Trinity Trails Tree and Train Trestle

"Train Trestle and Tree"   21" x 14"   Watercolor

A short walk* from our apartment connects us to the Trinity Trails, a 40 mile stretch of trails for walking, running, biking and horse back riding along the Trinity River and its tributaries.  This tree, with its gnarled and textured trunk caught my eye as we walked along the Trails in Trinity Park on a sunny afternoon in March.  I like the way the old tree, with its curving forms, contrasts with the geometric structure of the elevated tracks.  Trains can often be seen on these tracks as they make their way across the park.

* Just to clarify, James calls anything within a mile or two a "short walk."  ~d.t.

Plein Air Painting in Trinity Park

On a recent Spring-like day my friend Dennis Farris and I headed to nearby Trinity Park with our painting gear.  We decided to paint the graceful old oak tree in front of the pavilion.  Outdoor painting has it's challenges and occasional calamities, but this day's painting was fairly uneventful (no blood was shed this time).     

"Trinity Park Pavilion"   9" X 12"   Oil

Some of you may remember that years ago this pavilion was the stage for Shakespeare in the Park performances.  To promote the event, each summer a poster was printed depicting an anachronistic William Shakespeare enjoying various activities in the park.  I painted several of these, beginning in the early 1980's as a young illustrator right out of art school.  In the 90's Dennis took over painting Will, so I guess we both feel a certain fondness for this place.


Here are two of my posters from the 80's.