Artist's Statement:

One time I did a painting of a poor ol' cowboy out horseback on a cold, miserable windy day. I've done that many times when I was working on ranches. Sometimes it was so hot that at least a breeze would've been welcome, but not when it's cold. In the winter, even though the days are shorter, wind makes for a mighty long day.

My manager at the time came by my studio to see the completed painting and asked me what I was gonna title it. I said "I don't know, yet." He said "How about something like 'Cold Winter Day' or maybe "Texas Winter". I said "Naw, I like to title stuff according to what's going on work-wise or maybe what's on the guy's mind." "Well, what's HE thinking?" he asked. Without much thought I said "He's probably thinkin' that he coulda been a lawyer sittin' on his butt in a warm office, not on an ice-cold saddle!"

He laughed and said "Yeah, sure." Then he noticed that I was thinkin' serious thoughts. "OK, what is the REAL title going to be?" he asked. I said "I Coulda Been a Lawyer". Alarmed, he exclaimed "You can't be serious!!" Well, I won the argument.

A Doctor bought the painting after it came out in "Southwest Art" magazine. Then, my poor ol' manager's phone just about rang off the wall from lawyers wanting that painting, mainly because of the title. That's when it became clear that I had best do a bronze of the same thing and I did. The first version was 1/6 life-size, edition of 30, and sold out. At the 1987 NAWA exhibit and sale, it was the number 1 selling bronze of the entire show. In 1992, I sculpted a larger 1/4 life-size version, edition of 20. They're not sold out, just yet.

Sometimes artwork with a good title can sure strike a nerve in collectors. This one kinda makes you wonder..."How many lawyers wish that they coulda been cowboys?"