Years ago, Beef Magazine commissioned me to do four paintings for their cover and to sell as Limited Edition prints. This was the first of the four. I know well what it's like to be a very young cowboy helping his grandfather.

This was a very large painting and one of my favorites. I was blessed to have it appear on the cover of Western Horseman magazine, and it has been a very successful print in our website store. The location of this painting is the San Juan Mountains in Colorado. That's where they filmed John Wayne's True Grit.

I may be simple-minded, but I can watch leaves floating down a mountain stream for hours. For me, it's very relaxing. These were my thoughts as I began this painting.

This painting was done for the poster for "America's Horse In Art" an art show at the American Quarter Horse Museum. It also appeared on the cover of America's Horse Magazine. What I like about this painting is the bay roan, my favorite color of horse to paint. I had a tree house very similar to this when I was a kid. I've also built two treehouses for my grandkids, so I think I'm done with that.

I don't often do a painting with just a cowboy riding through a landscape, but I thought this scenery was strong enough to carry the idea. I wish I was with him. I'll bet there's a trout or two in that stream. In fact, I know there is.

My wife Jeanne and I have long been drawn to the mountains in the fall of the year. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent painting the aspens when they turn. This magical season never gets old, and it's never the same.

This painting was commissioned last year. They loved my reflections and my action stagecoach paintings, so I combined the two.

For many years, I taught a workshop in Red River, New Mexico when the aspens changed colors. I always took my class up Middle Fork Canyon to paint this beautiful old fence in a sea of yellow. Jeanne and I recently visited this spot, and it's as beautiful as ever.

A mere hundred and sixty years ago, a scene like this would have been quite common on the floor of the Palo Duro Canyon. The Comanches called it "Sacred Canyon" because it was heaven on earth for them.

Last week I did my annual demo for the high school and jr. high art students in our area at The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame &...