Pumpjack Territory - SOLD

Texas Trip - PAINTING DAY 4
Upon arriving at my niece's family home located in a wonderfully secluded area far removed from any sign of urban life, I broke out canvas, paint, and easel. She just happens to have a pumpjack in her front yard. Considering the heightened awareness and frantic discussion of renewable energy needs and global warning issues, it seemed an appropriate subject matter and task to observe and attempt to capture an energy making machine. Ironically, it was somewhat like drawing/painting a live model. It would pose still for approximately 20 minutes and then move about for 8 or so minutes.

Lake Lot View towards Dam - SOLD

Texas Trip - PAINTING DAY 3 - Noon
Hamburgers Anyone? I painted. They talked. Yes, the anti-social artist consumed the vista while the masses chit chatted. Actually, I gave an art painting demonstration (absolutely free of charge) that I believe most of the viewers enjoyed. OK, let's call it Art- 101. Seriously, it is always difficult to paint and talk. Both sides of the brain don't want to work at the same time, at least mine doesn't!

South Tank - SOLD

Texas Trip - PAINTING DAY 2 - Dusk
As I was approaching the tank, a small group (when do you call it a herd?) of cattle alarmed at my sudden appearance scampered off to the pasture. I felt guilty for keeping them from their favorite watering hole. And besides, a few cattle would have been a fun challenge to paint!

Bowen Bridge at Memory Lake - SOLD

Texas Trip - PAINTING DAY 2 - Noon
It was remarkable to discover this old iron bridge that was recently removed from Highway 153, aka the Glen Cove Highway, and relocated to Memory Lake in 2005. Read all about it. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~jrterry/colemancounty/general-history/bowen-bridge.html Due to the 100+ temperature, we set up a portable, pop-up painting tent to shade me, my canvas and palette. Surprisingly at this fairly remote area, there were a lot of drive-by gawkers bewildered by what I was doing! It is a wonder that the local authorities didn't come check me out. Nevertheless, I wasn't there too long, I had a very important soccer game to attend.

Windmill at Coleman City Park - SOLD

Texas Trip - PAINTING DAY 1
In search of windmills to paint, I stumbled across this one set in a historical park-like setting surrounded with rusty antiquated farm equipment. If these blades could talk, what stories would they tell?

I entered this painting in the 2008 Fiesta de la Paloma - Art Show and received an Honorable Mention.

Seasonal Pond - SOLD

After a guided tour from very enthusiastic Yolo Basin Foundation staff members and volunteers, I elected to set up in an area that has limited yearly access. http://www.yolobasin.org/index.cfm
It was enlightening to learn more about the wildlife and the natural habitat that they so much depend upon. Efforts by this organization and their many dedicated volunteers insure that these resources will be preserved for future generations.
It was a challenge to capture the meandering stream coming in my direction. The distant trees, perched upon the levy, gave a visual boundary to the otherwise infinite landscape.
This painting was donated to the foundation to use in their Silent Auction at their annual fundraising event, Bucks for Ducks, scheduled for November 7, 2008. http://www.yolobasin.org/documents/B4D_Invite2_2008.pdf

High Noon at Rocking Chair Ranch

Recently, I completed this painting that was started during a September 2007 BBQ at Pa Ben's famous campsite. I was just learning to be the anti-social, plein air painter that I have become: "Excuse me while I paint......You don't mind if I paint, do you?" But, if you stop for a moment and consider that if it was not for the dedication of the the historical plein air painters - Bierstadt, Church, and Hill, etc., we would be without exquisite canvases that captured very specific places in very specific times. Who is recording us now? The digital camera?
Ok, ok, ok...enough said.
This lone oak offered welcomed shade to numerous cattle in this immense pasture with the distant Santa Anna Mountain conveniently serving as a scenic backdrop.
This painting received an Honorable Mention in the 2008 Fiesta de la Paloma - Art Show. It is now installed in a private collection.