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Archive for the ‘My Art’ Category
Maryland Bear Conservation Stamp Press Release
Posted in My Art on May 5, 2016| Leave a Comment »
My Latest Painting- Nesting Time!
Posted in My Art on March 1, 2016| Leave a Comment »
The Bald eagle is a bird that has become a rather common sight in my area. As a boy the eagle was considered endangered, and I doubted ever seeing one in the wild. Today, after the Pennsylvania Game commission efforts we are blessed with seeing this majestic bird routinely.
Some years ago the Pennsylvania game Commission began an project of collecting wild eagle stock from Alaska. These birds were reintroduced in Pennsylvania. The results are apparent!
This acrylic painting was completed on board. The dimensions are 12 inches by 18 inches. I did this piece in about ten hours of actual painting time.
My Latest Painting
Posted in My Art on February 2, 2016| 4 Comments »
Detailing a thirty-six by twenty-two painting of a group of Delaware Indians was labor intensive. I had rough-sketched this painting a couple of years ago as a potential painting. A couple of friends, upon seeing the sketch, encouraged me to do the art. I still delayed. I was wondering if I should paint the piece.
Last year I began the painting. I wasn’t doing the art for anybody so I didn’t paint with any degree of speed. I did some other art during this same time period. Add hunting seasons, and holidays and that six months of painting became reality.
The Delaware Indians (Lenni-Lenape) entered the French & Indian War in 1755. They raged terroristic warfare on the eastern Pennsylvania frontier, and beyond. Their tactics were so horrendous that many people headed towards Philadelphia with nothing but the clothes on the back.
A person captured realized several options. If the captured person faltered along the trail, or caused any issues, death would be immediate. Another option could be adoption into the tribe to replace lost family members. A captured individual may be ransomed or sold to the French. The worse scenario for a captured person would be death to the stake.
However, many prisoners once adopted would become satisfied with their way of life. Many continued to stay with the natives even after treaty signings allowing for their release.
This acrylic painting depicts the uncertainty of what will happen next to the prisoner.
Great Blue Heron
Posted in My Art on August 13, 2015| 2 Comments »
Earlier this summer I completed an acrylic painting of a Greet Blue Heron. The bird is feeding on a minnow in a back-water site. A majestic sycamore tree is in the immediate background. The size is 18 X 24.
The Escape of Massey Harbison
Posted in Historical, My Art on January 16, 2015| Leave a Comment »
Massey (Massa)was born on March 18, 1770. She married John Harbison in 1787. John was wounded in battle while serving under General Arthur St. Clair. I am assuming his wounds may have been during St. Clair’s defeat in Ohio in November of 1791. The soldiers were terribly defeated while fighting the natives during this conflict. Regardless, John was given lighter duty as a scout along the Allegheny frontier of western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. John spent a lot of time away from him. Massey would eventually divorce the man.
The Escape of Massey Harbison by Larry A. Smail
At the time of her abduction, the Harbisons had a log cabin, across the Allegheny river, just south of present-day Freeport, Pennsylvania. (Freeport, PA is in southern Armstrong County.) A blockhouse was within site of the cabin. This was a place of safety in the event of an Indian uprising. On Sunday, May 22, 1792, a group of Indians invaded the log cabin pulling Massey and her two eldest children from their beds. They began plundering.
She was in her sleeping nightgown only. One of her children was killed on site when he cried and fussed. Massey managed to get outside and scream towards the blockhouse. This act of defiance almost cost her life. One of the Indians stopped the tomahawk of another claiming her as her squaw.
They proceeded to a site east of present-day, Freeport and began to go down a steep river hill. A horse fell and injured Massey’s other son. He was killed on Todd Island as they crossed. Massey stated , later, there were 32 Indians (Delaware and Seneca) with two of them being white men. The group continued on to a site about two miles north of, present-day, Butler, Pennsylvania. Most of Indians left this site leaving two Indians to guard Massey. From this site she managed to escape.
The Indians took up her trail in pursuit. At one point, she hid among a tree top while a native stood and waited. He had heard the noise of the baby. Apparently, he believed he was hearing things and left. She used her hand and cloth to keep the baby silent. Imagine the terror she must have felt at this time. (This is the scene depicted in my painting.) On May 27th, 1792, Massey reached the Allegheny near,the present-day, Six Mile Island north of Pittsburgh.(Just above Sharpsburg, PA.) She had been close to death. She had, barely, survived the elements. She had came close to giving up, but thoughts of her baby helped her persevere. Another day in the wilderness would have, no doubt, killed her. Providence!
Massey passed away on December 9, 1837.
40th Anniversary- Pennsylvania Chapter of the Wild Turkey Federation
Posted in My Art on January 11, 2015| 4 Comments »
My friend, Howard Meyers wished for me to attend the 40th
My art for the 40th anniversary logo.
anniversary of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation Awards Banquet. The event was held at State College, Pennsylvania. I must say I was elated to see so many friends, most of which I haven’t seen in fifteen to twenty years. I spent a year as associate editor for their state magazine TURKEY TALK. I took over the reins in 1985 as editor and spent fifteen years in that position until I resigned in 2001.
Dale Rohm of Rohm Brothers Turkey Calls
Don Heckman and Shirley Grenoble
I joined the organization in 1973 or 1974, I believe. At that time, the organization was known as the Pennsylvania Wild Turkey Federation. This organization affiliated in 1975 with the National Wild Turkey Federation and the board changed the name accordingly.
I spent much time getting to “catch up” with many friends. Most of them, myself included, belonging to the Silver Spurs for serving a number of years on the board of directors. I completed the art for the 40th anniversary logo. This art appeared on tee-shirts and limited-edition box calls.
My good friend, Howard Meyers. We have chased a lot of turkeys.
Dan and Pat Christ
Dan, and Pat, Christ were present with his wildlife art. Dan created the painting for the anniversary entitled, “Demanding Attention.” You may visit his site at: http://www.danchristgallery.com Dan helped the dragging of a bear I shot some time ago in Clearfield County. He, and his wife, are great people and I am proud to call them friends.
Another friend, Steve Lecorchick talked and he mentioned his ministry of working with terminally ill people with hunts. Steve has guided hunts for years. He does outdoor and Christian themed seminars as well. Contact Steve at 814-948-5133 and visit his web site for details too: http://www.answeringprayers.net I told Steve about my Bible studies and promised to send along my study on the Book of Acts as a starter.
Other friends were Dan Roessner; Joel Bock; Skip Sanderson; Joe Krug; Reed Johnson; Tom Baldrige of the NRA; Tim Holtz; Bob Clark; Ron Sandrus and many more. Great seeing you all!
The Attack On Kit-Han-Ne (September 8, 1756)
Posted in Historical, My Art on July 21, 2014| Leave a Comment »
When one walks through Kittanning, Pennsylvania today it is difficult realizing a great people once lived and died here many years ago. Those people were mainly the people of the great Lenni-Lenape tribe. They are better known as the Delaware Indians.
These natives lived here, possibly, from as early as 1723. They had been moved west because of the English push and, sad to say, treachery from greedy people of the time. They had lived in peace for many years under William Penn and his fairness to them.
The year of 1755, a different Indian lived in Kit-Han-Ne. (Kittanning) They now had allied themselves with the French and began an all out war with the English, and others to their east.
To thwart these native incursions under the war chiefs, Shingas and Captain Jacobs, a Lieutenant Colonel John Armstrong and 307 men traveled east to attack the natives at their home.
The attack came on September the 8th of 1756. The Indians were miraculously taken by surprise. However, the Pennsylvania troops suffered much as well. the force retreated at one point, but the Delaware and Shawnee living there were met with a morale defeat. They eventually moved further east. Their raids, however, continued.
I wrote a book called The ATTACK ON KIT-HAN-NE. The book can be ordered through: Mechling Bookbindery at http://www.mechlingbooks.com
The original 48 X 30 inch painting shown above was started in 2008. I wasn’t excited about the art and shelved it for a time. The art was much too busy. I was trying to show so much of the area and the art just didn’t work. A couple of years ago I “attacked” the painting and eliminated much of the background.
Hope you like the painting.
Those Who Fought
Posted in Historical, My Art on October 14, 2013| Leave a Comment »
The book!
The recently published Civil War book entitled, “THOSE WHO FOUGHT Allegheny County, PA., and the Gettysburg Campaign” is now on the market. If you enjoy educating yourself with Civil war related writings this is a book you need to check out.
THOSE WHO FOUGHT was written by Arthur B. Fox, M.A with contributions from John Haltigan. My friend, Robert “Slim” Bowser and myself had the honor of meeting with these two historians, as well as, Tom McMillan. (Vice-president of communications for the Pittsburgh Penguins.) The meeting involved becoming acquainted and talking Civil War and the status of this book.
The writings of the book features information on the various regimental units from southwestern Pennsylvania who had fought in the Gettysburg campaign of 1863. Men from my native Armstrong County were involved. One of my ancestors was with the 63rd Pennsylvania at the Peach Orchard.
The 62nd Pennsylvania has a chapter in the book. (Slim is a living historian for our local 62nd group. The site is: http://62ndpvi.wordpress.com )
Other points of interest in the 202 page book are: care of the wounded; regimental action summaries; maps; public interest stories; over 60 photographs; past Gettysburg reunions; placement of monuments and much more.
I received my autographed copy this past weekend and was elated to search the pages. I was honored to have my painting, “THE WHEATFIELD-WHIRLPOOL OF DEATH” included within the pages. (More on this painting in past entries within the History category. Stories may be found on: July 6, 2011; August 25, 2011; October 30, 2011; September 4, 2012 and June 19, 2013.)
New Friends
Posted in Historical, My Art on June 19, 2013| 2 Comments »
I have seen this happen time and time again over my years. That “thing” occurs when people of like thoughts gather together and the new faces immediately appear to be as if they have known each other for years.
This event happened just like that this day. My friend Robert “Slim” Bowser and I met some individuals for lunch at Harmarville, Pennsylvania. The primary reason we were to meet stemmed from a joint interest in the Civil War especially with local regiments and such from the 1861 through 1865 period of time.
A second joint interest is with a Civil War book written by Arthur Fox. Although, most of the groups listed in his upcoming book were originally from Allegheny County, Art chose to include a chapter on the Company D, 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry many of which originated from Armstrong County. This is the county Slim and I call our home. Slim is the highly interested in the story of the 62nd. He, also, has included my painting image of; “The Wheatfield-Whirlpool of Death.”
Others in attendance were Tom McMillan who is the vice president of communications for the Pittsburgh Penguins and John Haltigan another Civil war buff involved with Art’s book. The topic was Civil war and the excitement in our eyes was prominent as you might have imagined.
My father would have called such an exchange as a “Gumsuck.” he would often refer to parties my mother would attend as such. As children we would always get a chuckle of the term.
Art’s book is scheduled to be out by November of this year. I will include purchasing details upon knowledge.
To read more info on the 62nd PVI visit Slim’s blog site at: http://62ndpvi.wordpress.com/
A Fawn on a Shoulder Blade
Posted in My Art on June 13, 2013| Leave a Comment »
One never knows where my art might appear. I have painted on many interesting items over the years. I have painted on old weathered barn boards; sides of old wooden crates, old nail kegs, wheel covers; saw blades, cross-cut saws, fungus, feathers, banjo heads; guitar cases and many more things. Another “kind of canvas” is the shoulder blades of deer. Here is an example of a painting on such a shoulder-blade.
The fawn was painted with acrylic paints on the seasoned shoulder-blade of a deer. My friend, Randy Tost found the slightly, rodent-gnawed shoulder-blade on his property and wished something painted on it. I told him that, indeed, painting would be possible.
