to be a bit of a recluse and he doesn't always get out in the community, but this year he was moved by the holiday spirit he saw everywhere, which made it a wonderful time for him.

"With everyone in the community, The Press and radio bringing it to a larger audience, we nailed the holidays," Reed said.