Rodeo clowns, cowboys, and bulls :)

I listed a couple of new aceo's today. The last of the rodeo ones I think. Moving on to something else. Both are graphite pencil on 120 lb acid free paper.

These have been fun to do, but I like to keep changing up, so will find something else to do. I might even get the paints out again one of the these days. You will find both of these pieces listed here on Ebay

WIP - Char - Finished

Char - 9" x 12" graphite
My piece is finished and going in today's mail to Texas. A surprise for Char to repay the many many kindnesses she does for everyone.

I finished by adding the Choctaw Nation symbol to the teepee and added the Canada Geese to it as well (I used to put these geese on the back of every painting and envelope I sent out) I haven't done that for a few years now, but I wanted something "Canadian" on the piece. Last, as a bit a whimsey on the painting I added one small red bird (the only colour on the drawing) According to Char a red bird sighting is a good omen.

Although Char hasn't updated her blog for several months, it still is a good read. Amarillo-Choctaw

(the copyright is not on the original piece of course)

WIP - Char

One thing about a work in progress is that you never know where it's going to take you. I started out hoping to have a sketch of Char in the foreground and a village behind her. I started researching the Choctaw nation and decided that instead of the village, I wanted to show the "Trail of Tears". Char had talked about this in one of the many wonderful stories she shared about her background and life. I found the lesson very interesting.

This piece is still in a very raw stage. I want to take my time with this so that I get it right.

Trail of Tears (click on link to learn about this) I picked this stone archway built by Jerome Baggett because it was a tribute to all Native American tribes that walked on the "Trail of Tears". (Choctaw, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Muskogee-Creek and Seminole)

I think the painting will be a tribute to the path Char has taken to become the strong independent woman she is today.

WIP - A gift for Char

Char - 9 x 12 graphite pencil

This is the start of a work in progress for a beautiful friend of mine, Char. She is such a source of inspiration for me. She always encourages and never critisizes. She loves sending gifts and never expects anything in return. (Yes, Char, I promise I will finish beading my moccasins one of these days)

I'm doing this one slightly different then I usually do. I'm working on the foreground first and then working my way back. I hope to put a whole village behind her or at least some more teepees and some landscape. We'll see where this work takes me in the coming days.

Rare Corpse Flower is about to bloom -

I would love to be there to see this magnificent flower in bloom. They say it will be just over 3 feet in heigth. I can't imagine it. And the bloom has been known to grow over 6 feet tall and over 3 feet wide. but as with anything of beauty there is something dark......apparently the smell is something awful. Who cares as long as you get to see it right. To watch the progress of this rare treat just click on here

Featured Gallery at EBSQart

I am absolutely thrilled that EBSQart has chosen me to do a little blurb for their feature gallery, Figures and Portraits, this month. You can see the write up here EBSQart

Lightning Warrier Storm Watch Acrylic Miniature

Storm Watcher - 2" x 3" acrylic Miniature

It's been awhile since I actually painted. I've been busy with graphite and charcoal. So I decided today to go back to what I usually paint...lightning. This one will be framed and sent to an art exhibition in Victoria.

Rodeo Cowboys and Clowns.....graphite pencil

Rodeo Clown 2.5" x 3.5" Graphite pencil

I thought I would try a rodeo clown. I used watercolour paper this time because I wanted something with just a little more teeth than the smooth bristol. I'm not to sure about it.

Steer Wrestler 2.5" x 3.5" Graphite pencil

I wanted to try and get a lot of motion in this one. When you see them wrestling steers it seems to be all dust, dirt and mayhem. Cowboys are lucky cattle aren't smarter...pay back would be a......well never mind...

Both of these are listed on Ebay here with free shipping anywhere in North America :)

Sea Storm - Tall Ship - fixed the font colour...you can read it now

Sea Storm
As written by David Adams

"As I stare out to sea, the waves crash angrily against the cliff side. I see a ship in the distance framed by a halo of light formed from the setting sun. The beams of light, scattered across the world as dark heavy clouds, seem to manifest from a distant land far from sight and knowledge. The wind whips around like a horse master trying to save a coach from a pack of hungry wolves. My thoughts flash through my head as quickly as the lightening appearing from the darkness , leaving Me anxious and confused. Thunder rips past my being, standing alone in such a wide open world, and I feel the power tremble the air around Me. I lose myself in thought as the ship disappears from sight. As the sun disappears from the horizon, the storm begins."



I was contacted the other day by a young aspiring writer named David Adams asking if he could use this image of my painting "Sea Storm" to go along with a piece he had written. It is wonderfully written and I am so honored that he used the image. He has given me permission to post the piece here on my blog. Enjoy.

Pencil Sketch - grands -

I'm still experimenting with graphite pencil. This is an 8 x 10" graphite drawing of my two youngest grands. This one worked out much better by listening to the advice from fellow artist Mary McAndrew and have used a much lighter hand in this one and layered it instead. I am happy to report...none of the dreaded shine! I decided to work bigger than I normally do until I had learned the technique.

I framed this in a beautiful black and grey frame for my daughter's (their mom's) birthday today. Here's hoping she likes it. (the copyright isn't on the actual painting of course)