Dust for Breakfast

9 X 12 Oil on Canvas $125
Includes Shipping and Insurance in U.S.

These cowboys were up and working before breakfast. When lunch rolled around, 80+ calves had been worked & a bushel of dust eaten by each cowboy in the lot. The lunch that was served was well worth the effort - especially for me, the photographer!

Psalm 42:1
A white-tailed deer drinks from the creek; I want to drink God, deep draughts of God. I'm thirsty for God-alive. I wonder, "Will I ever make it— arrive and drink in God's presence?" I'm on a diet of tears— tears for breakfast, tears for supper. All day long people knock at my door, Pestering, "Where is this God of yours?"

Media: oil
Size: 12 in X 9 in (30.5 cm X 22.9 cm)
Price: $125 USD

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Price: $125 USD
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Dust for Breakfast - WIP

9 X 12 Oil on canvas WIP
Inspiration comes from many sources. Sometimes TOO much stimulation can overload the system. I have so many great images and so little time!
This is the beginning of what may end up a large painting - but first I need to work out the details. I think I will turn the cowboy's white shirt to red and make it the focal point. Right now all the white spaces are the focal points and they are too unbalanced. I plan to make the dust less bright and square the image up more. All comments are welcomed!
Galatians 6:1
Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived
nodp

Days End

6 X 8 Oil on Board $100

Includes shipping and insurance in U.S.

It's been really rainy in Texas this Spring - making for some spectacular sunsets and this was one of 'em. Rain grows good grass, too, and Easy loves to munch it.

Rain also means endless farmwork - trimming pecan and fruit trees, turning compost, mowing, cleaning stalls, weeding and harvesting the garden. As a result, I haven't had much time to paint.

The chickens are becoming more demanding, too. I cannot yet distinguish hens from roosters, but I have my suspicions. I have been refusing all along to name the birds, knowing that some will end up in the stewpot. I have a soft place in my heart even for the roosters, though, and may just turn them loose and see if they are hardy enough to survive the coyotes, owls and snakes. The first one that crows under our window at 4:00 A.M. WILL be supper, though, I assure you....

Psalm 59:14
They return when the sun goes down, They howl like coyotes, ringing the city. They scavenge for bones, And bite the hand that feeds them.

Media: oil
Size: 6 in X 8 in (15.2 cm X 20.3 cm)
Price: $100 USD

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Price: $100 USD
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Patience or Impatience

5 X 10 Oil on Canvas $100
Includes shipping and insurance in US

Sometimes cowboys have to work on the ground waiting for those on horseback to do their job. Believe me: he'd rather be on his horse, and his attitude shows it!
I'm still playing around with color on this subject, and I think I like him better in a red shirt.
Proverbs 22:26
[ 3 ] Don't gamble on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, hocking your house against a lucky chance. The time will come when you have to pay up; you'll be left with nothing but the shirt on your back.

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Price: $100 USD
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Wildflower Wanderer

8 X 10 Oil on canvas $125

Includes Shipping and Insurance in US

I have never seen the wildflowers in Texas as beautiful as they are this Spring. It's like Mother Nature has been hiding and saving up for 10 years and now spends everything in her account.

The "model" for this image is someone I have come to respect highly - his name is Tommy Houston. Tommy has a ranch near Bluff Dale, Texas that spans 2 counties and is a "real" cowboy and member of a dieing breed. And people that know him speak of his generosity with both his time and his talents, as well as his expertise with horses.

I was honored to be invited to photograph his yearly cattle working this month, an event that lasts 2 days. Tommy also invites friends and family to participate, and he feeds the whole crew 3 squares each day.

For those who are curious, I will explain a "cattle working". Cows and calves are rounded up and brought to a pen where the calves are separated from their mommas. The cows are run through a working chute where they are wormed, doctored, if necessary, and those without calves are palpated to check to see if they are pregnant. Those who are not, get shipped to an auction where they will probably end up in your next Happy Meal.

Calves are caught (by roping) and held secure on the ground where they are branded, castrated (bull calves), ear notched, ear tagged and inoculated. The whole process takes less than a minute with as many as 5 cowboys working at the same time. One thing I noticed about the roping crew was that they only roped the calves by the hind legs and did not head-catch them, which can lead to injury, I assume.

Expect more paintings of this event...

Psalm 140:12
I know that you, God, are on the side of victims, that you care for the rights of the poor. And I know that the righteous personally thank you, that good people are secure in your presence.
Media: oil
Size: 10 in X 8 in (25.4 cm X 20.3 cm)
Price: $125 USD

How to Purchase:

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Price: $125 USD
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Lefty - calf working oil painting

8 X 6 Oil on Masonite Panel $100
Includes Insurance and Shipping in US

Here's a quick painting of the pen sketch I did several days ago. I'll probably paint this several more times, with a slightly different composition and colors.
You ask why the title is "Lefty"? I had to reverse the image of the roper on the horse to get him looking in the correct direction and that placed his loop in his left hand. SO simple....
Chicken report: They are very happy in their outside run. It will Fall before I trust to let them out for limited excursions in the garden, though. Don't worry, they still get "real" food. I have dug worms for them, shook caterpillars out of trees, left the porch light on all night to attract June bugs which I dutifully gather in the morning...AND they get kitchen scraps - they especially like pineapple peelings (thanks, Mom!). Also there is one really goofy friendly bird that is called a "Turken" or a "Naked Neck Chicken". Her name is Moe. She is supposed to be a good egg layer - she needs to have SOMETHING going for her, because good looks aren't it!
Bee report: I have not yet worked up the nerve to look into the hive. It has been so windy lately that I am not sure about the smoker working (that's my story and I stinking to it.) They are, however as busy as bees and I am hopeful that we can work out something regarding sharing the honey...after all, bees are our friends.
Zechariah 3:10
"'At that time, everyone will get along with one another, with friendly visits across the fence, friendly visits on one another's porches.'"

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Price: $100 USD
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Bluebonnet Mama 8 - Bevo's Mama oil painting by Debbie Grayson Lincoln

SOLD to an Illinois Collector

This little painting will probably appear as the cover of the Parker County Sheriff's Posse Rodeo Cover this summer. Last year one of my daughter, Merideth's, photos was used, and this year they asked me to paint this cow and calf.
The bluebonnets are nearly gone in this part of Texas. About all that's left are plump seed pods waiting to burst open and spread their treasure for next year's show. Now the orange galardia (pin wheel), purple verbena and red paintbrush take center stage. Dandelions are support crew with appearances made by foxglove and primrose. The eyes never get a chance to be bored...
Proverbs 10:14
The wise accumulate knowledge—a true treasure; know-it-alls talk too much—a sheer waste.

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What Are you Waiting For? WIP sketch

8 X 10 Sketch for Painting
Here's how I put a painting together...Pick images from as many photos as necessary and compose a drawing. Then I decide on time of day, size, palette, etc. and then transfer final drawing - usually using a grid to keep it in proportion.
These two cowboys are from a recent calf working event at a new friend's ranch. The weather was varied all day - from sun to wind to rain to rainbows to sun again. I am tempted to use a dark, threatening purplish background. Also, the more distant cowboy needs to retreat farther with the calf between the two.
This was a quick drawing using a marker - I'll do a more detailed one paying closer attention to perspective and darks and lights for the next one.
Isaiah 42:18
[ You've Seen a Lot, but Looked at Nothing ] Pay attention! Are you deaf? Open your eyes! Are you blind? You're my servant, and you're not looking! You're my messenger, and you're not listening! The very people I depended upon, servants of God, blind as a bat—willfully blind! You've seen a lot, but looked at nothing. You've heard everything, but listened to nothing. God intended, out of the goodness of his heart, to be lavish in his revelation. But this is a people battered and cowed, shut up in attics and closets, Victims licking their wounds, feeling ignored, abandoned. But is anyone out there listening? Is anyone paying attention to what's coming?