SCENES FROM BIG BEND #3

"Terlingua Adobe" 9" x 16" oil on linen

Just West of Big Bend is the small
town of Terlingua which served as a
mining community in the mid-1880s.
The only remnants of the mining days
is the ghost town which once housed
the miners for the Chisos Mining Company.

There are about a dozen abandoned
adobe houses like the one depicted above,
a cemetery and the Starlight Cafe where
hot, sunbaked,smelly after a day of painting
in the Texas heat artists like myself
migrate to for a cold beer, country
western music and a nice dinner.

After a few beers and a hearty meal me
and my travel companions will mosey
(Texan for move about) out to the porch,
sit in rocking chairs and gaze at the
brightest stars seen anywhere.

SCENES FROM BIG BEND #2

"Santa Elena" 9" x 12" oil

No trip to Big Bend is complete
without painting Santa Elena Canyon.
The Rio Grand River makes its final
push to the Gulf of Mexico through this
canyon. You can cross a small creek
and climb a man-made catwalk to
get a good view down the canyon.

I've painted it several times now and
just like painting the Grand Canyon
or the Tetons if you don't get it
right there are plenty of people to
tell you just how bad you messed up.
So on this trip I walked further up
the dried creek bed and painted it
from a different angle. Those familiar
with the canyon will immediately
recognize it. Those that aren't can
enjoy a nicely designed and executed
painting of the canyon entrance.

SCENES FROM BIG BEND

"Near Panther Junction" 9" x 12" oil

Been awhile since my last post. Took a
week-long paint trip to Big Bend then
came back and had knee surgery. Just
now getting back into the studio to work.

I am painting in the Plein Air Southwest
competition this year. There are four
paintouts including Big Bend National
Park,the Texas Hill Country, Ouray in
Colorado and Canyon De Chelly in Arizona.
In December there will be a show and
sale at Southwest Gallery in Dallas, Texas.
Over the next two weeks I'll post the
plein air pieces I did at Big Bend.

I produced fourteen paintings over five
days. Half of the paintings will never see
the light of day. The others are worthy
and will be posted here.

I also produced a video which is now
playing on YouTube, BlipTV and YahooVideo.
The YahooVideo is actually the best quality.
As soon as I figure out how to make
a link I'll put it here.