Spring's Skipping Light

Spring's Skipping Light__6x8 oil on linen panel__for Passing America...exhibit in October

We took an Easter jaunt over to my in-law's in College Station, TX and I brought the gear along to paint some drive-by's. I only did this ONE small canvas on the trip...the truck was full (5 people, and 4 small dogs who were MOST interested in my drive-by painting, or maybe they just needed my lap...).... Our south plains region is fairly flat, sloping toward the gulf coast to the east. Occasionally there is a broad vista toward the east, as in this view near Thorndale, TX.

I feel sad for our Texas farmers...it promises to be a BAD year, with the draught we are in. Already the spring color is gone, even though the pecans are only in early leaf. Everything else is the deep green of summer, and the grasses and grains are already golden, on the way to brown. We really are praying for rain...

Before Loma__farms, vista, plains

Before Loma, NE__6x8 oil on panel__study for Passing America Exhibit in 2011

So much of Butler County, Nebraska looked like this: great, long views of miles and miles of farmland in the PEAK of the growing season. CORN, SOYBEANS, and that's about it!...This county is drained by the Platte River...the GREAT Platte River, which is not too deep, but VERY VERY wide at times....The river valley is great farmland, which you can see for miles when you are on the ridge above the river valley...I LOVE those long vistas on the plains!...Loma, NE is on top of one of those ridges. In fact, LOMA in Spanish means "hill"...I am not sure if this is a Spanish name on purpose, because the Spanish did not have much influence in settling this part of the Plains....On the way there we saw a covey of birds that I later identified as some kind of grouse. ...it was memorable, so I added birds to this painting ! Loma is a small town, but has the distinction of being the location where Patrick Swayze shot one of his movies. If Allen reads this, I hope he will leave a comment with the title of the movie...