The Rusty Easel

Standing near the remnants of Old Baylor College in independence Tx, this old Texaco gas pump sits as a reminder of our past. I have watched this old 1930’s era pump slowly fade from what must have had been a bright beautiful red to its now dull rusty orange. The old store leans on its footings while the pump has settled with a slight lean in the opposite direction. Each spring, the bluebonnets bloom in scattered patches around the base - a reminder of the renewal of life amid the echoes of the past.

“Echoes of the Past”
WS oils on 24” x 12’ canvas on board

I was in the Louise Hayes Park in Kerrville, Tx a couple of years ago - before the devastating flood that tore through the park.
Those old trees seem to invite you in and stay awhile. When the trees sway with the breeze, shadows dance across the pathways and the light shimmers on the grass.

“Memory of the Trees”
WS oils on 12” x 24” canvas board

As I run my errands in the small town in Texas where I live, I see the old red and white pickup truck heading south to its intended destination - Whataburger. When I eventually pass by, I see that the old truck is parked in its usual place along the curb at the front - never in a designated parking spot. It always occupies the same place, sometimes facing north - other days south. Some days there are other pickup trucks parked along that curb, but the old red and white truck is always in its chosen spot. Inside the restaurant, you will find a group of men (well past their prime)- maybe 5, sometimes 8, sitting in their favorite corner. Some will be having a bit of breakfast, others, only a cup of coffee.

In my travels, I have seen this scenario repeated in other cafes, diners and fast food restaurants. The location, the faces and sometimes the spoken language is different. But it is always the same - discussions of happenings around town, the telling of tall tales and lots of laughter. If you happen to be a visitor, you will be noticed, never bothered, but merely observed (and probably become a topic for discussion).

These men come together every day. They come for the coffee - they stay for the camaraderie.

This is their place of being. This is their Morning Ritual.

“Morning Ritual”
WS oils on 14” x 18” oil primed linen panel
Available on my website - link in bio

Wishing all my family, friends and followers a very Merry Christmas!

I took the time today to set up a little still life of a little blue bottle and some tiny Kishu mandarins. Painted this over a couple of hours.

“Mandarins and Blue Bottle”
WS oils on a 6” x 6” gessoed board

Several years ago, I did a photo trip with a local guide from Taos, NM. We went on the High Road Art Tour and visited the most amazing adobe churches. While all the churches were amazing, the Nuestra Senora de la Asunción church in the village of Placita really captured my attention. It was built (according to the sign) in 1863 and is still active from what I can see. I toned my canvas using raw umber and then did a tonal sketch using the same raw umber. I am trying to paint looser using larger shapes, I will let this set for a few days and see what I need to add, fix and leave alone..

“Nuestra Senora de las Asunción”
WS oils on 12 x 16 oil primed canvas

Leonardo da Vinci is quoted as saying “Art is never finished, only abandoned!” So I am abandoning this one. This is a painting of my granddaughter at age three (she is now 19 and in college)
Done from a photo taken at my MIL’s 90th birthday party. She was (and still is) always ready with a big smile - ready for a photo.😀
She has very short hair in this because her older brother decided a couple of weeks before that he didn’t like her curls. He stole his mom’s scissors and proceeded to cut half of them off - one side only!!!🙄 I had to cut the other side to try to even it up as best I@could.
When his dad got home, he told his dad “It will grow back” and wasn’t sorry for cutting it. Well let’s just say it didn’t go well for him!!

“Avery at three”
WS oil on 12” x 12” canvas panel

Setting up a still life for a painting is a skill all unto itself - a skill I have yet to attain. I have several of these beautiful old Kugel glass Christmas ornaments and decided to try a still life painting using them in a shadow box I built using black foam core and LOTS of black duct tape and Velcro.

“Kugel Baubles”
WS oils on a 6” x 8” gessoed board

Last Saturday, I took a one day plein air painting class with at the kickerillo-mischer preserve. It was a fun day meeting new folks and spending time in nature. Thanks Les for the advice and critique. I am a firm believer that one should periodically take a workshop with an artist whose work you admire. The lessons and feedback you get can only help improve your own painting skills. Trees are a particularly difficult subject for me, so I focused on how the light was hitting this tree rather than a wider view of the lake. Still lots to learn.

“Tree Study at Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve)
WS oils on 12” x12” canvas panel

Found a little bag of gourds and a small pumpkin when I was grocery shopping last week. Wanted to create some small still life vignettes to paint. So here is the first one.

“Harvest Trio”
WM oils on 10 x 10 gessoed board

I am finally back at my easel after a bit of a break. My 1st effort is headed to the garbage can - a real dud!!
This was painted from several photos and a sprinkle of imagination tossed in.

“Plum Creek”
WS oils on 12” x 12” canvas panel

My painting “Texas Spring Companions” received 2nd place in the Accomplished Artist section of the Conroe Art League’s Fall 2025 show.
Doing a little happy dance!

Rubber duckies make me happy!!! I was doing a portrait photo shoot at a carnival early one morning. I spotted this Ring A Duck game with the light just grazing the side so I grabbed a quick photo for reference.
“Ring A Duck”
WS Oils on 12” x 24” canvas on board