11 x 14” oil on linen, 2024. Available from the Artist $1800
In the arid West Texas landscape, ranchers wage a continual battle against the encroaching mesquite. This painting captures one such moment on a ranch near San Angelo, after a long-awaited rain has made it possible to safely burn the collected piles of mesquite wood. The scene unfolds under a dusky sky, with the fiery glow of a large bonfire casting a warm light on the landscape. Figures are gathered around evoking a sense of community and relief. The blaze, with its crackling wood and soaring sparks, becomes a focal point, drawing friends and family together. This was one of the highlights of my 3 week emersion into West Texas ranch life while participating in the San Angelo Museum Artist Residency program.