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On March 2nd, 1836, Texas declared independence from Mexico at Washington on the Brazos. This is the second painting in my "Independence Trail" series depicting the central Texas area around Chappell Hill and Independence, Texas. I'm told that an unusually wet winter contributed to the great abundance of wild flowers that year painting the hills in bright yellow Chappell Hill and Independence, Texas, Square-bud Primrose, red Indian Blankets, orange Texas Paintbrush and of course, the Texas State Flower, the Bluebonnet.

I remember like it was yesterday... The little black box of PRANG watercolors I received at Christmas when I was seven started me on a lifelong love of drawing and painting. Rendering the images of every comic book character from Mickey Mouse to Superman and Little Lulu furthered my art education. Little Golden Books, "The Color Kittens," taught me the basics of mixing colors. Then a magical experience happened! At the Jefferson Theater in downtown Beaumont, Texas (where I was born and raised), I saw Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Eagerly I awaited each new release through the years: Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Lady and the Tramp. At 12, I started an art notebook and bought my first oil paints. At 14,...