Texas Masters show Demo, Painting at the Fort Worth Nature Center, and Jill Carver's Workshop

      First my big news, Friday, March 1st, I will be doing a sculpture demo  at the Texas Masters Show at the Insight Gallery from 6:00 to 8:00. They always have a really top notch opening to the show with Texas foods and drinks and some of the best artists from the state will be there. I was so thrilled when they asked me to do the demo. Other artists who have done demos recently there are Scott Christianson, Quang Ho, and Jill Carver.



View from the boardwalk at the Fort Worth Nature Center

   Today I went with six of my hardiest friends to paint at the Fort Worth Nature Center. I say that because the temperature was about 40 when we started. If it had been warmer we would have had about 15 artists instead of just seven of us.


Me Painting on the end of the boardwalk at the Fort Worth Nature Center.
 

    When we got there we decided to go and paint out on the boardwalk. This was probably the worst place for us to set up as it was really cold being there above the water, exposed to the wind and in the shade. However we liked the color of the grasses and the water. There was also an abundance of ducks and other waterfowl in the area..



Steve Miller, Dan Spangler, Olivette Hubler, and Linnea McKinney painting at the end of the boardwalk.

   Despite the cold it was a great place to paint. After we got to a stopping point some of us left and the rest of us went to lunch and then back to paint. By this time it really had warmed up to a very nice temperature. We were glad that we had returned. The nature center is such an amazing place. Several of us said that we felt like we were  on a vacation just being there surrounded by the beautiful scenery.

The second  study  I worked on today.

We went to a different location to paint in the afternoon. I chose to paint a study of some cedar and prickly pear cacti, a very Texas scene. I took a workshop last week at Acton Texas with Jill Carver. We worked on values mostly but also on painting looser. I was pleased with the looseness on this one but am still working on the values.

The paint was wet and shiny, so my study looks lighter here than it really is.

    The Jill Carver workshop was really super. She is an extraordinary teacher.  The workshop was at Campfire USA's El Tesoro campground in Acton, Texas. It was three days, Tuesday through Thursday. I love Jill's work and without doubt this was three of my most productive days with regard to education.

Jill brought several paintings showing her work . I bought this one she painted at Port Aransas, one of my favorite places.

      The subject of the workshop was composition (using Notan - creating a black and white  painting to simplify and check the composition before beginning the actual painting) and value by limiting the painting to three or four values. This was a very different way of approaching painting and all of us felt like beginners. .


Some of our group at Maryann's in Acton.

      This was a very intensive class. I think all of us were exhausted at the end of each day, but still we had time for fun. There were 15 of us in the class and I knew, and had painted with all but one of them. The first evening after class we met at my friend Maryann's property for a bonfire and cookout.We had  hot dogs and wine and a lot of other great things.



A view at camp El Tesoro

The last day of class was one of the best, the weather was incredibly nice. Warm, sunny and no wind. We painted along the stream bed with the limestone cliffs, winter grasses, and cedar trees. Then Jill bought us pizza for lunch and she did one last demo that afternoon.  I would recommend her as a teacher to anyone. She talks about everything from the creative process to safety issues regarding artist's materials. I will absolutely take another class from her when I  have the opportunity again.


Jill doing a demo at camp El Tesoro

Two Projects Finished

Fort Worth Nature Center
oil on steel star
Donation for the North Texas Alzheimer's Association

      Here are two pieces of art I've been working on recently. The first is a painting that I've been working on for a while. It is a steel star that I painted for the North Texas Alzheimer's Association. I, along with several of my friends, decorated these stars and they will be auctioned off at a fund raiser at Ridglea Country Club early in the spring for the group. My painting is inspired by the landscape and animals of the Fort Worth Nature Center. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the others come up with.

Marine Creek Schoolhouse
20 x 24
oil on canvas

     The second is a painting of the Marine Creek schoolhouse, Fort Worth's first school. This school was originally in Fort Worth's Northside and now sits in Log Cabin Village.It was built as a school for the 20 or so school age children in Fort Worth at that time.
      Today Fort Worth has beautiful trees everywhere but in the oldest photos of the city there are very few trees. I imagine most of the first trees were cut down to build the early structures in the city and also as fuel for heating and cooking. I wanted to capture that empty feel but decided to add a few bare trees for the purpose of the composition.
       

Time to Cowboy Up in Cowtown

Texas Bison
8 x 10
oil on canvas
$150
 

     We had some nice weather today, for a change, so I worked on my art outside and went to two great annual events here in Fort Worth. But first I will talk about the art. I painted the bison painting above  earlier this week. Bison are one of my favorite animals to sculpt and paint. However when I looked at it today I saw there was a scratch where the paint was missing so I fixed that.



Star I'm painting for the Alzheimer's Association.

   Then I began working on a new project. I was asked to be one of a group of metroplex artists who will be decorating steel stars to be auctioned off for the Texas Alzheimer's Association. Other participating artists are Blair Curren, Nancy Boren, Sheri Jones, and Olivette Hubler. Earlier in the week I bought primer and sanded and primed the stars that had not been picked up yet. Today I started mine. It will be a Texas landscape with bison, trees, cacti, and maybe bluebonnets. This photo was taken after I blocked in the sky and tree line. I actually worked until I got the whole painting blocked in.
 



The Six Flags of Texas in the Stock Show parade.

    The other part of my day was spent in large part at the Fort Worth Stock Show parade and later at the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show. I used both opportunities to take lots of photos for future art projects as well as just enjoyed some of our great Western Heritage and History.
 

The US cavalry from Fort Hood.

     The parade is in downtown Fort worth and is the largest all horse and horse drawn vehicle parade in the world. There are over 2000 horses, mules, and donkeys. It seems like every one who is anyone shows up on a horse, in a wagon, buggy, or stage coach. The mayor and city council always ride in it. So to do representatives from the TV stations, radio stations, banks, local businesses, surrounding Sherrifs' posses, branches of the military, churches, and even groups like the Texas Girls Choir. There are also reenactors from various groups.

The TCU marching band.

   Like any parade their are lots of marching bands. As always TCU's marching band was the first band, and they sounded great. Some of the local high school bands participated. There was even a really good band that came all the way from Mexico.




Riders from a Mexican riding club.

    In addition to the band from Mexico several riding clubs from Mexico come up for the event. They wear traditional Mexican clothing. The women almost all ride side saddle. Some of the men perform rope trips. Others ride along talking on their cell phones.



A stage coach in the Stock Show parade

The parade is really a great annual event and a chance for everyone who doesn't usually do so to wear their cowboy hats and boots. I heard there were about 100,000 watching the parade today. Of course the important thing is that it is the start of the Stock Show and Rodeo. So later, after the parade, that is where I went.

A longhorn steer in one of the cattle barns.

This was the first day of the show. The show will run into February and different breeds of livestock are there at different times. The longhorns, one of my favorites, are some of the first there. Today I just took photos. I'll try to go back and  sculpt them while they are still there. When I was growing up Brahmas were my favorite breed of cattle. I may have to try one of those some time.
                                        


Brahmas in the Stock Show.

Sculpting and Painting in the New Year

Coyote sculpture in progress at the zoo.
 

   One of my newest projects is a small coyote sculpture. Last weekend I went out to the Fort Worth Zoo and worked on it. When I'm finished I'll cast it in bronze. It was fairly cold but I enjoyed working from life. We have two coyotes. They are brothers. They are housed between the jaguars and bobcats in the Texas Wild section. I think they can't be very happy with their choice of neighbors.


Coyote in the Fort Worth Zoo

   I also went out to Cedar Hill State Park south of Dallas to paint out. There was a group of about seven of us including my friends Tina Bohlman and Olivette Hubler.There is an old farm on the property complete with buildings and farm machinery. I didn't finish my painting that I was working on of one of the outbuildings. One of the things I can say about it is that I'm still working on my values, especially the darks.
    I also had some very exciting news, my gallery in Fredericksburg asked me to do a sculpture demo for their Texas Masters Show. This is truly an incredible honor for me. Some of the artists who have done demos there recently include Scott Christianson, Quang Ho, and Jill Carver. The show opens March 1st and my demo will be Saturday morning, March 2nd.

The farm in Cedar Hill State Park

A Merry Christmas and a Grand Art Show

My Labrador Scout and me in my den.

 Christmas 2012 has come and it has been a terrific one. Christmas Eve we had dinner at my sisters and it was delicious, complete with Christmas crackers, and paper crowns. Then we drove around to look at Christmas  lights. At 11:00 I went to midnight mass at All Saints. Then back to my sister's house to spend the night. My nephews woke me up around 6:00 in the morning to see the presents.

My Mom and Dad's house on Christmas Day. 

After having breakfast I went home for a while. It was raining and then the rain turned to sleet and very quickly to big flakes of snow.  This was our second white Christmas in three years, and only our third in almost 70 years.

My sister and some  of my nephews in my parent's backyard on Christmas Day.

I went out to help my Mom and Dad get ready for Christmas dinner. That evening my sister, brother inlaw, my four nephews , and my brother inlaw's dad came for dinner. The boys brought their sleds and headed for the hill in the backyard. It was bitter cold but the sledding was good and even I made a few  runs. We had another great dinner and then we all headed home before the roads were too icy.

My house on Christmas Night.

 That night I had a fire in the fireplace lit my tree and slept on the sofa. It was a pleasant way to top off the day.

Me in the large gallery space at the downtown library where my friends and I have a show.

 Today was a very enjoyable day. On the 21st a large group of my friends, about 30 of us, hung a show in the Fort Worth Central Library. The show is called Texas and the West. It is very diverse, oils, acrylics, watercolors, photography and for the reception even a few of my bronzes.

My five paintings in the show.

 I really can't say enough good things about the quality of the work in the show. I would love to have any of the pieces in my home. Today was our reception. We had lots of delicious food that the artists all brought and we had piano music thanks to my friend Emilia Hernandez. Many of my friends from work, church, other art groups and some of my relatives came. I wish all the artists in the show great success.

The banner for our show with some of my paintings on it and one by my friend Sheri Jones.

Texas Speed Bump- my new armadillo sculpture

Texas Speed Bump
edition of 30
$675
bronze on granite

It has been a really busy and productive fall. So my posts have been few and far between. I've had several shows and have several more coming up.
Starting this Friday there will be a group of 30 of us in a show at the Fort Worth Central Library called Texas and the West. More about it later.
This newest sculpture is one of my favorites. I call it Texas Speed Bump. It is an armadillo. I tried to capture the essence of the animal with a bit of  personality too. They don't see well and if you are quiet will walk right up on you. Then if they hear you they will take off running. They are very primitive looking and my mom could tell you, they can really mess up a lawn and flower beds with their digging.

A Golden Fall

First to Turn
8 x 10
oil on canvas
$75

We have had a very beautiful fall so far, perhaps not as great as we had hoped but much nicer than last year. The yellow golds are brilliant. I have been very busy with shows and events but have been able to get out and paint some too while the color lasts. Today was a super day. We had a large group turn out. Olivette Hubler, Jeff Ott, Linnea McKinney, Dan Spangler, George De Chiaro, Ann Hardy, Debob Jacob, Cecilia Robertson, Claudia Davis, Maryann Brummer, Sara Ward, Janice Weaver, T.K. Riddle and I made up today's group. We met at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. It started out pretty chilly but did warm up. Some artists painted the roses which are really nice, but most chose to paint the foliage.

The Pecan Pickers
11 x 14
oil on canvas
$200

 We went to lunch at the Kimble Art Museum. It is always a great place to eat. Then we went to see the new show at the Amon Carter Museum. We had a docent led tour of this exhibit which is from the Phillips collection. Wow, it was really great! Paintings by Whistler, Homer, Eakins, and many other great American artists but I have to say one of my favorites was a painting by Grandma Moses. It was the first painting I ever saw of hers in person. It was a very pleasant  painting, a snow scene.

November Path
8 x 10
oil on canvas
$75

   That was today. Earlier in the week I painted out as well and last weekend too. Some other things I have done recently were participating in Campfire's an Artists' Christmas where my donation was one of the three top selling pieces of art in the silent auction. I also participated in the creation of a video for the Sid Richardson Museum in which I am working on a sculpture and talking about a painting with one of my former students. It should be on their website later this month. I had a small piece in the small works section of the November Issue of the Western Art Collector magazine. I've got several shows coming up in December but more about those later.