Back again

i am back once more. I have spent the last two years caring for my wife. She recently passed from cancer. I hope to kindle my creative spark once more. Can't seem to get going.

Marshall Barn at Blodgett Missouri

The Marshall Barn

16 x 20

Oil

This barn was commissioned by it's owner, as a gift for his father.  His father called me one day last month after he had received the painting.   He told me he was sitting in his favorite chair just admiring the painting.  That gave me great satisfaction that I had accomplished my goal.  It's funny how painting becomes such a part of you.  Sometimes I want to just forget I ever painted and go on with life, but I find it almost mandatory that I have to paint.

Back again

I have not posted for a long time, because I felt that is was not worth my time.  No one was reading or following my post.  But this week on Artist Helping Artist, I heard the host talk about someone whom she thought never followed her post or facebook, commented on several of her paintings in person.  She never commented online or posted , but followed the blog daily.  So, I thought I would keep on posting, even if I never get a response.  It's theraputic and it keeps my blood pressure up just trying to figure out what new problems blogspot throws at me.  I have been painting and I will once again begin posting new paintings

SIX LITTLE WRANGLERS

Six Little Wranglers   W/C    17 x 22
SOLD

This is a watercolor  from a photo taken by my good friend Mark Stallings, who
generously allowed me to use for the painting.  It six little cowboys, i.e.
wranglers, all wearing wrangler jeans, thus six little wranglers.  We
have a large rodeo each year in my home town and this is a view often
seen at the calf roping shutes.  The little guys all trying to get an
autograph from their favorite roper.  I normally work in oils, but this
one just seem to demand watercolor.
It's been some time since I blogged, so it may not be seen by anyone.
If you like it , please comment.  I have been busy trying to make a
living at my health inspector job, and it hasn't left much time to paint.
Now as I approach retirement, I hope to have a lot of time to paint.
Thanks for stopping buy.

Air Mail

"Air Mail"

Oil.....16 x 20....NFS

Air Mail is the herd bull of a friend of mine.  He is a retired rodeo bull

that just has to eat and play nowadays.  My friend says he's very gentle

now and you can walk up and scratch his back.  I think I will admire

him from afar.  He had so much personality in the photos.  It was a

painting just waiting to happen.  It almost painted itself.  The original is sold,

but I will have prints available soon.  Yippee Kay Ya ay!!!

Dogwoods

"Dogwoods I"

14 x 20...watercolor...$200

Dogwoods are one of my favorite subjects.  In the spring each year

the community of Charleston, Mo. has a dogwood-azalea festival.

Their azaleas and dogwoods are magnificient.  Something in

the soil just 15 miles away makes a huge difference.  The

streets are draped with dogwoods and the azaleas are head high.  Busses

come from all over the country to take in the sights.  This painting

is framed in a beautiful silver matte finish wood frame.

Democratic Barn

"Democratic Barn"

w/c....22 x 30...nfs

This old barn stood near Oran, Missouri for many years.  Each

policitical season, it became covered with election signs.  Since

the owner, Louie Hirshowich,(spelling), was a democrat, only

democrats were allowed apparently to put signs up.  You

could alway date a picture of the barn by the signs on it.
PRINTS AVAILABLE 

It has since collapsed and is no more.

Two Silo Farm

Two Silo Farm

Oil...16 x 20...$300

Sorry for the long delay in posting.  I have been busy studying

how to post, how to sell on line, how to , how to....

It seems it takes more time to post and sell your art than

it does to paint it.  So many places and sites, it becomes

so confusing I'm not sure where to go.  This is a plein air

painting I did near home.  It's an old dairy farm that has fallen

into disrepair.  Folks keep horses on the property and plant

crops.  It has a lot of personality, and would speak to me

everyday on the way home from the work I do to pay

the bills.  It seems my wife still likes to eat and have gas

in her car.  This farm has about six paintings waiting to happen.

I guess these old barns just speak to me.  All the new

metal barns that are being built will never be the subject

of any painting.  They probably won't outlast the old

cypress barns. 

Friday 13th Open House

Friday the 13th

Sweetgum Gallery and Frame Shop hosted an open house on

Friday, May 13 from 5pm until 8pm.  Sweetgum Gallery is

operated by my wife, Mary Etta, and designers, Marilyn and

Debbie.  The gallery represents my art as well as limited edition

prints from many artists and Marilyn Schwanniger's pop art.

She creates scenes with a mosaic of aluminum soda cans.

We had a great crowd and snacked on wine, cheese. soft

drinks and nuts.  The Depot Museum across the street had

an opening for three artists and several other galleries and shops

remained open.  We hope to make this a monthly event.  Thanks

to all who came by.



Plein Air Augusta, Missouri

Augusta Plein Air

One hundred and three plein air artist descended on Augusta Missouri

for about ten days recently.  I was fortunate to attend the last three

days.  Artist from all over the country as well as Canada were

present, painting every aspect of Augusta, a sleepy little town

on the Missouri River and the Katy Trail.  It is in the heart of

Missouri wine country.  No fast food or shops, just antiques, Bed

and Breakfast Inns, and Wineries.  Each day was at a different

location, many of which were wineries.  It was fascinating and

my first plein air event.  I would like to post more pictures, but

this blog will not let me do so tonight.  I finally figured out
to edit the blog to get more photos.  It's amazing how my
paintings have such realistic gnats, leaves, and grass in them.

Red House Docent

Red House Docent

Oil...16 x 20....$400

The Red House is a museum in Cape Girardeau, Missouri,

on the Mississippi River near my home. It is one of the

first homes in the region, and I think it was present

when Lewis and Clark went through the area. It

is opened on the weekends. This man is a docent there, and

is the fire maker. He is showing his flint and cloth

used to start a fire. His period costume was very colorful

and I could not resist painting him. The colors in the painting

are much brighter, but I cannot seem to be able to take

good pictures of my paintings. Good photos are a must

nowdays, since that is the preferred way to enter shows. I'm

not sure I understand pixels and dpi's, etc. One must be

a computer guru as well as an artist. Next week I am

trying a new experience. I am traveling to Augusta, MO, near

St. Louis for a plein aire event. Going to try to run

with the big boys.

Garage Sale

Garage Sale....oil/acrylic...nfs

This is a little ( 5 x 7) plein air I did of my neighbor

across the street during a garage sale she and my wife

were having. Seated are my wife, neighbor and some

customers. The two children in front are her children.

It's always fun and we spend a lot of time reminiscing

and buying items from each other. It's always interesting

to see who shows up and what items interest them. I

did this painting sitting on the tailgate of my truck

in the driveway.

Rusty Cottonpicker

Rusty Cottonpicker

Oil....16 x 20...$350

This old cotton picker sets on the side of Hwy 61 north in

Missouri, near an old cypress barn. This is the first cotton

picker made by international. It's the old style where you

drove a tractor up under the picker and drove the tractor

backward. It still sits there today, while the large modular

pickers work in the field behind it.

Queen of the River

"Queen of the River"

Oil...16 x 20...$300

The Mississippi River is only a few miles from my home.

This image was at New Madrid, MO, where the great

earthquake occured. Several of the old riverboats stop

in New Madrid as well as Cape Girardeau MO. They look

just like the grand old ladies that used to run the river. The

river is hypnotizing. I can just sit and watch the tows push

the large barges up and down the river.

Red Barn in Snow

Red Barn in Snow

32 x 20...W/C....Sold

This barn is at the edge of town in a newly developed

industrial park. It has an unknown future. I have painted

it in summer, winter, and fall. It is very striking and has

several red out buildings behind it. It speaks of a time

gone by, when barn construction was an art. Who is

going to want to paint the metal yellow barns they are

constructing today. These old cypress barns will far

outlast the new ones if they don't get torn down in the

name of progress. I love to do old barns. Each one has it's own

distinct personality. Watercolor seemed to be the medium

it called for.

The Beach

"Jordi at the Beach"

Oil...9 x 12... NFS

This is a neighbor child whose family goes to Florida with us each

year. Jordi is an active little girl with a big imagination. She is

a great model and alway willing. This is her Fourth of July outfit.

We are always there on the Fourth and the fireworks are

marvelous. We acutally have a beach family, a group of people

that come to the same location , at the same time each year.

We have watched the kids grow up and get married, and

then bring their kids to the beach.

Avastin

This is a plea for help for all those suffering from advanced breast cancer. My good friend, Julie Heppe, has been on Avastin for some time and the drug has halted the growth of her cancer. She has relavtively few side effects and the drug is doing it's job. Why the Feds have removed or are considering removing the drug is incomprehensible. Please follow Julie's blog, julieheppefightforlife.blogspot.com, to support her fight. Incidentally, she is an artist also, winning many awards for her unbelievable photography.

Beauty of Christmas

Poinsettia II

Oil...30 x 40...$1500

This beautiful poinsettia painting comes framed in a hand carved,

Italian gold frame. I try to do a Poinsettia painting every year.

I always try to save the poinsettia and get it to bloom

another year, but I have not been successful. I keep it

all summer long and get it up to a very large size, but

I can never get them to turn red again. It must take

a very special touch. I guess I let some light creep in

and ruin the cycle. I hope you enjoy this wonderful

symbol of Christmas.

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

Santa Claus II

Oil...9 x 12... Sold

Every year I suit up and help Santa check on all the kids. It's

a great experience to see their eyes light up. Kids will tell you

everything they know about the family. Sometimes, the experience

is heartbreaking, like a little girl who told me her daddy would

get her a pony when he got out of jail. My heart just broke on the

spot. It's a great time of year and I love seeing everyone

getting into the real spirit of the season. The first Christmas

was a special time and the gift the Christ child gave us is

the most precious gift we will ever receive. But don't forget,

you have to ask for it.

Sometimes I wonder if anyone ever reads these posts. It's like writing

in a diary that no one ever sees. I want to have feedback on my

paintings and establish relationships with other artist, but I have

no idea how to expand the following. Nevertheless, I feel

compelled to try.