The Texas Artist - A New Painting Every Week

Postcards from Texas(A Painting A Week)

Texas Horned Lizard

6″ x 8″ original oil on canvas panel

Larry G. Lemons - Copyright 2008

Of course, in Texas, we call it the “horny toad,” but since my paintings go to folks all over the country, I thought I should use its “proper” name. This is a version of one of the several varmints that I affectionately call my “Texas Wild Thangs” series and the first one that I have painted in this small size. The horny toad is an interesting little creature that has the ability to squirt a stream of blood from its eyes. They generally eat big red harvester ants, but their population has declined in recent years due to the use of pesticides and the increase in the fearsome and ravenous Brazilian fire ant population. They are now an endangered species. I can remember when we used to keep them as pets. For anyone in your family who has never seen one, they are really not the color that I have painted them. That’s all just for fun.

UPCOMING-

Feb. 23-24 - Arts Alive! Home and Garden Show MPEC, Wichita Falls. I’ll be in the Go Texan section.

Feb. 29 - “A Day with a Real Texas Artist” Lindsay ISD

Mar. 2 - TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Mar. 25 - “A Day with a Real Texas Artist” Wells Elementary, Plano

April - 19-20 Art Attack, Gainesville

May - Art Splash, Graham

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Postcards from Texas (A Painting A Week)

Dancing Trees

6″ x 8″ original oil on canvas panel

Larry G. Lemons - Copyright 2008

These trees are between Ringgold and Bowie off of US Hwy. 81. I was amused by their “poses.” One looks like it’s doing a ballet and the other appears to be doing the twist. I know that I’m showing my age, but to depict the trees doing one of the new “dances” that I saw recently, their roots would have to be up in the air. I prefer to keep my roots closer to the ground.

UPCOMING -

Feb. 23-24 Arts Alive! MPEC in Wichita Falls. I will have a booth in the Go Texan section.
Feb. 29 “A Day with a Real Texas Artist” Lindsay ISD
Mar. 25 “A Day with a Real Texas Artist” Wells Elementary, Plano
April 19-20 “Art Attack” Gainesville

Col. David Crockett

18×24 original oil on canvas - $850

18×24 signed and numbered limited edition - $129

Postcards from Texas(A Painting A Week)

Home Alone

6″ x 8″ original oil on canvas panel

Larry G. Lemons - Copyright 2008

This painting is inspired by our “Snowball” whom we had for over ten years. He would look out the door or window for hours at a time waiting for the opportunity to dart out and prowl the neighborhood. I combined my rendition of him with a window from an old farmhouse in the Texas hill country. The trumpet vine was added for aesthetics. Hope you enjoy this image.

I have completed another 18×24 from my “Legends and Heroes” brown-toned series. It is currently on exhibit at the Texas Trails Art Gallery (co-op) at 100 E. Hwy 82 in Nocona. I hope to share it with all of my “postcard” subscribers in the next couple of weeks.

Postcards from Texas(A Painting A Week)

Six Trees in the Fog

6″ x 8″ original oil on canvas panel

Larry G. Lemons - Copyright 2008

Remember a few weeks back when it was so foggy? I know it’s dangerous to travel in the fog, but this weather related phenomenon presents many unusual visual delights as the heavy mist masks the small details and only reveals the essence of everyday objects. As I photographed these trees for reference material for future painting, it intrigued me that the fog and the backlighting had hidden the color and detail and melded the trees to appear as only four, but the trunks revealed that there were actually six. The color and detail only remained in the fence row in the foreground. Art sometimes has a way of helping us see things that often go unnoticed and unappreciated. Hope you appreciate this image.

I am now working on my first commission for the year. It’s going to be a good one. Please give some serious thought to commissioning me to do an original painting for you. It might be the old home place, a favorite car, a favorite pet, or just something totally unique to decorate your home or office. I can work from photographs, real life, or just share your idea and we’ll brainstorm it together and come up with a rough sketch of what you have in mind. Commissions confirmed by Jan. 31 will receive 2007 prices (which is 10% off of 2008 prices).

Postcards from Texas(A Painting A Week)

Most Texans and Texans-at-heart have heard of or visited Luckenbach. First brought to our attention by the late Hondo Crouch, and later immortalized by country singers Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, it has become a Texas icon. We’ve been there two or three times over the years. The first time or two took us a while to find it. Seems that the highway sign gets stolen quite often. I wanted to do more than just document that I had been there, so I added the “vignetting” technique to try to convey a sense of fond memory and nostalgia for the legendary place.

If you would like to make an offer on the small painting Lookin’ Back at Luckenbach - Leave a comment below.

Best offer will be accepted starting at $100.

Postcards from Texas(A Painting A Week)

Winter Sunset

6″ x 8″ original oil on canvas panel

Larry G. Lemons - Copyright 2007

I have photographed and painted this amazing subject a number of times over the years. Located north of Nocona on the Storey land, it never disappoints me when I make the drive to get a better view of one of God’s best artworks. Each painting that I have done of this old tree has had a different sunset, the first one being purchased by a lady from Abilene and the second one owned by a young lady who lives near College Station and will, no doubt, someday be a great artist and successful veterinarian. Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed painting it.

It’s not too early to start thinking about a commission either for yourself or for someone very special. This past year, in addition to the larger works that I did for gallery shows and the “Postcards” paintings, I painted several commissions tailored specifically to the client’s taste (with my own artistic style added, of course). If you commission a painting before January 31, 2008, I will give you 2007 prices, which represents a 10% savings. Call me or e-mail to discuss your ideas, even if you don’t need it for several months.

Postcards from Texas(A Painting A Week)


Silvery Moon

6″ x 8″ original oil on canvas panel

Larry G. Lemons - Copyright 2007

I recently heard an explanation about why the moon sometimes looks much larger to us than at other times. It has to do with comparing it with known objects viewed from a distance. If we look at something up close to us and see the moon in the background, it does not look all that unusual, but when we look at things in the distance that appear smaller because of that distance, the moon actually appears larger relatively speaking. As the moon “rises” higher above the horizon, there is nothing to compare it to, so it starts to look smaller. If you are looking close, you will see that I often paint my pick ups as if they were viewed with a wide angle lens, while I render my backgrounds as though they were viewed with a telephoto lens. I do this intentionally to give the pick up a more angular, and I believe, more intimate view, while allowing me to enlarge and focus on what I think is most important in the background. Is it correct use of perspective? Who cares? It helps me convey the story that I want to tell.

Note: This is the first time I have painted one of my pick up tailgate series this small. It was an enjoyable challenge. Hope you enjoy it, as well.

One of my “Postcard” subscribers recently e-mailed me with this comment. It is included here with permission: “Thank you so much for sharing your “Postcards from Texas” paintings. I’ve truly loved them!! About 20 years ago I discovered oil painting and painted for several years. Life seemed to get in the way and I didn’t find the time to paint. You’ve inspired me. I’ve bought the basic new paints and hope to pick up the brushes again soon. God Bless. Have a great Christmas and new year.”

It has been my desire from the beginning that my art would connect with folks all over the country. Of course, I have been very pleased with the purchases; however, I have been equally touched by personal comments shared with me about art and life and grandkids and persevering. Thank you all. My family and I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year celebration.

Postcards from Texas(A Painting A Week)

Y’all Have a Merry Christmas!

6″ x 8″ original oil on canvas panel

Larry G. Lemons - Copyright 2007

Thank you to all who have allowed me to come into your homes and offices this past year with my art. Your interest, you encouragement, your personal comments, ideas and suggestions, and your sharing my art with your friends and family have been a blessing to both me and my family. To those of you who have begun collecting my originals and limited edition prints, I am humbled that you are willing to spend some of your hard earned money in this manner. I am the first to realize that it could be used in a thousand other ways. Thank you. It is my desire for my art to give all of you enjoyment for a lifetime and my dream for it to someday be worth many times what you paid for it.

A few 2007 stats that I’d like to share with you:

We shipped art from Washington state to Washington DC, including Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, Georgia, Alabama, California, and Texas.

I exhibited my work in thirteen different shows including a one artist show at the Booth Western Art Museum Borderlands Gallery in Cartersville, Georgia. I was also invited to speak about my art and show it to three different art associations.

I completed fourteen original paintings 18×24 or larger and approx. 35 - 6×8 original oil “postcard” paintings. This was accomplished while still teaching art at Saint Jo Elementary 20 hours per week (except summer) and teaching private small group lessons to an average of 12 students per week.

Two of my images were selected to be reproduced as vinyl wraps for use on the City of North Richland Hills’ traffic signal boxes.

I was “Artisan of the Year” for Art Splash on the Square in Graham.

Lana Sweeten-Shults of the Wichita Falls Times Record News did a full page feature about my art entitled “The Colors of Texas.”

My “Postcards from Texas” original paintings go out weekly to just over 500 “subscribers” all over the country. Nineteen of the thirty or so that I have e-mailed thus far have sold. (See my website for those still available.) Edward Southerland did a story about my “postcards” that appeared as a full color two page article in the fall issue of Texoma Living! magazine based out of Sherman.

My wife, Donna Rose, and I became grandparents for the first time in April to a beautiful baby girl named Lillian Dawn. Nothing else really compares to this!

We are looking forward to a great 2008 and hope your year is filled with God’s richest blessings, as well.