I don't do that many paintings that depict a specific historical event, but this one does. When Col. Charles Goodnight first entered the Palo Duro Canyon in October of 1876 to start his famed JA Ranch, he and two cowboys drove the buffalo they found on the canyon floor out so he could bring his cattle in. By the time they were done, they estimated that they had driven more than ten-thousand buffalo out, and the JA cattle soon took their place.

How could anyone describe Texas without mentioning longhorn cattle or bluebonnets? I couldn't.

This grandson and his dog have had a full day of adventures with Grandpa. Time for a little nap before headin' home.

This painting was done as a fund-raiser for the Alter Guild at our church. This mission was on the Old Tucson movie set. You may recognize it from movies such as El Dorado. Unfortunately, it no longer exists.

These cowboys are camped for the night in outlaw or Indian country. We know this because they are wearing guns and their horses are close by. I love to paint firelight. The models for this painting were my little brother Jesse who owns the Palo Duro Riding Stables and my middle son Josh who is now a doctor.

This cowboy is worn out. After a cold camp last night, he has slept past the crack of dawn. People think the life of a cowboy is romantic, but it sometimes means sleeping on the ground. Been there.

These two cowboys have stumbled upon a Comanche painting. I was actually with the Park Rangers when they discovered this painting themselves. I asked the head of the State Park if I could paint the scene, and he told me to change the location as they didn't want to tell everybody where this fragile painting was. I changed the background to our family's canyon and had my little brother Jessie and middle son Josh pose for me as the cowboys.

I enjoy doing paintings in which the running horses are ducking and dodging each other. That's what they do you know. When this painting was on the easel in my studio, my dear friend Msgr. Tash said, "you have to name it "Running Thunder", so I did. (I always did what he told me.)

This grandfather is performing his morning ritual of raising the American flag. His grandson has obviously been taught to respect our flag and love our country. Even his dog has his full attention on the flag-raising. The chickens don't. Chickens are not very patriotic. Hope you had a blessed Memorial Day.

I don't often do straight landscapes without a horse or rider, but I thought one would be an intrusion into this painting. I love the Tetons and this view across the Snake River is one of my favorite places to paint. We are so blessed in America to have so many beautiful places to paint.