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New Artwork – Spring/Summer 2015

We launched this website in April 2015 and had our first gallery show that month at Tornado Gallery in Lubbock Texas. Since commencing, we’ve sold more than a dozen painting and several prints. This month we have fourteen paintings on display for sale at Hyde Park Bar & Grill (south location in WestGate shopping center) in Austin Texas.

Busy, busy, busy! But I have continued to create more inventory and am still averaging a couple of new pieces a week. Since April, i’ve completed fifteen new paintings, sold one of those already, and two of which are in the Hyde Park exhibit.

Today, we’ve added ten new pieces of Pretty Cool Art which are now available for sale.

New Artwork for sale

JC & Mo’s Backyard Set“, 16×20 natural color frame

backyard
click on image to purchase

In April 2015, I was back in my hometown Lubbock Texas for my first gallery exhibit at Tornado Gallery. The main event was the First Friday Art Trail, when many friends, family and fans came to visit us at the gallery. The following day, my wife and i spent the morning with our long-time friends John & Maureen Chambers; John is an accomplished screenwriter with many TV credits to his name and also a singer/songwriter with two albums to-date, Maureen is a poet and songwriter, and their daughter is a promising ballerina who attends & boards at the Kirov Dance Academy. As we were enjoying the lovely west Texas Saturday morning, i searched for some painting ideas and liked the look of this backyard set where John & Maureen enjoy their morning coffee and evening beer.

 

 

“Wildflowers at Caprock Canyons State Park”, 12×12 black frame

flowers
inquiries: Anne Ducote, 512-422-7643 anne.ducote@att.net

My first show at Tornado Gallery in Lubbock officially began  on Friday April 3, 2105 and I had to be in Lubbock that Wednesday to install the work. So with Thursday wide open, my wife and i made the drive to Caprock Canyons State Park to explore the hiking trails. That hike may have been one of the most physically taxing trails I have ever been on in a state or national park, but the temperature was mild, we had plenty of water and the the scenery was uncanny after an unusually wet spring in west Texas. I took many photos, including several of the beautiful wildflowers thriving along the dusty trail. I painted this based on one of those photos; i believe this flower is called a Purple Ground Cherry.

This painting is currently on display at Hyde Park Bar & Grill South 4521 WestGate Blvd. Austin TX. Purchase inquiries contact: Anne Ducote, 512-422-7643, anne.ducote@att.net

 

 

33-1/3 RPMs“, 12×24, black frame

LP
click on image to purchase

 

Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World. But we all like to have recorded music to keep those feelings alive. Digital downloads are easy to get and store but there is something to be said for the sound quality found in vinyl analog. LPs are resurging in popularity, and of course much music today features sampled beats from these analog recordings. Long-live the LP! I encourage you to buy more music.

 

 

Wind Earth & Fire (No Rain)“, 11×14, black frame

windmill
click on image to purchase

 

 

Inspired by a song of west Texas fiddler and bandleader Doug Moreland “Wind Brings the Water (when there is no rain)” which describes the importance of windmills in West Texas.

 

 

 

 

  “Rufous Hummingbird“, 11×14 decorative frame

hummingbird
click on image to purchase

 

This painting was inspired by the cover photo on the May 2015 edition of Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine: “The 12 Most Beautiful Birds in Texas.” Per the caption on the inside cover: “Rufous hummingbirds migrate through West Texas on their journeys  between Mexico and the northwestern U.S.” (original photo credit: Jeff Parker). We keep a couple of hummingbird feeders in our backyard in south Austin and enjoy daily visits by these entertaining and beautiful birds.

 

 

 

 

 

Backline“, 20×20 no frame

backline
click on image to purchase

 

 

For those not in the music business, the backline is the rhythm & sound equipment set up on stage for a band: bass guitar, drum set, PA, etc. This painting was  inspired by a photo by musician Parker Millsap of his band’s backline.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Naomi & Glass of Wine”, 16×20 black frame

Naomiwine
inquiries: Anne Ducote, 512-422-7643 anne.ducote@att.net

 

Naomi is our cat who we got from the Austin animal shelter. She was designated as a “desperate house cat” because she was older and had a bad rap sheet; they said she she would bite and does not get along well with other animals. Naomi pretty much chose us, and we got her with no charges because of her desperate status and we had to affirm that we did not have other pets. As soon as she got home, Naomi made it clear she was a barrel of laughs, and she only nibbles on you when she wants attention. I have dozens of photos of Naomi doing adorable things and showing off her personality. Here she is on our sofa contemplating my wife’s glass of wine.

This painting is currently on display at Hyde Park Bar & Grill South 4521 WestGate Blvd. Austin TX. Purchase inquiries contact: Anne Ducote, 512-422-7643, anne.ducote@att.net

 

 

 

Echinaceas at Butler Park20×20 no frame

pinkflowers
click on image to purchase

 

Large pink echinacea flowers, done mostly with palette knives; inspired by a photo taken by me at Butler Park on Ladybird Lake in downtown Austin Texas. I did a smaller version of this image, which was a gift to my sister and hangs in her home. This larger one is currently for sale.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  “New World Holy Women (Triptych)“, three 8×10 panels with gold frames

This triptych features three holy women from the Americas, based on three of several panels featured above the altar at the Cathedral of Santa Fe New Mexico:

triptychladies
click on image to purchase

Blessed Katherine Drexel: US native of Philadelphia in the 19th century from a wealthy family, she founded the Blessed Sacrament Sisters, and applied her inheritance to educating poor black and native american children and pioneered schools in Santa Fe.

  • St. Rose of Lima: was the second native & 1st female saint of New World; born in Peru, St. Rose lived a penitent life at home tempered only by her love of music.
  • Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha:  the first Native American considered for sainthood; a Mohawk-Algonquin, died 1680, she converted to Jesuit Catholicism & lived pious but short life.

 

Prada Marfa Sunset“, 18×24, black frame

PradaMarfa
click on image to purchase

A great example of west Texas irony, Prada Marfa is actually an iconic art installation in the transpecos area of far-west Texas. Located on a desolate desert highway, it is truly an odd & shocking site. The interior is always lit, displaying individual Prada shoes & purses (NOTE: the shoes are singles without mates and the purses have the bottoms removed making them commercially worthless). Not an actual retail store, the door is never open and no one is ever inside. Unfortunately, this piece of art often suffers from graffiti and occasional fruitless break-ins.

Note: the very first painting i sold was another image of Prada Marfa, now in a private collection in Nashville TN.

 

“Chris Mosser with Beer”, 16×20 black frame

mosser
not for sale

 

 

Chris Mosser is a friend of mine. He now is the morning deejay on Austin’s top-rated KVET but i met him years ago when i was developing my other website virtualubbock.com about musicians from Lubbock and interviewed him with the heavy metal band Human, for whom he played electric bass. We are Facebook friends, and earlier this year Chris was on vacation with family and posted a selfie while he was taking a beer break. I liked the image and asked him if i could interpret it as a painting. He gave me the thumbs up, and this is the result. I really kinda feel like this is more of a painting of the beer than Chris. I tagged him him on FB, and within 16 hours i had several offers to buy it; i’ve made a tentative deal to sell it to the Mosser family, so this painting is pending sale.

 

 

 

Dale Watson & his Lone Stars“, 18×24, black frame

DaleWatsonBand_18x24-Jun29-2015
click to purchase

 

One of my favorite contemporary west Texas musicians is my friend and all-around drummer Mike Bernal with Dale Watson & His Lone Stars. Dale Watson’s is hailed as a savior of traditional country music and his “ameripolitan sound” has become synonymous with Austin music. Any visitor to Austin must visit Ginny’s Little Longhorn salon on a Sunday and experience Dale Watson’s afternoon show and Chickenshit Bingo. This painting is inspired by a show at Gruene Hall, the oldest operating dance hall in Texas near Boerne south of Austin.

Now, back to the easel! More pretty cool art from Austin Texas coming soon…

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Art Shows & Gallery Exhibits

Public Displays of Pretty Cool Art by cjo

Coming Soon!

Evening Scotch in South Austin
Evening Scotch in South Austin

From July 25 to August 22, 2015 we are very pleased to be displaying my Pretty Cool Art at Hyde Park Bar & Grill, the south Austin location in West Gate Shopping Center. This exhibit will features acrylic paintings with Austin themes and several of our “cubish” beer, wine and cocktail paintings.
Join us July 27 at the Art Party celebrating Christopher & his work!

Christopher Oglesby Art Party
Monday, July 27, 5-7pm
Hyde Park Bar & Grill (South Austin location)
4521 West Gate Blvd Austin, TX 78745
512-899-2700
complimentary appetizer buffet, drinks at happy hour prices

This a great opportunity to see in person several of the paintings featured here at prettycoolart.com, and some all-new paintings never before seen will also be featured.

Later in 2015, I will have another show of artwork at the original Hyde Park Bar & Grill location on 4206 Duval Street SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25 – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2013. Art party announcement will come later this year.

Recent Show at Tornado Gallery – April 2015

Billy Gibbons & Jay Boy Adams at Stubb's 11-12-06
Billy Gibbons & Jay Boy Adams at Stubb’s 11-12-06

I had my first gallery exhibit earlier this year in April at Lubbock’s Tornado Gallery, where I displayed 16 paintings with west Texas themes. The Tornado Gallery exhibit included paintings of musicians and artists featured in the book I authored about west Texas music and art “Fire in the Water, Earth in the Air.” In addition we featured paintings of unique west Texas sights and landscapes.

I have been associated with Tornado Gallery since soon after they opened in 2007 when they hosted my one year anniversary book signing party and West Texas All-Stars Reunion Concert, featuring Lubbock music legends such Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Jay Boy Adams, Bob Livingston of the Lost Gonzo Band, Larry Wellborn of the Crickets and many more local talents.
Tornado Gallery has been the cultural epicenter of Lubbock Texas for over eight years. Owned and operated by Larry Simmons, his wife Heidi, and Tony Greer in the building that once housed Greer Iron Works at the corner of 19th Street and Buddy Holly Avenue. Tony Greer is west Texas’ premiere neon artist and Simmons was a long-time club and music venue operator. They combined their promotional skills, love of art and music, and created an art space in the Greer family ironworks building, adjacent entertainment space known now as Peggie’s Garden, and also housing Sandstorm Glassworks. They helped found the First Friday Art Trail in Lubbock and host the downtown art and farmer’s market.

Visit to Galleries in the Nation’s Capital

I went on vacation with my wife last month to visit family in the Washington DC area, where my aunt is the archivist at a private gallery and my uncle works in the aerospace industry. While in the nation’s capital, I always take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the National Gallery, with my aunt as a consummate tour guide, the Hirschhorn and Freer Galleries, the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Library of Congress. I like to marvel at and take inspiration from the great American and European masters and wonder at the remarkable design and execution of exotic Asian, African and Native American art. I also made an educational visit to the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria where I met contemporary artists and discussed their art, studios and shops. I would like initiate a movement in Austin to create a similar non-for-profit co-op to house a similar group of studios & shops for Austin artists.

Hyde Park Bar & Grill Show

Once again, please join us on July 27th for a celebration of Pretty Cool Art by cjo at Hyde Park Bar & Grill in south Austin!

Thank you for your support! – cjo

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House Concerts

Musical instruments Skoob theme painting

What is a House Concert? And why YOU should attend one soon

My wife and I host house concerts as part of our continuing effort to encourage appreciation of local live music, beverage, and food. This weekend, we host Texas songwriter Brandon Adams. Many of my paintings, signed prints and signed copies of my book “Fire in the Water, Earth in the Air” will be available for sale at this event.

House Concert VII - Skoob & Epplers' Gear
“House Concert VII – Skoob & Epplers’ Gear” click on image to purchase

Unique Intimate Music Performance

A House Concert is an intimate live music performance held in the privacy of the host’s home. Usually, the crowd is smaller than a public music venue, and guests have received private invitations. The audience is seated in a comfortable home environment, rather than a noisy smoky bar or club, and the audience is expected to be seated and pay attention during the performance, as in a seated auditorium. This is a great opportunity for performers to communicate directly and intimately with an audience who will respectfully appreciate the performance.

Cover Charge

One Bottle to Go
click on image to purchase

Guests are expected to pay a cover charge gratuity, a donation, with the money going directly to the performer. Most “true” house concert presenters do not operate with a profit motive. House concerts are a safe and fun way for a performer to make money for their performance by dealing with an appreciative host and audience rather than worrying about the traditional business hazards of dealing with public live music venues and promoters. Believe it or not, some venues do not have the musicians’ best interests at heart. We LOVE our artists and give them the respect they very much deserve!

Food & Drink

Most house concerts feature food or a meal. Many house concerts are “pot luck” with guests bringing dishes to share but often the host will provide light food and drink. Alcohol is either provided for no cost by the host or guests may BYOB. When the artist is not performing, guests are encouraged to socialize and enjoy themselves as at any other private party.

Oglesby House Concerts

Levelland, B.A. and Lacy Jo
“Brandon Adams & Lacy Jo” click on image to purchase

If you love original music by Texans with heart and soul, or if you simply have wanted to see the Oglesby’s living room which has been called the unofficial Lubbock Music Consulate to South Austin, then y’all come over, kick off your shoes, throw ‘em in the corner and enjoy a night of South Austin magic. Feel free to BYOB and to share your favorite potluck dishes!
If you see an event you would like to attend, send me an email for details including address, time, etc.

A feast for the senses with good friends.

Upcoming Oglesby House Concerts:

6/13/2015 Brandon Adams
7/19/2015 Neil Trammell (of the Doodlin Hogwallops from Alpine TX)
8/22/2015 Jenni Dale Lord & Steve Lott

Past Oglesby House Concerts:

CJO_137webPrairie Scholars & Butch Backstage (Jessica & Andy Eppler with Butch Hancock)
“Prairie Scholars & Butch” click on image to purchase

7/11/09: Amanda Shires & Rod Picott
9/18/09: Lesley Sawyer with Brian McRae & Aaron Hatmaker
3/6/10: Bob Livingston of the Lost Gonzo Band
3/16/10: SxSW’10: Drew Peterson, MN, & Bradley Smith, Sudan TX
7/3/10: Robin Griffin & Tony Adams
10/15/10: Colin Gilmore with Jon Notarthomas
2/12/11: The Prairie Scholars a.k.a Andy Eppler & Jessica Eppler, with Doctor Skoob
6/18/11: The Doodlin’ Hogwallops (from Alpine TX) with guests from La Tampiquena
11/19/11: Tori Vasquez & Micah Vasquez, with guest Junior Vasquez
4/7/12: Poko Lambro (Anthony Garcia & Violet Lea)
6/23/12: Doctor Skoob aka Doug Haines
11/8/14 John & Maureen Chambers

today’s featured images for sale:

House Concert VII – Skoob & Epplers’ Gear” 24×28 acrylic on canvas, no frame; “One Bottle To Go” 8×10 acrylic on panel, black frame; “Levelland, B.A. & Lacy Jo” 12×24 acrylic on canvas, black frame; “Prairie Scholars & Butch Hancock” 8×10 acrylic on panel, black frame.

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Monarchs in Texas

Larval stripes painting art

Central Texans are fortunate to live in the migration path of the Monarch butterflies, which began their epic trek north from Mexico in April. The butterflies stop in Texas long enough to lay eggs on milkweed and wildflowers before heading north and east for the summer. After years of drought, El Niño this spring has brought buckets of rain and bountiful wildflowers and milkweed; soon we will see the large green, yellow and white caterpillars, which will build chrysalises and transform into beautiful Monarch butterflies.

Last October 2014 when the Monarchs traveled through Texas heading south to their wintering grounds in the canyons of Mexico, I painted a short series inspired by Monarch patterns and colors.  This week’s featured paintings are: Monarch on Blue, 18×24 acrylic; Monarch Wing, 16×20 acrylic; and [This item has SOLD] Larval Stripes, 12×16 acrylic.

Monarch On Blue
click on image to purchase
MonarchWing
click on image to purchase
Larval Stripes, 12x16 acrylic
This item has SOLD

 

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Barton Creek

Barton Creek West painting

On this Earth Day 2015 I took a hike along Barton Creek. Spring rain has the creek running, so I embarked on the trailhead near Twin Falls. To do so these days, one parks near the southbound frontage road on MoPac near Loop 360. The first time I hiked to Twin Falls, in the summer of 1990, we parked on 360 across from the empty space which is now Barton Creek Mall.
Austin is always in a state of change but fortunately the greenbelts remain peaceful and nurturing Edenic nature refuges in our always growing city. Moving here from the arid flatland of Lubbock twenty-five years ago, many of the most uplifting memories of my life in Austin have arisen in the lush canyons and creek beds of our greenbelts, for me predominantly on Shoal Creek, Bull Creek & Barton. I even asked my wife to marry me on the Barton Creek Greenbelt.
After all these years of exploring the greenbelts, its various trailheads and side-paths, I still manage to discover new areas to explore. Last June 2014, I found an obscure trailhead in a Westlake neighborhood which led down to an area of the greenbelt unfrequented by most hikers and swimmers. In my solitude, I snapped some photos. The trees were dry but water was flowing. Later that September, I painted the painting featured on this page, entitled “Barton Creek West” 14×16 acrylic on panel board: This Item has SOLD. 4/26/15