Groundhog Day

The Texas Longhorn saw his shadow today. (I'm pretty sure that doesn't mean anything.)

"Longhorn"   24" x 24"   Oil

Beefmaster Bull

Lit by a sliver of sunlight coming through the barn window, this bull waits his turn to be shown at the Fort Worth Stock Show.

"Beafmaster"   18" x 24"   Oil

Heritage

The annual Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo has been attended by generations of cowboys and their families since 1896.  I saw this little cowboy, dressed just like his father, at last year's show.  But the scene could just as well have been from a hundred years ago.

"Heritage"  24" x 30"  Oil

Portrait of a Brahma

With a little persuasion, this cow agreed to pose for her portrait at the most recent Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

"Portrait of a Brahma"   12" x 16"   Oil

Ride 'Em Cowboy

A saddle bronc rider from the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

Video by Justin Tennison

"Saddle Bronc 2"   10" x 14"   Watercolor

This painting is currently in the Society of Watercolor Artists International Juried Exhibition.  Click here to read more about that and to see a short video of a painting demonstration I did for the Society -- on my latest blog post for Fort Worth, Texas Magazine.

Time-Lapse Video - "Hero"

The legendary Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo is back in town!  This will be the 119th year that this 23-day Western extravaganza has come to Fort Worth.  Here's a painting I did of two young cowboys enjoying their day at the Stock Show.

Video by Justin Tennison

"Hero"   40" x 30"   Oil

Calf Roper

In this city known for its Cowboys and Culture, the cowboy side of things has been emphasized for the past few weeks.  The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo has been in town.

"Calf Roper"   12" x 24"   Oil

Rodeo

A recently finished painting of a scene I witnessed at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

"Saddle Bronc Rider"   12" x 9"   Oil

Saddle bronc riding is known as rodeo's classic event.  The cowboy's objective is a fluid ride and using one hand he attempts to stay securely seated in the saddle.   If he touches any part of the horse or his body with his free hand, he is disqualified.  It's an action-packed eight second ride!

Hero

"Hero"   40" x 30"   Oil

The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo has been held annually since 1896 - the oldest continually running livestock show in the country.  For 23 days during January and February almost one million people brave the "stock show weather" (cold!) to attend this popular event and experience the livestock and horse shows, the rodeo, the kid-friendly exhibits, the carnival midway and much more.

I observed these two young cowboys outside one of the cattle barns as they shared some good Stock Show fun together.  It brought back memories of visiting the Fat Stock Show (as it was called back then) as a youngster, dressed very much like these kids, and feeling as much like a cowboy as a city boy could feel.

I See Things Upside Down (And Backwards)

Sometimes when I'm painting I see things more clearly when they're upside down and backwards.  I was having trouble with the drawing on the standing boy's face - something about the position of the head and the subtle lighting was giving me problems.  So I turned the painting upside down and instead of thinking too literally about eyes, nose and mouth I began to see shapes and their relationships to each other and soon the drawing began to improve.

It also helped to look at the painting in a mirror which I have positioned in the back of my studio.  Viewing the painting backwards is something I do constantly and which helps me to easily see the drawing problems.

There's still much to be done but I'm feeling better about the progress of this painting of two boys enjoying each other's company at the Fort Worth Stock Show.

"Hero"  (in progress)   40" x 30"

Step by Step Video of "Roger"

Earlier this year I painted a young Brahma that had just won a medal at the Fort Worth Stock Show.  My son made this short video of the painting as it progressed from start to finish.  If only I could paint this fast!

Video by Justin Tennison

Three Faces

I'm back to work on "Hero" -  a painting I started several months ago.  Also in the works is a commissioned portrait there in the background.  These three faces will keep me busy for a while!

"Roger" Finds A Home

"Roger"   24" x 30"   Oil

Thanks to all of you who were able to come to Galerie Kornye West on Saturday for Gallery Night -- it was great seeing you!  For those of you who couldn't make it, I want to show you the finished painting of Roger, which you may have seen in progress in a February post.  Although these Fort Worth paintings I'm working on throughout 2011 are for next year's Spring Gallery Night, "Roger" was on display Saturday night as a preview of things to come.  I'm happy to say that this painting has been pre-purchased by a local art collector who has graciously agreed to loan it to us for the show next spring.

New Video

Video by Justin Tennison

Original Score by Badger The Third

"Kawn" the Baby Llama

"Kawn"  10" x 8"  Watercolor

Meet Kawn, a baby llama who recently visited the Fort Worth Stock Show from Florissant, Colorado.


As Shirley Jinkins noted in her Star-Telegram article, "They're serene but quirky, puffy and furry, and they hum when they greet their friends."  I discovered for myself how friendly llamas can be on one of my Stock Show visits a few weeks ago.  My only previous llama experience occurred when I was a kid, and that particular animal spit on me (my fault, no doubt).  With that in mind, I approached Kawn with caution, asking his owner, "Is he friendly?"  Without a word to me, the man turned to Kawn and said, "Kawn, give this man a kiss."  At which point I received my first llama smooch.

Speed Painting: "Curious Youngster"

Video by Justin Tennison

Original Score by Badger The Third

Detail of "Roger" in Progress

"Roger"   24" x 30"   Oil  (detail of painting in progress)

I'm currently working on an oil painting of Roger from Wortham, Texas, the second place winner in the Grey Brahman Calf Division at the Fort Worth Stock Show.  (I posted a watercolor sketch of him on February 1st).  Right after winning his ribbon, he posed for me in the late afternoon light, with the skyline of Fort Worth in the distance behind him.  I always enjoy the challenge of trying to capture the effect of sunlight late in the day -- with its warm, yellow light and its cool, blue shadows.

On the Easel: "Saddle Bronc Rider"

"Saddle Bronc Rider"  28" x 22"  Oil  (in progress)

Preliminary sketch on canvas for a new painting.  

A bucking bronc is such an iconic rodeo image, don't you think?  Attending  "The World's Original Indoor Rodeo" at the Fort Worth Stock Show is always an exciting experience -- a bunch of tough, crazy guys trying to stay on tough, crazy bulls and horses that are trying to throw them off.  

On The Easel: "Hero"

"Hero"   36" x 24"   Oil  (in progress)

These two young cowboys were hangin' out together at the Stock Show last week, in town with the family to exhibit their pigs.  I couldn't resist snapping a photo to capture this moment.

More Stock Show

"Roger"   8" x 10"   Watercolor

This is Roger from Wortham, Texas.  He posed for me right after winning second place in the Brahman calf division.   I always enjoy painting a light-colored subject in strong sunlight -- finding and "pushing" the colors in the shadows.   I'm also starting an oil painting of Roger.

As you might imagine, one sees a lot of cowboys (and cowgirls) at the Stock Show.  I'll be painting some of them as well.  Below is a watercolor sketch of local cowboy Ronnie Grayson.  Mr. Grayson is Lieutenant of Arena Security at the Fort Worth Stock Show.  He's a busy man, but kindly consented to pose for a few quick photos, despite a bit of ribbing from his friends.

"Ronnie Grayson"   10" x 8"   Watercolor