"Sky Drinker" Sand Wash Basin Mustang

 

16x20 oil on stretched linen 

available

The first of many paintings to come of the Sand Wash Basin Mustangs.  This is a stallion named Whiteout, the primary stallion of a small bachelor band.  With each painting I hope to include a story or two about the individuals in the painting. 

"Whiteout approached the wateringhole with his little band of two young stallions, probably two year olds.  Kiowa's band was already there so Whiteout and his young charges waited about a hundred feet away.  Kiowa approached the small band and Whiteout went to meet him.  They squeeled and struck and pawed the ground, sniffing "manure piles", a ritual where stallions "poop" on and sniff each other's pile, similar to dogs and wolves peeing on the same spot.  In sniffing these piles they can determine who has been there and when, and even what kind of condition the animal is in.  Amazing!  Kiowa and Whiteout seemed to come to an agreement.  Whiteout and company circled the wateringhole to the other side.  The two younger stallions of the bachelor band went down to water but Whiteout stood back until Kiowa and his band moved on.  Only then did Whiteout approach to drink.  Eventually all three bachelors moved to the other side of the muddy pond and drank again.  From the west emerged a bachelor stallion named Outlaw.  The two young stallions went to meet him, not Whiteout. "

Painting of Outlaw to follow!

"Buffalo Skies"

40.5 x 52.5

Here is the almost finished piece.  It's been a labor of love as I really enjoyed painting this.  It's always a challenge to orchestrate so many elements/buffalo and make them all work.

The last two days have been spent blocking in a lot of the canvas without finishing anything completely.  I knew the large cloud shape in the background would hold a lot of weight and would change the weight the smaller distant buffalo would have so I had to get it in next. 

Then I started to fill in the foreground color.   The sky/cloud is actually a little darker in real life. Now I can start thinking in terms of color integration and reflected lights.



   These are the latest paintings to come off the easel.  The top painting, "Garden Wings"  is of a Goldfinch ravaging the thistle seeds in front of my house last fall.  And the deer were at the bottom of Storm Mountain one evening as I was going home.  They were a group of doe, from yearlings to matriarchs, catching the last sun in the valley before dusk. I love living in amongst my models.  It's like painting old friends.

"Garden Wings" 
10x8
sold








"The Last Rays"
12x16
sold

"Forest Light"

8x10 oil on linen $675 framed

Another painting headed for Arts at Denver, show opening February 10, 2012

www.artsatdenver.com

             

"Running Paint"

11x14

at

Arts at Denver

         

Yes, it's that time of year already!  The Christmas Mini-shows!  But as artists, we've been thinking about the holidays for some time now, painting all those little gems, our deadline being right around Thanksgiving. It's Thanksgiving morning as I write, with the giblets simmering and the turkey waiting to be stuffed and put into the oven, anticipating the arrival of my family for dinner. I can't help but thank God for this wonderful life I lead as an artist.  With all it's trials, insecurities and uncertainties (all you artists know what I'm talking about!), I am still filled with joy every time I put brush to canvas. I think I love to paint animals because their nature reminds me of what is truly important in this life, and the landscape is pure genius of creation.  So Happy Thanksgiving to all!!  Gotta go chop some celery and onion . . .

"Prairie King"

8x10

at

Abend Gallery, Denver, CO

"Partners II"

8x10

at

Evergreen Fine Art, Evergreen, CO

The Coming of Autumn

There's something about September and the brisk morning air that draws me to paint buffalo.  Perhaps it's the  the sound and sight of tall, drying blades of yellow grass, waving in unison as the wind passes over them, or the changing sound of aspen leaves, flickering in the sun, foretelling of something to come. . . as if it were a mystery. The only mystery of course is when and for how long will the next season last.  Fall is a season of preparation and change.  So as I stock up on firewood and watch the horses blowing their summer coats and "hairing up" for winter, there is a sense of excitement and anticipation as everything in the wild world gets ready for winter.                                                         

"Prairie Peace"

8x10

"On the Prod"

8x8

"Prairie Son"

12x12

The top two paintings went to the "Artist's Gathering Show" at the Chico Basin Ranch this past Labor Day weekend and will travel to their show in Denver later this month.

The bottom painting is still at the studio awaiting it's frame and varnish.