Artist Statement

After retiring from teaching art for 26 years in the public school system, I now have the opportunity to spend my remaining years pursuing a passion for painting.  Growing up in the panhandle and Southern plains of Texas I have a great admiration for the beauty of its history, culture, landscape  and people of this area.  My work can be divided up into three categories; the Western Experience, its history, and the people who make it their home.

This area of Texas is rich in culture and history.   My work consists of documenting the traditional and modern cowboy experience.  This imagery depicts the work and life expenses on the modern ranch, from round up, doctoring and branding to everyday life of home life of the ranch hand.  I put an effort to tell the drama beyond the image of both the cowboys, their families and the livestock that are a part of this story.   

A large part of the western expense today has its roots in the events of years gone by.  A lot of my work will center around the history of the great plains.  This area was the center of the area referred to as the Red River Wars. It was a struggle that involved the Comanche, Kiowa, Southern Chyenne, Mexican and Anglos. 


Another aspect of my work is centered around the portrait as a biography.  I put a great amount of time into trying to tell an individual's story beyond the image. I try to communicate to the viewer much more than the image, their personality, or their history.


Biography

For the most part, I like to produce work from my own surroundings.  Growing up in the panhandle and southern plains of West Texas my work has centered around this area.  I also do historical paintings depicting the plains indians, ranching, farming, and rural life.

I will also produce work based upon my travels throughout our country.

During my college years at Texas Tech, I created some work more from my imagination.  Some of that work can be seen here.  

Master of Art Education, Texas Tech University

Educator.   1999-2025 retired

Instructor in art, theatre and history

Plainview ISD 1999

Lubbock Christian HS 2000-2004

Crosbyton ISD 2005-2019

Lamesa ISD 2020-2025


Juried Shows

A cowboy getting a calf out to the fence. This was a branding on the L7 ranch between Crosbyton and Post Texas.

TRAHC's 38th Annual Juried Exhibition

Exhibition Dates: July 11 - August 29, 2026

Artwork hanging at Texarkana.
Tommy Rodgers, the artist, standing in front of one of his paintings.

Midland Art Association 2026 Spring Juried Exhibition, Museum of the Southwest,

March 26 – June 7, 2026

Painting of a teepee under a cloudy sky, with a background of mountains.
A painting of four Indigenous people riding horses across a field with a dramatic sky of yellow and dark clouds in the background.

Texas Wildwest, Corpus Christi

March 6 - March 28 2026

Sunset over hills with traditional Native American teepee and decorated horses with blankets and shields in foreground.
Painting of a horse with traditional Native American adornments standing in a grassy field with hills and a blue sky in the background.
Painting of a bison lying in a grassy field with mountain ranges and a colorful sky in the background.
Historic brick building with large arched windows, a red awning, and a small tree in the foreground.

Galleries

These Galleries are representing my work.

The Gallery at 1894

105 Olive Street, Texarkana, United States, Arkansas

(870) 330-5003

thegalleryat1894@gmail.com


A painted landscape of a small teepee with smoke rising from the top, set in a hilly terrain under a bright sky with large, billowing clouds.
A landscape painting of mountains in the distance under a sky with clouds, and a grassy field in the foreground with a buffalo sitting on the grass.
A painted image of a mule with a saddle and supplies, standing alone in a snowy landscape with a clear blue sky and sparse trees in the background.
Close-up of a landscape oil painting depicting mountains under a partly cloudy sky with vibrant yellow foliage in the foreground.

MG Jewlry

MG Jewelry, 3841 50th St, Lubbock, TX

(806) 799-4436

https://www.facebook.com/mgjewelers/

Exterior of MG Jewelry store with large sign reading 'M.G Jewelry Designers' on a metal awning, brick building entrance with glass windows, potted plants, and parking spots in front.
Painting of a mountain landscape with snow-capped peaks, green and yellow rolling hills, a cloudy sky, and a dead tree in the foreground.
A landscape painting depicting a mountainous scene with rocky cliffs in the foreground, rolling hills in the middle ground, and a blue sky with clouds in the background.
A landscape painting of mountains, trees, and a river with a cloudy sky.