Prix de West and the Painting that Broke My Hip

"Though Storms Encompass Me" (30x30) SOLD

This year will be my third time in the Prix de West (and first time as a regular member). I am so grateful to be included in this most prestigious western art show at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City!

(detail)

"Riders at Eventide" (42x50) SOLD

This painting, "Riders at Eventide" is the second version of this composition; I wasn't satisfied with the first (and slightly smaller) version, so I decided to stretch a new canvas and try again... In the meantime I had somehow hurt my left foot and was favoring it while crouching on the floor and putting all my weight on my right leg. As I worked in this odd position, bending, crouching, kneeling, I knew I was slowly straining the muscle in my thigh -- by the time I finished I knew something was wrong, and a week or so later was diagnosed with a pulled muscle with possible nerve damage...

(detail)

Well, the fun didn't stop there; my leg not only hurt to walk on but became incredibly weak requiring me to use a cane to move about. One night while going up the stairs the cane slipped off a step and I fell with ALL my weight crashing directly down on top of my hip! Laying at the bottom of the stairs I knew it was bad (and don't remember feeling that level of pain in a long time)...!

 

(detail)

The result this time was a broken femur; in fact my femur not only broke, but actually bent down at the top from the extreme impact. The only good thing was I had shipped off these three paintings to the framer just 2 days before the accident on the stairs~

(detail)

At any rate, I had to have emergency full-hip replacement surgery. Since April I have had some uninterrupted time to heal from the operation with physical therapy, but my leg muscle and nerve is still somewhat weak causing me to rely on that cane a while longer... Perhaps this will give me some advantage at the airport as they usually let the "physically challenged" board first~

 

"I Turned To Listen" (16x20) SOLD

Best of all, I won't have to miss this important show -- I'll get to see some incredible art and meet the amazing artists and collectors who make it all happen! In the meantime I'll continue my physical therapy and look forward to when I no longer need this cane (but I do have to accept the fact that my skateboarding days are permanently behind me :(

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 (detail) 

 

Oh well -- it could've been A LOT worse, so I am grateful for the doctors, nurses, family and friends who have helped me thru and continue to encourage me. Thank God it was just a hip and not my right hand!