Update from Wyoming…
Sitting here on the side of a small canyon following a small family of horses. The sage brush is thick in the air and I’m munching on some bruschetta bread and fresh nectarines from the farmers market in Green River after shooting in a train yard.
I grew up mainly in the West Texas town of Gardendale, Texas. An area built on the oil Industry with corporate offices in Midland a few minutes to the East and Odessa home to roughnecks just to the South. So when new drilling popped up in the little community where my parents still live, I had to go out and get some shots…
The initial shots here are just a sampling of the many I took chronicling the casing of the well and moving of the rig from a block and half West of my parents place (could see the rig well from the back yard) down East of their place by the new water tower. They are placed in somewhat chronological order and I really appreciate any feedback! :)
The rig is named Viking 1 and the Driller told me it was used for the Reality Show ‘Black Gold’ airing September 8. A huge thanks to the crew who initially invited me on site and the Driller for Keystone oil for the great background information and allowing me to shoot. Guys send me you your bio info so I can add to these and upcoming images – Y’all were great! :D
Click here for the initial gallery of 52 images…
All setup and ready for the Evergreen Arts Festival tomorrow & Sunday. Camping out in the lot at old Albertsons with several other artists. Went to dinner with Jerome & his wife Kat & Dave at Taco Bell across the lot. Instead if hanging my shower bottle from the back trailer door, helped Dave (who I met at keystone last weekend) put up his new outdoor shower enclosure. It was great fun – you should have heard/seen us. Included a couple of pics…
Got re-acquainted with my mountain bike (and the ground) today. Just could not unclip with the new shoes ;) Finally found some mountain stream trout – with a bowl of chicken-tortilla soup to start off – YUM!
Sitting here on my futon with the door of my utility trailer open to the roaring Arkansas River following a thunderstorm. Eating Dolmas and pita chips after a day of shooting – which started off by a good breakfast with my neighbors and fellow artists from Florida at their campsite beside me.
I was like a kid in a candy store earlier crawling down the bank of a creek, through Poison Ivy and brush. Here, off in the back-roads, lay several old vehicles with water running through and around, moss, spider webs, and overgrowth. BEAUTIFUL! Waiting for little spurts of light through the thick trees and making due with the overcast. A sort of paradise as I step down onto a large boulder to find it give a little – like the top of an old car! :D
Before I descended, the county water commissioner drove by and after I swung my mirror around and moved a large rock to let him pass my truck, we chatted and he told me they were put there originally 30-40 years ago as rural ‘erosion-control’.
After a while, it started to rain, so I headed back into to town for a long walk with an new friend and a bite to eat along the river watching kids float by and kayakers practice. Then when the Sun came out later, I drove back out – but alas by time I arrived, it had gone down behind the mountain. Tomorrow I will go back with my wet shoes and hopefully a little more sun, then maybe off to a mining town.
Alright time to bungy the door and lay down in my sweats for a chilly night…
Of course, pics later ;)
Dad & I built some new crates last week:
Really a great time working with Dad while Mom was away to Kansas City.
1 holds up to 32″x48″* canvases and the other up to 18-20″x27″ canvases. The larger one opens up from either side to allow opening in tight quarters…
– together with current crates…
the largest size holds a 40″x60″ canvas, the khaki color holds my 24″x36″ canvases and the smaller hold 18″x24″ canvases (the smallest I normally carry to shows).
Update: 2010-07-31: The new ones are shown above un-sealed, just got done sealing them with Marcela.
* intend to start bringing this size out to fill a gap, but the crate also holds all sizes like my 12-18″x48″ (long ones) etc..
Hanging out with Mom & Dad. Building a new crate for canvases, will stop in to FrameIT Gallery in Midland, shoot some and see old friends….
late posting this ;)
On Sat had an old friend drop by and two old really good friends on Sunday. Really neat and interesting to see them. Jenny said I must be ‘closing a loop’ :)
Great to see ya guys!! :D
