Cliff Cavin is Artist of the Month at the Museum of Western Art in Kerrville

Texas Purple by Cliff Cavin, oil 10"x20"

J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art is pleased to announce that San Antonio artist Cliff Cavin is the Artist of the Month at The Museum of Western Art in Kerrville for November 2017. Cavin’s large scale paintings and vivid imagery commands the use of the museum’s largest gallery. He has forty-five pieces in this show and these works fill the space. There is much interest in Cavin’s work at the Museum of Western Art. He is no stranger to the gallery; he was included in last month’s “The Party,” the museum’s well known annual fundraiser and art sale.

Chamisa Country by Cliff Cavin, oil 36"x36"

Cavin has been painting landscapes for over thirty-five years.  His primary subject matter is the American West, especially Texas and New Mexico. His landscapes are colorful, impressionistic and capture the intense and beautiful lighting of these regions.

Afternoon Cloud by Cliff Cavin, oil 36"x36"

Cavin has participated in many group shows such as the C. M. Russell Invitational Sale & Benefit, the American Plains Artist Museum Show, the Oil Painters of America National Exhibition and the Briscoe Museum’s Night of the Artist Sale and Exhibition. He has exhibited at The Nave Museum, the Southwest School of Art and the San Antonio Art League. His paintings have won numerous awards and are collected both nationally and internationally in private and corporate collections, including Valero Oil, M.D. Anderson Hospital, Jefferson State Bank, Baylor Scott & White Health and Cibolo Creek Ranch.

There will be a reception for the artist on Thursday, November 16 at the Museum of Western Art in Kerrville at 5:30 p.m. The artist will be on hand and will give remarks. The works will be on display for the entire month of November. These paintings are a breath of fresh air. Owning a Cliff Cavin painting is like having a bright well lit window looking out into beautiful countryside. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet and purchase new works by this prolific San Antonio artist.



 

Painting by Cowboy Artists of America's James Boren now at J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art

James Boren
 

J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art has recently acquired a beautiful painting by Cowboy Artist James Boren. Boren was born in Waxahachie in 1921 and grew up in various places in Texa including San Antonio. He studied art at Kansas City University and the Kansas City Art Institute. He joined the Marines during WW2 and went on to earn his MFA. After school he taught and eventually took a job as an illustrator for the Martin-Marietta Company in Denver. In 1959, he began selling cowboy paintings.

In 1965 both the Cowboy Artists of America formed in Sedona, and the Cowboy Hall of Fame (now known as the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum) opened in Oklahoma City. Boren became the Cowboy Hall of Fame’s first Art Director.  Joe Beeler, one of the Cowboy Artists of America founders, presented the new museum’s first one-man exhibition of contemporary Western art. The Beeler show was a success and led to collaboration among the two organizations that created a Western art renaissance. Boren led in the assembling of the Hall of Fame’s fine-art collections and exhibits.  He exhibited there himself in 1969 and sold thirty-eight of the forty paintings. This success gave him the confidence to become a full time painter.

He became a member of the Cowboy Artists of America in 1968, and later served two terms as its president and secretary. (The Cowboy Artists annual show was October 5-7th. See their website for details.) He also served on the original board of trustees of the museum formerly known as the Cowboy Artists of America Museum in Kerrville, Texas. That museum remains open today as the Kerrville Museum of Western Art. His hand and footprint are memorialized there in cement.

 Boren was awarded twelve gold medals and nine silver medals in annual competitions in Cowboy Artists of America shows. In 1976, he was named Texas Artist of the Year. In 1980, he participated in a show at the Grand Palais in Paris, and in 1981, the Chinese government invited him to participate in the first Western art show held in Peking, China. James Boren is in the collections of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Desert Caballeros Western Museum, National Center for American Western Art, National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, and the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center.

Waiting in the Moonlight detail

The painting Waiting in the Moonlight was painted in 1966 and exhibited in the National Invitational Western Art Show in San Antonio in 1967. This humble art show began as a small exhibition in a barn during the Livestock Exposition and grew into the annual Alamo Kiwanis Western and Heritage Art Show and Sale currently held in the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center. The painting is a 22”x28” oil on canvas and it is a masterfully rendered night scene. Boren preferred watercolor, and this oil painting contains qualities of painting seen in watercolor. His glossy night volleys in color from blue to black without choosing either a side. The luminescence of the moonlight reflected on the horse and saddle is genuine. The small fleck of light in the ranch in the background of the scene suggests the warmth of hearth and home while the shadows and dark corners confront the isolation ranch life. Waiting in the Moonlight is a stunning piece and an opportunity to collect a valuable artifact of western art and culture. Call or stop by the gallery for more information or to purchase.



Gina Martinez
J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art

Artist Cliff Cavin and others featured at the Museum of Western Art in Kerrville’s Annual Fundraiser



Texas Purple by Cliff Cavin, oil on canvas, 10"x20" at "The Party" image courtesy of the artist

 “The Party,” is the major fundraiser for the Museum of Western Art in Kerrville. The event includes a cocktail buffet catered by Riverhill Country Club, libations, visits with featured artists, and a silent auction of the works on view.  All of the proceeds from “The Party” support the Museum’s educational programs, operating expenses, as well as fund preservation and conservation projects.

The award winning Museum of Western Art was designed by distinguished Texas architect O'Neil Ford and has been open since 1983. It's goal is to represent authentically the life of the West, and to share the rich cultural heritage through display of artifacts, Western art and education programs. The permanent collection includes 150 sculptures and 250 paintings. The Museum also has an extensive research library, which includes over 3000 volumes and periodicals.

Event goers will have the opportunity to purchase original fine art. This year there are 50 artists representing all genres from painting to sculpture. Some of these artists include Cliff Cavin of San Antonio, Margie Barker of Helotes, Bill Scheidt, and Sidney Sinclair of Boerne. Cliff Cavin will have new works in the show. He is preparing to be the Museum’s next featured artist for the month of November. 

Sunny Meadow by Cliff Cavin, oil on canvas
22"x28" at "The Party"Image courtesy of the artist

“The Party” is on Saturday, September 16. Artwork will be on view and available for purchase through October 31, 2017. Interestingly, the Museum of Western Art has been issued a Challenge Grant from an anonymous donor. From July 1 until October 31, 2017, the anonymous donor will match any monies contributed to the museum up to $50,000.  

The Museum of Western Art is located at 1550 Bandera Highway. For more information about the event please call the museum at 830.896.2553 or visit the website: http://www.museumofwesternart.com/. See more of Cliff Cavin's work on his website: http://cliffcavin.com. Stop by the gallery on Broadway to see more of his work.

New Arthur McCall Paintings now at J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art

Bloomed Out by Arthur McCall

Arthur McCall has consigned new paintings to J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art. These fine works are now available for purchase at the gallery. The first is a beautiful cactus floral painting; the second depicts a typical rural Texas landscape. The third is an architectural painting of the Mission San Jose in San Antonio. Arthur McCall’s works display the regional beauty and culture of South Texas.

The cactus floral is titled “Bloomed Out.” It is a 24”x18” vertically oriented oil painting. McCall chose soft yellow and sherbet for his floral palette to create the voluptuous buds that surround the fastidious cacti. They grow against a barbed wire wooden fence post. The result is a floral painting with a Western twist. Instead of the traditional vase and table, McCall presents his bouquet in more rustic setting. The details in this South Texas landscape make it special. The needles of the cactus are pointy and the sparse wheat grass growing in wisps around the succulent are rendered so sharply that the painting is photorealistic.  

Remember When by Arthur McCall

The rural Texas road scene is typical McCall subject matter seen in the next painting “Remember When.” Anyone who has driven the rural roads of South Texas is familiar with this homestead scene. McCall includes a windmill, a dilapidated barn, a rusty pickup truck and a sprawling cactus patch. The trees around the windmill are bare and the grass is brown, indicating that this is a winter scene. The painting is also a vertical, sized 24”x18”.

Finally, McCall gives us a beautiful rendition of Mission San Juan. One of the less depicted missions, Mission San Juan makes great subject matter. In “Bells of San Juan” McCall chose to paint an interesting viewpoint of this mission, showing off the belfry and the back brick work supporting the mission. It is a unique perspective and in a market thoroughly saturated with paintings of the Alamo and mission San José it is a refreshing reminder of the other historical landmarks of San Antonio. This architectural piece makes an eye catching addition to a San Antonio Missions collection. “Bells of San Juan” is also a vertical and sized 24”x18”.  

Bells of San Juan by Arthur McCall

Arthur McCall is essentially a self taught artist. He attended a commercial art school but discontinued his studies to join the Army Infantry Division during the Vietnam War. He returned to Texas and attended the Texas Game Warden Academy at Texas University and became a commissioned Game Warden in 1969. He was assigned to Atascosa County in 1971 and was the Game Warden there until 2012 when he retired after 43 years of service. He is an avid outdoorsman. J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art has handled his consignment work since 1984. Call or stop by the gallery for further inquiries.   

 

Birds of Paradise by Jose Vives-Atsara- Rare Subject Matter Now at J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art

Birds of Paradise by Jose Vives-Atsara

Birds of Paradise is a Jose Vives-Atsara painting that jumps off the canvas. The spiky bright yellow flowers grab the viewer’s attention and contrast with the abstract background. The effect is a dramatic piece, one that is not the typical floral subject matter for the artist. The painting does have all the distinctions of a Vives-Atsara, heavy use of pallette knife, bold colors and subject matter. However he usually rendered more traditional flowers like roses and wildflowers. This indicates that Birds of Paradise was most likely a commission.

     Vives-Atsara's oil paintings have been described as both realistic and impressionistic; this piece borderlines on the abstract. The flowers and foliage fall into the impressionism category but the yellow petals have a geometric quality to them that when juxtaposed against the fluid and indistinct background create an abstract effect. The result is a highly impressionistic rendition that appears more abstract as it is viewed. Throughout his career he used only nine colors, and he mixed his paints so well that he didn’t muddle colors. In Birds of Paradise, even though impressionistic, the greens do not become brown and the yellows remains pristine. Vives-Atsara also shows his mastery with surprise pops of blue and purple that individually stand out, but taken as a whole blend effortlessly with the entire piece.

     Vives-Atsara studied art at Colegio de San Ramon and the School of Fine Arts in Barcelona. The Spanish Civil War interrupted his studies and he was impressed into the Communist Army. He was a POW and eventually migrated to United States. He landed in San Antonio in 1956 where he established his art career and eventually became a citizen. Vives-Atsara was an art professor at Incarnate Word College. For special guests such as Pope John Paul II, he commissioned paintings as gifts. He enjoyed a celebrated career as an artist and passed away in 2004. He is currently represented in collections including the Museum of Modern Art, Spain, and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art is pleased to have several Jose Vives-Atsara paintings including Birds of Paradise for viewing or purchase. Stop by the gallery today.

By Gina Martinez Gladson, JR Mooney Galleries staff

Robert Wood in West Texas now at J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art

West Texas Landscape by Robert Wood
 

 

 

     The gentle mountains and sparse landscape of west Texas make excellent subject matter for works of art. The western portion of the state is full of stark colors, bold skies and a certain emptiness that is appealing to the eye. The prolific artist Robert Wood captured this unique landscape in many of his works. In particular, West Texas Landscape, believed to be painted sometime in the 1950’s, is a stunning example of the artist’s work.  The color palette and vast scenery exemplify Wood’s subject matter and style from that period of his career.

     The most mass produced artists in the United States, Robert Wood traveled all over the country. Originally from England, Wood came to the U.S. after time in the service and he traveled extensively by rail. Wood lived in Oregon, Ohio and Florida, before settling in San Antonio from the late 1920’s to 1940. In San Antonio, he gained a national reputation for his strong dramatic landscape paintings.  Some of that prestige came from his studies with Jose Arpa, a prominent Texas artist.  Wood also gave art lessons, and one of his students was Porfirio Salinas. Like Texas painters Robert Onderdonk (1853-1917) and his son Julian (1882-1922), Robert Wood concentrated for a time on the distinctive Texas landscape. He developed a reputation for his bluebonnet scenes and incorporated stone barns and rough wood farmhouses into his compositions that added authenticity and romance.

     While still living in Texas, he took extensive sketching trips west all the way to California. It is evident that his 1930's California and Texas works started to show an awareness of the California Plein-Air movement. These more mature works are distinguished by a fine sense of detail reminiscent of late-19th-century American landscape painters. Wood's reputation with collectors grew nationally. He painted the Colorado Rockies in the 1930s and 1940s. By the early 1960s, the Tetons and the California coast made up a significant percentage of his work. He would continue to paint popular Texas landscapes but his style changed. Works from this period are broadly painted with a more chromatic palette. Over the years Wood continued to develop his style; his subject matter remained rural landscapes.   

     Wood's commercial success is considerable when one realizes that he devoted little to no effort to promoting his work or gaining acclaim among the art community.  He was included in many shows, and had thousands of reproductions made of his work. At the age of eighty, the American Express Company commissioned him to paint a series of six works to be reproduced as limited edition serigraphs for their Cardholders. Instead of fame, Wood believed in the natural appeal and time enduring quality which results from serious dedication to one's craft. His beliefs proved to be true. West Texas Landscape is currently at J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art to view or purchase.

 

by: Gina Martinez

 

 

Texas Bluebonnets by G. Harvey now at J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art

Texas Bluebonnets by G. Harvey

     A criticism often heard about bluebonnet paintings is that they contain too many bluebonnets; that the artists are too liberal in saturating their fields and the result is not realistic. A hyper colored field with more blue paint than green does not rekindle any memories of the special moment in spring when cars pull off the side of the highway to take pictures and everyone gives thanks to Lady Bird. The reverence and the beauty of those sights are somehow cheapened by what feels like the Hollywood version of the true story. In the Texas Hill Country, even at the height of bluebonnet season, Mother Nature takes a more diversified approach. Bluebonnets cluster together, but rarely stand alone. Other flowers grow beside them and they are dispersed among other year round species. What lacks in these often criticized bluebonnet representations are these other natural elements. Texas Bluebonnets by G. Harvey is the antithesis of these criticisms. Harvey embraces warm tones that mimic the temperatures of the Texas spring; he paints the heat that helps the flowers grow. Harvey also balances his landscape with other natural elements such as rocks, cacti, weeds, or other wildflowers that give the painting a more realistic feel. His perspective leads the viewer from the bluebonnets to the carpet of yellow flowers that actually are a common sight in Texas from the spring through the summer, into the gently undulating hill disappearing into the horizon. Harvey captures the quaint and unique beauty of Central Texas. Painted around the 1970’s it is typical subject matter of his early work. However, in this piece Harvey shows the attention to detail and the mature techniques that imbue his later works. For a collector or investor, this is a valuable find.  

     Gerald Harvey Jones was born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1933. His grandfather was a cowboy during the trail-driving era. A graduate in fine arts at North Texas State University, Harvey taught full-time at UT in Austin. The landscapes and peoples of Central Texas, the Panhandle, New Mexico, and the Border provided the inspiration for most of his early work. Eventually he would leave the teaching profession to paint full time.  His portraits of the country became popular and he had multiple sell-out shows including a series of one-man shows in Washington, D.C. in 1991. The first was at the National Archives featuring his paintings of the Civil War era, next a selection of paintings of notable Washington landmarks was exhibited at the Treasury Department, and ultimately, a one-man show of 35 paintings at the Smithsonian Institution during their exhibition of "The All American Horse." In addition to the shows, The Smithsonian Institution chose Harvey to paint "The Smithsonian Dream," commemorating its 150th Anniversary.

     Themes of nostalgia similar to that of Norman Rockwell and stylistically influenced by Édouard Leon Cortés, Harvey took his talents and made a prolific career as an artist. His collectors include Lyndon Johnson, John Connally, Red McCombs and T. Boone Pickens. Harvey lives in Fredericksburg. Texas Bluebonnets is currently at J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art on Broadway in San Antonio. Stop by the gallery to view or purchase.

The Museum of Western Art's Artist of the Month: Margie Barker

Artwork by Margie Barker

 

J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art is pleased to announce that artist Margie Barker is the featured artist of the month at The Museum of Western Art in Kerrville for the month of May. The Museum of Western Art is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and promotion of Western art and heritage. Margie Barker’s beautiful renditions of the Texas Hill Country make an excellent addition to the gallery’s rotating exhibition.   

Art by Margie Barker

The Museum collects and exhibits artwork by contemporary Western artists. The building itself is an architectural work of art. It was designed by distinguished Texas architect O'Neil Ford. The museum opened in 1983 and has displayed works from artists of note including George Phippin, Fred Harman, Robert Lougheed, and Will James. In addition to art, the Museum houses an extensive research library that includes 3,000 volumes of Western art and history. It is an important resource about the West.

 

Most art appreciators familiar with the Texas painter already know that Barker is from Helotes and paints beautiful Hill Country scenes. She has participated in the Boerne Parade of Artists and Hill Country Invitational, exhibited multiple times at the former J.R. Mooney Gallery of Fine Art in Boerne and more. She is listed in Artists of Texas, Vol. II and her work has been exhibited at the San Antonio Art League Museum. She earned her B.A. in art at Sam Houston State University. There will be a reception for the artist on Thursday May 11 at 5:30 PM. $10 suggested donation. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10AM-4PM in Kerrville. 

Art by Margie Barker

 

The Briscoe Western Art Museum presents: Night of Artists 2017 Art Sale and Exhibition

South of Town by Cliff Cavin at JR Mooney Gallery 10"x20" oil $1600 framed

The Briscoe’s Night of Artists 2017 Art Sale and Exhibition is currently underway. 73 Of the country’s most talented contemporary Western artists are exhibiting together through Sunday May 14. This exciting show contains two and three dimensional art by sought after artists like Kim Wiggins and Nancy Bush. This year’s works vary in theme from the San Antonio Missions, to pastoral landscapes, cowboys, Native Americans and raging cattle herds. During the opening weekend events, patrons and artists alike mingled among the art at the Jack Guenther Pavilion. Guests voted for their favorite work while participating in the “Luck of the Draw” art sale. This exciting raffle gave patrons the opportunity to purchase artworks before the general public. Awards were also given for favorite pieces. Gladys Roldan-de-Moras won the 2017 David Crockett Award for Artist Choice for her beautiful rendition of contemporary mission life in her painting Sunday at Mission San Jose. Winner of the Briscoe Museum Purchase Award was newcomer to the show, C. Michael Dudash. His painting The Dressmakers, a stunning 28”x40” oil on linen piece depicting Native American women sewing, will now become part of the museum’s permanent collection.



Mo & Cliff Cavin courtesy of The Briscoe
Western Art Museum & Hiebert Photography

J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art is pleased to carry works by two of the artists included in the Briscoe’s show. Painter Cliff Cavin has several original oil paintings currently in the gallery. The colorful impressionistic landscapes portray the countryside from South Texas to New Mexico. The gallery also offers several Ragan Gennusa giclee reproductions. J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art would like to congratulate them both on a successful show and opening weekend. Cavin sold three out of five works and Gennusa was the Patron’s Choice recipient for Hold on to Your Hats, a 24”x48” oil painting of commanding longhorn cattle. This is the second time Gennusa has won an award at this show. Last year he was the Briscoe Museum Purchase Award winner. Congratulations to Mr. Gennusa and Mr. Cavin.

Ragan Gennusa courtesy of The Briscoe
Western Art Museum & Hiebert Photography

The patrons at Saturday night’s gala were treated to dinner and live music all among the beautiful setting of the Briscoe Western Art Museum’s grounds and sculpture garden. Now, the exhibition may be viewed during usual museum hours. All works unsold during the opening weekend are available for purchase through the duration of the exhibition. The show remains open through May 14. Don’t miss this opportunity to see so many talented Western artists from all over the country. See the Briscoe Western Art Museum’s Night of Artist page for more details.

Helotes Hilltop by Cliff Cavin at JR Mooney Gallery 16"x 16" oil $1750 framed

March Birthday: Artist Robert Wood

Mountains and Hills by Robert Wood 20"x30" oil on canvas $6000 framed at JR Mooney Galleries

March is the birthday month of English painter Robert Wood. Wood is reportedly one of the most mass-produced artists in the United States. He gained popularity in the 1950’s and 60’s when many of his works were reproduced in lithographs and distributed by companies such as Sears, Roebuck. Wood was born on March 4^th in Sandgate, England in 1889. He served in the Royal Army and immigrated to the United States in 1910. He traveled extensively through the country working odd jobs and hopping freight trains while he sold or bartered his paintings. During this period, which Wood later recalled as one of the best of his life, he was influenced by the rural landscapes of America. His travels took him to Illinois where he worked as a farmhand, to Pensacola, Florida where he married, Ohio, Seattle, and Portland, Oregon.

 

 In the early 1920’s he settled in San Antonio with his family where he experience tremendous growth as an artist. He studied under renowned Spanish painter Jose Arpa and was active in the San Antonio Art League. He was influenced by his contemporaries like Arpa and the Onderdonks. He exhibited in the 1928 Texas Wildflower Competition. Porfirio Salinas was his student. It was here in the Texas hill country that Wood's work blossomed and he gained a national reputation as a landscape painter.

 Robert Wood left Texas for California in the 1940's, and then moved briefly to upstate New York before returning to southern California in the early 1950's where he would settle. Around this time the public became captivated with Wood's seasonal Woodstock paintings. He worked with a print publishing house to reproduce several of his works. The reproductions were a success. October Morn, which was his most requested print, sold more than one million copies in less than two years. Wood remained in California, where he was active in the art colonies at Monterrey and later Laguna Beach, until his death. He never returned to England.

Although the majority of his subject matter focused on rural landscapes, Wood's style changed over time.  His early work was influenced by his heritage and is more reminiscent of the 19th century English landscape painters, while his latter work became more impressionistic. Must have been all those train rides through the countryside. J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art is pleased to currently have in its possession Mountains and Hills, a stunning 20”x30”impressionistic oil painting by Robert Wood. Call or stop by the gallery for inquiries.

Artist's Spotlight: Cliff Cavin

        


"Nambe Clouds" by Cliff Cavin

      J.R. Mooney is proud to showcase works by San Antonio artist Cliff Cavin. Cavin is known for his impressionistic landscapes and the current selection at the gallery does not disappoint. First is a New Mexican landscape painting that shows a large dominate sky and purple mountain backdrop. The foreground is rendered in earthy hues and is typical of the geography. The ample canvas size 38”x39” creates a window effect and radiates the imagery of rural Santa Fe or possibly Carson National Forest.

"South of Town" by Cliff Cavin

     There is also a Texas Hill Country scene of a spring meadow adorned with wildflowers. The purple and yellow impressionistic flowers suggest bluebonnets and perhaps Texas flax wildflowers. This lovely piece of the Hill Country is 10”x20” and is beautifully framed in dark wood including a brushed gold step that highlights Cavin’s use of color. Other paintings in the gallery showcase Cavin’s mastery of light. In a country road scene the late afternoon sun reflects off a tree and casts shadows on the road while warming the sky with a soft pink glow. In another work, he uses light to highlight a creek and the surrounding fields.


"Texas Memories" by Cliff Cavin

     The most unique painting in the collection is “Texas Memories” a 30"x30" depiction of a longhorn. It is a commanding piece. The longhorn is turned, fixing its gaze towards the viewer. The artwork would make an elegant addition to any office or study, especially for the Texas aficionado. In addition to his works in the gallery, J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art is pleased to announce that Cliff Cavin is one of the artists included in The Briscoe Western Art Museum’s Night of Artists Art Sale & Exhibition. This fundraiser event for the Briscoe showcases over 73 of the country’s top Western artists. More information and tickets for the event are available from the Briscoe Western Art Museum. Cavin will also be the featured artist later this year at the Texas Museum of Western Art in Kerrville. Come by the gallery and familiarize yourself with his work.  





 

Hill Country Windows

"Retama Ranch" by Lona Bell

 

Driving along Interstate 10 last week I caught my first glimpse of bluebonnets this season. Each spring these majestic flowers color the highways of Texas bringing smiles to daily commuters (thank you, Ladybird!). By now they are popping up in all sorts of places, picturesque fields, sides of the highways and in parks and private yards.  People from all over flock to roadsides looking for the perfect patch to take family photos in and admire these wildflowers. This seasonal beauty is not only the subject of Instagram feeds and Facebook pages; it is also coveted on canvas. For a more permanent look, bluebonnets scenes make great Texas landscape paintings. They are one of the gallery’s most requested subject matter. Currently, J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art has a variety of quality bluebonnet paintings in various sizes. First is a landscape by San Antonio artist Lona Bell. Her “Retama Ranch” is large and is an exquisite depiction of the flowers lining a pathway home. “Bluebonnet Hillside” by Jung Yoon is even larger than Bell’s painting. His massive 48”x36” piece shows a bluebonnet patch disappearing into a golden sunset. The dramatic sunset lighting and the dominant deep blue hues of the flowers make this painting a powerful piece that is perfect for a foyer, library or other space where it may take center stage. For smaller pieces, Texas artists Margie Barker and Cliff Cavin have bluebonnet paintings ranging in size from 5”x7” up to 18”x36”. Their light, impressionistic style is a breath of fresh air, just like opening a window in the Hill Country. Visit J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art today to open your own Hill Country window and add a little spring to a permanent collection.

"Little Stream" by Margie Barker

"Bluebonnet Hillside" by Jung Yoon

 

"South of Town" by Cliff Cavin

Barker is Back!

 

 

Helotes artist Margie Barker introduced several new works for purchase to J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art. Barker’s compact traditional South Texas compositions vary in themes this time from yucca and cacti, to red birds and bluebonnets. All of Barker’s works are in vivid acrylic and are framed ready to hang. Any of the small pieces will make a great addition to a home collection, or a gift to a visiting friend or business partner. Barker has a solo exhibition as the artist of the month this May at the Museum of Western Art in Kerrville. There is no better time to collect this fine Texas artist’s work. Stop by the gallery today.

 



 

J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art

8302 Broadway

San Antonio, TX

New Arthur McCall Paintings at J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art

 

 

"Those Were the Days"

 

J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art recently acquired two Arthur McCall paintings with nostalgic themes. McCall is a revered South Texas painter and J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art is pleased to continue to showcase his work. The two new pieces are “Bygone Days” sized 16”x20” and “Those Were the Days” sized 20”x24.” Both paintings share the familiar setting of the old Texas farm that is recurring subject matter for McCall. These Texas farms include dilapidated barns, windmills, cactus patches, old trucks and yes, the always hidden McCall rabbit. Come by the gallery today and see if you can spot one.

"Bygone Days"

 

J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art

8302 Broadway

San Antonio, TX 78209

Boerne Gallery Closes

J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art in Boerne permanently closed its doors at the end of 2016.  We want to thank the Boerne community and all of the gallery supporters who made our time in Boerne memorable.  All of the remaining art works have been relocated to our San Antonio gallery.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we invite you to visit us in San Antonio at 8302 Broadway, just south of Interstate 410 in Alamo Heights for all of your art and custom framing needs.  We look forward to your visit!