I do not paint. Therefore, I write. And when I was looking for images to illustrate my poetry, I came across David DeVary and nothing has been the same since ....

How could two artists portray their souls in ways that mirror one another but have never touched, have never even known that one another existed until that fateful day when the poet, while searching for images to compliment another of her odes to her partner, came across the perfect match?

I have been penning my poems online for quite some time now. I have only used images a few times, and when I did, they usually were my own digital pics. But I lacked the talent and resources to create what would actually represent visually what I had written poetically. As I searched various key terms, specificlally images + blonde + cowgirl,I at last found an image that I knew from the first glance was what I would have painted myself if I had been able to.

My partner is a walking legend. In her veins are the souls of a thousand Texas trailblazers, and in her life, she carries them in the very steps she takes and the choices she makes. She’s the urban Texas country girl next door, bad ass blonde that’ll kick you in the butt if you need it and look good doin’ it. She is beauty and strength, the rich earth and breathtaking clear blue skies on a crisp fall morn. She’s the river running through the Hill Country all the way down into the heart of Mexico. She lives hard and loves hard, never pussy footin’ around with lukewarm. It's hot or cold. And with her, it’s mostly hot. Such is how I see the muse for my poetry.

Now, how does one follow up all that attitude, emotion, admiration and love for one person? With the "right" image. Something that brings the words into physical form right before the reader’s eyes. I’d been looking for a while. That’s the reason why it took so long, but when the time was right, I came across David DeVary.

DeVary’s work captures the romance and attitude of the Old West. Accuracy and realism are secondary. Like the tall Texas tale itself, he paints to tell a story, to inspire feelings and perceptions perhaps you have never had before or were too shy to explore. He exhibits complex emotions and impressions in the seeming simplicity of the cowboys and cowgirls, and upon closer inspection, brings out the strength, the power, the mystique, the presence, and the sensuality of country life.

In Texas, you work and you ride. What you ride varies, and it doesn’t matter if you’re in the country or the city, you’ve got some horses somewhere - between your legs or under your hood. This detail has not escaped DeVary. His cornucopia of talent overflows with variation from horses to horse power, and nothing escapes him. Through his images, I have found that he paints what I pen. Who knew that this reknowned artist living in Santa Fe could ever have anything in common with a simple poetess from Houston, Texas, simply trying to capture what she feels in her heart?

I am thankful that artists like David DeVary exist to bridge artists from every corner of the globe.  I look forward to featuring more of his work with my own if I am able.  It's just exciting when you find someone that inspires you, so forgive me if I am a bit energetic.

You can view samples of his work as I have posted on my poems “Brio” and “When Passion Came Back To Town … And Stayed."