A new book in the making!

Tim Gregg of College Station is writing and publishing a long overdue book showcasing Navasota's illustrious Leon Collins. I am proud and grateful to have been included in this amazing legacy and wish them both success with this venture. In the making of the book, it required a trip down memory lane... and here photographs depict a tiny fraction of the art legacy produced from just two of Navasota's artists, whose paths crossed three decades ago, and who shared a special friendship along the way. ***************************************************************************************************************** Thank you Tim for doing this... you obviously have a talent for sniffing out a vacuum.. and for filling it. NOTE: to see the photos more easily, just click on any of them, and you will get a strip with them in smaller format.

Leon with his equally talented daughter "Molly Bee"

Russell Cushman gathering inspiration on the O6 Ranch in west Texas

Leon Collins doing what he did for years... demonstrating on the downtown Navasota sidewalk...

Russell on assignment for Windjammer Barefoot Cruises, in the Caribbean

Leon has been a fixture around Texas antique circles for several decades, buying, trading, selling... and it's actually how we met

Russell painting Mt. Cook in New Zealand

Leon was often seen painting down in front of Blues Alley (later transformed into Classic Rock Coffee ), under the mural he helped to paint

Russell shows his grandmother... blind but quite curious... his sculpture in Heritage Park at Bryan, Texas.

Russell hosted a well attended jam session at Blues Alley for a couple of years... where over time he experimented with playing drums, a wash tub, and even a bass. He stuck to painting.

Leon at work on his monumental portrait of "Texas" Alexander... depicted on the Music Mural in Blues Alley at Navasota...the most famous bluesman from Grimes County, painted by the most famous artist from Grimes County... How's that for some history?

Russell painting "plein air" in Palo Duro Canyon

Leon caught in a private moment... outside Serendipity's Cafe... where Texas singer-songwriters once performed every Friday night...

Russell does his version of Texas Ranger Jeff Milton for a busload of history buffs from Houston

Russell captured by Ashton Hall while at work on the mural at Hi-Ho Store in Navasota.