Numerous stories have been told about Elliott Eaton, however the best one was from the Salt Lake City Tribune. The SLC Tribune was covering the 1999 Charlie Russell Art Auction in Great Falls, and their on the ground correspondent, Nancy Hobbs, was describing to her readership the “Quick Draw” process and auction: A high point for many attending the auction is the "Quick Draw" event that challenges a dozen artists each night to create a work of art from a blank canvas, a pile of clay or an old weathered log. In 30 minutes. With throngs of people watching over their shoulders as they work. The results are miraculous, especially to the unartistically inclined who watched the silk being spun. Eaton started with a blank sheet of paper and a vase of three delicate irises, and ended up with a vibrant watercolor bouquet, full of his trademark red poppies. He took a few minutes to frame it, walked around the ballroom showing it to potential buyers, and within an hour of finishing,