For my painting Tough Enough to Wear Pink, I took the idea from the rodeo, where there is a breast cancer awareness night in which all cowboys (and many in the audience) wear something that's pink. Could be a shirt, socks or a wristband, whatever they have that shows that they support the fight against this silent killer.

I wanted to take the concept and move it out of the commercial and into the real life. This cowboy is wearing a wildrag that started out red, but over the years has faded and turned pink. His look is stern and determined, but not unkind, and you just know that nobody, and I mean nobody, is going to rib him about what he's got tied around his neck. The cowboy who posed for this painting, Bradley, is one of my favorites to paint, and I've painted him many times. And before I'm through, I know I'll paint him many more, 'cuz he's the real deal and is everything a cowboy should strive to be!

I am grateful this painting was awarded the Gold Medal/Award of Excellence in Portraiture, in the 2019 National Oil Painters of America Show, hosted by Illume Gallery of Fine Art, St George, Utah.