Hill Country Colors - SOLD

8x8 Pastel on Canson

Just had some fun with colors.

Blues

12x12 oil on canvas

Not quite finished with this one but just love the blues.

Happy Cows - SOLD

8x8 inch oil on RayMar panel

I grew up on a farm in Collinsville, Oklahoma with cows, shetland ponies, chickens, dogs, etc. It was a great place to play. We had a holstein cow with a heart on her forehead, named Gertie, that let me and my three siblings ride on her. So, I have a very soft spot in my heart for cows.

Upside Down From Over Head

When your brain has a hard time seeing the shapes and colors in a portrait, or any painting, turn everything upside down! This photo was taken by Heather, a photographer for the Air Force who found me at the Nueva Street Gallery painting last Wednesday. She needed a subject for a class she was taking and I was it. When she asked for a ladder I knew it was going to be interesting. Happy Halloween everyone!

Trumpet Flowers - NFS

10x8 oil on canvas panel
Just loved the shapes and colors.

Sonia - 1983

pastel on canson (1983)
Another reminder of the art I was making in 1983. Sonia and I reconnected during my last visit to Santa Cruz and I look forward to seeing her this coming week during my next visit to California.

Andy in Santa Cruz - 1983

pastel on canson
I loved coming across this photo today. This is a pastel portrait I did years ago (1983 - you do the math) of Mezzo's friend Andy. What I remember about Andy is that he was mighty cute, really smart and funny.

Early Morning Boat Ride - SOLD

14x11 oil on panel
I'm at the gallery today and just finished another Riverwalk painting. This was an exercise in deciding what elements to include from my reference photo - which was very busy. I simplified. Now if I can get looser...

Hill Country Vista - SOLD

10x8 oil on canvas

Gathering Sunflowers - SOLD

16x20 oil on canvas
Love all the colors in this painting.

Waterlily Radiance

16x20 oil on canvas
This painting started a year ago when my sister and I went to the McNay Art Museum for her birthday. We took lots of reference pictures and had a great time. This waterlily called to me.

Time For a Walk - SOLD

6x6 oil on panel
The first title that came to mind was, "How Many Cups of Coffee Does It Take To Write a Song? Then, "Song Unsung." Then, "Maybe Some Coffee Will Help." Then, "Time For a Walk." Whew. What would you have titled this painting?

Under Rosita's Bridge - SOLD

10x8 oil on canvas
Rosita's bridge in just a short walk from Susan's Gallery. It crosses the San Antonio River to the Arneson River Theater which is a popular performance stage for cultural dancing. The river boats are a fun and informative cruise on the San Antonio River through downtown.

Early Morning Riverwalk - SOLD

10x8 oil on canvas
Riverwalk San Antonio is a popular tourist destination. This painting is of the heart of the Riverwalk where you can cross the bridge and find all kinds of shops and restaurants on either side.

To "The Blue" - NFS

8x10 oil on canvas

My Alpine, Arizona friend and I took some great long drives in the forests around where she lives. This painting is from a photo I took on our way to "The Blue," as the locals call it. It's a little town named Blue in the Apache Forest. It was a beautiful cloudy day and I loved the icy blue bushes along the side of the road. I tried to find out what the name of them was but couldn't find it in the "Plants of Arizona" book. If anyone knows, let me know!

The painting is for sale. If interested, send me an e-mail.

Mezzo At Her Computer - NFS

6x6 oil on panel

I painted this before I left on my trip in early June while I was watching the gallery. The shiny places are where I just made some corrections and signed it. I'll take a better picture after it's dry and the rain has stopped outside.

The Texas Flower - SOLD

6x6 oil on panel
I wanted to start and finish something at the gallery today, yes, bluebonnets. It's for sale framed or unframed. If interested, send me an e-mail.

Texas Spring - SOLD

8x10 oil on canvas, framed
I'm trying out this new "floater frame" on my latest Texas landscape. It's nice in that you see all of the canvas. With a regular frame you loose about 1/4 inch all the way around. I painted all the way around the edge of the canvas because it is visible in this frame.

Little Pitcher

6x6 oil on panel

Fields of Texas - SOLD

6x6 oil on panel

Perdido Creek - SOLD

20x16 oil on canvas
This painting went to live with folks in Florida last week. I started out painting it with a brush but at some point picked up a pallet knife and kept going. When Spring rolls around I'm heading out to capture more Texas country.

Working the Gallery

I'm working the gallery (Susan Carlin's Art Studio and Gallery) this beautiful Spring-like San Antonio, Texas Saturday. The sun is shining, it's 70 degrees, and the wind is blowing the dry leaves around.

There are three artists represented here: my sister Susan, Bonnie Mann and me. We all have original paintings, prints and cards for sale.

A happily "just engaged" couple from Albuquerque, New Mexico came in this morning and took away one of my Arneson River Theater prints as a souvenir. Lots of happy people out roaming the river today.

Kayley and Loretta

This little 10 x 8 oil is a painting of Kayley and the sweet little cockatoo, Loretta. The photo was taken by Kayley.

Little Church of La Villita - SOLD

This "Little Church of La Villita" was commissioned by some folks who were married there. As soon as it's dry and varnished I'll be shipping it off to its new home.

Off To Europe

I dropped my son Lyle at the Airport this morning. He is off to Los Angeles to meet up with his band, The Faceless, and then they're off to Europe for a five week tour.

What does this have to do with art? Being a part of my children's lives is the most creative thing I've ever done. I didn't paint a thing over the holidays but I did take some reference pictures.

One of the most important things I did this holiday season was to connected with some old and new friends. I was reminded that the essence of me is music. So besides painting, going to school full-time this Spring, I'll be playing the piano and remembering that I'm a songwriter.

Here is wishing everyone a wonderful new year filled with events that alter and illuminate our lives.