Multiple Tornados Hit Dallas-Fort Worth

Multiple Tornados hit the Dallas-Fort Worth area last night. It truly is amazing the power of Mother Nature. A California native, the ferocious thunderstorms we experienced last night were amazing and scary. To top that off, the weather culminating in tornados and heavy rainstorms are so very different from the weather experienced in California.

And so this morning, as there is a quietness in the air, it makes me appreciate Mother Nature in all its glory – for the incredible sights (and frights) as well as the magnificence found on the wing of an eagle.

Hope everyone stays safe and is able to take a minute and enjoy the gifts of Mother Nature!

 

Sofie Goes to the Zoo

Come to the Zoo – the Dallas Zoo that is.

In preparation for the first ever Dallas Zoo Art Show, my latest drawing is set to be unveiled. Titled “A Girl Named Sofie” is an 8×10 drawing of a baby giraffe.

If you want to see this drawing, as well as other artists participating in this show, make a day of it!
Mother’s Day weekend is about to get wild with the new Paw Prints Art Show at the Dallas Zoo on May 11-12, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Stroll among tents filled with fine art, including paintings, sculpture, ceramics, wood carvings, photography, and hand-crafted jewelry while viewing wildlife in naturalistic settings.
Visit the exhibition area featuring unique paintings created by Dallas Zoo residents through animal enrichment programs. Enjoy live music and relax at the wine patio overlooking the Flamingo Pond. Dine at restaurants and food carts throughout the park.

 

What’s happening in Dallas-Fort Worth?

What’s happening in Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex? Come check out the art scene May 4th and 5th in Richardson, Texas!

While you’re at it – come by and say hi! I’ll be there with all of my new artwork, including this new piece of artwork – titled The Magic Man.

Not only do you get to see some really cool artwork, meet some genuinely talented individuals, listen to music for free – you can take the kids and have them get some hands-on experience creating art.

Cottonwood Art Festival is a bi-annual event which features works from the nation’s top visual artists. Located in scenic Cottonwood Park in Richardson, Texas, this prestigious art show has been a part of Richardson life for over forty years. Admission is free.

When:
Saturday, May 4, 2013: 10 am – 7 pm
Sunday, May 5, 2013: 10 am – 6 pm
Where:
Cottonwood Park, centrally located in the metroplex at
1321 W. Belt Line Rd. Richardson, TX

 

Where have all the Cowboys gone – Part 2

While the Cowboy may not be gone, they are disappearing in large numbers.

Have we set our expectations too high? I love this song, sung by Paula Cole, titled “Where have all the Cowboys gone?” The lyrics, while simple enough really define the times. To hear the song in its entirety, click on the link. 

Oh you get me ready in your 56 chevy
Why don’t we go sit down in the shade
Take shelter on my front porch
The dandy lion sun scorching,
Like a glass of cold lemonade
I will do laundry if you pay all the bills

CHORUS:
Where is my John Wayne
Where is my prairie song
Where is my happy ending
Where have all the cowboys gone

Why don’t you stay the evening
Kick back and watch the TV
And I’ll fix a little something to eat
Oh I know your back hurts from working on the tractor
How do you take your coffee my sweet
I will raise the children if you pay all the bills

I am wearing my new dress tonight
But you don’t, but you don’t even notice me.

I will wash the dishes while you go have a beer
Where is my Marlboro man
Where is his shiny gun
Where is my lonely ranger
Where have all the cowboys gone
Yippee yo, yippee yeah

 

Where have all the Cowboys gone?

Times change and people get older.

While I know this to be true, what I really see is the difference of generations.

The Cowboy Way – opening up doors for people, showing kindness to others, enjoying the simple things in life. All of these things are common courtesy – and yet they are missing in today’s society.

Is it a failure to teach our children to say thank you (and mean it), to be kind to others (instead of relentlessly ridiculing others), to give back to others (instead of taking it all for yourself).  Has it become so socially unexceptable to punish children, that parents allow anything to go?

This past weekend we were in a restaurant. A child was wandering through the restaurant, visiting with some of the guests at different tables. Apparently his parents were eating within the restaurant. This behavior would have happened once in my family growing up, and we would have all learned the lesson.  

As our society continues to adopt different ideas about raising children, I don’t see how our country can benefit from these ideas. How do we teach our younger generation the values and courtesies we grew up with? Do we put church back in the school? Enforce higher expectations on our teachers at all levels, including college? Ask the media to provide fair and balanced coverage of politics? Hold the media accountable for sensationalizing the horrific crimes that take place at our schools – just for someones 10 minutes of fame?

Chris LeDoux, cowboy songwriter and bareback rodeo champion, had a great outlook on life. Although he achieved mild fame for his popularity, he never let it go to his head. He always gave back to others.  Individually, it seems nearly impossible to change what we see, but as a group of individuals, we can prevent the Cowboy way of life from disappearing in our society.

 

 

What to do in San Antonio, Texas this weekend…

Why not come and see my graphite artwork, including my new favorite, “Geared Up”

Date(s): 04/13/2013 – 04/14/2013
Time: Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Village at Stone Oak
22610 US Hwy 281 North
San Antonio, TX 78258
Phone: (210) 481-5688

Free admission

San Antonio Fine Art Festival

http://www.paragonartevents.com/sanantonio/

Event Description
On April 13-14, 2013 the San Antonio Fine Art Festival debuts at the Village at Stone Oak in northern San Antonio. Join us and become part of the start of an annual art tradition. The San Antonio Fine Art Festival brings to the region many of the nation’s most recognized and awarded fine artisans from around Texas, the United States and overseas. Walk amidst an outdoor gallery of exquisite fine art. Showcased will be creations in painting, jewelry, sculpting, photography, woodworking, ceramics, glass, fiber art, mixed-media – and more. Each piece is an original creation by a master artisan. Discover that singular piece of artwork to enrich your home, your workplace – most importantly, your life! As you walk the festival and find your interest piqued by specific pieces of art, enjoy the rare opportunity to meet and interact with the artisan that created the pieces. Discover how the artwork was created, the artist inspired and their art form learned. Know that many of these artists have work in the most prestigious private art collections and public institutions in the nation. Artists are available throughout the show. Hours are Saturday from 10-6 and Sunday from 11-5. The event is held on the grounds of our gracious hosts, the Village at Stone Oak. Admission is free.

Event Categories
Visual Arts – 2D, Visual Arts – 3D, Visual Arts – Photography

Venue Description
Village at Stone Oak is conveniently located on Highway 281 just 3 miles north of Loop 1604 at the intersection of Stone Oak Parkway, 13 minutes north of downtown and 10 miles north of the San Antonio Airport. With nearly 625,000 square feet of shopping, Village at Stone Oak offers a wide variety of traditional retailers such as Super Target, Hobby Lobby, World Market, DSW, as well as many great fashion center stores such as Bath & Body Works, Victoria’s Secret, Chico’s, Talbot’s, Jos. A. Banks, American Eagle, and James Avery. Village at Stone Oak is currently home to the first J.Jill’s, Paciugo’s, Home Goods and Designs of the Interior in San Antonio. Convenient, front door parking allows easy access to your favorite stores. Our unique, open-air shopping village environment provides an upscale shopping experience like no other. Sit and relax on the patio and enjoy the tranquil sounds of the nearby waterfall all the while sipping a Starbuck’s or tasting a Paciugo’s gelato.

 

Holding the Dally

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’ve been to a branding you’ve probably seen it.
If you’ve been to the rodeo, and you’ve watched team roping, then you’ve definitely seen it.
The dally rope is the most effective way to rope a calf and get him to stay put. Tying your rope to your saddle after roping a calf is called “dallying.” Dallying involves looping your rope around the saddle horn to secure the just-roped calf to your saddle. The dally acts as an anchor to the saddle and forces the calf to pull against the combined weight of the horse and rider rather than against the rider’s grip on the rope. The dally is one of the most important skills to learn when roping a calf. A correct dally can mean the difference between successfully securing a calf and losing the catch.

What I like most about this drawing is the implied action. So much is going on with the ropes, but you can see the tension in the line going down to the calf. There were a lot of dark shadows in this drawing, along with tons of detail in the saddle.
I really like how this turned out… let me know what you think!

To see more of my artwork, including my new work, please visit my website, New Art from Geri Dunn