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I thought I'd write about my most recent painting, "Passing Through".  How many times have I watched this yet the magic doesn't cease?  It is early morning and the cattle have already been gathered, will soon be sorted and trucks come.   This is the final moment of the drive. The stage's activity is suddenly a magical blend of light streaming through old fence poles highlighting dust boiling from the ground, cowboys swinging ropes and cattle searching for the gate into the corrals as an an occasional whoop and holler echoes in the frosty air.  Here, part of roundup ends while another begins as the cattle are then prepared for the trucks that will come rolling down the winding ranch road and pull up to the chute. 

This painting offered a challenge in lighting and mulitple figures, but again, I enjoyed the journey.  It will be part of the Night of Artist Show at the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas with a sale and reception March 23, 2013.

It's that time of year again for the Great American Miniatures Show at Settlers West Gallery in Tucson, AZ.  I've just reviewed the show online and it is beautiful!  The artwork is small and affordable but the quality is high...excellent idea.  

I will have two paintings in the show.  They are of cowboys who are not just great cowboys

but top notch people as well.  What a joy to paint people I admire!

"Making a Loop" is a 10 x 8 oil. ($1600)   "Tight Rope" is a 12 x9 oil. ($1900)

If you get a chance to go online or better yet attend the show in person, I highly recommend it.

It's a great opportunity to view some wonderful artwork by many great artists!

Shawn

I hope your Christmas was wonderful and you are looking forward to the New Year.  2013 is like a baby waiting to be born.  Baby's are the epitome of hope.  The baby in this painting, "Looking for Mama", will be part of the Cowgirl Up! Art from the Other Half of the West.  The show will open March 23, 2013 and run through May 5, 2013 at the Desert Caballeros Museum in Wickenburg, AZ.  I will have three other paintings included in the event and will post them at a later date. They are in progress...so wait and see.  I am really enjoying their creation!  I am working on several other shows as well.  They are: The Night of Artist, Great American Miniatures, Trailsides's Western Classics.  If you would like to receive a newsletter of shows I'm involved in...new works, etc. sign up for my website newsletter at www.shawncameron.com. I send it periodically during the year to share what I'm doing  

All my best to you and yours!

Shawn

I am offering a few ideas for Christmas gifts. Some of my work's been reproduced on stretched canvas and they are available now for the Holidays. These are affordably priced and ready to ship. Shipping is $15.  These are unframed but some frames are in stock as an option.

"Top Hands" 16x20  $225  Open Edition

"Cowboy Silk" 9x12   $95   Open Edition

"Silent Partner" 16x18   $195  Open Edition

"Loosening Up" 9x12   $95   Open Edition

"At Adobe Pens"  9x12   $95   Open Edition

Holiday treasures will be on display at Trailside Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona from Dec. 1-30th, 2012 during their annual Deck the Halls gallery event.  The gallery will be  decorated with miniature paintings and bronzes from their artists which would make great holiday gifts or additions to someone's collection.  These smaller works are affordably priced, too!

My contribution to the show is a 14 x 11 oil titled, "Big Loops and Dust".  It is a painting of a favorite cowboy I've portrayed quite often...my husband, Dean.   This scene was from a recent ranch roundup where things were happening quickly.  I always love to see the big loops fly as the cowboys whoop and holler while dust swirls around everyone involved.  The  crisp autumn air echoes with the whistles and calls of the men as they are engulfed in the warm, whirling atmosphere.   They appear set apart in a world of their own.   It is a special place and time of year...just as the coming holiday season. 

We wish all our best to you and yours and hope this season will be a joyful one for you!

Happy Holidays!

Shawn Cameron

I recently shipped a miniature painting to the Small Works Great Wonders Show held at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  I  have only one painting there this time, but am pleased with it.  The title is "The Master's Touch" and it is an oil painting of my son-in-law, Chris Littlefield, and a horse he had spent much time training a while back.  Chris is an accomplished and gifted trainer.  Among his highest honors is the coveted title of World's Greatest Horseman that he received a few years ago.  This painting has been on my "to-do" list for several years. Painting subjects are chosen for various reasons...sometimes it is the subject, lighting or composition.  Other times it is a design or theme created to meet the needs of a specific show.  In this case the color of the horse was eye catching,  but most of all I was drawn to how he obviously enjoys his master's touch.  The painting is actually a story of that special relationship.  "The Master's Touch" will be sold by draw during the festive, one night event at the museum hall.  I hope you have an opportunity to attend and see the many pieces of artwork on display.  If you enjoy good art this is an excellent chance to obtain smaller,  affordable treasures. The event creates a  grand opening for the coming holiday season! 

I am excited that summer is about here!  Trailside will be having their usual summer show and in August they are having "It's a Dog's Life", which is an original gallery event! I have sent an 11 x 14, Loyal Friend, to the show.  It is a painting of our household companion, Buddy.  He goes to the studio daily with me, walks many miles and makes the trails to the bottom of the river with Dean horseback.  He is indeed, a loyal friend!  I don't think he knows he's a dog!  I look forward to seeing the other artwork in the show, as well.  I have several larger paintings on the easel right now...but you will have to wait for glimpses of them!  I am excited about them and hope you will enjoy viewing them as they are completed.  I hope you are looking forward to a great summer...I am!

I have completed my show for Night of Artists on March 23rd and am enjoying the feeling that I have accomplished what I set out to do.  I will have three paintings for the show and feel good about each of them.  It's been a genuine pleasure to be in the studio recently.  I am looking forward to traveling to the newly completed Briscoe Museum on the River Walk in San Antonio to attend the Friday night sale and can already feel the excitment of the event.  It will be wonderful to see the new facility and meet those behind the scenes who have worked so hard to put this together.  The line up of artists is impressive! 

Vanished Trail, a 30 x 24, is my largest in the show and will also be featured on the cover of the New Mexico Stockman magazine's March issue.  That painting has evolved over time and I am pleased with the recent reaction to it. 

Top Hands, a 16 x 20, is my middle size piece and was an interesting adventure in painting dust.  Dust is common in our part of the country, but here I allowed the figures to partially disappear in the thick, churning atmosphere of activity.  A new perspective for me and one I loved doing.

Miles to Go, a 14 x 11, is my smaller painting and another one I enjoyed creating.  I challenged myself to create a story of a day just beginning by positioning the cowboy trotting before a glowing morning sky.  That is exactly the way it is quite often and I felt this scene told the story well.   

I'm honored to be part of the show and look forward to attending.  I hope to see you there!

Two thousand and twelve is moving right along.  I'm amazed how time never waits.  I keep thinking it will pause long enough to see if I'm still there, but no...it just goes on without me.  I'm doing my best to keep up and, thankfuly, so far so good.  I seem to be on tract for coming shows and have just completed two paintings for the Great American Miniatures at Settlers West Gallery in Tucson, Arizona February 11th.  We are considering attending this year.  The show and gallery are always beautiful and exciting and Tucson is one of the "places to be" this time of year. 

My two paintings are both 9 x 12 oils with my subject matter remaining ranch themed.  Loosening the Dallies is a painting of Charlie Gould, who's spent his entire life cowboying and most of that in Arizona.  He currently works on a northern Arizona ranch and is a "top notch professional".   My painting was taken from a day last spring when he helped us gather and brand.  We are thankful to count him as a friend and consider him a good man to have around.  Spring Works is a little oil of my husband Dean on his horse, Pinto.  I have used Pinto as a subject a number of times for his color is wonderful and I love his rough bone character and build.  He works like a freight train...not much gets in his way or slows him down.  Amazingly, our grandchildren also ride him!  He's a special horse and one I enjoy commemorizing on canvas.  Dean was dragging calves to the branding fire and shaking out a new loop when I saw this irrestistable scene. I am pleased with how it turned out. 

I have more shows coming up...several in March, which I will blog about as pieces are ready.  I am really enjoying my studio time and am so thankful for each day I can work doing what I love to do.

It is less than two weeks to Christmas!  It sounds retorical to say, "I can't believe it's here already!"  However...those are my sentiments.  I stand in awe as I watch the finality of 2011 approach.  I love this season and the opportunity to celebrate Jesus birthday in so many ways.  It is now that we are able to enjoy some of our favorite things in life...the warmth of a burning log in our native stone fireplace, sitting by the tree with Dean as the twinkling, white lights permeate the darkened room,  planning festivities with family and friends and the opportunity to share some of our blessings with others as we express gratitude for our own. 

Your friendship and interest in my artwork has been a blessing to us! 

We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!  

Dean, Shawn and Buddy