The newest member of Oil Painters of America...

I've decided to really work on getting my work out into new venues this year and I've entered a few big shows and applied for membership in the Oil Painters of America.

Today I received my letter of acceptance!  I hadn't heard anything since I sent in my application one week ago and I was resigned to the fact that I wouldn't get in before the National Juried Exhibition deadline.  

I went to see the show at the Whistlepik Gallery in Fredericksburg last year and was quite impressed with the caliber of work I saw there.  I've now sent in my entry and I have my fingers crossed!

Wish me luck?

 

The Holiday is over!

It's been a long time (over a month!!!!) since I've posted anything on my blog and my friends have been quite merciless in pointing this out to me. 

I'll take the heat!

I had a wonderful holiday season visiting my son Kabe in Tulsa and my old friends in New Mexico.  While visiting the Sandia Mountains where I used to live, I marveled at the fact that I never went out and painted the fantastic scenery there.  I wasn't doing landscapes then (but then, I wasn't doing much else either!)

I took lots of photos while I was there so be watching for them to show up as paintings in the future.

Now that things are settling down and I'm getting things settled in at my new studio, I'm anxious to start painting there. My plan is to get into more shows and do more painting than ever before. I have some new ideas rattling around in my head and I can't wait to see what falls out when I pick up my brushes again.

Thanks for patiently waiting for something new to appear here...  

I hope that it will be worth the wait!

For now, I'll post a painting that I did as a commission.  The painting was made into a print but the original is mine and available if you like it....

It's been a while!

It's been a busy few weeks for me. I've recently finished a commissioned painting of cowboy boots, attended my last meeting as an officer of the New Braunfels Art League, and now I'm moving into my new studio/gallery space.

This picture is the front door (the one on the right) to my studio. The building is a relocated Texas cabin originally built in the 1800's.

The first thing you see as you enter the front door is going to be the public room... a place to greet people, visit with them and present my available work. It's a really rustic and cozy space and it will look great with a rug, a few comfortable chairs and a selection of my work.







This last picture is from the kitchen looking toward the front door. The area in the foreground will be my work area. It's only slightly separated from the public room and anyone visiting the studio will have a view of the work space. They'll be treated to the sight of the clutter of a working painting studio and the controlled chaos it involves. Fortunately, I have a small back room for storage and the "not so picturesque" elements of a working studio.



I'm looking forward to receiving visitors along with my studio/gallery partner, Brigitte Woosley, who will be offering her wonderful Western oil paintings in the adjoining gallery space.

I'd love to have you come visit me!

Check out Cindy Revell's work...

Sometimes you find an artist who's work makes you say "I wish I had done that!"
Cindy Revell is one of those artists whose work just fascinated me.

I hope you enjoy seeing her work as much as I did.

What caught my eye....
Check her out!

Dark And Stormy Still LIfe

It took me a year but I've finally finished this painting. It went through a few phases and ended up a bit surrealistic. I'm glad I finally finished it. It really bothers me when I get stuck and I can't seem to get back to something that's been around that long!

It's almost worse than facing a blank canvas!

"Dark and Stormy Still Life"
Oil on Board
12" x 18-1/2"

Just a little touch-up in the studio...

This was a beautiful southern Texas morning in the fall. We searched for a while to find the perfect place to paint and "that we did!"
This was a spot on Hunter Road between New Braunfels and San Marcos and there were 3 beautiful scenes to paint. I chose this one because I was wanting to paint some SKY!

"Hunter Road"
Oil
11" x 14"

ALAS!

I started a still life painting and I liked the way it was progressing but life is full of complications! Now the petals have fallen and the painting isn't done. I have to remember to make a good photo BEFORE I start to paint.

Hmmmmmmmm.... Maybe I'll just fake it!

(Unfinished Painting)
Oil on Canvas