ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

"Estes Park Sunset" 18" x 24" oil/c

One of the best times of the day to
paint in one of the best parks in the
nation. If you haven't been to Estes Park
you are missing it. Endless amount of
inspirational painting location any time
of the day. You just have to avoid the
minivans full of families. It can be done.
Paint early and paint late. Every day at
sunset sit back and listen to elk
bugle.

PAINTING LOCAL FLAVOR

"Tarpon Inn" 10" x 20" oil/c

The Tarpon Inn is a famous establishment
in Port Aransas. I show my work at
Port A Gallery just a few blocks away.

There was a time when tarpon would
run up and down the Texas coast on
their way to Florida and were one of
the best game fish found on our
coast. But the hurricanes came and
changed to coastline and the tarpon
disappeared. Only recently have they
began to appear again. The Tarpon
Inn was the place to stay when the
tarpon were running.

LAST WINTER BLAST

"Winter Passing" 10" x 12" oil/c

As I write this I am in shorts and a T-shirt
trying to stay cool. Believe it or not this
scene is from two days ago. Just about the
time we Texans began changing the oil
in our lawn mowers and reading
articles on new brands of fertilizer for our
yards, Winter paid us one last visit and
dropped five inches of snow last Saturday night.

I sprang into action on Sunday and took off
for a day of capturing the day because I knew
given the next 24 hours, it would all be gone.
Sure enough by 3:00 most of the ground snow
had melted away. Today it is in the upper 70's,
sunny and green grass is everywhere. Texas
weather...you got to love it.

WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT

Photo courtesy of D M Bates

I will be teaching a five-day plein
air workshop in Wimberley, TX
April 26-30. Contact
www.wimberleyartistsworkshops.com
or contact me through my website at
www.rustyjonesstudio.com for more
information. Ann Templeton and Skip
Whitcomb will be teaching at the same
workshop series.

COASTAL IMAGERY

"Jetty Boat" 10" x 20" oil/c

From the canyons of Canyon De Chelly
to the Texas coast I go. In Port Aransas
there is this orange jetty boat that ferries
people from one jetty to another. Bird
watchers and drum fisherman are the usual
passengers. The blue building is the living
quarters for the crew. A blue building, orange
boat and green water is a painting
waiting to happen. I am glad to oblige.

FRESH OF THE EASEL

"Canyon Homestaed" 18" x 24" oil/c

Canyon De Chelly is a national monument.
As you tour the floor of the canyon you
will still find areas owned and operated
by the Navajos. This land has been
passed down from one generation to the
next. Life in the canyon is hard with
flash floods and harsh winters. You
have to respect the Indians who still call this
home.

BACK TO THE CANYON

"Home of the Anasazi" 9" x 12" oil/c

My trip into painting gray matter was
short lived. Last weekend I attended
the Centennial Celebration in Port
Aransas. Friday night was an open
house and art show at Port A Gallery.
I introduced a new 22" x 28" oil
painting of the Lydia Ann Lighthouse and
it sold quickly.

I thought I had pushed the color too far,
but the response to the painting was
overwhelming. I asked a couple of patrons
what they liked about the painting and
every one mentioned the color. I received
two commissions to create additional
versions of the lighthouse.

Back in the studio, I returned to painting
in my previous manner with clean color.
I guess I should embrace what my collectors
are asking for and still push back and forth
between painting more subdued paintings
as well as the more colorful pieces. I guess
it doesn't really matter as long as I
remain true to the landscape and to myself.

PUSHING MYSELF

"West Texas Elevator" 12" x 16" oil/c

After creating a couple of paintings I
think were too colorful, I have gone
off the other end to see what would happen.
I photographed this elevator on a bright,
sunny afternoon last October. I just didn't
want this to be a bright and cheery
painting so I painted it as if a rain storm
had just passed through. I think it worked
out fairly well.