My Friend Dennis Barney 1946 - 2009

It is often a shock when you lose a friend in death. Talmage Dennis Barney passed away January 5, 2009. Not knowing of his death, three days later I went to his office to talk about a recent project that he had me do for him and to make sure that he liked it and was satisfied. It was noon on January 8th and several of his sons were coming out of the office as I started to enter. I shook Brian Barney's hand and said I was there to see his father. It was stunning news to learn that he was gone. Dennis was the same age as I am. I am told his enlarged heart finally gave out. I knew that in a figurative sense he really did have a big heart but am saddened that his big literal heart couldn't give him any more life.
A few years ago Dennis asked me to paint a picture that represented his great grandfather Pomeroy who traveled with a wagon train and 300 head of cattle from Utah to Arizona in 1881. It was a rough trip and when they came to Lee's Ferry on the Colorado River in Northern Arizona, they ferried the wagons over but the cows wouldn't go. So great grandfather Pomeroy put a lasso around the neck of his favorite horse Ol' Dan and rowed across the river in a row boat. Old Dan followed and the cows gathered courage and they were able to drive them across.
I painted this painting titled "Lee's Ferry" for Dennis.

I went to Dennis's funeral and besides myself there will be hundreds and hundreds of people who will miss his friendship.

The Studio

While my model was posing he suggested that his view would make a good painting as well. I opted to take a photograph instead. I am working at the easle I inherited from my father. As often as possible I work from my models live, or when I can I go on location to paint my scenes in the open.

The Model

Not too long ago I had my friend Craig Reay come over and pose for a dour looking lawman. He brought some of his cowboy gear including his Colt .45 single action six-shooter (I've always wanted one) so I included it in the painting.

The Orphan

I was on a ranch in Southern Arizona a few months ago doing some art work and I came across this little girl whose daddy was helping her feed some milk to a bum calf. It was such a great scene, but it had a deeper impact for me. I remember being given the chore of feeding bum lambs and calves on my Grandfather's ranch when I was a small boy. It was an important job for me and I remember what powerful little suckers they were. If you didn't hold on really tight, they would suck that bottle right out of your hands.