Over the years, we have moved cows around here on horseback many times, but riding with my rancher friends has usually been a different story all together. With them I have ridden down icy slopes, in a lightening storm on top of the butte, chased phantom cows over snowy ridges in the mountains when it was below freezing, come home in the dark after a long day’s ride, ridden all day without water to drink – and I’m sure they were taking it easy for my sake. Cowboys are not sissy’s, I can tell you! I am getting to be one though. That’s what happens when you spend more time behind the easel and less time on top of a horse. Maybe getting older has something to do with it too, but my cowgirl / cowboy friends are still going strong, and some of them are older than I am. Here’s to you all! Anyway, with those memories in mind, I made this a night time scene, deciding this guy was not nearly done with his day’s work!
As we are fast approaching the Western Masters Art Show & Sale in Great Falls, MT., I will mention that this painting will be in my room there – 176, March 14-17th. “Night Rider” is an oil, 48×36.
OMG, Laurie, you’ve sure grabbed the moment here!! Love this painting! A series along this line?? Looks like imagery this cowboy would conjur during campfire “talk-stories.”