Under a Cowboy Sky

Under a Cowboy Sky___11 x 14 oil__SOLD

My Quick-Draw at the Light on the Land event

 

 

Ever heard of St. Jo, Texas?

My first time there was in August, when I had back-tracked to find highway 82 to go west and reconnect with 287 in Wichita Falls. I was headed from Ft. Worth to Colorado with my friend, and we were so busy talking that we missed our turn west and ended up in Oklahoma.... oops

But a few weeks before that, an artist friend Donna Howells-Sickles invited me to paint

in St. Jo at a brand new event called "Light on the Land"...she described her area of Texas as the north Texas Hill Country....so when Tina and I were making our way west on 82, and I noticed the beautiful scenery there near the Red River, we checked the map and, sure enough, St. Jo was just ahead!...

This weekend was the event, and the painting above was my quick-draw at last night's gala. 

Stormy Thumb

Stormy Thumb___16x20 "Quick Draw" in oil
Yesterday's post showed my first "quick draw" at the Phippen Museum Western Art Show out in Prescott, AZ. Here is the one I did on Sunday last week. It also took one hour and was auctioned off along with 18 other artist's works. The scene is Thumb Butte, with the lights of Prescott twinkling.
I worked from a reference photo I took the day before, when I took a wrong turn on the way to the event, and saw a spectacular view from the hill top!
The painting is larger than my usual quick draw canvas....see ?

 

 

I AM HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE that my works are now represented in Sedona, Arizona at the wonderful

Mountain Trails Gallery

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Flight

12 x 36 oil

Available at Mountain Trails Gallery, Sedona, AZ



Getaway__The Phippen Show

Getaway ___16x20 "Quick Draw" at the Phippen Museum Western Art Show

 

Last weekend I was in Arizona at the Phippen Museum Western Art Show, held at the courthouse square in Prescott, AZ. The highlight of the weekend is the "Quick Draw", when 20 artists stand back to back, draw their weapons (paint brushes!) and have one hour to complete a work of art. It is then auctioned for the benefit of the Museum (AND the artist!)...the auction is a lively time with a lot of laughs...and a little bit of competition from the art patrons! 

I call this one "Getaway"...it's one of the biggest quick draws I have ever done.

The Grand Champion painter this year was Bill Cramer, a good friend (his work is breathtaking!)...He had fun bidding on my painting, but alas, was outbid...but THANKS, BILL, for the validation!

Prescott is just about THE place for western art. I think more prominant western artist live here than ANY PLACE! Some of them (Bill Anton, Cynthia Rigden, Dave Powell) judged the art and I won THIRD place in a very competetive oil painting category.

The award winning work is below

El Presidio_Sonidos de Paz__10x30

Cowgirl Quick Draw Video

Cowgirl Hawk___16 x 12 oil on panel__SOLD

 

WATCH THIS ONE BEING PAINTED!
 

 

Here is my Quick Draw Painting at Cowgirl Up! 2013

I derived it from photos and a painting I did a few weeks ago (which now belongs to M.D.!)

ENJOY the time lapse video created by Mike's Road Trip. I told him that all my friends would watch this and LIKE HIM on facebook....PLEASE do that!!!

This painting is not available, and it is not part of my Birdseed Project. But the video is a blast!!! Watch it twice and turn up the music!

 

http://www.mikesroadtrip.com/cowgirl-up-quick-draw/

 

https://www.facebook.com/MikesRoadTrip

ACE Liftoff

ACE Liftoff- Tricolor Heron__SOLD at the SEWE Quick Draw

Today was the Quick Draw event at the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. A few artists created works in one hour, and then these were auctioned off in a live auction....My little Tricolor Heron fetched $700...

I painted it from a photo I took out here last year at the ACE Basin Wildlife Refuge. ACE stands for Ashapoo, Cumbahee, and Edisto Rivrs that merge south of Charleston, making a terrific area for birds, alligators and all kinds of wildlife. After this year's show, I will again spend a few days there, HOPING to capture some more birds with my camera...new subjects for my Birdseed Project. I'm very excited to have better camera gear this year.

Sunny Quick Draw

Sunny __12 x 12 oil__Quick Draw aat the Phippen Museum Show__Sold

A week ago I was in Arizona, painting at the Phippen Museum Western Art Show Quick Draw. This quick draw gives artists 45 minutes to paint, an then 15 minutes to frame it! The crowd gathers around and watches. Artist friends come by and heckle (gotta love those artists!) Then we parade the paintings before a huge crowd and the works are auctioned. Sunny sold to collectors who have purchased from me before!

HEY YOU ARTISTS IN AUSTIN! I have a small group who organized a quick workshop HERE in Austin on the week of June 11-15. I will teach on 3 or 4 of those days! ASre you interested? The group is guaranteed to be small. Email if interested! vvaughan8@yahoo.com

Quick Draw Mission Bell

Mission School Bell___14x11 oil on linen ___sold at Phippen Quick Draw
Today was the first day of the Phippen Museum Western Art Show in Prescott, AZ. Named for George Phippen, an original member of the prestigeous Cowboy Artists of America. He was an illustrator, then a fabulous painter who died too young...His family is still closely involved with this museum and show. His granddaughter, Sarah is a young artist, too, and her booth is regularly right next to mine at the show. We have become good friends.
Today the art was judged for awards, and some of us painters did the "Quick Draw" (appropriate name for a Western Art Show)...we have 45 minutes to create an original work, then 15 minutes to frame it. Then the works are auctioned off for the benefit of the museum. My favorite mission bell (from San Xavier) was my subject of this quick painting....a real loose one which was purchased by John and Janey McCullough who own and run the fine Windrush Gallery in Sedona, AZ. I am sure I misspelled their name (sorry John!).
http://windrushgallery.com/ Tomorrow I will do another quick draw...stay tuned!