Friday, July 27, 2018

If a Boulder Falls in the Canyon

...and no one is there to hear it - it's probably a good thing. Rocks the size of large trucks falling from 1,500 feet are nothing you want to be near. There is no telling how long ago this thing landed. For perspective it's about 60 feet tall and wide.

This is Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park. I painted this in studio from a photo I took years ago while rafting the Rio Grande. 


Original painting by Kent Brewer
Title: Canyon Solitude
Inventory No.: 0331
Size (inches): 14x11
Media: oil on birch wood
Location: Big Bend NP, Texas
$950
To purchase click here.

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Stars, Storms and Serenity at Copper Breaks

My son and I recently took a camping trip to Copper Breaks State Park in far north Texas. I didn't bring any painting gear but I did take a camera, hoping for a few reference photos to bring home. The park is probably best known for its spectacular star-gazing which, by itself, is worth the drive. After a we arrived on a Friday night we set up our tent and gear by the light of a lantern, constantly distracted by the astronomical display above us. I couldn't wait to get a fire going so I could relax and enjoy the show which included several meteors. It is impossible to sufficiently describe the beauty of God's creation out here in the middle of nowhere - with "nowhere" being a 21st century definition of a place with no cell service. More on that later.

The first night was as good as it gets, which means that we didn't drive all that way only to settle for an overcast sky. And followed that up the next day with exploring, hiking, eating and relaxation. 

Read More  (this link will take you to my new blog address)

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

The Senior Pic

This old viaduct, built in 1933, was a spectacular entry into the small town of Waxahachie, Texas. As travelers crossed over its two lanes, high above the road below, the 1895 courthouse loomed a few blocks to the north. I’m sure it was a welcome sight to weary souls looking for a place to eat or rest. And while this experience is still possible (the town looks about the same as it has for over 100 years), things will be changing soon as the viaduct will be torn down and replaced due to some structural issues. I’ve painted this scene several times and will miss having it around. I’m thinking that the new structure won’t have the same appeal. The title of this work, The Senior Pic, is due to the family that walked by my easel on their way to the tracks under the viaduct for a photo op. I was able to capture that moment in the painting. By the way, this is the same location that was filmed in the Oscar-winning movie, Places in the Heart, from the 1980s. Thanks for reading.

The Senior Pic - 9x12 Oil on canvas.

$650