Weeds And Bales

I try to find beauty even in the most mundane appearing places. This scene is from the parking lot of the Dollar Store in my home town. I have painted this scene many times as I cannot pass up hay bales. I'm sure the staff is used to that wierd lady hanging out in their parking lot taking photos and sketching. For those of you in town this weekend, we are hosting the Austin Studio Tour at Austin Art Space. Stop by and see us. We will be open 12-6 Saturday and Sunday this weekend and next.

Grill Warm Up

This was a typical scene before a huge party. Early morning grill light up and friends to lie to what more can one ask for. I often photographed my step father with his friends around the pit. He would drink his beer and chat with friends while grilling. John L was always around and the hangers on were always dapper.

Childs Play 1

The photo that inspired this painting was taken at a family event. I was inspired by the fact that these kids were playing together in the digital age. This was a game of hide and seek with two seekers. No phones attached, just kids playing and running around together.

Losing My Religion

I hope the title doesn't turn you off as its a song from my past. It was the first thought I had when I opened the image in my computer. I grew up in a small town in Texas. Like a lot of places, we had an abundance of churches. This one is around the corner from where I was raised. The painting is not true to form of course. This church is one of my many muses around my home town. Prior to the pandemic, there were rumors that it was set for demolition. Anyway, I hope you all are well and comfortable with our experimental new normal.

Grill Fire Up

My stepfather Milton has been the subject of many of my paintings. He loved cooking for friends and family. This home made grill cooked up many meals for just us or a huge party of friends. He would start early, unlike me, and the best was the food first off the grill. He liked to have beer while cooking. So by the end of his cooking, he would have barbecue toast. Thats what my mom called it. It is my hope that you are happy and healthy as you read this. Its been a rough patch for all of us. We will get through this better as a world. Remember even if you are not present for the holidays you are always with family in your heart and mind.

Gate Keepers

I remember seeing these gentlemen at this very location almost every day as I went about being a child in Commerce, Texas. They would sit on the side of the house and check out everything. We lived "across the tracks" and this house is close to them. I took the photo that inspired the painting many years ago...perhaps in my twenties. When I was growing up, I was taught to call our community "the Norris Community". The younger generation refers to it as "the Hole".

Water Tower

I usually paint when I visit my home town. For those of you who grew up in Commerce, this is a familiar image. When you first come into town from highway 50 you see a dorm and this water tower. I don't know much of the history behind it. I was drawn to this scene because of the drama in the sky. A storm was coming through and the contrast in the sky was amazing.

Hay Bales In Fog

Commerce is beautiful in deep fog. I was headed home one Monday and saying my goodbyes to family. This fog surrounded the landscape. I took a few shots from my car on the way to see one of my sisters. This represents two of my favorite things in a scene fog and hay bales. This type of scene and weather makes me feel cozy. I have to give a shout out to my two sisters. One has a birthday and the other has finished chemotherapy both are very strong women.

Which Is Less Travelled

A little painting of the tracks that used to separate African Americans and whites in my home town. Its strange to have been part of segregation and desegregation. Now we have more of a mixed community which is good.

Sketchbook share.

Old Train Depot

I took liberties with an old black and white photo. This is my hometown of Commerce, Texas. I really don't know much about the railroad that goes through there. It does make for beautiful paintings and photos in my opinion. This is the railroad that used to divide the African American and Caucasian communities. I worked on a small piece of UART paper. The under painting was watercolor. I added soft pastel after it dried.

A page from my custom made sketchbook from the makers of The Perfect Sketchbook.

Outhouse With History

This old outhouse was across the street from our house. I grew up with it. The painting size is 2.5 by 2.5 inches. I love painting small because I am forced to get to the point of the painting. My work has been a bit nostalgic lately because of mother's day. I spent mothers day inside cooking, watching television and painting. The subject of my figurative work was my aunt Michelle. She passed away a little over three months ago. On the following Monday, my sister informed me that her husband had passed too. Sad times for my aunt's kids.

A page from my Khadi sketchbook. Done Friday while waiting on my car to be serviced.

Commerce Country Roads

My mother loved riding around in the country and so did/do I. As and adult I photographed those same roads and used those photos to inspire paintings like this post. I did the initial drawing in ink. I dissolved the ink to create a grey scale under painting. I used Daniel Smith watercolors and a few inks to finish it off. I used to run by this scene a lot as a kid and young adult. The barn is long gone.

Something from my sketchbook.

We Sell Pecans

If you are from Commerce, you probably recognize this location. Its the place where they primarily buy pecans by the pound. I remember when I was younger my mom would take us out to pick pecans. We would go to multiple locations picking pecans to sell. As a child I loved it. I saw it as time with my mom and family. To her it was a way of making extra cash to feed her family and pay bills. She was always on her grind. Its nine years today since she passed on. I am still inspired by her ambition and drive. I made this painting during the Christmas holiday. I was standing in front of Chase Bank doing the sketch. A man drove up to withdraw money. I let him know that I was sketching and not interested in his money by showing him my sketch. After the second customer, I finished to make sure bank customers wouldn't be suspicious of my motives.

Home Cooking

I did the sketch for this painting while sitting on my sister's porch on Thanksgiving day. My work lately has been focused on lines and color.

Town Lake Foliage

I started this image on site and added pastel later. I liked the reflections in the water and of course the plant life above it. I worked on a 5 by 7 piece of Uart paper and a variety of pastels.

A Commerce, Texas landscape. I think this is highway 178. I used St Armand canal paper and a variety of pastels

Birthday Man

This is a drawing of the birthday man Maurice. He was busy playing yahtzee. Its funny how distorted in size his hat is. That is the beauty of drawing from life for me. The challenge of proportions always gets me. It does make for an interesting drawing however. I'm still using the St. Armand Canal paper. This is the sabretooth version.

I did this little painting while sitting in front of the main hotel in Commerce. I used my Renior sketchbook and Daniel Smith watercolors.

Quick Shadows

I made this painting standing in my younger sister's yard in November of last year. I was interested in capturing the foreground shadows and the green tree entryway into a field. Commerce has beautiful trees too they are almost lyrical in this area.

Cold Day In Commerce

This is a color study for a larger painting. I did the underpainting in gouache on grey toned paper. A snow scene from my home town. I think this is my Aunt Davora's house.

Commerce Nocturne

Last weekend was spent in Commerce. This is the scene behind the hotel I normally stay in. I was standing outside and saw this beautiful sky. Of course by the time I got my paints and paper the sky had changed. I painted it because I liked the light and the way it fell across the bushes.

Natural Dryer 1

When I was growing up my Mother used a clothes line. She would do the laundry at night and go outside to hang it. I would be with her outside under the Commerce night sky. That probably contributed to me now being a night owl. I loved the smell of the clothes after they had dried. My sister likes to use her clothes line now. This is her collecting the wash.

The initial sketch.