Convergent evolution is when two different species, sometimes widely separated by time or location, adapt to similar environments by evolving similar characteristics. An example is the streamlined shapes of sharks (a fish), ichthyosaurs (a reptile), and dolphins (a mammal). I think something similar occurs to artists, allowing them to sometimes think very much alike.
In 2006 I visited the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. On my way home, I took a shortcut down a small highway across the great plains of eastern Colorado on to Kansas. I usually keep my eye open for interesting sights along the way that I can photograph and use in my artwork at a later date. We were in a hurry to get home, so I had to be content with taking quick snapshots of buildings and terrain as I sped along in the car. Driving through Matheson, Colorado, my eye spotted a simple, white church that just cried out to be painted. Unfortunately, my camera wasn't ready, I missed the shot and while I should have stopped and gone back to photograph it, I didn't and regretted it almost immediately.
Then in early 2009, I started to explore on the internet the Street View feature o
f Google Maps that allowed you to view the surrounding landscape from any point along roads that had been photographed by Google. It occurred to me that I might be able to re-capture views from the highway that I had missed before. At right is an image captured from Google Maps Street View of that church that I downloaded in April, 2009.
Great minds must think alike because a couple of weeks ago I opened my September, 2009 issue of
Southwest Art magazine and on page 12, to my surprise, was another image
of that same church in Matheson, Colorado. It was a watercolor,
Church Key, Matheson, by
Brian Clifford, 22 x 30, shown at right. Mr. Clifford's painting is too detailed to have been made from Google's crude image, but it does show that he was, as was I, struck by the same simple lines and graceful shapes of this little church, nearly alone out on the plains. I commend Mr. Clifford for following through and creating a fine work of art. I will eventually do the same, probably in oil. You'll see it here first, when I do.
The East Suburban Artists League is holding its annual members show at the Penn State Gallery at their New Kensington, PA campus during the month of December, 2009. The campus is located on Route 780 in Upper Burrell, PA in Westmoreland County. More than 50 paintings, drawings and sculptures are part of the exhibit, and many are for sale at prices ranging from $50 to $500. An artists' reception is slated for 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, in the gallery. The Art Gallery and the East Suburban Artists League exhibit will be open through the holiday break except for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The reception and exhibit are free to the public. For information on ESAL, contact Sue Foster at (724) 327-6097 or susanfoster@windstream.net via e-mail. The two pictures shown here are by Bob Bickers and appear in the exhibit, Clear Signal and Misdirection. Both pictures are framed and available for sale at $60 each. Click on the images to enlarge. 
