Red Dirt Ball 2012

Quick sketches done at the annual Medicine Park "Red Dirt Ball". The three day event included numerous bands, much food and drink, and hundreds of people.

New Floor on Medicine Park Bath Lake

They are laying a new sandy floor in the swimming area of Medicine Park, OK. The area is called Bath Lake and high season will begin on Memorial Day. Even though most of the water has been drained out, swimmers found enough to lay on floats or wade. In the early days the Indians claimed that Bath Lake had great healing powers and people would come from far and near to soak and swim and recuperate from whatever ailed them. During the "dog days of summer" this area is like a zoo. Does it really have healing powers? WHO KNOWS!!! But it makes a great story!

The National Library in Dublin, Ireland

This is  an ink sketch I did of the Library in Dublin. I thought the picture had an interesting angle of the massive library and was worthy of a sketch.  I used a Noodlers flex pen with Chinese Noodlers bulletproof black ink.

Pyramid de Castillo, Tulum, Mexico

Watercolor done from a picture for a friend. The abundance of greenery and beautiful rock cliffs was interpreted by painting very loosely.

A Bath Lake Sunday & Mazie Grace


I sketched this scene with a Pentel brush pen. It was early Sunday morning so things were fairly quiet. It will become a swimming madhouse this afternoon with temps in the 90's. The Lake has long been thought by the Indians to have healing properties so since the 30's people have visited Medicine Park to partake of the possible healing effects. Now it is a popular resort vacation and weekend location and the town is growing by leaps and bounds with new business and homes cropping up almost daily. Available land is at a premium if you can find it.

I had to sketch my yellow lab, Mazie Grace, who after her swim in the Lake, has to take a nap. After all she is 12 years old.

You Can Go Home Again

A watercolor I finished this morning entitled "You Can Go Home Again". This is from a picture taken at the village of Lurganboy on Donegal Bay, Ireland. I was struck by the beauty of the newer fishing boats moored next to the aged boats.

Sketching the Schoolhouse Slough

Judy Odom and I went to Lake Lawtonka this morning to sketch a view of the Schoolhouse Slough. We found the wind too strong and the pollen too prevalent to sit outside sketching. We ended up taking a photo and went inside to sketch. This view is to the West looking at the entrance to the main lake with the imposing Mt. Scott in the background. Judy is a gifted artist and becoming a very good sketcher and it is fun sketching together and comparing interpretations. I am posting the photo and my sketch. Judy made off with hers before I could post it.

A Dog's Life

This is my wonderful yellow lab Mazie Grace lazing in front of her misting fan during the hot Oklahoma summers. She gets all the comforts of home and then some. I call her the Will Rogers of Medicine Park - she's never met anyone she didn't love.

Toni Capra's Home

This is one of the older homes of Medicine Park which has been restored. Notice part of the old home (mainly the upper portion) has the cobblestones and the base or foundation consists of large granite pieces cemented in place. A very common occurrence in the original houses.

Les and Dora's Beer Garden

I thought this would make a good subject to sketch on a drizzly, dreary Sunday. It is located on Hwy 49 in Medicine Park. A true beer garden, it was re-opened about 18 months ago by the longtime owners, Les & Dora. Les, unfortunately, passed away about 6 months ago. Dora, in her 90's has turned the operations over to her two sons. It is another familiar landmark in Medicine Park.