Remington, Richardson & Carter in TEXAS

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to travel to the great state of Texas.  While I was down there I was able to explore the Dallas-Fort Worth area and I came across the Amon Carter Museum and the Sid Richardson Museum, both near downtown Fort Worth. 

After visiting the Sid Richardson Museum first, I found out that back in the day, Sid Richardson and Amon Carter had a big rivalry going on.  They were battling over who could have the best collection of Western American Art, and this meant they had loads of Remington’s and Russell’s in said collections.  When I got to the Sid Richardson Museum I did not expect to fall in love with the artwork, I was definitely skeptical of the subject matter (cowboys and Indians - to use the stereotypical terms).  However, the nocturnes by Remington in the Sid Richardson Museum really blew me away, even though I had a short amount of time to take them all in.  

Frederic Remington Ridden Down

I got there at 4:30 and they closed at 5:00 (although the museum store stayed open until 7).  I used every last second up, as the security guard stood patiently waiting for me to leave the gallery.  I must admit, they were very nice there; normally I am escorted out at least 5 minutes before museums close! 

I was really excited to go to the Amon Carter Museum with my new found fondness for Western American Art.  One of the best parts of this trip was that both museums were free to the public!  Parking was more or less free, too.  (I had to pay for a meter at Sid Richardson but that’s nothing compared to going to the Met or the MFA in Boston!)  

Here is a sketch I did at the Amon Carter Museum while looking at Frederic Remington’s An Indian Trapper, 1889.  

I was a little worried that the security guard would tell me to put away my paintbrush because when I inquired earlier I was told no painting but drawing was allowed.  I have been inspired by James Gurney’s technique of sketching with water-soluble pencils and then using a brush pen filled with water.  The pencil lines mix with the water in the brush pen to create a watercolor paint on the paper, technically, I am painting with just clear water!  Anyways, I wasn't hassled, except very politely when it was closing time!  

This is what I was looking at:

Here is an image I snapped before I started painting and the museum tag if you want more information about the piece.  I always snap a picture of the museum tag so that when I go through them (many months or years later!) I don't have to waste time Googling anything for more information.

One last note on Texas--  The waffle-maker in my hotel only made Texas-shaped waffles.  If I ever wake up dumb, deaf and mute from a coma, I can only hope that I find my way to a Best Western in Texas, at least then I will know what state I'm in!   I guess if you had a REALLY bad hangover that would be pretty useful,, too!  I can't imagine many OTHER situations where a state-shaped waffle could be of use to you but maybe I'm wrong?