Loading up the Pack Mule

6 X 8 Oil on MDF Board

$125 includes shipping in US

We have just returned from out annual Colorado trip and despite going later than usual, the timing was still good. We missed three weeks of typical August Texas heat that extended into September. In addition, we caught the beginning of school, so the campgrounds were relatively empty toward the end of our trip. AND THE FISHING WAS GREAT!
Our first two weeks were at Thirty Mile near Creede. Hunting season was fixin' to begin, and nearly every day hunting guides were hauling camping equipment up the mountain - setting up campsites for the hunters.
The first guide I watched pack up was Greg Pearson of Lost Ute Outfitters, and I truly appreciated the opportunity to get some great images of him and his animals.

He was readying 3 mules and an Arabian gelding to haul camp equipment up the Weminuche Trail. This painting is of "Ace", one of the pack mules.
Greg had a set of scales in his trailer that he used to weigh the packs before he balanced them on the pack saddles. I was impressed by how well the load was distributed on the mules as I know what can happen when weight shifts on the back of an animal. It can be scary - especially on the narrow trail up the mountain.
Exodus 23:5  If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it.

If you are interested in this painting, click here to send me an email. I accept checks and Paypal. I can also arrange LAYAWAY. To view my latest paintings on Daily Painters go HERE. 

To view a wealth of OTHER Texas Artists, enjoy THIS site!

Mules Mules Mules - from Thirty Mile Campground in Colorado

5 X 7 Oil on Canvas mounted on Board $125

Includes Shipping and Insurance

We are back from our yearly trek to Colorado. We escaped the blazing Texas heat for 3 glorious weeks where the temperature was never over 78 and often down in the 30's at night. DEEEE-lightful! Many many thanks to my friends and neighbors for taking care of the cows and horses, etc. And, MOM...thanks for encouraging us to go - I am so grateful you are feeling so well!

At our first stop, near Road Canyon Reservoir on the way to Thirty Mile Campground near Creede, we passed a corral full of mules and horses. I LOVE mules and took many photos of them.
This first little painting is a composite of my 3 favorite, and I have included here the process of the painting's composition.

I would love to paint this in a large format using a different color palette...any takers?

Above are three original photo images that I took.

A quick sketch on notebook paper (I forgot my sketchbook) established the composition.

I decided to make the format slightly wider than square, re-drew the sketch onto the canvas and began painting.

Unlike many painters, I prefer to work "front to back", painting the negative space to make corrections in the outline, if needed.

This painting was completed in about 3 hours (not counting the photography, planning and final drawing). Painting on the "kitchen table" in the RV is not the best of circumstances - lighting is very bad and the space is cramped. I used to take boxes of supplies and canvases, but I have learned to take the barest minimum and make-do.

My fellow artist friend, Niki Gulley leads ART TREKS to Europe (France and Italy), and I marvel how artists can travel overseas and bring along enough of their stuff.  But I have learned to do the same when we set off in the RV.  Less really is more!

Exodus 13:21

By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.

If you are interested in this painting, click here to send me an email. I accept checks and Paypal. I can also arrange LAYAWAY. To view my latest paintings on Daily Painters go HERE. To view larger paintings, go to my Website HERE. To view a wealth of OTHER Texas Artists, enjoy THIS site!

On the Way to Thirty Mile Campground, Creede, Colorado

On the Way to Thirty Mile

8X10 Oil on Stretched Canvas $125

Includes Shipping and Insurance

All the views on the way to Thirty Mile Camp are wonderful, and this one is actually along Highway 149 going from Creede to the turn-off to the camp. I have been told that July and August is monsoon season in Colorado. It has come fairly late this year and has been sporadic in some areas. Fortunately most of the fires are out now, though, and Thirty Mile was never threatened – I am guessing that is partly because the trees are not nearly as devastated by beetle damage as is so much of the rest of Colorado.

Over the past 12 years we have watched the Colorado forests gradually turn brown and dead – starting mostly in the north. And we (and everyone who lives there) have known that it is just a matter of time before the forests go up like matches. My heart breaks for the loss of life, property and habitat that all the recent fires has caused. Please keep Colorado in your prayers. AND keep visiting the state! While the fires have been numerous, there are still LOTS of gorgeous places to visit and COOL OFF!

Isaiah 10:19
And the remaining trees of his forests will be so few that a child could write them down.

If you are interested in this painting, click here to send me an email. I accept checks and Paypal. I can also arrange LAYAWAY. To view my latest paintings on Daily Painters go HERE. To view larger paintings, go to my Website HERE. To view a wealth of OTHER Texas Artists, enjoy THIS site!

On The Way to the Rio Grande Reservoir - Thirty Mile Campground

On The Way To the Reservoir

8X10 Oil on Stretched Canvas $125

Includes Shipping and Insurance

The mountains in the background harbor the birthplace of the Rio Grande, and this is what we see as we drive above Thirty Mile to the Reservoir where we really enjoy fly fishing. It’s a quite a climb down from the road to the lake’s dam, and it truly tested our lungs the first day. I had to stop twice on the climb up and out. But by the end of our stay, we had acclimatized and could make the climb without stopping.

The fourth day of our stay we decided to see if we could follow the Wemenuche Trail and make it to the Continental Divide. Several years ago we had tried unsuccessfully to make the pass and failed. Too old and fat and out of shape. This year, however, we started out loaded with plenty water, thick socks, snacks, little camera, ponchos and Georgia. About 2 hours into the trek, I was sure Mike was ready to turn back, but we trudged on – past the rock slide, through the brief thunderstorms, over Wemenuche Bridge and upward. A caravan of pack horses and mules passed us – hauling supplies up to workers who were repairing trails. I briefly wished I could hitch a ride, but the narrow steep trail was scary enough on foot, much less 6 feet in the air!

Around noon we made it to the pass – marked only by a hand-carved pole stuck in the ground. We were on top of the world and the views both up and down were fabulous. The round trip took about seven and one-half hours (and about 10 miles). We arrived back in camp exhausted, sore-footed and hungry. Georgia couldn’t run up the RV steps the following day – choosing instead to climb them one-at-a-time. Mike and I weren’t in much better shape, but proud that we had bettered our last hike! 

Isaiah 30:30
The LORD will cause men to hear his majestic voice and will make them see his arm coming down with raging anger and consuming fire, with cloudburst, thunderstorm and hail.

If you are interested in this painting, click here to send me an email. I accept checks and Paypal. I can also arrange LAYAWAY. To view my latest paintings on Daily Painters go HERE. To view larger paintings, go to my Website HERE. To view a wealth of OTHER Texas Artists, enjoy THIS site!

Creede Colorado Clouds

8 X 10 Oil on Stretched canvas $115
Includes shipping and insurance

I saw these spectacular clouds on the way to Creede, Colorado this past summer. The Rockies were still getting regular rain so we were treated to impressive cloud formations and lush green forests nearly all summer.
Aren't we all glad this election is finally over? I received a wonderful quote by Corrie Ten Boom in my e-mail this morning: "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." I think that will be my mantra for the next several years. I am not afraid of the leaders we have elected - I am more fearful of the people who elected them, expecting THEM to solve all their problems. It seems as if those politicians that promise the most are the ones who get elected. And yet we all know deep down that the only way to happiness is looking through our own soul to the Father.
The politicians and churches continue to change according to the whims of the people, and they preach and promise what they think we want to hear - doing what it takes to get elected or to get us to attend.
Morality doesn't change with the times and neither does integrity and the things we need for a happy life.
I continue to pray for this country and those who think they know how to fix it.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

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Wild Rio Grande River

SOLD
6 X 8 Oil on Masonite $115
includes shipping and insurance

One of our first stops on our trip to Glacier was Creede, Colorado. That is where I experienced fly fishing for trout for the first time - and it was on a float trip down the Rio Grande River. Before the Rio Grande turns into a wide, muddy expanse in Texas, it starts in Colorado as a crystal clear river of cold, melted snow and ice. And it's fast flowing and exciting and home to rainbow and brown trout.
Mike and I hired a guide to both teach us correct fly fishing technique and to take us where the fish were. Both tasks were accomplished and it was the beginning of a 7 week adventure to make the fly rod my partner.
This little painting is from a part of the Rio Grande where we fished.
Philemon 1:17
So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.