This cowboy had a long day yesterday and made a cold camp last night. The sun is rising, but he's still not up. Even his horse knows how unusual this is. I thought this painting would be appropriate today for those of us who ate too much yesterday.

I hope each of you will take some time on this Thanksgiving Day to thank our Creator for this holiday season and for the many blessings he has bestowed upon us. This cowboy has ridden out to be alone and say thank you Lord. I was blessed to have this painting appear on the cover of Western Horseman magazine.

This painting was commissioned by the same man that bought a similar painting I posted several weeks ago. This time he wanted his daughter's paint horse front and center.

I really enjoyed my time as a working cowboy and would probably have spent my life doing that if I hadn't been called to be an artist. Working cowboys don't make a lot of money, but they would all tell you that it's a wonderful life.

Sometimes the simple ideas are best. Here, a cowboy climbs atop a boulder to have a better look around. I don't believe he's looking for cattle though. That rifle says otherwise. My brother Jessie (Palo Duro Riding Stables) posed in our canyon for this painting. I'm blessed to have several good models in my family, and our family's canyon often makes the perfect backdrop.

A few more pumpkins like that one, and they're going to need a bigger wagon. I'm sure grandma will be glad to see what they bring her. I'll bet pumpkin pie is on the way. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

This horse thief is riding hard and fast to make his get-a-way. Someone must be close behind or he wouldn't have that yellow boy in hand. I love paintings like this with strong story-lines and running horses.

This is kind of a humorous painting. These cowboys are hopelessly lost and have stopped to stare at their map. Up on the Llano Estacado where I live, there are very few landmarks to mark where you are. Even the roan isn't sure where they are.

The colors of autumn in high country are very intense. That's why I enjoy paintings like this one. It's almost impossible to get the colors too bright.

I wanted to make this painting show as much action and danger as possible. As those of you who follow my work know, I love action, especially when it involves running horses and a stagecoach. My dad would have loved this painting. He used to tell me, "concentrate on action Jack, that's what you do best."