Las Trampas, work in progress #2

                                                              Church at Las Trampas
                                                                    11 x 14
I worked on this painting again tonight. It still isn't finished of course, but I've already fixed one thing. I noticed that the small building on the right was leaning. I'd say that blogging and looking at one's work on the computer is a great way to get a fresh look at one's own work.There is something about changing the size that makes a painting look totally different.  I'm going to start on the ladder in the morning if I get a snow day and get to stay home. Of course, if we do have snow, and I've prayed very hard for it, I'll try and get at least one snow painting done after all the inspiration I've received from checking out V... Vaughans recent works.

Las Trampas, work in progress #1

                                                           Church at Las Trampas
                                                                     11 x 14

                                                            Church at Las Trampas
                                                                      11 x 14
One of my goals for the new year is to paint larger. So, here goes. It will take longer to paint so I'll post this one in stages. This is from a photo I took last summer along the High Road to Taos. It is the church of San Jose de Gracia in the village of Las Trampas. The village was founded in 1751 and the church was completed in 1776. New Mexico is one of my favorite places. I love the blend of Native American, Spanish, and American culture that makes New Mexico so distinct.

Winter in the Botanical Gardens

                                                         Winter in the Botanical Gardens
                                                                       8 x 10
Had a great day painting today. Started the day with a group of artists painting a model at my friend Linda Reedy's studio. The artists included Linda Reedy, Linda Popple, Olivette Hubler and Leslie Talty. Then Olivette and I met Cecelia Robertson for lunch and after that we went to the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens to paint. It was a beautiful  day and the gardens had many visitors. I painted this one near the big lawn. I liked the colors but added the path to provide interest and as a lead in to the painting. I may still do a bit more to this one but I think I'm close to being finished with it.

Old Hopi Kachina

                                                                  Old Hopi Kachina
                                                                        5 x 7
I actually started a new painting today rather than  finishing up one that was already started, not that I don't have plenty that still need finishing. This kachina was a birthday present. The colors are faded and one of the feet is damaged but he has a lot of character and I had a lot of fun painting him. I really enjoy the southwestern states of New Mexico and Arizona and I especially like the art work of the Native American tribes of the region.

Historic Stock Yards # 3

                                                              Historic Stock Yards # 3
                                                                           8 x 10
Here is another of my stock yards paintings, This was another one started in September  in the Fort Worth stock yards and just finished tonight in my studio. It was a great day when I began this painting. I met several other artists in the stock yards at 8:00 in the morning including Sheri Jones and Sabine Higgins. We had a great morning painting and then barbeque for lunch. It was a great day.

Historic Stock Yards #1

                                                              Historic Stock Yards # 1
                                                                         8 x 10
This is one of my first paintings from the Fort Worth stock yards. This was one started in September in the stock yards and was finished tonight in my studio. The stock yards is such a great place to paint. There is always a lot of activity and so much to see that I plan on going back to paint as soon as the weather warms up enough. In the mean time I have plenty of paintings to finish and each one brings back great memories of times spent creating art with friends.

Historic Stock Yards # 2

                                                            Historic Stock  Yards #2
                                                                         8 x 10
This is a painting that I started in September. I painted down in the Fort Worth stock yards with a large group of painters from the Outdoor Painters' Society including Sheri Jones, Sabine Higgins, Olivette Hubler, Darnell Jones, Randy Saffle and many others. The stock yards were a great place to paint. We went back several  weekends in a row and I started five paintings without quite finishig any of them. I did take photos, so now that it is not so nice to paint out I'm finishig them up.

Late Afternoon in Winter

                                                             Late Afternoon in Winter
                                                                      12 x 9
Yesterday afternoon I went to the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens to paint with my friend Cecelia Robertson. The weather was cool and windy, although the sky was more blue than I chose to paint it. Surprisigly the tree on the right still had some foliage that added some color and helped me to choose this view to paint. I also liked the path and the way the branches crossed over it. I'm sure looking forward to warmer weather for painting out.

Sculpture in progress

This is a new piece I'm working on. It's unusual for me in that first, I'm sculpting this one out of wax. Secondly, this is a figurative piece instead of a wildlife sculpture. I'm actually enjoying working in wax. It has its challenges but I like the way the wax handles and also I like that the sculpture looks like what it will once it is cast in bronze. I hope to have it finished in the next week or so and then take it to the foundry.

Rockport, Texas

                                                                   Rockport Landscape
                                                                             6 x 6
I think this one photographed darker than it really looks. I started this painting my first day at Rockport.. It was cloudy and windy. We had a hard time finding a place to paint. We finally decided on a place near the fine arts center with a view across the water. I didn't have a chance to finish it then, so I got out the paints and completed it this evening.

Fulton Shrimp Boat

Fulton Shrimp Boat
6 x 6
oil on canvas
$75

                                                               
                                                           

 Here's a second painting from my trip to the Texas coast where I painted with Claudia Davis. This one is a painting of one of the shrimp boats at Fulton. I really love this part of the state, so different from my native Fort Worth. I didn't have time to finish it so I took it over to my friend Linda Reedy's studio yesterday and completed it.

Rockport Baitstand

                                                            Rockport Baitstand
                                                                    8 x 10
I started this painting down at Rockport shortly before the New Year. I'd gone down on a fishing trip but my back was messed up and I wound up not being able to fish at all. Luckily, my friend Claudia Davis was down with her husband so I had someone to paint out with. The weather was cloudy and windy but we enjoyed painting anyway. I didn't get a chance to complete it, so yesterday I went over to my friend Linda Reedy's studio and finished it. I'd planned on starting a still life, and in fact our friend Sheri Jones came over and did paint a still life, but Linda and I both decided to work on finishing paintings we had already started. Some times it really is more rewarding just to complete a painting instead of starting something new.