The scorching Texas sun is bearing down, driving me inside where this
page awaits my update. I might be able to escape the heat, but my
homework assignment is always taunting me. Feeling the cool tile
beneath my bare feet as I write this helps to soothe the senses and coax
the phrases from my sluggish brain. Time’s a’wastin’!!
Beginning the year with its usual air of eager anticipation, the Safari
Club conventions in January did not disappoint us. It always surprises
me when the beauties of the Christmas season can be eclipsed by the fun
of our first two shows of the year. The Dallas Safari Club Show and
Convention was suffused with traditional Texas hospitality and filled
with friends. This show is morphing into one of the finest of its kind
in the world as it strives to constantly refine its selection of
exhibitors without overwhelming the senses with quantity.
Next, Reno beckoned with the Safari Club
International Convention. Beginning with a two-step and ending on a
high note of great sales and great camaraderie, the miles sang beneath
our wheels as we headed back home. You might think the exhaustion of
four intense days on our feet (where is that cool tile when we need it?)
would have worn us into numbness. Quite the contrary……we left on a
natural high after reuniting with our friends/collectors from years
past.
The following shows; the Texas Indian and
Southwest Art Market, Cottonwood Art Festival (Richardson, TX) and the
Texas Arts and Crafts Festival (Kerrville, TX) continued the trend. We
feel absolutely blessed by each of you when you stop by our booth to
chat. Despite the cost of travel, you continue to bear testimony to the
adage that mankind must have art to enrich the spirit. Thank you.
“Heart of a Giant”
Jerry Ray, Sherry, Chancellor Victor Boschini, Christi Hoban,
Dir. Of Alumni Relations and Betty Ray
Texas Christian University was presented “Heart of a Giant” as a gift
from alumni Jerry Ray. Known as the Horned Frogs, TCU’s fondness for
these special little reptiles is renowned. Taking it one step further,
our friend and TCU benefactor, Jerry, is donating his entire collection
of Horned Lizard pieces to be placed on display in the TCU Student
Union. The original of my rendering, “Heart of a Giant”, will
eventually reside in the Office of the Chancellor. Shown here,
Chancellor Victor Boschini is accepting the gift on behalf of TCU.
Chimney Rock, Nebraska
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Who's Your Mamma?
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A wonderful bonus awaited us at the end of
the Spring ‘show season’. Although checking on our Longhorns on the
Durnal Ranch in Bayard, Nebraska has become a reward in itself, this
time we were able to participate in our first branding. Founded on
necessity, this time-honored institution is filled with many of the
principles on which our lives should be based. Teamwork, watching out
for your neighbor, efficient and careful handling of the livestock and
sharing the load based on personal responsibility, were evident at every
turn.
A classic branding in every way, men,
women and children alike participated as we rounded up the longhorns,
roped, inoculated, and branded approximately 200 calves. Included at
every stage, the youngsters learned the skills from their mentors that
will become the underpinning of their lives. And yes, the Cowgirls were
impressive. Confident and skillful astride their horses, they quietly
went about the business of cutting the calves from the herd and roping
them for the branding teams. In the truest traditions of the West, they
worked without drama or ugly words, giving the guys a bit of serious
competition that really kept them on their toes.
In the shadow of Chimney Rock National
Landmark we confirmed that the traditions of the West are alive and
well, safe in the hands of ranchers like our friend Judy Durnal.
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Upcoming Shows:
Our schedule for the remainder of the year is changing slightly as we
adapt to changing market conditions. Constantly trying to evolve as the
art world changes, my foremost guideline will always be the wildlife
that “presents” itself to me. It is an awesome and sometimes
intimidating responsibility.
New Works
“Cause For Alarm”
Silently slipping out of the brush in front of us, the female leopard
materialized out of the shadows. The perfect camouflage of her spots
became a glimmering pattern as the sunlight struck her side.
Astonishingly, she not only seemed unafraid of us, she began to respond
to my best imitation of a leopard’s call. Gliding past the side of our
open vehicle, her eyes would nearly close as she echoed me with a low,
throaty rumble. As she paused directly beneath the rear of the vehicle,
I climbed over the back seat where I could lean out to photograph her.
Neither she, nor I, felt a sense of threat or fear as she gazed up at
me. There was only a silent connection between us.
Turning around, she retraced her footsteps and selected a proper patch
of ground in front of us. Casually, as though she were in the company
of old friends, she began the fastidious process of grooming her
splendid coat. Crisp white whiskers flashed in the light as she primped
in the classic feline manner, giving me time to sketch her beauty.
Every sinuous movement became etched into my memory……if only I could
capture it quickly in my sketchbook.
Suddenly, a veil dropped over her luminous eyes. Face drawing tight
with apprehension, the menacing sound of an approaching vehicle revealed
the source of her alarm. As it rolled up beside us, I was transfixed
with the transformation taking place in “my” leopard. Her eyes now
smoldered with a suspicious glint and the instinct to flee flowed
through her, replacing the soft reclining form with one of agitated
steel. She was gone. As quickly and silently as she had come.
Finding it impossible to choose between the attitudes divulged during
our private audience with this royalty of Africa, I have chosen to first
share three of her most memorable moods. Moving from right to left, you
can easily see the progression from a willing accomplice to that of a
wary and dangerous creature. With her image burned into my mind, this
is my initial effort to depict a privileged moment with the most
exquisite of Africa’s gems. Enjoy!
Work
in Progress:
“Pixies of the Night”---Lesser Bush Babies
While in Zimbabwe last summer we were guests in the home of silver
sculptor Patrick Mavros. Of the many adventures we experienced on our
trip, most of them paled to the delightful encounter we had each evening
when the family’s pair of pet Lesser Bush Babies joined us during the
cocktail hour. Fondly referred to as “Pookies”, these tiny elf-like
creatures sprung around the room like ping pong balls. From shoulder to
chandelier and back again, going 8-10 feet in a single leap, they were
totally captivating. The smallest of primates, they have enormous
reddish eyes, big ears, fur that feels like chinchilla and legs built
with an extra joint for leaping. Inquisitively prying under curtains or
walking about on their hind legs, looking all the world like Yoda, their
intelligence was apparent.
Still underway, it is a delight to find these little pixies waiting for
me on my drawing table every morning. Not a delight are the tens
of thousands of dots gradually filling in the nighttime background. It
is a good thing I don’t put in the eyes until the very last, or I would
have been outta here 5 weeks ago. It will be a day to celebrate when
their little eyes light up the page. Stay tuned…..
"A New Beginning"
This one
surprised even me when it demanded to be the next image coming
off my drawing table. Trying to fathom why I may have been
impelled to draw a baby camel, other than the fact that they
are adorable, left me very puzzled. Sighting this
small Bactrian bull calf at the St. Louis Zoo, with his little
humps still flat and legs spradled for balance, struck a chord
in me. It may have been concern over my son’s deployment to
Iraq that subconsciously triggered the connection. Perhaps this
fellow can be an omen for better, more peaceful times in a part
of the world that has never known peace.
