20x24", oil on linen panel, 2026, $7000
Accepted into the 2026 Oil Painters of America, National Exhibition
This painting is inspired by the history of the Goodnight–Loving Trail, one of the earliest and most important cattle routes of the American West. In 1866, Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving drove a herd north from the Texas frontier—through the harsh and often unforgiving landscape of West Texas and into Colorado—establishing a route that would become vital to the cattle industry. Their partnership and determination helped open a pathway that many drives would follow in the years after, shaping both the economy and the mythology of the American West.
These cattle drives were long, demanding undertakings that required endurance, skill, and cooperation. Cowboys spent months on the trail, guiding herds across vast distances, through changing weather, and over difficult terrain. Nights were as much a part of the work as the days—standing watch, tending to horses and gear, and maintaining the rhythm necessary to keep the herd calm and moving forward. The routines established along these trails became part of a shared working culture that defined the era.
The legacy of the Goodnight–Loving Trail extended beyond history into storytelling. It served as a key inspiration for Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove, which brought renewed attention to the lives of the men who made these journeys. Through both history and literature, the trail stands as a lasting symbol of partnership, perseverance, and the realities of life on the open range.