Red Sky Art

Wall Street

2012-03-16T15:45:00.000-07:00

Just a quick shot of my latest cartoon! Wall Street - the big, bad banker is using his cronies to improve things.

Update

2012-02-01T13:46:00.000-08:00

Hi folks!!!
My art focus is about to change. In 2012, I'm going to start a more active production method of various styles. I won't be at Red Earth 2012, but there will still be Native American themes here, but I'm now working on my other styles, cartooning, and impressionism in various formats. Hopefully, you will be able to see them in some upcoming shows. I will have some new, exciting work coming out very soon! Keep watching, I'm going to establish a professional site this year too!
Have a good one!!!

Capt. CoCo and Marshfellow

2011-12-16T10:05:00.000-08:00

This art is probably the only holiday art I'm going to get time to post this year. I was challenged by a friend to create art for the Team Coco Holiday Campaign. I had a free day and decided to put my hand to it. It's my cartooning style in freehand pen and ink backed up by coloring in Photoshop. I didn't spend a huge amount of time on finesse so please be lenient with me. Happy Holidays!!!

Surviving Spirits

2011-12-05T09:57:00.000-08:00

I tend to paint my feelings and words more than speak because I find it easier to get out what I'm trying to say. I picked this piece "surviving spirits" to go with the subject of my father, Dewey Landreth. Dad passed on Thanksgiving evening this year. His life had not been an easy one. He lost his father as a child in a family of ten children. He was sent to Indian boarding school to be taught how "not" to be Indian. He escaped and road a train back to his home in Ringling, OK. When World War II broke out he joined and served the Marine Corp beginning with Guadalcanal and ending with Chosin Reservoir in Korea. He wandered a bit until he meet my mother and began our family. What I loved about him the most was that he was a man of quiet grace and kindness to all he met. We never had a lot things or money but we had much love in the house.
The painting "Surviving Spirits" is devoted to theme of the unconquerable soul. The native american family is taken from a vintage photo. The tree used to shade them is located in downtown Oklahoma City. It spent many years living anonymously in a parking lot and I would drive by and notice it out of the corner of my eye. It took on a whole new meaning after a ridiculous man named Timothy McVeigh blew up the building next to it. I have watched the native american community bring itself up from a long period living on the government's welfare to thriving communities with businesses, education, healthcare and infrastructure. Just as that tree survived so to has the native american spirit, in spite of the many attempts to dissolute it. And tying into that - my father's spirit only wavered once in the fifty years I got to spend with him. That was at the passing of my mother.
I hope you enjoy this painting. If you are in tough times, too, like so many of us are, remember that you get through them easier by sharing and not by hoarding what you have. My Dad always shared.

Going Home

2011-09-09T08:38:00.000-07:00

This painting is based from an original idea I had when I was much prettier, and I didn't make that weird noise when I get off the couch. It's loosely based on Indian belief in the afterlife. The stars in the skies represented campfires to them. And they thought when you passed you headed up to the sky to be with your ancestors around the campfires. The hawk feathers as canoes are my imagination at work. As well as the paddles stirring into the clouds like breaking water. It was very popular among my pieces at Red Earth and is now owned by a fan of my work. This is an acrylic piece. Right now, I'm working in watercolor and ink for the upcoming SEASAM show in Tishomingo.
If you are an aspiring artist and want to know about the painting I will tell you this. Thalo Blue is awesome when it comes to sky. I use to go with the obvious light blues for sky but have switch now to Thalo with Titanium White to make my day sky. And it is just a great night time color.
For the moon and it's lighting I just varied the amount of blue to white as I painted. A foam brush gave a pretty good base for this effect and then I worked it up from there. I may revisit this theme again with a much larger canvas and when I have more time. This piece was about three days work. I'm still a bit slow when I paint. Think it's the OCD I developed working as a graphic designer. And being a typical artist, there are things I would change now. The photo is not great. Sorry - my lighting techniques are kind of primitive right now.

Rising Spirits

2011-07-18T11:36:00.000-07:00

From the "about-damn-time" category - here's a new post from me on my most recent art. This piece is entitled "Rising Spirits". It's an acrylic painting of a fancy dancer performing in a field of grass under the shadow of the eagle floating in the sky. The concept came to me as I researched native american dancers for my exhibition space at Red Earth 2011. The work completed for that show will appear here through the next few months. And I will be talking about each piece or series.

Rising Spirits is an homage to the spirit shown by the native american Fancy Dancers as they perform. If you've never been to a pow-wow you are missing a true visual experience. The energy of the dancers and the animation of their costumes is really something to see. Because this is my first native american series I spent a lot of time on research. I am 1/4 Chickasaw and proud of it. But I've never done too much painting in that theme because I knew that when I started it I would want to know what I'm talking about. I really wanted the work to be authentic to the dance performed and yet also allow my imagination to come through.

In "Rising Spirits" I spent a lot of time looking at Fancy Dancers and their costumes and the meaning of the symbols on them. The graphics and meaning of most of the symbols is very specific so I didn't want to just paint a lot of triangles and diamonds and call it good. The dancer is very close to the models I found but not exact. I change several items just to keep it original to me. The dual perspective of the painting is done to give the viewer a swirling feel to the whole piece as it shows what the dancer might see as he looks up and what the eagle sees as he looks down. The colors are bright because I just love'em strong. This piece took me a bit longer than expected because I was just wanting to be true to the detail of the Fancy Dancer's costume and it was my first time to paint one. I'll be faster from here because I've now covered that ground.

Red Earth Art Coming!!!

2011-06-26T12:58:00.000-07:00

Hope all is well with you! I'm trying to get some decent photography done on my art from Red Earth and then I'll be posting my takes on what I did and why. This will be sooner than later. This first piece is just a sample of a mixed media piece I did.

Just a little fyi!!!

2011-04-12T07:51:00.000-07:00

Not avoiding this blog just had a lot going on! So here's a run-down on what's been happening! I was accepted to Red Earth which means I've pretty much locked myself up in my house and am painting steadily trying to get ready for it - June 3-5 at the Cox Center in OKC.
The piece of art "Cephalopod Courtship" got accepted into Biting the Apple at the IAO Gallery. The show is this Friday night. I promise if you go - you will find it entertaining!!! That piece is actually painted over a original sketch I did in about 10 minutes at Dr. Sketchy's. It is posted on this blog. It's the bodacious model with the octopus on her shoulder.
The good news is that there's going to be a lot more art posting on here over the next few months as I post a piece and talk about it. My goal is to deliver at least 20 to Red Earth so that should keep me talking for awhile. LOL

A brief update

2011-02-14T10:25:00.000-08:00

Hi! This is just a quick update to let you know that I was just awarded a small grant from OVAC, our state's nonprofit art group. It's for business expenses associated with promoting my art. I AM THRILLED! Simply because it means they recognize my efforts to be an artist and decided to back me. Many folks apply so I am delighted to be one of those who were selected. Really helps the old confidence to know that I'm not just locking myself in my studio for my own sake.
In related news, I just sent three burlesque sketches to Hannover, Germany to be part of a Dr. Sketchy's show there. So does that make me a "international" artist? Let's just say "YES" and not look to closely at the fine print. :)
I'll be entering two burlesque paintings into April's "Biting the Apple" and should know about my entry for June's "Red Earth" show for native american art.
My application to the University of Oklahoma has been turned in to enter their MFA program. I will know if I'm selected in mid-March. I'm applying for this because I still enjoy teaching and hope to return to college-level instruction in the future.
Until then, I'll be working on my studio and more art. Hope this post finds you well!

Roses of Sharon

2011-02-07T08:35:00.000-08:00

After about a year of sporadically working on this piece I have finally finished it!!! One of my best friends, Sharon, had asked me to create a painting for her. She wanted it to be about family. When she brought me the canvas I was somewhat intimidated. It was as big as my dining room table! I had never taken on a piece that big so the old inferiority complex kicked in! LOL - I started avoiding it a bit after getting the initial idea. But, this last month I realized I had procrastinated myself into a corner so I started a marathon painting session to finish it.
Looking back I would do a few things differently in its production. I didn't really make a preliminary sketch. I got my idea and started directly on the canvas. If I had a sketch going in with a projector to shine it onto the canvas it would have been a bit easier. I'll do this next time.
The initial idea for the piece was to have a woman representative of Sharon but not exactly like her (per Sharon's request) sitting on the grass. To represent her family I used the bluebirds. The nesting family of birds represent her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren. The single bluebird in the nest represents her handicapped son who lives at a group home. The two visible bluebirds flying represent her step-son, Shannon, and her youngest son, Kevin. The last bird flying into the sunlight represents her deceased husband, Mike. The ribbons are representative of their connection even though each is doing it's own thing.
The bushes were originally going to be generic bushes. I had sketched them in but hadn't started painting on them yet when I came across the "rose of sharon" reference. So off to the web to do some research and I modified the bushes to be the Roses of Sharon.
This painting now hangs in her living room. Sharon gave me paint samples she was thinking of for the room so I tried to incorporate them into this painting. I finished the sides of the painting with a copper acrylic so it doesn't require a frame. I'm happy to say she loved the painting. The snapshot is close to the actual piece but my colors are a bit brighter. Sharon has been my dear friend for a long time and like my other friend Mike has been with me through a lot of crap these last few years. So I told her she's paid me back for it several times over. Hope you like it!

JERK!

2011-01-28T08:20:00.000-08:00

This is a piece I began several years ago and just now completed. It's not that I'm THAT SLOW it's just one that I had to keep coming back to when I got a moment. It's a four piece work with the character at right - the Jerk knocking everyone else out of line. So it has to hang in a non-traditional manner to look right.
When I started JERK I was living at Lake Texoma in southern Oklahoma and trying to get my creative fires and home office up and running.
That was a very busy time for me in my professional and personal life. My job at the college I worked for kept changing because of the crazy people who became in charge of it. My mother began it have more health issues in Oklahoma City and my father was having a tough time taking care of her.
My brother moved them to Tulsa and we hoped that being around her grandkids would help Mom's spirits. But, moving Mom so far from her home of 50 years was a real stressor on her. Even though, they were in a very nice assisted living home she could never adjust. I was traveling back and forth on the weekends to Tulsa and Lake Texoma so art became a very small focus for me at that time. If I started JERK now I would most likely finish it within a week.
The purpose of JERK is to recognize that person who upsets the apple carts of others. Maybe it's a good thing - maybe it's just to be the ass you are, but at least you get noticed! The palette for JERK uses complimentary colors for each character. I'd like to attempt this again with a fresh idea because I know my skills and speed have improved.

And now for something completely different...

2011-01-17T17:19:00.000-08:00

Cephalopod Courtship
Welcome to one of my more recent achievements! This piece (no dirty jokes!) was originally a charcoal that I created during a 10 minute contest at Oklahoma City's Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art event. Dr. Sketchy's is like nightclub meets art class. There are drinks, music, and burlesque ladies who model. Three of my favorite things! This individual piece was part of a contest where you add a octopus into your drawing. In the spirit of the event, I gave him a martini and a diamond ring. The drawing won me a shot! LOL
The acrylic is painted in a complimentary color scheme, and I added some effects to make the overall piece more interesting. The work has been sent to Ardmore for a completion. We'll see how it does!
UPDATE - Got rejected for the show. They said it was "Blue was too similar between front and back". I think it was just too naked. LOL

Santa's Magic Bag

2011-01-09T17:19:00.000-08:00

Hi! Been busy with friends and family this holiday season! Been working on a some cartooning that I'm posting another blog. No rambling there - just cartoons! It's called Fixintahn. I have about four pieces almost completed and will be posting them here individually.
Today's piece was my 2010 holiday art that I used on Facebook for my profile. I like to build about one a year for the holidays and use it for greeting cards. Unfortunately time ran short along with funds so I wasn't able to get them done.
It's very traditional in nature. My goals were simple, make it good and complete it in a short amount of time. So I started and ended it within four hours. The most important element was to show the theme of holiday magic. Besides flying reindeer, covering the world in one night, and being on the job for hundreds of years I thought the magical item was the bag that held all those presents. So in the picture Santa is releasing the holiday magic of the bag.

It's late but I hope you like it!

Late and slow....

2010-09-13T22:52:00.000-07:00

Sorry Folk! I HAVE been painting! I just got stalled by the real world these last few weeks. I've been left in charge of my folks house and given the responsiblity of going through 50 plus years of living. It's been cool - it's been introspective - and it's been weird. I also have been volunteering with a Meals on Wheels group twice a week. So suddenly time has passed and I've only finished one piece. That's actually very frustrating to me. Moreso, when I read today about a guy from Britain who got a bull carcass and gilded it with a headpiece and dropped it in a formaldehide bath and sold it to some rich folk at Sotheby's for more than I'll make in my lifetime. Let's hear it for the idle rich!!!! God - now I REALLY appreciate Gaugain and Van Gogh!
On my burner are a portrait for my best male friend and a sentimental piece about family for my best female friend. Behind that is pure me. Oh - I think that is pretty good but you have to give Karma her due - and GOD His praise. Momma raised me right!!!

COAL - my best bud's - best bud

2010-08-30T17:35:00.000-07:00

OK - Know I'm running late on this post! This is my painting based on color pics provided by my best bud's wife, Kim. The painting was done as a bonus painting for Mike, my friend of like a billion years. Mike has really be very helpful, and supportive of me during some really rough times recently. That includes giving me a swift kick in the ass here and there.
Now, about the painting: Coal is done in acrylic on acrylic paper. I used very thick brush strokes in the foreground and faded them back in the distance as the painting shows only the horizon, and sky. Hopefully, this generated enough depth from the painting. My colors are bright but that is intentional. I didn't want this to have muted colors.
Coal was a jet black labrador and I wanted that to stand out. When he was young and healthy he loved to play and chase the tennis ball. Even as he got old he still wanted to even if it hurt him to do so. I was also damned smart. Mike trained him to do almost everything - sit, stay, fetch, etc. very easily. At the time, I was married I had a lab mix named Beavis. Beavis trained me how to protect myself from getting hit in the privates by a rapidly-moving train disguised as a 70lb dog. I loved him, but if Coal had been like Dog Jesus then Beavis would have been Dog Antichrist. Comparing the two in our talks was pretty funny.
In closing, here's to Coal - Mike misses you everyday - just like I missed my knucklehead, Beavis. If you have a pet then after you read this give them 1 to 5 minutes of petting time, just because...

What's Happening!

2010-08-16T06:49:00.000-07:00

Hey! I look like Re-Run offf "What's Happening" right now so that's a good line to start with. But I am a better dancer than he EVER was! LOL
So right now I've got a portrait, a large piece about family, two burlesque women sketches I'm overpainting, and a 4 stage whimsy series that I'm wrapping up. I have finished a sentimental piece for my best friend of his best friend, Coal, his labrador who is now in puppy heaven. I am waiting on the pics to post them. I took two swings at bat on that one because the first painting just wasn't working for me. I hope to have at least Coal posted this week, followed by the portrait, and then followed by the large piece (4' x 2' ) next. So there should be alot coming up. I'm also going to start back with the life models at the Arts Center so there will be some "tasteful" nudes appearing here. And finally I'm breaking out the cartooning skills again and there will be some appearing on here.
On an artist's note - I will never do a traditional portrait in acrylic EVER AGAIN! The color scheme is just too intense to try to match normal flesh tones. I have been blending in small steps for days. It's going to be bright and pretty when it's finished :)
Other than that, I am gearing up for Quartz Mountain in the fall for teachers, and some OVAC and Arts Council meetings. On the personal front, my dear, sweet Dad is doing pretty good. I'm trying to move him to the VA home so he can get more interaction and hopefully more exercise. And I am working to be accepted to OU's MFA program for next fall.
Well, that's "What's Happening"!

Update on this site

2010-08-06T21:33:00.000-07:00

Hi folks! This is just a brief message to let you know what's going on! I am the artist for this site. I hope you enjoy my work! There will more posts coming within the next weeks as I have several pieces in farying stages of completion. Watch for me here or on Technorati!
ZTXMZZN8BJG6

Intermission

2010-07-16T23:11:00.000-07:00

Hi! This post is nothing more than an "I'm still here" post! Self-serving, I know! But - folks will tweet about anything nowadays so "heck!" at least I can be honest! I HAVE been busy! Living on the edge! Ooooo-scary!!! LOL! I have found that I am over-qualified as a graphic designer (i.e., too much money to hire) and under-qualified as a teacher(no mastah's degree)! So I'm left with two options - drop out of design as a employee or go back to school and complete my master's so folks will admit that I know something after 25 years in the design field and 35 years being an artist. I guess paper trail is the path we all must follow.

So beyond that brief whine (for me) I have 4 paintings in the works, and a 4 panel whimsy still to finish. I HAVE been painting so bear with me. Much to come! I still apply for designer jobs just to intimidate younger designers who might be my boss! I could show up with a cane in my hand and smack a lot of shins just for fun! Oh - He's SO OLD! LOL!

Anyway - in brief - Still here - Still getting older - Cool Stuff to come!

Sounds of the Prairie

2010-07-05T12:47:00.000-07:00

Hey! I know that it seems like I'm getting faster at this and hopefully I am. This is the last of the three sketches that came from the Tall Grass Prairie. It was done at a historic marker along the drive. I sketched the area to the best of my ability because a monsoon was rolling up behind me when I got there.

You really got a feel for the prairie and its rolling hills from there. It looked like an ocean of grass with trees and brush like breakers. Very restful to stare at. And BP isn't drilling there so it stands a good chance of surviving.

The picture quality is not great on the photo. My friend was in a hurry to get it out the door when he shot it. He was heading to Italy for a long vacation. I really wanted to hide in a suitcase and surprise him and his lovely wife that I was there too. lol! But He's promised to bring back pics of Tuscany and Rome for me to use so that is good.

He's teased me a lot about "Whimiscal" characters that I paint. Y'know - goat-men, elves, devils, etc. So just the once I put one in the painting for him. He didn't see it until he got it to Hobby Lobby for framing.

You'll see my next work soon. I'm changing back to more whimsical characters for a few pieces. You'll have to blame my friend for that.

Moving By

2010-06-27T21:13:00.000-07:00

Hello out there! As I write this a thunderstorm has just started outside. It's very moody as I look at this latest piece of mine. It's the second in a group I based off my day at the Tall Grass Prairies in Pawhuska, OK.
The sketch I used to make this painting was done directly on the canvas. And it actually happened to me. I was driving down the road when I saw a stopped car. They were watching buffalo come over the hill through the grass. Since I had been looking for eye-catching material I knew I couldn't pass up this chance. I hopped out of my suv (the one I rolled in February) and began to sketch them as they came over the hill. I hoped they would pause but they just kept moving. I had to finish my sketch in about 1-2 minutes. So all I really got were bodies and the rolling landscape. They were beautiful, powerful and silent. And they looked at me as I got out and was drawing them. I'm glad they decided I looked pretty harmless. As I finished my sketch, and watched them I heard a huffing sound behind me. SURPRISE!!! Three more, much closer bison were passing just behind my suv! They looked at me, too. And yes, I still looked harmless so they moved on as well. This was the most special moment to me while I was out there. Pure mass and muscle moving across rolling hills almost silently. I tried to capture that in this painting. Hope you like it.

Patience is a virtue unless you are on fire.

2010-06-26T18:46:00.000-07:00

Then you need to take action! I'm baaaacccckkkkkk!!!! Sorry - been off for awhile. (insert your own joke about that line). I have several more paintings that I have finished and I hope to have many more by the end of July. That's right. I have dropped off the grid and am now in artist mode. It's a little scary to go from work monkey to art bum. My old urge to sit in a cubicle and shuffle papers is still pretty strong. But, I am blessed by my reassuring friends and family. I kind of feel like when your a kid and you've taken off the water wings and are going to swim from the bank to the front of the fishing dock. It seems impossible but, with encouragement, fear, and your lungs inflated you make it.
Some of these paintings or drawings may be of a life-model (nude) aspect later this summer as I am going to start back at a weekly class. So if you're offended by nudes - Sorry!
I've also been attending Dr. Sketchy's class once a month with the burlesque models. Really a fun time - I've enjoyed it much. I hope to post some of those as well.
Cartoons may also start appearing on here as I've been working on some ideas for those as well. Some are topical - like the whole BP disaster. Some are just for fun. When I do - I hope you like them or at least throw some feedback my way.
I hope this post finds you well and watch this week for the latest in my work. The rest of them are on the board, on my kitchen table and standing in the hallway.

Overkill

2010-06-12T21:53:00.000-07:00

Where the hell have I been you non-readers of my world-changing blog? I realize it's been since March that I've posted but I've been REALLY BUSY. When we last left me I had just rolled my car and was trying to get that resolved. Since then much has happened.
First, I got through my final semester with Mid-America Technology Center. Although, it was one of the low points in my professional career I did get to know some wonderfully bright and sweet kids. Sorry, guys, they told me not to come back. Something about me being TOO nice. The way they kept saying that made me feel like I just farted in the room. I will miss you but it's probably the best for you. I told them what to fix and hopefully they will - which will result in a much more useful experience for you. But if you ever see me teaching a college class I promise I'm really good with that level.
Second, I am painting like a madman - I hope to spend the next few months just doing that every day. My best friends, Mike, Sharon, and Tony tell me I'm way overdue for pursuing that as my next career. It's just tough to give up what is safe in your mind. So I'm adapting and changing my entire life right now to make room for this part of me. And truth be known - I think it's why God made me. I've never fit the mold. I've always been me even when I've tried to be someone else. I'm not tall. I'm not handsome. I'm not rich. But I'm not afraid anymore of not meeting someone else's standard for who I should be or what I should be doing.
A few years ago I was a freelance designer and did very well for myself. But, the economy dipped and I had to find work again. Now, with this change I am using what I learned from that time towards being the best artist I can be. I never really left it - it's just that my river ran underground for awhile. I've always been writing down ideas and making sketches. The biggest problem has been getting my hand back to speed. I used to be faster so for right now I'm just shooting for good.
And finally, I am working on the whole me. Yep - body, mind and spirit. Body - OK - it's gonna be a long road but I've got to try. I'm at record heavy for me. So I'm back in the gym. After all I'm only 49 and I have my whole life ahead of me. At least that is the opinion of every one in my Dad's nursing home. When I feel old - they are great! Mind - you name it. I'm trying everything to keep the gray matter active. But, just painting is enough of a charge mentally to wake me up. And spirit, well, if I've learned one thing this year is that in order to have a good spirit you have to be good to others - no matter what unless they are felons. Then you need to show them to jail. Just smiling at others is free and if you do it and approach them with common courtesy you will have a easier day. Somewhere in the 90's we decide if you were "In Your Face" and "Keeping It Real" then that was the right approach. As an example please refer to Dave Chappelle's "When Keepin' It Real Goes Wrong" skit. That about covers it.
So if you didn't read the last few inches the most important thing is that I'm back, I'm fired up and I'm painting full-time. New work to be posted this week!!! I swear!
God bless,
B.

Spring Thaw

2010-03-02T17:51:00.000-08:00

OK - so no one reads this blog. I'm cool with that! lol. It's more for me to have fun just showing my work and ranting like every other good blogger out there. My much promised art is almost done. Sorry , but I've been catching up on work, looking for a new car and spending time with my best friend and father, Dewey. On a funny note, while I was braving the V.A. Hospital with my Dad I found out his ID started with the same first three numbers as my birthday. He'd never realized that either.

Update - Pic now attached. I miss ya, baby!

Black Ice Delay

2010-02-08T16:55:00.000-08:00

So, no new art this week. Sorry! I've GOT SEVERAL PIECES ALMOST FINISHED BUT WE HAD A SLIGHT PROBLEM. coming HOME LAST Tuesday IN THE FOG AND FREEZING TEMPS i MANAGED TO FIND SOME BLACK ICE. Slipped and slid all over the highway trying to avoid running into a police car up the road. I avoided them but lost control and spun out and then flipped the car in the snow. Banged up, but living - be careful out there - Mother Nature is a beotch! I'll have to post a pic and count that as my art submission for the week.

Stand Alone Tree

2010-01-23T14:31:00.000-08:00

This painting is my first sketch from the Tall Grass Prairie visit I made last year. I took four canvases out there with my charcoal pencil to sketch what I saw. The prairie is a beautiful drive and you can get there from the town of Pawhuska. There are buffalo, birds, and wild flowers among the prairie grass and the hills seem to roll on forever.
Now that makes it a bit hard to try to find something that leaps out at you. This tree stood out to me. It was a few hills away from the road and caught my eye because it was there all alone. The tree-line where the rest of the trees were grouped was a couple of hundred yards away. This tree took root all by itself in the middle of the prairie and seemed to be clinging to life in spite of adversity. It is twisted, with some dead limbs but wasn't dead itself. The left side was long, swooping dead limbs that hung down and spread out like tired arms. The right side still had green leaves on it and seemed to be reaching up. This tree had had a tough existence by itself out there with no shelter. I think it caught my eye and touched me because I was there at the prairie on the advice of a friend. I had been in Tulsa with my father who was recovering from his second stroke in one year. His body had gone in a very short time from fully functioning to almost completely disabled. He was trying to adjust to his new limitations and finding it very hard. And I had just moved back to Oklahoma City to start my life up again as an artist, educator, and designer. The new job had been really hard and demanding and some of the problems I had before I moved back were still unresolved. So in that moment I think “defiant in the face of adversity” stood out and grabbed me. The colors are my sky blues and greens that I seem occasionally drawn too. If you find yourself faced with a lot of adversity I hope you will think about this tree. It's still there – still fighting the good fight.