Art & Cowboy Poetry

This page has nothing what-so-ever to do with Fencing ! Rather, it is to do with rural lifestyes, art, cowboy poetry and anything else that Gary comes up with. Enjoy.

“Paint me a Picture”

Poem by Fred G. Ellis

Paint me a picture pard, a scene from days gone by,

The rodeer camp, a wild horse chase, Ol' cookie bakin' pie.

Sketch a cavvy in dawns gray light, or the coyote fixin' to wail,

Get Little Mary fetchin' wood an' the maverick with a nine in his tail.

Detail every season that makes up a cowboys life;

Calvin' in spring - the gather in fall - feedin' through winters strife.

From the Colorado Mountains where the pool riders work,

To a line shack in Montana where the coffee's 'bout to perk.

Capture it all my artist friend, don't let the brush get dry;

Without your story on a canvas mat the west will surely die.

From Charlie Russel to Traci Lewis, add Morton, Belier an' Brown,

These are the gate keepers of our past who labor to put it all down.

Paint me a picture pard, a scene from days gone by,

As long as the cowboy artist lives the west will never die.

Copyright: Fred G. Ellis, 2006

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Painting by Gary Duncan

"Mountain Repast" Original Oil on Canvas 30" X 40"

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Rustic Furniture by Gary Duncan

We are blessed here in the Ozarks with a plentiful array of cedars & hardwoods. Gary creates rustic furniture from the natural forms of the tree. The woods he works with are primarily cedar, maple, hickory, sassafrass and a variety of oak. View more of these pieces on his website listed below. The sassafrass in the chairs above came from Clem Amick by Houston Missouri. Clem operates a certified organic beef operation as well as he does some logging in the winter months. The sassafrass came off of his ranch. Primarily a nuisance tree to a rancher - if left to mature, it also provides a beautiful wood that ages to a dark tone, simular to walnut.

Gary Duncan, Sales Representative for Powerflex Fence

is also a self taught artist referring to himself as:

"just an ol' cowboy that paints and makes stuff"

You can view Gary's Art & Rustic Furniture

and his Highland Cattle on his website at:

http://www.bigpineystudios.com

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Left: "A Never Ending Job" Original Oil on Canvas 22" X 28" (sold)

Right: "Moutain Wildflowers" Original Oil on Canvas

If you have not had the task of "fix'ln barbed wire" you probably won't appreciate the ease of working with hi-tensile wire.! When we do trade shows and people come into our booth - this is one of the most often comments , "A Never Ending Job"

"Rocky Fork in Winter" Sold, thanks JF

Original Oil Painting on Canvas, 18" x 24"

Gary says: This scene above is on a ranch he used to manage NE of Kansas City. He was out checking cattle one winters evening and saw this scene took a photo then went back and painted it at a later time. This creek traversed the ranch and provided for much wildlife and livestock water.

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When not selling fence, building fence, painting or building rustic furniture -- I tend to a herd of Scottish Highland Cattle. He says they are the most flavorful and textured beef you can put in your mouth ! They are so hardy that they practically take care of themselves, but they also keep my feet well grounded too.

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Simple Pleasures

poem by Richard Dunlap

It seems to me, the old adage is true.

Simple pleasures are indeed the best.

If we just take the time to appreciate,

All the good things with which we've been blessed.

Like the handshake of a good friend,

You haven't seen for quite some time.

Or the thrill of a three-pound rainbow,

Dancing on the end of your line.

Or you've been riding all morning, looking for a cow.

And you're just pretty close to cursing,

But it's a good feeling when you find her,

And her new calf is up and nursing.

Little things, silly things,

Often mean the most.

Like watching a grey fence lizard,

Doing push-up's on a post.

Hummingbirds at the feeder,

As they buzz and dart about.

Or you finally find that treefrog,

Hiding under the eaves of the house.

Your own beef sizzlin' on the grill.

Green beans with new potatoes.

Fresh onions from the garden.

Summer's first ripe tomato.

The list could go on forever;

There's so much a person could say,

About the wonders of God's creation

We witness most every day

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CHRISTIAN WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS

An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.
GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

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"Timeless"

Original Oil Painting on Canvas, 24" X 18"

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"Giving Thanks"

poem by Richard Dunlap

I was hauling hay, one hot July day,

and as I dropped the last bale into place.

I paused for just a moment,

to say a little prayer of thanks.

And I thought of how I take for granted,

The many blessings God has bestowed.

And how I should be more thankful,

for each day and so much more.

For this quality hay, at a decent price

from a good neighbor who's just down the road.

For my pick-up truck which runs and is paid for

with which I can haul this load.

For the rains this Spring, which made this hay grow.

For the sunshine which curd it in the field.

For my health and my strength that I'm able to haul it:

Right there on the barn floor I kneeled.

And gave thanks to the Lord for this old barn:

A dry place for this hay to store it.

And thanked Him for its abundance

And for having the means to pay for it.

I gave thanks for cattle - fat and healthy,

now grazing lush and plentiful grass,

And thanks for these provisions,

Enough through the Winter to last.

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This painting is titled: "Maintenance"

It was an original oil on canvas, 16" x 20"

My cowboy poet buddy Richard Dunlap posed for this one.

Thanks RD

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"High Country Trails"

Is an original oil painting, 24" x 18" on canvas. Its taken from an area Gary used to bow-hunt elk in while he lived in Colorado. The area is on the North slope of the Rawahs, above Michigan Reservoir. This was an area logged back in the 1940's thru the 1970's and has a lot of old abandoned logging roads. Some fond memories.

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Jake's Prayer

By Bill Jones

Jake, the rancher, went one day
to fix a distant fence.
The wind was cold and gusty and
the clouds rolled gray and dense,

As he pounded the last nail in
and gathered tools to go.
The temperature had fallen
and the snow began to blow.

When he finally reached his pickup,
he felt a heavy heart,
from the sound of that ignition,
he knew it wouldn't start.

So Jake did what most of us do
if we'd have been there.
He humbly bowed his balding head
and sent aloft a prayer.

As he turned the key for the last time,
he softly cursed his luck.
They found him three days later,
frozen stiff in that old truck.

Now Jake had been around in life
and done his share of roamin'.
But when he saw Heaven,
he was shocked -- it look just like Wyomin'.

Of all the saints in Heaven,
his favorite was St. Peter.
Now, this line, it ain't needed
but it helps with rhyme and meter.

So they set and talked a minute or two,
or maybe it was three,
Nobody was keepin' score --
in Heaven time is free.

"I've always heard," Jake said to Pete,
"that God will answer prayers,
But one time I asked for help,
well He, just plain wasn't there.

Does God answer prayers of some,
and ignores the prayers of others?
That don't seem exactly square --
I know all men are brothers.

Or does he randomly reply,
without good rhyme or reason?
Maybe, it's the time of day,
the weather or the season.

Now I ain't trying to act smart,
it's just the way I feel,
And I was wonderin', could you tell --
what the heck's the deal?"

Peter listened very patiently
and when Jake was done,
There were smiles of recognition,
and he said, "So, you're the one!

That day your truck, it wouldn't start,
and you sent your prayer a flying,
You gave us all a real bad time,
with hundreds of us a trying.

A thousand angels rushed to check
the status of your file,
But you know, Jake, we hadn't heard
from you in quite a while

And though all prayers are answered,
and God ain't got no quota,
He didn't recognize your voice,
and started a truck in North Dakota."

Moral of the story: Pray Early... and Pray Often

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"Cowboy Sunset"

Original Oil Painting on Canvas, 36" X 24"

I have always enjoyed going out and checking on cattle in the evening, a pretty sunset is a bonus. I still enjoy checking cattle of the evening. I think you get a better "feel" for your grass early am or late pm.

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Above, a recent commissioned painting

36" wide x 24" high, oil on canvas

-- actually the paint ain't dry yet....enjoy

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Thanks for visiting

Happy Trails

Gary