November 22, 2009 is the 40th annual Mountain Oyster Club show and sale in Tucson. My painting, “Sonoita Branding” is in the show. The preview/cocktail party the day before is always a lot of fun, a more casual time to catch up with other artists and collectors.
Got an email asking about the painting of little Samantha with the horse in the pasture [but already sold]. His comments reminded me of several people’s reaction of, “Oh my gosh, that little girl is alone. She’s too small to be around that big horse.” We [seven sisters] always knew what we could and couldn’t do around a horse. Dad taught us well and he didn’t ascribe to the idea that horses were dumber than doors. As a kid growing up near Tombstone, Arizona, Dad made money capturing and saddle breaking wild horses. He said he had captured wild horses in nearly every mountain range in southeastern Arizona.
Reading about Millais made me ponder what I most enjoy about the process of painting. Millais liked the last touches, “Putting the highlights on his subjects’ boots.” What excites me most is starting a painting. It’s when I am most hopeful that the vision in my head will, “this time,” successfully transfer to the canvas. I cringe at using the word ’struggle’ when I think of finishing a painting but Jim uses the same word. He has a show of 20+ smaller landscapes coming up on Dec. 19th at Claggett-Rey Gallery in Vail CO and many emails from him say, “I’m trying to save […] painting.” Just fill in the blank with whatever painting it is that day. Favorite recent quote from him: “Texture and color excites the eye.” Speaking of upcoming shows, I must hurry to varnish and frame my painting that must be delivered tomorrow for the Mountain Oyster Club Show coming up in Tucson on November 22nd.
This 11″ X 14″, 200 page book features over 80 large format color images and many more smaller reproductions in both color and black and white. Hard cover $95 + shipping.
After 3 year’s work, Jim’s book on landscapes is now available. Fill in the information below and you will be contacted re ordering a copy.
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