Ernie Kilman loves the Kings River, and he loves to share this treasure with others. He has operated Kings River Outfitters for a dozen years, just upstream of the bridge where Arkansas Highway 221 South crosses the river.

He's helped people from all over the world enjoy the simple pleasure of floating the Kings, a Class I river which usually offers casual conditions. Sure, the river can present challenges at times of high water, but usually it qualifies as a recreational float.

That just means that almost anyone can go along for the ride. And those who don't get a chance to paddle the Kings can get a sense of the river's magic from Ernie's paintings.

Ernie paints his beloved river from gravel bars or even from a canoe. His French easel allows him to secure a canvas against the wind, but "plain-air" painting still offers plenty of challenges. Bugs, bits of leaves, or other wind-blown debris may all end up in the finished product.

Despite the special easel he uses, Ernie still had an oil painting blown out by a gust of wind. Naturally, it landed "butter side down," but the sand became part of the painting's texture.

He could avoid these problems by painting from a picture, but that process usually seems to yield a painting that looks like a picture. "It's not just about what you see, but what you hear, what you smell--the whole feeling of being there," Ernie said.

He describes painting on the river as "an absolutely incredible experience," and said he finds a new composition around every bend.

Ernie describes himself more as an observer than a painter. "I was self-taught, not to paint, but to see," he said. Through his paintings, the rest of us can see how the river looks through his eyes.

Some of Ernie's paintings appear on his website, at www.kingsriveroutfitters.com. His oil paintings are also exhibited at the Eureka Fine Art Company, at 78 Spring Street in Eureka Springs. Ernie operated a gallery in Eureka Springs for many years before starting up his outfitter service.

He was named "Eureka Springs Artist of the Year" for 2003.

Growing up amphibious

Even as a youth, Ernie went on float trips lasting several days. He learned to live on "river time," and he has passed that love on to his son Skylar, now 11. Skylar was already an accomplished kayaker at the age of four--one of the advantages of growing up with a river in your backyard.

As an outfitter, Ernie does more than just rent canoes and kayaks. He wants people to experience the river fully. "I encourage people to be one with the river, not just on the river," he said.

He's also very serious about preservation. No glass containers, no trash…some of these guidelines seem obvious, but the message bears repeating if we want to preserve "the big room" for future generations.

"We are so blessed in the Ozarks," Ernie said, reminiscing about the 12 years he has spent at Kings River Outfitters.

A few years ago, a woman from Brazil floated the river, and naturally had a wonderful time. Through an interpreter, she inquired about the meaning of "outfitter." Ernie thought for a second, then said it meant "purveyor of fun."

If you want to share the fun, you can contact Kings River Outfitters to rent a canoe or kayak, or just arrange a shuttle, at (479) 253-8954.