I refer to this piece privately as Solitude because it is more about choosing to be alone versus being isolated.

24 X 36

The first in a new series I am compiling featuring little known species from right here in the USA that are in the brink if being declared Endangered. This fish IS endangered in many California Rivers and getting close in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. It is partially due to climate change and warmer waters but also to mismanagement on the part of humans. Over fishing and the Hydroelectric Dams that block passage are the majority of the problem. Looks for more as I get good photos of them Photo credit, Steve Pettit.

36" x36"

This was another of my experimental pieces, half done with India Ink Marker on Claybord and the bottom done MY traditional method of cutting the black Scratchbord and then painting in washes of colored India Ink. I was trying for depth and certainly got it here. "Striking" is a term I often hear applied to this piece. Photo credit for snake: Steve Pettit. (I would never be that close to one!)

24"x24"

I seem to always gravitate toward my own photographs that show some type of emotion. This surely does, with the wolves exhibiting common canine behavior. It brought me back to the day when my spouse and I realized all we had worked for at his business was going under water in a flood. We could do nothing about it but hold each other and cry.

36" x24"tall

When I saw this one of my photos I was attracted to it for some reason. The shadow over his shoulder from his hump was so dramatic. Searching for a title I came across a quote from the former President of India, "India needs to learn to walk in her own shadow" . I think that is a good way of explaining my philosophy of life. I prefer to be thought of as an original.

24" tall x 24"wide

I chose this piece as the first to work on after a long time off. I needed to get back in the groove and get productive but had lost my own Focus, so I chose this guy. Sometimes your mood inspires the art you choose and sometimes the art serves to change your mood, much like music.

12" tall x 36" wide

I had the opportunity to travel in Yellowstone Park during the winter, "over the snow" as they say. The animal viewing was spectacular and I could not wait to do scratchboards of the great ones we saw. I chose to do this one on the white clayboard that is under the black ink and use markers to draw the image before I scratched it. I started small to get back in practice. More will come.

12" tall x 36" wide

I have always loved this photo I took many years ago but did not know what I was going to do with it. When I was in Jackson Hole delivering originals to one of my Galleries, I actually worked on this one. The trip had been a long and scenic drive on purpose on the way up. Many more miles were to be covered until I was back in the studio, but at the end of that week I found myself on that home stretch and looking forward to home.

18' tall x 24"wide

Hmmm, in the current environment politically speaking, this could apply to a LOT of people out there?

24 " tall x 48" wide

Lucky for me I live in Longhorn Country. Life is good. I married a country boy and am glad for it. Fresh air, quietness plus natural landscapes evreywhere and room to breathe.

24" wide by 60" tall

24 wide X 24 tall

Is he searching for yours, or are you searching his? Eye contact says it all

36" wide by 60" tall

Hurricane Harvey hit us hard. My former studio and George's Used Car Dealership was totally submerged underwater from the Colorado River in Texas. The storm sat just to the North of it and emptied rain for three days. When we knew that the "cone of opportunity" showed it's path to be straight at out town, we were a thousand miles away. All we could do was sit and watch it move closer and direct actions from afar. We managed to minimize the effects and recoup much quicker than most. I wanted to capture the feeling of being doomed, but actually ended up channeling...

60"x18"

I am a lover of being ones own boss. I also say the best committee is a committee of ONE, therefor the title of this piece, a play on words of course. The eye itself is the only part of the piece that seems centered and not full of anxiety and confusion, kind of like the Hurricane we went through as I was working on this piece!

24'x18"

Cats are my love. We have 5 of our own mini panthers. They all seem to have the same characteristics. their expressions and their movements do not change according to breed or size much at all. Curiosity is the biggest thing I notice about them. Here the predator has lost his prey.

24"wide by 36" tall

Oxpeckers usually do a wonderful job of picking the bugs off of many plains game in Africa, but this is not a live animal, therefore a comment on unemployment in the USA when a giant dies.

24" wide by 36" tall

I know it's been done before but it is truly a challenge to do it in scratchboard. Keeping the crack lines on the hide black while removing the lighter areas is harder than anything one does in the medium. Fur and feathers are very easy, so I am working toward my ultimate challenge of a full sized Elephant.

24' tall by 60" wide cradled

This piece serves multiple purposes. I always like to show the difference between a subject on a black background versus one on white so others can grasp the intensity of color that happens when it is surrounded by black. This piece is also a bridge between a new medium that I am looking in to using more often, Markers with India Ink in them that can be used on the white clay base for scratchboard and then cut back and redrawn like the black surface. I am loving it! It is totally drawing, no painted washes of color involved at all. My inner Van Gogh is...

36" wide by 36" tall

Mathew McConnahey where are you. This piece was done to commemorate his nude bongo playing in South Austin. Not really but I did put in a very tribal design that looks as if it would be found on a drum. These Bongos were from the Sanctuary at Fossil Rim outside of Dallas. They really are a handsome pair.

20" wide by 16" tall

The Grizzly Encounter is a great place to get good photos of our awesome friends. I have not been blessed by the real experience in the outdoors, but I actually prefer this way. I also love the backlighting on this handsome guy.

18" tall x 24" wide

December finds the rut in full force in the Northern section of the Bitterroot-Selway Wilderness. A friend of mine surprised these two while he was fishing a secluded stream. They watched him with as much wonder as he watched them. They stayed around long enough for him to snap a great photo capture off. I have tried my best to replicate it using India Ink Markers and scratchboard techniques. This is a brand new medium which I LOVE!

18"wide by 18" tall

While chasing down a Moose in the campgrounds outside of Jackson Hole, Wy, we happened to spot one far off along the river. So did many others with cameras so it became a traffic jam. We pulled over on the opposite side of the action and got our gear ready. When we looked back out we could not see him anywhere. Just as I said, "where is that darn Moose now?", he appeared just outside my driver's side window.

20" wide by 16"tall

Yellowstone has offered me multiple changes for some great reference shots of Bison. This is one of the first ones I have attempted to do and am having fun figuring out how to do the different types of fur. I cannot wait to get to my winter ones. Keep Watching.

16" tall by 60"wide

Another wonderful Wolf from a trip to Minnesota, this one was tired and close as well. I have had bad luck catching them in Yellowstone. They hang way out of camera range. This guy even looks lonesome, doesn't he? Either that or he is just about to drift off to sleep in the sun.

triptych 56" wide by 24" tall

This is just the beginning of my "Big Dog" series of larger than life portraits of dog faces. The ears are detachable and each of the parts are actually boxes with scratchboard on the one surface. Very unusual. It made it into the Society of Animal Artists' Annual Show and is currently touring the nation going from one museum to another. Always thinking on the box, not outside of it!

18" TALL X 36" WIDE

After many weeks of overcast skies and rains this spring, I took my cute little convertible out on the first sunny day and came across a wonderful herd of Longhorns in my home town. This piece is done on the white Claybord using my favorite Pitt Pens and rescratching for all of the white areas as well as the lighter areas. It really feels like the sun is finally hitting you on the back as the storm is moving away. It could be a metaphore for life and the changes it brings?

24"x24"

Don't you just love that someone who always reaches across your place and grabs something BEFORE they ask if they may. Politeness says ask first and take later or have it given to you. I am all about us trying to revive civility.

13"wide by 13"tall

Handsome as he is, most would not think of him as pretty yet the designs from 1997 sure make him. I enjoyed taking primative symbols from tribal designs and making them into the corner inserts.

13" wide by 13" tall

One of my designs from 1997 which I completed in 2014. I sure enjoyed doing these then as well as now.

13" wide by 13" tall

I designed the border for this in 1997 but was able to put one of my own lion photos in it instead of the one I had designed in 2014.

13" wide by 13" tall

All of these pieces are also available as silk scarves. I am so happy I found my old designs and added new animal images to them. The tribal patterns on each reflect the feeling of each individual animal.

24" tall x 18" wide

Number seven in my Monkey business is a fun Lemur, basking in the tropical sunshine with his very 'beachy" drink, umbrellas and all.

24' tall x 18" wide

This very Mod Colobus Monkey is number nine in my series and looks the 'Metro' part. It is only fitting that he sports a chic modern drink, especially because he is a leaf eater!

24" tall x 18" wide

This young Vervet looks not to be old enough to drink, but all ages are known to steal your drinks while you are not watching them and on Safari. The wine is well paired with my favorite water crackers and Aged Parmesan, Smoked Gouda and Brie (Triple creame, of course). Yum

36" wide by 24" tall

Although now named "The Guys" because the subjects were male, I had first named it "The Girls" in honor of my two partners from my Art Gallery in Illinois. I had somehow captured the spirit of each of us and our special relationship.

60" wide by 24" tall
 When I hunted in old Mexico, every morning I would have Buzzards come down off their roost to dry off from the night before. They would spread their wings and wait for the sun. I caught this group landing on my gate and thought it would be a nice group. The title means "a bunch of old Buzzards drying out", get it?

3 boxes each 8" by 10"

When a pine tree died in our yard, we decided to leave it for the golden fronted woodpeckers to use. They searched all around the tree before finding the perfect spot to build a nest. This shows the male in his progress digging out the cavity. Soon all you could see was his feet! They raise a family in the hole every year.

36" wide by 30" tall

I have the actual shell that posed for this piece, but I dropped it and it shattered. I have glued it back together, but it will never be the same. I love the design that nature makes.

36" wide by 24" tall

We wanted to try Koi in our small waterlily pond, but went with the less expensive and more adaptable Goldfish first to try it out. Good thing we did because the Raccoons ate them and the pond got green quickly so we converted it to a fountain/reflecting pond that we can add chlorine to and keep clean.

24" wide by 18" tall

I don't know any time of day and any other place that is more peaceful and beautiful but dawn on the ocean. We fish out of Port O'Conner and bait up in the canal. The light was just catching the water when I snapped a photo that I interpreted for this piece. I can almost smell the salt air when I look at it.

24" wide by 18" tall

During my "Reflections" period, I photographed many bodies of water. This was the entry bridge to Cottonwood Park in Richardson, TX, that led into the semi-annual art show there. It was one of my favorite shows and settings. Ducks usually swam along with geese on this pond creating wonderful images.

24" wide by 18" tall

Chicago's Shed Aquarium yielded this unusual reflection. It is actually looking up at the surface of the water with the lights reflecting on it. If you look carefully you can make out one of the sharks!

24"wide by 18" tall

When my first two grandkids were young, I took them to an apple orchard to pick apples with out their parents for the first time. We rode the hay wagon, picked apples, then went to a petting zoo on the farm. I certainly can relate to the whole scene after that day. I was pooped and they were too.

24"x 24"

A bit of a play on words? of course! The curious cat has now got something in his radar. I cannot wait to get back to Africa and find more Lions, Leopards and Cheetah to photograph.

36"X24"

Seems like all species enjoy watching the clear night sky. Maybe it is a time for thinking about the past or planning for the future. It is always better when you have a partner for company.

24' by 48" wide

You may remember the "sketch that I did last year of this Monumental piece. It was done using colored India Ink markers and turned out spectacular. I debated using Silver Leafing for the sky in the original because I loved the contrast of the bright sky to the dark rugged mountain the real monument was carver out of. When I put it out to the general public, they liked the black background best. SOOOOO I decided to keep my options open and will offer the prints with either Gold/Copper/Silver foil skies or plain black. You will see that I DID use gloss varnish on the...

20" x 60" wide

The title of this piece was going to be "Fear and Paranoia" because it is two young wolves running intently. I changed the title to one that is a bit more hopeful. Thank heavens I had great photos of fall colored Aspen from my last trip to Jackson Hole, WY. I just had to put the "Sally Spin" on them though and make the leaves real 18K gold marker. I used copper metallic marker as well and overcoated both with my inks to make this semi-real scene glow. Hope you enjoy it.

36"x36"

I fell in love with these awkward creatures the first time I saw them in the wild. I do not know how one animal can be both elegant as well as clumsy at the same time. they have so many unusual movements necessitated by their unusual build but have managed very well. This family is gliding past at close to sundown. the trees are golden and copper.

24" x 36" wide

Oh man, is this not the quintessential CAT pose? I don't care what the weather is, once they have been let out side they HAVE to roll before they come back inside the house. We watched this guy perform for at least ten minutes as he was marking territory and wandering around looking for a mate. He was one who thought that the female up a tree was going to choose, from my piece called "Choices" last year.

16" X 16"

It is hard to tell in Nature, but it seems that in the wild, other than in breeding season, animals of the same species get along a lot better than we humans do. They share a bit more willingly of the resources. Only when things get scarce does it bring out the jealousy and protectiveness that we people manifest far too often.

18" X 24" WIDE

Once again a great Cat interaction, this brother and sister are grooming one another. Our own unrelated boy cats have learned to do this love / friendship action. It is interesting to watch the needy one demand this attention from the eldest one. The two who do not get along do not engage in it at all! Animal nature teaches us once again.

36" tall by 48" wide

Yes, he is HUGE. And he is gentle yet strong, a very powerful piece. I named him this because it seems that signs are everywhere once you get to the Rocky Mountains to carry Bear Spray and Be Bear Aware. With one this size, that is guaranteed.

24"wide by 18" tall

After many years of specializing in African Wildlife, I have finally come to my senses and started doing the wonderful animals we have right here in the USA. These youngsters live right down the rural road from our place. I now carry one of my good DSLR cameras and all of the lenses with me at all times. One never knows when the sun will be just right or what animal will show themselves. The "earrings" are from their injections and let the rancher know it has been done.

24' wide by 24" tall

Another Big Guy from my Grizzly Adventure. He posed so well with that pouty mouth. I will add him to my "Profiles Series". I will be doing more of the other North American Animals that I have been photographing lately as profiles to round the series out.

24"TALL X 36" WIDE

This is my first true Nocturnal piece. I drew one view of this Longhorn as a daylight piece and then flipped the photo over to do this one. I chose to view the night sky at exactly the time ( two chances, actually) that the moon shadow would be cast in the same direction as the sun shadow did. I took a screenshot using my iPad and an App to secure where the constellations and Milky Way would be at that time. The real trick was to determine how white the whites would be under a full moon. I revisited that just befoe painting this and planted it in my memory as NO...

16x20 Colored Ink Marker

Introducing one of the first in a new medium I am experimenting in. It is Colored India Ink Markers which can be treated like a regular black scratchboard when the initial full colored drawing is dry. All of the detail is then available in HD super color! This Magnificent Bighorn Ram is just the beginning. Please let me know what you think.

36x36

This wonderful Mother and child symbolize the sad state of the Rhino population. On our second trip to South Africa, I snapped a photo of this pair. I was so thrilled when I returned to Kruger Park for our third trip two years later to see them still in the same area. They had not been poached!

36"wide by 24" tall

It's all in the look......you almost want to say "sorry I disturbed you". This is another of my primitive designs combined with African wildlife and I love them more every time I do one. I need to do Native American designs with our own wildlife as well.

36' wide by 24" tall

This was used as a partially completed piece to illustrate how scratchboard is done, but actually is a comment on the paranoia pervading the country, a feeling of "what is going to happen next and where is it coming from?"

24" tall by 36" wide

We followed this magnificent Male for several hours as he called for a female. He eventually found her, but she was not receptive so he treed her. Great photos of her in the setting sun came from that encounter.

16" tall x16"wide

I am fortunate to have a large breeding flock of wild Turkeys who have chosen to live on Last Drop Ranch. They strut and pose for me all of the time now. I am learning a great deal about their habits and enjoying their company.

12"wide by 24"tall

A female leopard was treed by two males, whose intentions she was not interested in. The older male "Sandriver" realized this quickly and left but it took the younger one a bit to understand so she could finally leave her tree.

18' wide by 60" tall

On our trip to Alaska I took many photos of our National symbol. Not wanting to be trite and copy a photo exactly, I decided to put together a scenario. After listening to the news, big mistake, I thought there were way too many complainers out there who did not have solutions and this image came to mind.

18" x 72"

SOLD This piece of work was one of my biggest challenges lately. I can do hair and feathers in my sleep but the tiles on this ancient looking creature really tested me and my patience. He (and she) turned out quite nicely finally.

18" tall by 36" wide

Another great pose by my favorite Big Cat model. I am always pleased to see the wild ones doing exactly the same thing their tame domestic counterparts do on a daily basis. Love my kitties.

36"wide by 72" tall

This is a piece I wanted to do at the right time and I saved it until I thought I was finally healed from my open heart surgery. It is kind of a YES moment. We hooked one of these beauties off of Cabo, but never got him to the boat. Means we have to go back, right?

18"wide by 60" tall

Luckily I have taken many photos of this cheetah walking towards me, because everyone seems to want a piece like this. The first one sold immediately and I had disappointed clients. I hope now to fill their needs. Here he is again.

18" wide by 24" tall

When we were delivering a piece of artwork, we noticed this swan swimming around in circles. Never found out if it's leg was injured or it just did it because it was bored and the lake was small, but he actually had one foot up on his back! Interesting.

24"wide by 18" tall

We were fortunate enough on our first trip to South Africa's Kruger Park to happen on a group of 5 wild dogs. We got to observe them for close to an hour do everything dogs do. Then we found out how lucky we really were because they are so endangered. Farmers hate they and kill them any way they can. I'm surprised no-one has been selling their beautiful coats as furs.

18" wide by 60" tall

I chose to add my tribal patterning to this piece to emphasize the grass and spots. I adore the primitive feeling of the fabrics and artwork that come from the hearts of the African people and pay tribute to that when I feel it is pertinent.

18x24 tall

Blue Herons are a familiar bird the world over. Beautiful in flight or standing, they always amaze me.

36" wide by 24" tall

After visiting the Ranch of a friend to photograph horses, I ended up choosing this particular one because it reminded me of the owner, very prim and proper.

36" wide by 24" tall

I was working on two new techniques in this piece, flowing water and getting wrinkles on the hide (skin) in preparation for larger works. This piece led into one entitled "Hook 'em" and another called "Come on In".

18" wide by 24" tall

"Celebrate Life" is the phrase I used when I sent this image out for my annual Holiday Greeting card. Actually this is one of my ongoing Monkey Business series, but special because I love champagne and had something to celebrate that year. I had escaped death and caught a problem early.

18" wide by 60" tall

This red fox was about to drink from the lake when something caught his eye above. I actually wanted to title this Narcissus before the fall, but thought that was too long. Lots is going on here. The reflection is distorted but beautiful, nonetheless. Often this is how we think of our selves.

36"wide by 36" tall

My brother has a small herd that I use for photo reference and this scene appealed to me for several reasons. Normally you only see big males with really long horns in artwork and this is a female with a baby. I think this scene captures the love and strength of the parent with the shyness of the child.

24" by 24"

Vervet Monkeys are the best entertainment. They are little thieves as well. They do have a wonderful social/family life and this shows a young grooming it's elder. I love it because my daughter is always picking on me, trying to improve me. I know it is out of love!

18" wide by 24" tall

You have to have a morning monkey if you are going to have a complete series. This guy is the sixth in the series that I add to each year. It has been as much fun for me to research the subject matter as it is for you to see the results.

18" wide by 72" tall
A young Thompsons' Gazelle is my subject here and I took the liberty to put all of her hooves together on top of the pinnacle. The piece was done during a tile when my Husband was recovering from surgery and I didn't know whether to nag him to do what the Doctor ordered or not, therefore being in a very precarious position. She is me.

18" x 36" tall

We watched this magnificent male for quite a while last trip to Kruger Park. He marked territory by spraying and then scraping the grass with both his front and then hind legs traveling at a very intent pace all the while. He also muttered a wonderful low roar the whole time. Our guide told us he was telling all of the other animals that he was not hungry and just was there looking for a female. We watched him sit for a while in the road with a while herd of anxious Impalas watching him. I got great photos of that and you can bet it will be a drawing sometime as well....

24"tall by 30" wide

I keep finding more and more things that all species of cat seem to have in common. They are so curious and catch every movement and sound and freeze, waiting to see if they need to take action. I caught that here.

18" x 18"

I actually met this guy several years ago in upper Minnesota, but wanted to design a native American style pattern to suit him. I love my African primitive designs combined with their animals and wanted to honor our earliest artists with some featuring our own continent's animals. I like the way it is going!

24" wide by 48" tall

I really think that Irises are every bit as beautiful and sensual as Orchids are. Their simplicity and color range is equal and, from a design point of view, I think nature created them equal.

24"wide by 60" tall

I had the best luck with this species of flower. It took over my whole first flower garden. It liked me, it really liked me. I have converted to many other species now, but the rhizomes seem to like me best.