Hellscape Riders Meet A Lone Kitchen Light On The Way to Tent Town

 June 28, 2026

   If you haven't noticed by now, there's one theme I keep coming back to and that is horseback riders in hell. Yes, the hellscape theme shows up quite a bit in my whip outs, from Billy to Jesse to Mickey Free. And back.

Daily Whip Out: "Jesse In Hell"

   Perhaps it's because the theme emulates the ultimate road trip to me, or, perhaps, being a lapsed Lutheran, it somehow unmasks a deep-seated fear of being on a highway to hell? Which would explain my love for that song.

Daily Whip Out:

"Mickey Skirts The Fireline"

   So, this morning was no exception as I captured a certain cowboy in hell riding the burning range. . .

Daily Whip Out: "Hellscape Rider II"

(Curly Bill's Long Ride?)

   Then again, I am a scene sucker for the remote mining camp, something I grew up seeing over and over in Mohave County.

Daily Whip Out:

"On The Way to Tent Town"

   Speaking of magical journeys, yesterday my grandson and Uno and I set off on a walk up to Morningstar and on the way back, I got this shot of Fenton and Uno next to a big twin saguaro I pass every day.

   When I got back to the studio I was inspired to add a saguaro to the foreground of my most recent Lone Kitchen Light scene, and guess where I got my inspiration for that?

The Lone Adobe Kitchen Light #3

Thailand Cowkids

   Both of T. Bell's kids are in the house and they each chose cowboy hats off the walls of my studio and their grandmother bought them used cowboy boots, and here they are racked out in all their Cactusland glory.

Harper & Fenton Wall Flowers

(yes, that is Grandpa Ha Ha's doofus shadow at bottom, right)

Proof That T-Bell Is My Son

   And, of course, my son went to a used bookstore down on Camelback Road yesterday and brought home about 40 used books, and one of them had this inspiring quote:

"My whole work drive has been aimed at making people understand each other."

—John Steinbeck