This is me and my EXCITED face! I was thrilled to find that my piece called "Edge of the Herd" took first place in the acrylic category at the Helldorado Art Show this past weekend. This is a really nice western themed show that I have participated in for the past several years. I just didn't think this small piece would receive any type of singling out or I would have done something with my hair!
"Edge of the Herd" 1st place winner in the Acrylic category
To even add to my surprise, my entry called "Stories Around the Fire" also took second place. I'm just tickled pink here.
"Stories Around the Fire" awarded 2nd place in the Acrylic category
This is a fun action filled piece inspired by a photo I saw shared by my artist friend who is the real life Marshall of Dodge City, Kansas. There is just something about this red headed cowgirl, sitting high in the saddle, reigns clutched in her teeth, six-shooters blazing that draws you into action of the scene.
It reminds me of the thrilling feeling I would get as a child when the beautiful and athletic cowgirls would fly past me with the American Flag flying proudly behind them and their strong horses kicking up the rodeo arena dirt with their powerful hoofs as they circle the arena. An exciting display in preparation for the singing of the National Anthem to soon follow. Every summer this would be my memory as we would always travel to see the rodeo in Coffeyville, Kansas where my Uncle Dick Diveley would always sing the National Anthem. To me that made him something of a celebrity in my young eyes!
"Edge of the Herd"- 10x20 Acrylic
The American Bison has always held a fascination for me. I recall as a small child that as we traveled the 50 miles to my grandmother's house in Swedeborg, Missouri, we would pass a large property where several of large beasts could often be seen from roadway.
I was also raised on stories of my father's past professional rodeo days when he hung around with Buddy Heaton and his famous buffalo Grunter. Several old newspaper clippings of my dad riding a buffalo during a rodeo event cover pages in the family album. So for pretty much as long as I can remember, buffalo have been of real interest to me.
This past summer I got to enjoy a close up encouter with a very large herd of buffalo we got to see while traveling near Jackson Hole Wyoming. I have for some time wanted to paint a scene that reflects this American Treasure. "Edge of the Herd" is the result of that experience
"Stories Around the Fire"- 16x20 Acrylic
There is just something about sitting around a nice fire with friends and a hot cup of coffee and with this piece I wanted to bring you along and stir up memories of your own campfire experiences.
I wanted this piece to portray the rendezvous of an old mountain man and his two cowboy companions. You can see that the old man is sharing a story as his two companions listen intently. One sipping a cup of steaming hot coffee while the other cowboy holds a stick to poke the fire. One look at this scene and you know that this old timer must have accumulated enough stories that he could easily keep you up all night listening to his adventures.
I realize that Nevada is not the only state to have wild horses. According to Wild Horse Facts at http://www.tide-mark.com/horses_facts.html "Wild
horses in North America live on islands off the Atlantic coast, as well
as on the mainland. Small populations of horses live on Sable Island
(Canada), Assateague Island (coast of Maryland and Virginia),
Shackleford Island (off the coast of North Carolina) and Cumberland
Islands (off the coast of Georgia). As well as the following western
states including Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, Oregon, California, Colorado,
Idaho, Arizona, Montana, North Dakota and New Mexico."
Nevada is however the state with the largest population of wild horses and burros and so it isn't uncommon to be treated to a sighting of these magnificent creatures when driving anywhere in the state. Several months ago, Brad and I took the opportunity to take a drive to Goldfield and while out exploring the area just North we came upon a small herd of wild horses. We took some great pictures of them and I knew that I would be painting wild horses very soon.
Today was the day and so I pulled out a 24 x 36 inch canvas and started working on my composition. As you can see by my painting in progress shot, the work has only just begun. This particular mare in the photograph that I am working from appeared to be an Appaloosa I believe at the time of our visit she had a young colt following her. I love the angle of the photo and the two lone Joshua Trees in the background.
I have only roughed in the background and sketched my mare in with pencil. I am struggling with the vast openness of this canvas and just how to make the composition interesting. I believe that I am going to make the mare larger and add that colt so that the idea of how that generations of wild horses have been roaming the desert of Nevada for over 100 year.
Here are a few more pictures that we took of this herd.
Because of the recent long weekend that we had in celebration of Memorial Day, Brad and I decided that we would pack up the truck and take a trip up towards Goldfield, Nevada to check out some of that area and I hoped to get some good inspiration. I have for years seen the road sign that points off to a distant mountain as you travel from Las Vegas to Reno and have yearned to take that road. The sign clearly reads "Silver Peak". That name evokes images in my mind of forest clad mountains, ghost town ruins and the possibility of a real adventure. Accompanying us was our friend Wally and our little red-head, Laura.
The drive to Goldfield is about three hours so it was a long day of driving. Goldfield is an amazing little town that everyone drives through on the way to Reno but never stops. On this day, we did stop and were entertained by Bill Vanderford, the owner of the Gold Strike Jewelry Store and according to his business card, consulting geologist. Believe me when I say, "You can't miss it in Goldfield." He was the kind of guy that I would classify a "REAL CHARACTER" with the bluest eyes I have ever seen. Transplanted from California, he and his wife were content to etch out a living by selling jewelry and rocks to the few travelers that are brave enough to stop.
Goldfield has amazing standing buildings in every degree of decay scattered throughout the small town, standing as monuments to the sturdy stock of miners and pioneers that they served. Hotels, saloons, banks and even the old high school is amazing to look at. It is about as close as you can get to being transported back in time to the REAL wild west. If you are ever driving Nevada State Highway 95 from Las Vegas to Reno, take the time to stop and really consider this little bend in the road that requires you to slow down. Bill would love the chance to pull your leg for a while and try to sell you a treasure.
Silver Peak turned out to be rather disappointing. There is an active Lithium and salt mine so the area was surrounded by pools of what appeared to be acidic water. We decided to turn around and not travel up that road any further on this day. Just a few miles back on the highway, we did turn down the road to Gem Field and we were able to pick up some beautiful Agate and Opalite rocks. While we were there, we were treated to a spectacular show by the native wildlife. As we were photography the herd, the stallion came trotting over the hill in protector fashion. Here are just a few of the amazing animals that we managed to capture with our camera from our trip. I can see painting burros and wild horses in my near future.
