Yellowstone Bison

Yellowstone Bison
11 x 14
Oil on Canvas

Here is another painting that I put the finishing touches on today. Yellowstone National Park is one of my favorite places. I've been there many times. During the summer it is a great place to go to get away fom the heat. In fact, one July I woke up to find a coating of snow on my tent. My favorite thing about the park is the wildlife. My favorite animals are bison and bears. I've taken rolls of film, as well as many digital images, and have albums and boxes full of their photos. I've done a lot of sketching at the various lodges and campgrounds as well as along the roads and trails. I completed. this painting from my photographs. I have more reference material for bison than any other subject.

Camping at Lake Granbury

Camping at Lake Granbury
8 x 10

   I started this one last summer when I went down to paint with Sheri Jones and Joyce Thomas at Granbury. It was a very hot day. As usual, by the time I got there, they were both about finished so I wanted something simple and what I found was this tent and the ducks . The campers were already out on the lake but the ducks were very friendly and surrounded me as I painted. My friends were of course finished before me, so I left without finishing.
 I've had most of this week off to paint due to all the ice and snow so it has really given me a chance to finish many paintings that I started during the past year.                

Canyon Road Casa



Canyon Road Casa
8 x 10

Here today's painting is. I started this one two years ago but brought it out to finish up. If I was starting it today I'd probably paint it looser, but I finished it in the same style I started it. This is one of my favorite houses in Santa Fe, it's just off Canyon Road.                                               

"Rosted" Pinon

"Rosted Pinon"
8 x 10

                                                                                                                                  
This one is just for fun. It's another of my paintings from along the High Road to Taos. I took this photo at Chimayo a small Spanish village founded at the end of the 17th century. Chimayo is famous for its church commonly called El Santuario de Chimayo. It is a beautiful church and has the reputation of being the site of miraculous healings. Many thousands of pilgrims visit every year from Mexico and across the Southwest. Vendors also sell all varieties of locally produced items, especially green and red chilis. A great place to eat is Leona's Restaurant located near the church. I took the photo for this painting near the parking lot for the visitors. I almost decided to correct the spelling on the sign but in the end I painted it as it was because I thought it added to its charm.  Likewise, the donkey was spotted and kind of a dirty color, and I didn't change her either.

Las trampas Church

                                                             The Church at Las Trampas
                                                                           11 x 14
I'm just about finished now, I may still do a bit more, but really I'm pretty happy with this one. I've noticed that the colors look different in each of my photos, I think the light has been different each time I've photographed it. I took this one outside against the snow. It may be a bit bright but I think the color is pretty accurate. I've been iced in since Tuesday morning but it has been very nice having the time to work on it. I've also been working on an 8 x 10 from another photo I took on the High Road to Taos. Hopefully I'll be able to finish it and post it later today. I also need to straighten up my studio too. If this cold front lasts I may accomplish a lot.

Texas Stampede Invitational Show and Sale

Native Texan



Gone Fishing

Here are the two sculptures that I am going to put in the Insight Gallery's Texas Stampede show. I was going to mail them today, but thanks to our snow and sleet that is probably not going to happen. The show's reception is on March 4th in Fredericksburg in the gallery's new location, just down the block from the old location.

                                                                                                                         



Las Trampas, work in progress #3

                                                              Church at Las Trampas
                                                                  11X 14
I got the snow day that I wanted so I've been painting. Here's what I've done today. Mostly just worked on values and color. I still need to work on it more but ready to take a break for a bit. Hopefully next time I post this one it will be finished.