The area surrounding Missouri City 
(my new home base) is dotted with oil wells, new and old. Some days you can smell the fresh pumped oil well before passing it by. “Black gold, Texas Tea”
A few years back an artist friend of mine, Silvia Pinto Souza, took time from her busy schedule to ride out into the countryside over on my side of town. She is always in search of a photo that someday might inspire a painting or even better a series of paintings. I enjoyed the day, stopping and starting, taking shots that I found interesting while she found colors and textures that pleased her eye. I think I may have posted about this photo shoot before but I didn’t go back and hunt it down, so if you remember any of these photos my apologies.
Today a few of the machines, in my own back yard, that bring up the oil that fuels the Houston economy. These pumps sit amongst rough fields, grazing cattle and sleek horses. There are some pretty crude barns, and ill-kept tanks and many a dot of spilt oil. I can see why conservationist fight having wells put onto pristine parklands.
