Paint Historic Waxahachie

Waxahachie Gold
8 x 10
oil on canvas
$200

This weekend was the start of a week that I look forward to all year., The Paint Historic Waxahachie Paint Out. It began last Friday and I went down after work to sign in and get started painting. I met T. K. Riddle and Olivette Hubler on the square painting. They finished two paintings and then  headed home.. I didn't finish mine but was at a stopping point so I quit and went to Oma's Jiffy Burger with my friend Kent Brewer who had been painting down near the feed store. ( One of the greatest things about this paintout is getting to hang out and paint with some really terrific artists.) I had always heard about Oma's and I have to say it was pretty good and the coconut cream pie was great.

Sunflowers outside town

Saturday morning I got up early and drove down for the quick draw event. This is where you have two hours to produce a painting. I saw  so many of  my friends there including Kent, Olivette, Sheri Jones, Allen Riddell, Steve Miller, Debob Jacob, Ted Clemens,Tina Bohlman, Betty King, Mary Rabien, and many others. We met at the Farmers Market and spread out in a several block area to paint. We started at 8:00 and had to turn them in at 10:00. I painted the statue of the Confederate soldier in front of the court house. A lot of great paintings were produced and I purchased three to add to my collection. I bought oil paintings from Ted and Olivette and a watercolor from Tina.

Me painting in the field where I painted with my friends Olivette, Debob, and Kent.

 Many of us went to Oma's for lunch and were joined by my friend and fellow artist Maryanne Brummer and her nephew Austin. Then Olivette, Debob and I drove out to a field of sunflowers that Debob had found. It was a really great place to paint. The temperature was not too hot and we had a great breeze. Kent drove out and joined us. Everyone  produced great paintings there. I painted two sunflower paintings and have to admit that I am pretty pleased with them. After painting we  had dinner at the Tuscan Slice, a great pizza restaurant. It was probably one of the best pizzas I ever had.

Waxahachie Gold #2
oil on canvas
8 x 10
$200

    Today, Sunday, I went back down to Waxahachie around 1:00 to paint. I met Olivette and we both turned in some paintings we had finished and framed, then we went to the square to paint. I saw Allen there and Chris Galvan, another Artist friend. We all painted around the square. They did new paintings and I finished mine from the first day. Then I went over a block and painted the Rios Barber Shop. Kent painted it too. It is always very cool seeing how different artists paint the same thing, and with 30+ artists painting in a fairly small area there are a lot of paintings of the same subjects. Another great thing about painting with others is being able to get instant input and critiques on ones art. It really makes a difference.When we finished painting Kent gave me a sketch that he drew last year of me painting in front of one of the houses on The Gingerbread Home Tour. So, I have another great  piece of art to add to my collection.
     The paintout will continue this week and end with a sale of the art next weekend.

Plein Air Weekend

Blue Adobe
8 x 10
oil on canvas
$200

 I had a very fun weekend of painting outdoors last weekend. First on Saturday I went down to Glen Rose to participate in the Paint the Glen paint out. Glen Rose is one of my favorite small towns in Texas. Several of my friends and fellow painters participatedincluding Sheri Jones, Olivette Hubler, Dan Spangler, and Joyce Thomas. the judge was my good friend Debob Jacob. Olivette won first place.

Me painting in Glen Rose

There are lots of  great places to paint including the river, the town square, the old mill,  and the historic old buildings and houses. I t looks like I am in an alley but I am actually painting a small garden on the edge of the town square. It was a nice place to paint, and I had shade most of the time .

Sunlit Fountain
8x10
oil on canvas
sold

 On Sunday I painted in one of the gardens in Historic Fort Worth's Hidden Garden's tour. Four of my friends painted in the other four gardens including Beatriz Welch, Kent Brewer, Carol Ivey, and T.K. Riddel. I was in a very beautiful garden of a large home built in 1918 in Ryan Place. It was a very peaceful and shady  garden, but it was hard to find a good focal point because I couldn't paint anywhere where I would be blocking foot traffic. It was good practice painting all the greens.

Green Corner
8x10
oil on canvas
sold

Bison Painting

Yellowstone Bison #2
11 x 14
oil on canvas
$600

  Here is another bison painting I just finished today. It may be a bit shiny in a few wet areas but I am pretty pleased with it. Bison are one of my favorite animals and I have so many photographs of them from all over but especially in Yellowstone National Park. This painting is of a bison cow and bull in the park. I always used to picture them on flat treeless plains but in Yellowstone they are everywhere, and often in lightly forested areas.  As a kid I remember seeing the paintings and sculptures of Charles Russell and thinking how neat buffalos were. As an adult,  they are some of my favorite animals to  paint and sculpt.

Indian Blankets at Tandy Hills

Indian Blankets at Tandy Hills
8 x 10
oil on canvas
$175

  A few weeks ago my friend Sabine Higgins and I painted at Prairie Fest at Tandy Hills. It is always a bit like being out in the country when I'm at Tandy Hills and this year the wildflowers were the best ever. I may have to go back and paint there tomorrow. Next Saturday I'll be painting at Glen Rose at the Paint the Glen Paint Out and Sunday painting in one of the gardens in the Hidden Gardens  garden tour.   

Plein Air, French Impressionists, Jaguars, and Horses



Me painting in plein air at Tandy Hills, in east Fort Worth.

    I have had a lot of things going on. Spring continues to be beautiful. The bluebonnets are gone but the Indian Blankets are out in full force now, so plenty of painting opportunities. I have been out painting whenever I get the chance. The temperatures have been great and it hasn't been terribly windy, which I am grateful for. Some of my favorite places have been the Botanical Gardens and Tandy Hills Park.

The beautiful hills and wildflowers at Tandy Hills.

    In addition to painting in Plein Air I have been really enjoying the Impressionist exhibit at the Kimble Art Museum. This exhibit has over 70 paintings. There is a large group of Renoirs as well as paintings by the other great  French Impressionists and artists from other countries including Belgium, Italy, and the USA. My friend Beatriz Welch gave us a tour of it recently, and it was a wonderful experience.

My Arabian Horse Sculpture.

Arabian horse at my friend Sabine's.

  I finally finished my Arabian  Horse sculpture. The final step was going down to the farm where my friend Sabine lives to get her critique. She has two horses, but not Arabians, however there are several very nice ones on the ranch so we had plenty to look at. It was really valuable having an expert look at it for me. I am learning a lot about horses but still have a lot to learn.  I made a few changes and then took it to the foundry. It should be ready in a few weeks.

Me sculpting a jaguar in the Fort Worth Zoo.

    I have been going out to the Fort Worth Zoo which has been a challenge because the nice weather has really been bringing out the crowds. I started a smaller jaguar in the winter and decided  that I was really enjoying it and wanted to make a larger version. This one is going fairly fast. I still have a long way to go but I'm looking  forward to finishing it and having it cast.



My jaguar sculpture as a work in progress.

   People are always so nice and encouraging when I'm out sculpting. They always say things like " That looks really good" or " I could never do that." What is embarrasing is that they say that even when I'm just stating out and it looks like something a five year old would make. Oh well, I know that they mean well, and that's what counts.

My Newest Longhorn Sculpture



Leading the Way- Old Blue
11 x 5 x 8
bronze on granite
$1,200

      I just picked my newest bronze sculpture up from the foundry yesterday. It is a longhorn representing Old Blue, a longhorn steer belonging to Colonel Charles Goodnight. Old Blue wore a bell around his neck and lead Goodnight's herds 8 times north on the Chisholm Trail. He was something of a pet and lived to be 20 years old. When Old Blue died, Goodnight mounted the horns in his office.
     I will have this and many other sculptures at David Dike Fine Art where I will be doing a sculpture demonstration on April 21st, 2:00 to 8:00. The address is2613 Fairmount Street, Dallas, TX. 75201.
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Busy, busy, busy.

Arab Spring
Work in Progress

  This has been one of my busiest and most productive springs. I have sculpted, painted, and participated in many  different shows and events. The most recent show was a few weeks ago at the Southwest Gallery in Dallas where I participated in the Outdoor Painters' Society's Southwest Salon and quick draw at White Rock Lake. It was a great event and a lot of fun seeing all my friends who participated.

Trail Over the Hill
9 x 12
oil on panel
$200

  This  coming weekend I have an art show at David Dike Fine Art in Dallas. I will be doing a sculpture demo from about  2:00 til 8:00. I will have most of my sculptures on display there. I will be working on a jaguar sculpture and possibly starting a new one.
   I just found out that I have been invited to participate in the Fort Worth Historical Society's Preservation Is The Art Of The City Show. I have several other shows that I have applied to, that I hope to hear from soon.

Horses at the Benbrook Stable.

  I am still working on my Arabian horse sculpture so I have been spending a lot of time at the stable near my house. There are two Arabians but most of the horses there are quarter horses, and I am really getting inspired to sculpt one of those after I finish  the Arabian. I have enjoyed the time I have spent there sculpting the horses and all the activity of the stable. The people there really love their horses.

Roses and iris in my backyard.

  In addition to all the painting and sculpting, I am really enjoying the great weather we have had and working in my yard. I have to say that this has been a great year for flowers and gardens in general. I have not had a chance to go fishing or camping yet this spring but it is on my list of things to do,and of course I'll bring my paints.
  And when it rains we have a great new Exhibit of 70+ Impressionist paintings at the Kimbel Art Museum. I have seen it several times already.

More roses in my backyard.