Blending Art, Music, and Memory: A Tribute to My Dad and Our Western Roots

Acrylic on Canvas | 30” x 40” | Not for Sale

This painting is inspired by the legacy of my dad as a Roman rider—standing atop two galloping horses in daring performances during his teens and early twenties, long before I was born. Though I never saw him perform this feat in person, the stories and old photographs brought it to life for me. It’s a tribute not only to his courage and showmanship but to the broader western legacy that shaped my childhood and continues to influence my art.

Our family didn’t just do western-themed entertainment—we lived it. Horseback riding, trick roping, clogging, dog acts… even the occasional clown routine. At one point, my mom had the idea for my brother and me to perform a duet of “I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart” in the show. That song became a core memory—riding in the car with my mom, her helping me memorize the lyrics, rehearsing with the hope that I’d one day perform it on stage.

Those lyrics left such a mark on me that I incorporated them into this painting. The excerpt is from “I Wanna Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart”, a country and western classic written in 1934 and first recorded in 1935 by Rubye Blevins, who performed as Patsy Montana. It was the first country song by a female artist to sell more than one million copies. Including it in this piece was my way of honoring not just the performance aspect of my childhood, but the intimate, musical moments I shared with my mom behind the scenes.

The showbiz dream that brought us all together started with my Grandpa, Buss Carson, back in the 1930s. He built our family’s western act, the Carson Stuntcapade, from the ground up. The show toured across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, featuring Roman riding, trick roping, liberty drills, and dog acts. It was a spectacle rooted in grit, skill, and tradition.

Growing up in that world meant spending afternoons shoveling corrals, rehearsing roping routines, and performing at fairs and rodeos as a family. It was unconventional, challenging, and magical all at once.

This painting is my way of honoring those roots.The grit.The artistry.The legacy.The love for tradition that still fuels my creative work today.