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The Annual Bosque Art Classic is tradtitionally a heavily western themed art exhibit.  My claim to being somewhat  "Western" stems from where I grew up.  Oklahoma City was my home town.  To those who have lived in Oklahoma since the thirties there is much of what is western in Oklahoma.  Many of the Native Indian tribes were moved, much to their dismay and tears, to Oklahoma.  My grandfather's office supply business had cases full of their jewelry, pottery and other crafts.  There is an Indian Chief on top of the State Capitol.  Wooden oil dericks forested the horizon in my childhood. Trains east, west and north to Kansas City to carry passengers, followed the trails that had come up from Texas.  The closest I came to a "ranch" was the farm of my Cherokee neighbor cherished.  My great grand father came to Oklahoma for "The 1889 Land Rush".  My grandfather was a preacher and traveled to his parishes by horseback.  While this is history it is not far removed.  130 years is just  a few generations back. 

When the wooden dericks were no longer needed the huge grasshopper like pump jacks took their place.  They are powerful machines that regulate the amount of oil that comes up from the ground. There are thousands of these relics new and old from Oklahoma into Texas.   They made many rich ranchers and fueled the economy of the area.  They changes the way we lived. Many towns grew up to service the oil industry. Refineries dot  the landscape as well.  

Once again I find myself at the seashore in Texas!  One of my absolutely most favorite places to paint and one of the most difficult for someone who has lived their life inland.  But it is mystical, ever-changing and beautiful.

The paintings above and below were painted on the East Beach in Galveston.  From the shore you can see the massive freighters coming into the port.  It faces east so it gets the sunrises in the morning.  While we were there rains came in and churned up the surf.  Usually is is a soft landing sort of place where the tides comes and go and there is not much action. Same beach  - one day calm and the next frantic.  

Below is an yet another attempt to capture what mother nature can do that  is really beyond expressing.  Sunrises happen quickly and every second brings a change to the colors, the position of the clouds and the intensity of values.  It is indeed a race against time!

The Galveston Bait Shop is a regular stop to paint.  It is where fishermen come with their catches and clean the fish to the delight of the pelicans.  Last  March a hurricane completely destroyed this collection of interesting shacks and walkways.  However the fishermen still come in as they rebuild and bring their fishing customers.  The pelicans waited for them on broken sticks and roofs for their fish spoils.

Pier 77 houses an acre of boats in every condition awaiting  repairs.  Some look as if they have been there for years.  I remember once at Fulton beach after a hurricane they were stacked in every which way as it had virtually distroyed hundreds of boats.  These a t Pier 77 were mostly salvageable and awaiting their turn.

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I have no idea what kind of boat the one above is, but I found it to be very interesting  in its condition, coloration and shape. The inside was pretty well gutted, but the form of the boat was intact.  Also of interest is the environment around the boats, the others waiting patently on stilts. the  masts the cranes and equipment.

The Boat above was well on its way to being seaworthy once more.  Painters were finishing up the outside by hand with small 2 inch rollers which they meticulously used to paint this massive structure.  

The most fascinating thing about painting in a dry dock is getting to appreciate the design and construction of the ships.  They are like icebergs.  Most of the boat is under water and the beautiful bulges and curves ate not visible. 

One  more attempt to catch what the sun can do as it sinks below the horizon.  At the end of the road where we were staying the sun had to illuminate the landscape through palm leaves, shore vegetation and a picket fence.  This produced a riot of color.  A truly final salute to a week of painting plein air in Galveston on Texas!!!!

Doug Clark lives in Fort Worth Texas.  He is a sculptor and painter and collector of all things from the out of doors.  He knows the artistic community of Fort Worth like non other.  He was an art teacher up until a couple of years ago and not devotes himself full time to his first love painting the landscapes of the area and modeling its inhabitants in bronze.  He pulls people together with his gentle manner and his ability to set out a luncheon deluxe!  So when Doug calls and says there are Blue Bonnets at Benbrook Lake we all turn out for an early morning landscape with lunch at his home afterwards.  I cannot tell you how much he means to all to us!!

He recently moved into his parents home when his Dad passed away.  Such an appropriate move as his Dad was also an artist of note. Doug combined his collections of kachinas, paintings by fellow artists, books, miniature soldiers and much more and it just literally fell onto place among his parents memorabilia. His studio below just oozes with history and his love of art.  To say that we all practically get goose bumps from the "good vibes" there is an understatement.  It is a source of inspiration and refreshment!