This is a photo I took on a float trip down the Osage River with my dad and 3 other guys, back in 1983 or 1984, I can't remember. We were floating from Taberville to Osceola Missouri, we took two days to float it. (Notice the rubber strips on the cooler to the left, in the photo, our slingshot for plink'n) The guy in the photo is Jim Schmotz. Jim owned an advertising agency in Kansas City at the time. Jim is a pretty interesting guy, he studied painting under Thomas Hart Benton, when he was teaching at the Kansas City Art Institute. Jim was a mentor to me, helping me with things like pricing artwork, and giving encouragement.
He had a lot of Benton float trip stories from his student days. He said on one trip, they never made it to the river they were to float, because Tom drank a little too much Bourbon, and drove the car off the road into a ditch. They spent the weekend in the car while it rained for 2 days. Another time, Tom spent the entire weekend in his tent, roaring drunk. Jim sold his business, and decided to spend his time painting full time, just after this float trip. I haven't seen Jim since my dad's funeral, in 2003.
My college painting instructor was also a former student of Benton's. He and his wife stayed with the Benton's after they got married, they had no where else to go, so Tom invited them to stay at his house.
When I was about 10 or 11 years old, my parents divorced. We were staying with my mother at the time. My dad was living in a huge house off of Southwest Trafficway, in Kansas City's old Valentine neighborhood. We would visit him on weekends. The lady who owned the house was the heiress of the Hughes Candy Company fortune. I guess Hughes candy was a hot item in the early 20th century, from the looks of the house. The house was like a castle, turrets, and everything. It is still there, and is a true mansion. It has about 50 rooms and is 3 stories tall, and has a huge carriage house next to it. (I remember a black 1959 Cadillac in mint condition, covered in dust, parked inside the carriage house on blocks. It had big whitewall tires on it.)
Miss Hughes never married, she doted on us kids, and treated us as her own children. I have fond memories of our visits there, I would sleep in the turreted room on the northwest side of the house, when we would visit. I will never forget the open window, the smell of honeysuckle blooming outside, the cool sheets, and the heavy quilt that topped the bed. She would stuff us full of ice cream, and other goodies, while we watched television with her in the huge sitting room.
Thomas Hart Benton, lived on the next street west from Miss Hughes' house. I liked to draw and paint, and was thinking about going over to see Mr. Benton, I kept visualizing knocking on the door, and asking to see Mr. Benton. I never did. I was afraid he would get upset or something. I kick myself now, I'll bet he would have welcomed me in.
Years later, I did make it into the house, but in a different way. I dated one of the tour guides there, it had become a State Historic Site. When no one was around, I had the run of the place, I would even take naps on Tom's bed, and read his books. You will find my phone number with all of the other phone numbers on the wall next to the phone in the kitchen. (I don't know how it got there)
Hogle Creek runs along the north eastern border of St. Clair County. It borders Benton County. This is my daughter Rachel fishing for Red Ear Sunfish. This painting was purchased by fellow artist Tom Trowbridge, of Blue Springs Missouri.
Finally I found time to finish this. This is Ruby Beach, in my estimation one of the most scenic beaches in Washington State. my wife and I visited here on our Honeymoon
This is my so called studio. A retired out building/cattle barn. It serves as my summer studio. I deal with Mud Dauber Wasps in the daytime and moths and mosquitos attracted to my light at night. Fishing rods, gas and oil cans, and other assorted junk surround me as I work. I have an artist friend whose husband worked for Aramco Oil Company, her studio could be called a guest house. It has a kitchen, shower, the whole 9 yards. If only I could be discovered by a rich patron. Heh,heh,heh. Ahh, the romantic life of the artiste!
I painted this for an illustration of the story of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. I used it in a portfolio presentation to Hallmark Cards. I was devastated at the the time, I didn't get a job there, but in a way, I'm glad I didn't. My work is really not greeting card type stuff. I didn't know that then. It is done from my imagination. This painting is in the Lawrence Glavin Collection in Kansas City.
This is an older work that is now under a newer work. I sold it recently, maybe years from now it will be seen in an x-ray image. Oil on Panel, 16" X 20"
This barn had been a local landmark for many years but was eventually torn down. I am not normally big on painting barns, but it held a lot of memories for me so I painted it. Just after I completed the painting, the barn was destroyed. A family member of the original owner found out I had done a painting of it and wanted to buy it. I needed the money so sentimentality and fond memories went out the door.
I like compositions like this, the viewer is in the shadows, looking toward the light ahead. I guess, it mirrors my Christian experience. We are in the darkness of this world, looking toward the light we will live in, when Christ returns. This is east of Blackjack Missouri about 8 miles. A lone cloud overshadowed the road. Acrylic on Panel, 25" X 30,"Mr. and Mrs, Robert Frazier Collection.
In 1968, I lived on Thornton Mill Creek in Clay County Missouri. I would see this view every morning when I would look out of our living room window. I was in Junior High School at the time. I had determined at that time to paint it. I never did. Not until recently that is. It is finally finished after 41 years.
This is a photo I took on a float trip down the Osage River with my dad and 3 other guys, back in 1983 or 1984, I can't remember. We were floating from Taberville to Osceola Missouri, we took two days to float it. (Notice the rubber strips on the cooler to the left, in the photo, our slingshot for plink'n) The guy in the photo is Jim Schmotz. Jim owned an advertising agency in Kansas City at the time. Jim is a pretty interesting guy, he studied painting under Thomas Hart Benton, when he was teaching at the Kansas City Art Institute. Jim was a mentor to me, helping me with things like pricing artwork, and giving encouragement. 
My college painting instructor was also a former student of Benton's. He and his wife stayed with the Benton's after they got married, they had no where else to go, so Tom invited them to stay at his house. 
Weston Bend or the "Grand Rialto" as the old riverboat pilots used to call it, has been a favorite haunt of mine since about 1975. My friends and I would go out there for camp outs, and hiking, way before it was a state park. I remember going there in a blizzard with some friends once. We started a campfire using business cards in our wallets as tinder. The river boats come in close to shore on the bend at Grand Rialto. They are so close to shore you could throw a rock, and hit them. This is an old road used by fishermen to access the Missouri River. I recently visited a longtime friend in Kansas City who has this painting hanging in his house, he has had it for 20 years. It was also a favorite of John Mc Gee, great grandson to the Kansas City pioneer James Mc Gee, of whom Mc Gee street in Kansas City Missouri is named. I think I need to get back to oils, they are richer and easier to handle.
I saw this at Bennett Spring State Park while Trout fishing with my daughters Rachel and Abigail. It was near quitting time and no one was on the stream fishing but us. Acrylic on Panel, 18" X 24"
