Hello from Oklahoma
 

My name is Dale Shipman and I live in Bixby, Oklahoma (just south of Tulsa). I joined SOG in May, but just now taking the time to sign on.

I'm a 57 yr old piping and structural designer in the Oil and Gas industry. My interest in art came at a very early age and I started doing caricatures and commissioned pastel and oil portraits in my early twenties as a side income to my job, but deep down inside I have always wanted to do portraits full-time. I also do landscapes, western and Indian art as well as animal portraits. Being from Oklahoma and 1/8 Choctaw, I have a fondness for the Native American portraiture and art.

First I'd like to compliment Cynthia Daniel for creating SOG for portrait artists to show their talent and share their knowledge. It's obvious that there has been a lot of time and thought put into this site. It's a masterpiece in itself. This site has given me more incentive and encouragement than any other art related information source that I've ever run across. Because of this site I was influenced to try something new in my art style. I had always painted in the rubout technique that was taught to me as one of the old master's styles, but after reading about the underpainting technique, and Karen Wells' explanation and demonstration, I was so impressed that I had to attempt it. So I will be submitting my first underpainting portrait of my son and daughter-in-law in the oil critiques and I would appreciate any helpful suggestions that would benefit me on it and future projects.

Welcome
 

Hi Dale, and welcome to the SOG from another Okie (was born in Stillwater, though we moved to DC and many other regions before I landed, as an adult, on the west coast of Florida).

This summer, I dragged my husband with me to visit my parents in northern Oklahoma (they

Thank you for the compliment Dale and welcome to the Forum.

You should find some Kinstler's and one Sanden portrait in the Cowboy Hall of Fame.

Thank you ladies
 

Thank you Mari and Cynthia for your warm welcome.

I'm very pleased to be a part of this wonderful site and to meet special people like yourselves.

Mari, it's interesting that you mentioned Stillwater as your birthplace, I was in Stillwater today with my son to watch our OSU Cowboys beat Nebraska in football for the first time in 41 yrs. It was a long time coming.

You also mentioned the Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum in OKC. Yes, it is a wonderful museum that I have enjoyed visisting, but the next time you're back to visit your parents go on up to Tulsa to visit the Gilcrese Museum; it's advertised as the finest western art museum in the country and I believe it. I could go on and on about it but I'll just post a link to it to give you an indication of what it's like. http://www.gilcrease.org/1collection.html

While I'm at it, I would like to thank you for posting so many interesting sites that I have really enjoyed visiting.