OLD PAINTINGS 1957-1964
Once in Junior High school, I was able to move around. I spent a lot of time in the City Library, reading,
studying paintings by the Master painters I saw in books. I used the methods and Copal painting
mediums of Frederic Taubes. Normally, I would paint on student grade canvas glued to cardboard.
I left Porterville in June 1964, when I joined the US Army. I was sent to Germany, where I stayed until
1968. Those years allowed me to visit all the greatest European museums.
ELK
OIL ON CANVAS
BOARD 16"X20"
1959

I really liked
painting animals. I
had never seen an
Elk, but saw lots of
photos. I normally
would invent the
composition.
Copying photos
was not something
I did.

I'm a fast sloppy
painter. I have little
patience. The
faster I paint, the
better. I just trust
my intuition.
DEPOSITION OF CHRIST
1961
OIL ON STRETCHED CANVAS
40" X 30"

The canvas was rolled up for years. Its
full of horizontal cracks. I keep it under
glass to protect it. I was 17 when I
painted this. By this age, I was pretty
accomplished. I had learned many
lessons from Taubes and from all the
paintings I had studied in books.

The blue image top right is a reflection
but I like it. It looks mysterious.

Today, I know that the YELLOW on
Master Paintings is caused by
YELLOWED VARNISH. After they clean
an Old Master painting, they find the
bright colors underneath the cracked,
yellowed resin varnish.
PAINTINGS FROM 1970 - 1990
Returning from military duty in Europe, I picked up where I left off. In the Army years, I did a lot of
cartoons and small illustrations, but had no space nor time to have an art stdio.
This page has a number of paintings and drawings from the post-Army period.
In the 1980's I entered the
Federal Duck Stamp
competition for about five
years. One year, out of 2000
entries, I was in the top 200,
and my painting, not this
one, was hung in an exhibit
in Washington DC., Dept. of
the Interior.

All the submissions had to
be 5" X 7". Its very small.
This is a SHOVELOR DUCK
species.
with two great
friends in San I've
been blessed
Diego, having
moved here
knowing no one.

In the Police Dept.
where I worked as
an officer from
68-75
it was George
Varela.

In art, its the man
who is one of the
finest artists who
ever drew with a
pencil, Raul Trejo.

Raul's drawing
completely floored
me, and let me
understand that a
drawing did not
need to be a
scribbled
composition
design, but could
be a finished
artwork in itself.
THE GOOD. THE BAD, AND THE UGLY .. Made about 1979
About 16"X20" pencil and eraser on white heavy paper. My style is very different from Raul's.
His is highly refined. Again, I have to work fast and sloppy, as I have no patience for fine small
details.
LAZARUS COME OUT!
A drawing of the Biblical story of Christ
bringing Lazarus to life from the grave.

If you are a fortune palm reader, you
can read my palm, it was the mirror
image I used.

1979 or so, about 20"X16 "
pencil and eraser on heavy white
paper.
On the main page of my other website
www.calcitesunoil.com
The large oil painting titled,
'STAGECOACH TO PORTERVILLE, 1861" is shown.
My High School's 1961 yearbook, the El Granito had a
double page of me with the painting.

My dad and his mom are below.

The Porterville Historical Museum, which owns my
painting,  sells a booklet of its story
NATURE INTRIGUES ME.

I like to make up the designs from a
combination of things I've seen. I am
not an ' accurate realist", and don't go
outside with my easel and paints to
paint scenes.

Van Gogh did a lot of ' plein aire"
paintings, and it is reflected in his
spirited work...but he never copied the
things as they were..but changed
things to fit as he FELT them.

Van Gogh is one of my favorites.

oil on canvas board
about 24"X30"
about 1975
located in the middle of the State, and is one of many
cities within Tulare County. In 1943, there were about
6,000 residents.
The original inhabitants were and are the Yokut
culture of Native Americans. The Porterville Historical
Museum has an impressive number of the beautiful
artworks and artifacts of this proud and ancient
American civilization.  I've always been proud that my
1961 oil painting has been in that museum with its
collection of art and historical objects of the city.

In mid 2007, I was informed by Mr. Mike Cahill, a High
School friend and graduate of mine, that he had
discovered a very large oil painting I had also done in
1961, and, also of the subject of a "Stagecoach".
Mike contacted Ms. Vikki Cervantes, the Librarian for
the city and she got the ball rolling. Eventually, many
persons worked together to give artistic and historical
recognition of the newly discovered painting. The
Honorable Mayer and the distinguished members of
the City Council accepted the artwork and had it
placed in the City Hall of Porterville. A public
ceremony was held on December 18, 2007, and the
painting was 'unveiled'.

A new Porterville Public Library is planned to be built
someday , and the new library will have an Art room.
Then, the painting will be installed there in its
permanent home.  I am especially happy about this,
because as a youngster, I spent countless hours in
the present Public Library, reading and studying the
art books and magazines. This literary resource was
very important to my development as an artist.
Though we have computers today in almost every
home, a Library is still a relevant storehouse of the
World's collective knowledge, available to all who
enter its doors.

In addition to discovering and protecting the painting,
Mr. Cahill demonstrated his woodworking
craftsmanship and , using ancient Sequoia Redwood
indigenous to the region, created a dramatic frame.
His wife Judi, a professional artist created the tone for
the wood that complements the painting. I am grateful
to all who partook in this endeavor, and last but not
least, Mr. Power, who in 1961, expressed his love for
art when he asked me to paint it. The painting is
titled, " The Powers Family Stagecoach" in his honor
and to his descendants who generously donated it to
the City of Porterville.

A LOST PAINTING FROM 1961
"THE POWERS FAMILY STAGECOACH PAINTING"

"Citizens working together"

The top photo shows me with my friend Mike Cahill,
we both graduated from Porterville Union High School
in 1961.
The second photo is of me with Porterville's new City
Librarian, Ms. Vickki Cervantes.