The chill in the air is finally slipping down into Texas and the delights of Autumn greet us every morning. My daily walks are filled with the feel of the changing season. After the long, hot Texas summer the crisp air and sharp, bright colors re-awaken all my senses. The season for rejuvenation is upon me and those frosty, rainy days ahead beg to be spent at my drawing table with my animals.
“Lady of the Alamo, Her Name Is Courage”: What began as the highest honor (being asked to do a piece to benefit the Alamo), quickly became my greatest challenge. Facing the daunting task of creating a work that honored the brave heroes of the Alamo almost overpowered me. Dipping into the depths of my experience, and still coming up blank, I promised to open myself to whatever the Alamo spoke to me.
Given the rare opportunity to sketch in privacy within the Shrine, I could feel the presence of the dead heroes filling the space. Being inexplicably pulled to a room called the Sacristy, I sketched its arched doorway. Then I was taken to meet the Curator of the Alamo so he could answer any questions I might have. It was there I was struck by the sight of a petticoat as it was being preserved. It had belonged to Susanna Dickinson, one of the six women who survived the Battle of the Alamo. And the room where she and her baby had endured the siege had been the Sacristy, the very room that kept calling me.
Walking away I shivered with chills as I imagined her terror and despair over their desperate plight. Her love for her husband, Almeron Dickinson, had brought her to this place. Choosing the Sacristy because it was the room closest to his position as Commander of the Artillery, and choosing to remain at his side despite the offer to leave by Santa Anna, she faced the possibility of their impending death. Implored by Col. Travis on the last night of the siege to try to return his promise ring to his fiancé, she carried yet one more burden. Experiencing the purest sense of inspiration I have ever felt, I knew that I had no other choice….I was supposed to do tribute to Susanna and the other heroines whom stood in defense of freedom.
Capturing the depth of Susanna Dickinson’s emotions was the most difficult thing I have ever attempted. Many tears were shed with her at my drawing table as I struggled to portray her grief and despair. Creating a piece where every woman can step inside to help her carry the burden became an obsession. I hope I have done her honor.
Events have continued to unfold around this piece and the upcoming movie about the Alamo. At this time the original, “Lady of the Alamo, Her Name Is Courage”, is hanging in the Alamo inside the Sacristy. What a tremendous honor!
For information regarding purchase of the original or one of the prints, please contact me by email at [email protected] .
New Works: Soon to be completed and ready for release by the first of December, is my leopard sleeping in a sausage tree. Sighted on my last safari to Tanzania, he is the epitome of contented slumber. Stretched out along a branch, he makes even the most precarious perch seem like the perfect place for a nap. Please watch this page for the final image of “Power Nap”.
Released just last month, my greater kudu bull, the “Arrogance of Elegance”, has already appeared on the cover of “GameTrails” magazine. It is now available in 2 print versions, gicleé on paper and a larger version on canvas. Magnificent in his stature, he will add an elegant touch to any room.