The Recording Artist

Watercolor of recording artist Kenneth Morrow outside his shop "Gone Fishin" in Medicine Park, Oklahoma. Kenneth has recently finished recording his first CD of country western music. It is available at stores in Lawton and Medicine Park. He is an ex-bullrider who, because of injuries had to abandon that career path, and has elected to produce his first CD. He has a wonderful voice and plays a great guitar.

The Old and the New II

This illustrates the constant restoring of very old cobblestone homes going on in Medicine Park, OK. The only common features to both pictures (with the exception of the tree) is the granite wall in the lower left and the granite wall in the lower right (only seen in the 2011 sketch).  It is hidden by the shrubbery in the 2012 sketch and cobblestones were added on top up of the wall against the house. There are many old ruins remaining in Medicine Park (some of which I have sketched earlier in this blog) which will eventually be restored. Medicine Park has become a very popular resort destination and is the home to a rapidly growing number of artists. New home constructions continue at an amazing pace slowed only by the growing shortage of land and builders.

Hoepfner-Dunn Home

This is a simple pen and ink sketch I did for some good friends. They just finished building their beautiful home in the Granite Ridge section of Medicine Park, Oklahoma

This is the watercolor version done on 140# Arches watercolor paper.

The Cobblestone Gallery

Medicine Park's only art gallery, the Cobblestone Gallery, is owned, operated,and lived in by James and Denise Wedel. Both James and Denise are wonderful artists themselves. A very unusual and beautiful building, the Gallery had several periods of growth (additions) as you can visualize. With all the angles it was a challenge to sketch quickly.

The Old and New of Medicine Park

This is one of the oldest Medicine Park homes, originally owned by the President of the First National Bank of Lawton. Now owned by Kenny Caballero who added a hot tub at the back of the home as one of his many updates over the past 10 years. It is interesting that the hot tub site is near where there once was an outhouse which was available for all the residents of Medicine Park to use.

Another Medicine Park home (this one new)  belonging to Bette Cooper and Gary Brown. This house is located up the mountain side on Big Rock Rd. Beautiful home with a fantastic view - but windy!!!

Blue Eyed Coyote

This Medicine Park rental property (also now for sale) has a very oriental roofline which prompted me to make my second attempt with Chinese ink and bamboo sticks as pens. It's a lot of fun but very messy. I also used a very limited palette and a lot of splattering. I hope to get better with the bamboo.

"The Moose is Loose" House

This is a Medicine Park circular home currently owned by Hank and Lee Sabine. A "tongue-in-cheek" sculpture of a moose, created by the late Robert Dean, is seen in the front yard and attracts a lot of attention. I wanted to do a quick sketch for my blog because of its uniqueness. It is pen and ink with Paynes Grey watercolor for the shadows.

The Wallow

One of the many cobblestone remnants that are scattered throughout Medicine Park. According to Charley Wright longtime resident of the Park, this was the Medicine Park dive group headquarters. In the 60s they dove the many lakes in the area including Elmer Thomas Lake (one of the clearest lakes in Oklahoma) for spear fishing. Game included flat-head catfish (some over 100#), carp, gar and others.

The Medicine Park Motorcycle Shop

The motorcycle shop, aptly named "Chaps My Ass" caters to the hundreds of motorcyclists who annually visit or pass through Medicine Park on their way to or from the adjacent Wichita Wildlife Refuge. In this picture I used a little pastel work to supplement my watercolors. It worked pretty good. I may have to try more of it in future sketches and paintings.

The Brox Aerie

This is a watercolor I did of Steve and Katie Brox's house high in the hills of Medicine Park, OK. A beautiful location. Unfortunately, this does not give the house the justice it deserves. There are so many angles to the house (offering the 360 degree view) that it would take several paintings to show its true beauty. The drive up is steep and winding and their address is appropriately enough " Onehellofadrive, Med Park, OK. "

The Old and the New

These two sketches show the current duplex on East Lake Drive (to the left) and the proposed Medicine Park Lodge that will soon replace it (below). The Lodge, to be constructed by Ron and Angela Peterson, will be a multi-room structure built to facilitate overnight guests/visitors to the Medicine Park area.

Dale and Barbara's Ruins

I wanted to sketch the subject ruins which sits on Dale and Barbara's property in Medicine Park. Their remodeled guest home is to the right. This old house is particularly interesting in that it appears to have been added on to at some very early time as seen by the small round cobblestones on top of the larger pieces of granite on the right side. Also the small window to the left has been placed in and partially fills an area which was at one time apparently a larger opening. There is also a window in the back which has been filled in with cobblestones. You really wonder what the original house looked like so many years ago. The only thing standing is the fireplace inside the structure on the right. The lower sketch shows the fireplace in more detail.

Mt. Scott looms in the background directly behind the house.

Kenneth Morrow Recording

The other afternoon I caught Kenneth recording just across the creek from my house. He was sitting on the patio of the "Ruins" here in Medicine Park in the late afternoon. Kenneth has a new song that has placed him in the top 15 contestants in a national new song writing contest. Congrats Kenneth! I used sepia watercolor and a touch of burnt sienna for his beard on the ink sketch.

Sketching with Judy

Judy Odom and I sketched together this morning. Her completed painting is a little more subtle than mine (shown here). Can you believe anything could be more subtle than this??? Her painting was very good and she is framing it.

Lawton Arts and Entertainment Magazine

I was honored to have my watercolor sketch of the new Lawton City Hall chosen to be shown on the front page of the Spring issue  of the Lawton Arts and Entertainment magazine. It was a lot of fun sketching on site even though it was freeezing. The building was originally the old Lawton High School which has been moved to a new, larger facility. Remodeling has now been completed and the new city offices are in business.

East Lake Drive Cabins

This is a stretch along East Lake Drive where four old cobblestone cabins have been restored basically extending the historic downtown area. The cabin to the right has been restored well over a year, whereas the other three have just recently been completed.

"Baxterville"

This sketch is of four new homes built down the street from me. They are built, where possible on ruins of old cobblestone cabins of yesteryear maintaining the architectural theme of Medicine Park. I have included the original pen and ink and the watercolor wash version. There are more homes to be built in the area.

Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland

My wife's cousin's daughter is to wed this spring with the wedding at this club. My wife was kind enough to commission me (free of charge) to watercolor the building and surrounding grounds as our wedding gift. It's the biggest country club I've ever seen as this painting depicts. Quite a job!!

One To Six Awards Presentation

A picture of my watercolor and of my wife and I at the 1 to 6 awards luncheon on Friday, Feb 3. My painting entitled "Old Plantation Re-visited" was selected to be presented to the six recipients who were honored for their 2011 contribution to the arts in Lawton, Ok.

Old Cobblestone Schoolhouse - Comanche Co., OK

This old schoolhouse is located in the northwest corner of Comanche County. The roof has caved in since the photo I used was made. It is the oldest schoolhouse in Comanche County.