Rain Came Hard this Week!

Rain came hard this week. The creek is roaring, and the grass that was crunchy and yellow a scant week ago has turned green.

Water is a big deal to a desert dweller. Underground sources may have only a few years left in them, so taking care of soil and water is critical. Cedar, for the most part an invasive here, can take on the order of 30 gallons of water a day. I’ve been removing them with my beloved Kubota skid loader. While the ground is damp and soft, I’m pulling roots and all. In the middle of that work, I keep studying the shades of green on each tree and each species, so I can carry them into the paintings.

Even with this glorious rain, I’m painting outside and in. Most Saturdays I teach a free art class at Arts in the Sunset, in my studio. If you’re interested, contact me. I’m always taking classes myself, and right now that means color mixing, drawing, portraits, and master copies. In the master-copy class we work from old paintings to see how those artists solved problems—and to work alongside people who like art, learning, and a good time.

If you follow my Facebook page, you may have met the donkeys: Paintball and Penelope. They have developed a taste for dog food, duck food, and expensive horse feed. They have also learned how to set the small dogs barking at maximum volume. Noise does not deter a donkey. They must enjoy art, too; they stand at the windows and stare into the house.

Homes ought to have original art—work that speaks to the people who live with it and brings a smile or a memory.

We are still meeting at the Palo Duro Canyon hitching posts at 11 on the first Monday of the month. Join us at the gage at 8, or at 11.

I hope to see you at Arts in the Sunset, between 5 and 9. There will be costumes, food, music, and, best of all, art.