Pepper and Bella

Pepper

Pepper is my neighbor's horse. He is a quarter horse trained as a roping horse. 

Bella 

Bella was a beautiful companion; loved hunting. She was shot by the man that lives down the street.

Abby and Petey

 Petey

Abby

Karen...devoted friend to Abby and Petey.

The Muse

 

The Pear

My sister and I had the privilege to paint a Pear for display in Pearland, Texas.  Not only does the Pear depict Pearland's former mayor, Tom Reid, but also it highlights many of his achievements during his time in office, primarily with education, transportation, and art and culture. 

Mr. Reid was instrumental in building Pearland's first library, which bears his name. He served for approximately thirty years as Pearland's mayor and retired with the designation of Mayor Emeritus. 

My sister and I collaborated in painting the Pear. We were lucky that it squeezed through the front door of my home. And we quickly realized that it takes...a lot...of paint to cover a four foot pear. 

The entrance to the Tom Reid Library is depicted over his shoulder.

The Princess and the Pea

This is my granddaughter, Emma. And I love this photo of her. It's like a surrealist painting.

Pictured is a very large pear that she is featured on, and there is a Statue of Liberty resting in the background, shades of Dorothea Tanning. 

An Artist's View

OUTDOOR SKETCHES 

All sketches are painted outdoors in Plein Air. 

Hay Bales

What is fall without hay bales. I found the bales on Old Massey Ranch Road, Pearland, TX.

11"x 12 1/2 " Old Massey Ranch Road 1

11"x 12 1/2 " Old Massey Ranch Road 2

12"x 12 1/2" Old Massey Ranch Road 3

Spring Wildflowers at the Nature Center

This spring, I painted the wildflowers at Pearland's Nature Center. There was an over abundance of pink evening primroses. I think of primroses as the "bluebonnets" of Pearland. 

Not that long ago, when Pearland was mostly rice fields and pasture land, the fields looked like a sea of pink cotton candy. Now the primroses are relegated to the ditches and alleyways of Pearland...and of course, Pearland's Nature Center.

Garden at the Pearland Nature Center 

11"x 14" Evening Primroses

10"x 14 1/2" Coreopsis and Evening Primroses

11"x 12 3/4"  Coreopsis at the Nature Center

 For Purchase: Contact  sjderrick@gmail.com or 

Call   281-830-4451 

Mornings with Grandma

Pictured is Emma my granddaughter. We sometimes spend mornings together. On these occasions, we build stages for performances, swimming pools with cabanas, and caves for unicorns. We build our fantasies out of colored paper, cardboard, and scotch tape. Of course, with all of this building, we get hungry. So strawberry and chocolate donuts is a must to sustain all of this activity. 

Tinged with a touch of envy, It is enjoyable watching a child dream. To go to a place where morning glories truly do become fashion statements.