DUNCAN — When illustrator and writer Robby McMurtry arrived at one of the Duncan lakes about a week ago, he followed his sister’s instructions to make himself at home in her travel trailer.

He wasn’t feeling well and had a long drive on the road into Chisholm Trail country. It was dark and his sister said she’d be parked in the usual first campsite. So, the Loco native who now lives in Morris, entered the camper, climbed into bed and dozed off.

There was a fly buzzing around, so McMurtry grabbed a T-shirt from nearby and covered his face.

McMurtry found himself startled awake and before the night was over, he was facing criminal charges for trespassing. Turns out, his sister was running late and hadn’t arrived at the campsite.

It was McMurtry’s unfortunate experience to have made himself at home in a stranger’s accommodations — a Texan stranger, at that.

Those who hear the tale and know the artist can’t help but laugh. Even McMurtry chuckled.

Chisholm Trail Heritage Center Museum Coordinator Cova Williams had offered a spare bedroom to McMurtry, but because his sister was to arrive, he declined the offer. Williams and McMurtry have known each other for years.

McMurtry, 60, attended school in Velma-Alma, and now frequently returns to give back to the area where he was raised. He has been an artist instructor at Chisholm Trail Arts Council’s annual Arts Explosion for several summers and teaches youth the basics of drawing.

McMurtry’s in town now to promote his book, “The Road to Medicine Lodge,” a graphic illustrated novel about Jesse Chisholm. In connection with that is an exhibit of his art of the Comanche tribe.

A reception was held for McMurtry at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center Thursday night, with about 40 people attending. His art will be on display until November, and those attending Western Fall Fest will have a chance to view his work at a meet-and-greet.

Sitting in one of the CTHC’s rooms filled with another exhibit of cowboy bits and spurs, McMurtry shared some of his childhood memories.

As a young boy, McMurtry says he loved Saturday mail.

“That’s when The Duncan Banner’s Sunday paper would arrive and I loved the comics. I can’t remember being interested in anything but comics.”

His father was Bob McMurtry who, according to some old-timers, was well-known in these parts.

“He was a bootlegger,” McMurtry said, of his father. “But he also drew all the time, on napkins. I thought he was the best artist in the world.”

Claude Sparks, a cowboy who frequents CTHC, overheard the illustrator’s comments and confirmed he had heard of the elder McMurtry. Sparks also shared a fondness for collecting napkin drawings, and the two who had never met, seemed to become instant friends.

McMurtry’s new book was an idea inspired by Williams.

“Every time I would see Cova, she’d say, ‘Do a book on Jesse Chisholm.’ So, I did, just to get her to shut up about it,” he said, laughing.

Williams has been extremely excited about the book and exhibit. So much so, she didn’t let a broken ankle stop her from hanging the exhibit on Labor Day.

“I love the pen and ink drawings. They are so detailed and incredible,” she said.

McMurtry said the exhibit is a retrospective collection of pieces borrowed from family and friends. It features 28 works, with many of them done in bright, bold colors. The more colorful pieces are filled with humor and life, while many of the others are much more somber and reflective of true Native American life on the plains.

One of the pieces the artist created in 1980.

“All through school I made comics and put myself and my friends in them,” McMurtry said. “I was interested in history because I was always listening to my grandparents talk about traveling in wagons in the 1890s.”

Doing a graphic novel about Jesse Chisholm became a labor of love. McMurtry began the newest project about two years ago and learned volumes about Oklahoma history and Jesse Chisholm.

“Once I got started, I got into it. The cowboys called him “Prairie Jesse.” I talked to his descendants. It was way more work than I thought it would be, and I had to leave a lot out.”

And like many writers, McMurtry worked on it right up until deadline.

“I finished it three weeks ago and it came from the printer Thursday. I sent it to them on Wednesday. Today’s technology, just great.”

McMurtry smiled. “You know,” he said, “I flunked out as an art major in college. I got my degree in English.”

On Friday, he spent the day talking to Duncan Middle School students about art and Native American heritage. Many of those students also have some western art on exhibit.

At the end of one of the seventh-grade sessions, student Rob Ramos approached McMurtry to talk about art. McMurtry looked at him and slightly grinned. “What tribe?”

“Comanche.”

“Me too,” McMurtry said.