News – Page 7 – Steve Miller Studios

Aug 13

Guadalupe Mountains

By Charash in Oils, Plein Air

Painting in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Far west Texas is fascinating to me. Maybe because it’s totally opposite from the climate where I grew up – north Georgia and east Tennessee. There, in the “Old South”, it is always wet and green. I remember those cool, damp summer evenings when the dew would cover the grass like frost.

West Texas, the Chihauhaun Desert in particular, is bankrupt of moisture…it is dry and dusty, with another layer of dry dusty air on top of that. To say water is scarce is an understatement. However the land has it’s awesome, unique beauty. A one of a kind place full of mystery and intrigue.

My wife, her sister, her mother and I made a trip out to the Guadalupe Mountains for a few days in October, 2012. The Guadalupe Mountains National Park is right near the Texas-New Mexico border. We ran up and down the road between Carlsbad, New Mexico and the park. During these 3 or 4 days, we saw virtually no one. After living here in the rat race of DFW, I thought to my self ” I could get used to this quietness, the solitude and wide open spaces. It was a great place to paint, and I took my easel with me and was able to set up a few times and paint.

12 x 9 Plein air oil on panel painted of a view of El Capitan of the Guadalupe Mountains

One day we went on a short walk down a trail that was to lead us to a spring, Smith Spring. An oasis in the desert. I voiced my opinion that I had my doubts. It was about a mile to the spring, but I could see nothing in the open country that I thought could be the location of a spring. We were in the desert. Agave plants, cactus, rocks, short, stubby juniper trees and not much else.

Smith Springs in the Guadalupe Mountains in west Texas

Looking up at the Guadalupe Mountains in the Chihuahuan Desert – a beautiful spring is a couple thousand feet beyond the dead tree.

But as we neared the 3/4 of a mile mark, the trail came alongside a small ravine and then followed along the edge of the ravine. The ravine begin to deepen, widen a little and then, almost like passing through a curtain into another land, we were surrounded by huge Ponderosa Pines, and Sawtooth Maples. Yes, Maples in the desert, right on the banks of a beautiful spring. There are some words I don’t use much, and enchanting is one of them. But, this place was kind of enchanting. Clear cold water coming out of the barren mountain side. Life giving water in a dry and parched land.

I am always amazed at God’s creation; how He provides, even in what seems like hard or impossible places. It’s a reminder of His “common grace”, that grace He gives to all living creatures. It says in Psalms 107:35 “He changes a wilderness into a pool of water, And a dry land into springs of water”. Smith Springs in the Guadalupe mountains was an excellent illustration of that provision.

Smith Springs is the ONLY water supply for miles around. The Mescalero Apache’s of that region used this spring, as did the Buffalo Soldiers the Government sent to the area to contain the Apaches. A variety of wildlife drink from these waters. When you read a bit of the history of the place you find out that several battles have been fought to control that ground, that supply of water in the desert.

If you were wondering in this desert dying of thirst and you didn’t know this spring was there, you would probably walk within a thousand feet of it and miss it. But it’s there, giving life to all who go to it and drink.

When I think about a spring in the desert, it reminds me that this is really the entire message of the Bible…living water (Christ) is available for any who will simply drink.

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” Johh 7:38

Once we were at the springs the air was cool and everything was covered by a canopy of tree. Ferns, large Sawtooth Maples and dragon flies right there in the Chihauhaun Desert. It was really amazing.

Sawtooth maples, on the banks of Smith Springs in the Guadalupe Mountains in west Texas

Ferns, dragon flies and sawtooth maples on the bank of Smith Springs in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park

When we begin to head back in the direction we came, in just a few feet we had passed from the sanctuary of the ponderosa pines and maples into the dry heat of the Chihauhaun Desert.

El Capitan in the Guadalupe National Park in Texas

El Capitan rises in the distance. A few miles to the right of El Capitan is Guadalupe Peak, the highest mountain in Texas. It rises 8,751 feet above sea level.

Aug 09

Irving Wildlife/Animal Show

By Charash in Oils, Wildlife

Two works were accepted into the Annual Irving Art Association’s Wildlife Competition in Irving, Texas. One was a 22 x 28 oil on canvas called “Chillin Out” (below) and the other one was a 24 x 24 oil on canvas called “First to the Roost”. The show runs from September 2, 2013 until September 28, 2013. The Artist reception and Awards presentation is September 8, 2 – 4 p.m.

These buffalo are actually part of the official Texas State Buffalo herd, with a pure blood line of the American Bison.

22 x 28 Oil on canvas called “Chillin Out”. These buffalo are actually part of the official Texas State Buffalo herd, with a pure blood line of the American Bison. This herd lives in Caprock Canyon State Park, just outside Quitaque, Texas.

24 x 24 Oil on canvas called “First to the Roost”. Depicts the Great White Egret.

First to the Roost is a very familiar scene for my wife and I as we canoe near our home in the Dallas/Fort Worth Texas area. The Great White Egret was once hunted until they were almost extinct. Their plumage was sought after for ladies hats. Now they are so common they are much overlooked. When I’m in the wild, watching God’s creation I’m often reminded of Psalm 19:

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race. Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Wildlife

Aug 05

Breckenridge 22nd Annual Juried Art Show

By Charash in Architecture, Oils, Reception

Hats off to the folks at the Breckenridge Fine Arts Center for the excellent job on the 22nd Annual Juried Art Show in Breckenridge, Texas. The show was well rounded with various works, and the food was second to none.

Texas & Pacific Railroad Station, 30 x 24 oil on canvas juried into the 22nd Annual Competition and Sale

Reception for the 22nd Annual Juried Competition and Sale

Jul 27

U Drop Inn

By Charash in Architecture, Oils, Sold

Recently my wife and I made a trip up to Shamrock, Texas to shoot some photos for a painting of the U-Drop Inn. This iconic building is perhaps the most photographed building in Texas. It sits on old Route 66, just south of I-40. “Back in the day”, this stop on Route 66 was a favorite of many travelers. It housed a Conoco gas station, a garage, a laundry and the U-Drop Inn Cafe.

In an effort to collect more information on color and values, I set up my easel and worked through a quick “color sketch” of the the building, or I should say I attempted it. It was tough to grab all the reflected light bouncing under the porches and walls. After a couple of hours, I scraped it off and hung my head down in defeat. It was, however, a benefit as I start a larger painting of the building back in the studio.

Conoco gas station and U-Drop Inn Cafe on old Historic Route 66 in Shamrock, Texas

This building was inspiration for a building in the animated movie “Cars”. It’s one of the buildings on main street in Radiator Springs. My wife and I also came across an old junkyard in Shamrock that had an old Hudson Hornet, late 50’s model. Even though the Hudson Hornet in the movie was a early 50’s model, it was still kind of cool seeing one there.

Movies with good messages are difficult to find these days. Cars was an exception to this trend. If you boiled the movie down into a couple of sentences it would be like this:

Don’t be selfish and pursue your own glory. Put the needs of others first, sometimes sacrificing your own needs.

Seems I read that in an old, ancient book somewhere 🙂

Jul 13

2nd Texas & Pacific Painting Complete

By Charash in Architecture, Oils, Sold, Uncategorized

Recently completed the second Texas & Pacific Railroad Station oil. It is 24 x 30 on canvas.

This unique building was designed in the Zigzag Modern Art Deco style, and was originally completed in 1931. The “T & P” is perhaps the city’s best example of Art Deco.

Jun 15

The Pines of Tennessee

By Charash in Architecture, Oils, Plein Air

Unlike Texas, everything is very green in the middle of summer in Tennessee. Hardwoods, pines, green on green. And did I mention the Tennessee River? My wife and I were blessed and visited our daughter and son, son-in-law and grandchildren for a few days of camping on the Tennessee River. First couple of days the humidity was probably near 100%, but then it cooled off, air dried a bit and it was beyond nice. We had to find a blanket during the night while sleeping in our tent. That’s the Tennessee I remember as a child.

While everyone was playing in the river, fishing, etc. I took a couple of trips exploring the landscape near our campsite. Shiloh National Battlefield was only about 15 miles away so I had to check it out. A sober reminder of the nature of man. Shiloh was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War up to that point, which was April, 1862. I was also looking for a place to setup and paint, but it was late in the day and I headed back to the campsite.

Easel setup on a lonely road in middle Tennessee for the oil painting “Twin Pines”

On the previous day, I came across an interesting place, off the beaten path which turned out to be a great place to paint. I setup and painted “Twin Pines”. The place was quiet, green and I really enjoyed the solitude. During the 2 hours or so I was setup painting, not one car came by that location. I love Tennessee in the summer…

Oil on panel, plein air painting of a middle Tennessee scene called “Twin Pines”

If I turned my head to the right, about 90 degrees, this was the scene I could see through the pines…

Jun 06

Painting the Town

By Charash in Architecture, Oils, Plein Air

The temperature was nice and cool…still in the 90’s. When it’s June in Dallas, it’s kind of like standing on the coast when a hurricane is coming…you know what’s coming, hoping it won’t, but knowing it is only wishful thinking. I went out with a group of plein air painters to the south side of Dallas. We setup near a road to paint. Over all the temperature wasn’t too bad. But by the time we left around noon, it was hot…a foreshadow of what was coming in August 🙂

Oil on panel setup for plein air painting called Painting the Town.

Easel setup in south Dallas, Texas.

Plein Air oil painting on panel of Dallas, Texas

Final plein air on panel, 12 x 9, Dallas, Texas. SOLD

Mar 23

Terrell Spring Paint Out

By Charash in Architecture, Oils, Plein Air

Terrell is an interesting town, full of unique history for anybody who wants to take a look. It was founded by a man from Tennessee back about 1873 – Robert A. Terrell. I really enjoyed investigating the town while looking for locations to paint. Learned some interesting history that surprised me.

One such surprise was that the U.S. Government trained British pilots during the Second World War, many who stayed after the war, married and started a family. You can visit the British Flying Training School Museum in Terrell and learn much about this little segment of history.

Below are a few of the paintings I created during the paint out week. My favorite location was probably the Dr. L.E. Griffith Homeplace. Everything about is screamed to be painted. I only wish I could have spent more day at that location.