Old Live Oak Tree and Bluebonnets on the West Texas Military Grounds, San Antonio 1920

Robert Julian Onderdonk made this painting of an old Live Oak Tree and Bluebonnets, probably on location, with oils. I love how he's building the picture through these daubs of color, like he's feeling his way into the light and the shapes. Look at how the paint is worked on this canvas. It's not about hiding the process. You can see every stroke, every decision. It’s like the painting is breathing, you know? The way he's layered those blues and greens to create this vibrant field - there's a real energy there. And the way the light filters through the trees. It’s so tactile, you almost feel like you could reach out and touch it. I'm reminded a bit of Van Gogh, but with a Texas twist. I think Onderdonk knew that art is just a conversation, a way of seeing the world and sharing that vision with others.