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I am pleased to announce that this oil painting "Lightning Strikes" is headed to Clifton, Texas for the 32nd Annual Bosque Art Classic, a western art show judged each year by a member of the esteemed Cowboy Artists of America. This year's judge is Teal Blake, CA. 

This is always a very competitive show and this year was no exception, with just 174 pieces selected out of nearly 800 entries! The opening reception is September 9th and the exhibit runs through September 23, 2017.

For more information: https://www.bosqueartscenter.org/page/artclassic.aspx .

I am thrilled that this painting was selected for the Committee Purchase Award at the Stampede Western Invitational Art Exhibit in Greeley, Colorado. It will be featured on the 2018 Show poster and marketing. What an honor! The exhibit in in its 16th year as part of the Greeley Independence Stampede - a Colorado tradition that began in the 1800's to honor the local potato farmers. I love that! The Stampede hosts PRCA world-class rodeos and concerts with top name rock and country western entertainment that goes on for 10 days each July, ending on the 4th of July. The art exhibit was founded in 2000 by Mike Kettering and dedicated art lovers, Shirley and the late Willis "Tuffy" Holland. the art exhibit is open to the public through the 4th of July, 2017.

The Quick Draw and Auction was a record success at the Bucking Horse Sale in Miles City! There were more than 20 nervous artists creating paintings, sculptures and pottery in just 3o minutes with no presketching allowed. It was a great turnout and the crowd was ready to bid. The total amount raised was over $11,000 which is a record, as was the average price per piece. I was thrilled to watch as two people bid against each other on my pastel, "Capture", which sold at $1750, the top selling lot of the day! I did not get a photo of the final artwork, but here is a similar painting, "Picking Up the Buckskin." It was the same subject of the pickup man and bronc, only coming straight at you so I only had to contend with the front image. Having 30 minutes to work with, the actual quick draw was very loose with just suggestions of detail, but this gives you an idea. 

I have been doing this Quick Draw at Miles City for almost 20 years!(geez I'm getting old!) but I LOVE the Waterworks Art Museum which is what the fundraiser is for. Formerly known as the Custer County Art Center, I like to say it is a shining gem on the prairie. Now hip and urban in feel, it was an old city water plant transformed into a very unique art museum, using the large cement holding tanks as the art galleries. Don't miss it if you are ever in southeastern Montana.  

I am excited to announce being invited back to the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame for the 2013 summer exhibit of "Cowboys & Indians - Alive and Well Today". It should be an interesting exhibit with paintings and drawings by Native American artists as well as the cowboy types! The Museum is situated next to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the beautiful badlands of Medora, North Dakota along the Little Missouri River. where you can hunt for (photograph) buffalo and wild horses. I hear there are already 26 new foals in the Park!  

Here are links to the Hall of Fame and Park:

http://www.northdakotacowboy.com

http://www.nps.gov/thro/index.htm

I love to watch saddle bronc riding. As the gate opens, the broncs seems to explode into the arena and continue their fireworks as they try to unseat the determined cowboys.  This painting is currently available unframed. Price includes free shipping. 

I am really looking forward to this week as I travel to Cody, Wyoming, a great town for great western art. I'm excited and ready to immerse myself in the art of the Buffalo Bill Art Show and galleries around town. There are quick draws, auctions and a whole lot more. In addition, I will be showing my own work at the historic Irma Hotel which was built by Buffalo Bill. If you are in town for the festivities, please stop by my room, the Phonograph Jones Room.

If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, right? Although I have never been on a real bronc, (oh, I've been bucked off a time or two, but pretty tame horses...) but as an artist, I can relate in some ways to a bronc rider, (bull rider, barrel racer, etc.) They strive and practice to get good enough to participate in a rodeo, investing time, energy, expense, sore muscles, broken bones, etc. just to get thrown off time after time, just to get back on and do it again. Why? Because, it's in their blood and they love it and when they do stay on the full 8 seconds, the thrill and rush makes all the pain go away for awhile.  They certainly don't do it for the money, because like many athletic professions, only the top hands get the real money.

Feel familiar, artists? Or anyone out there chasing a dream...you gotta love the ride, because you can't predict the outcome!