Under the Texas Sky: S1:E12: The Art of Nature: Clemente Guzman

Major support for this podcast comes from the Texas Parks and Wildlife

Foundation: Conserving Our Wild Things and Wild Places for Over 25 Years.

[MUS—AUTUMN COLORS]

Beauty is where you find it. And an unsurpassed place to witness a

diverse array of beauty is the outdoors.

[SFX—AMBIENT BIRDS]

The sights and sounds of nature are rich and intriguing. Of course, if

you’re in the midst of it you’re going want to take out a camera or phone

to capture the moment. Like when you come across a great panoramic view

from the trail.

[SFX—SINGLE CAMERA CLICK]

Or find yourself mesmerized by the intricate design of pine cones.

[SFX—SINGLE CAMERA CLICK]

And how can you resist the sight of a mama coyote cautiously peering over

her shoulder her to see if she and her pups are being followed.

[SFX—MULTIPLE CLICKS]

It's a way to take a little bit of those magical outdoor experiences back

home to share with friends, family and co-workers. While some of us may

document nature with a camera.... others capture the outdoors with

pencil, pen and brush.

[SFX—BRUSH ON CANVAS]

[CLEMENTE] Right here what I'm doin', I'm applying paint on a

canyon. I'll get the...the brown, and I go in the direction of the

canyon. And I'll just fill in the area. [

[MUS—POLITICAL COURAGE]

Today’s podcast is another in our occasional series called The Art of

Nature. It’s where we tell the story of an artist who tells the stories

of Nature through their work. Stay with us.

[MUS—HOWDY]

From Texas Parks and Wildlife…this is Under the Texas Sky …a podcast

about nature…and people… and the connection they share…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Today in The Art of Nature, we explore the life and work of wildlife and

nature artist Clemente Guzman from San Antonio. Producer, Randall Maxwell

spent time with Clemente this past spring, and talked with him about his

nearly thirty-year career as an artist for Texas Parks and Wildlife

Department. You saw a lot of his work in Texas Parks and Wildlife

magazine and on brochures and posters. We

learn about Clemente’s love of nature, and where he finds the inspiration

for his highly detailed creations. Clemente shares with us his latest

honor: being chosen as a centennial artist to help

commemorate the upcoming 100th anniversary of Texas State Parks.

[MUS—FOUR LEAF CLOVER]

[CLEMENTE] When I'm painting with acrylics, I'll use like some

finer brushes. I'll have a cup of water and then I'll start painting.

[RANDALL] Clemente Guzman began drawing and painting images of

wildlife in his teens. He's always had a love of nature and the outdoors.

[CLEMENTE] I love nature. I like being outside. There’s a lot of

things that might inspire me, especially the light, the light, how in the

morning, like, when you’re walking on the trail…you see something that

the light is just hitting it the right way. And it does something in me

where, oh, man, that’s nice. That’d look nice on a painting, you know. It

just moves you. And that’s when you know that, you know, you got to do

something, you know. It’s a calling.

[MUS—SPRING SUNRISE]

[RANDALL] As a young starving artist early on in his career Clemente was

a freelancer, primarily creating artwork for ad agencies. Until one day a

client noticing the level of detail in Clemente's art suggested he seek

that higher calling. Not one at a seminary. She was talking about a

conservation calling... at a state agency known as Texas Parks and

Wildlife.

[CLEMENTE] One of my clients, she said, man, you’re good at wildlife. You

should call them. And, she called them for me, set up an appointment,

and I went out there and I met Pris Martin. She was head of graphics. She

told me, there’s no positions open. I said, well, that’s okay, but if you

could see my portfolio and critique it, see where I need improvement. I

really would appreciate that. And she said, sure, come in any day. So, I

called her one day, went out there, and showed her my portfolio and she

was blown away. She said, man I love your work. When I have a position

open, I’m going to call you so you can come and interview. I said, sure I

would appreciate that. At that time, man, I was looking for work

desperately, you know. I was doing freelance work and I was working at a

daycare center. It changed my life coming to work for Texas Parks and

Wildlife.

[MUS—CLOCK A CHANCE]

[RANDALL] And change his life it did. Clemente spent 29 and a half years

at the agency creating artwork for hunting guides, conservation stamps

and license plates, posters, brochures as well as the Texas Parks and

Wildlife magazine.

[CLEMENTE] Texas Parks and Wildlife has given me a lot of

perspective towards wildlife and wildlife conservation. That’s part of

painting. That’s part of that excitement that I’m looking for.

[RANDALL]For Clemente, the excitement comes from his continued

inspiration by the natural world around him. He insists that nature has

its own energy that draws you into it. And where it leads you is up to

your own curiosity.

[SFX—WILDLIFE RUSTLE]

[CLEMENTE] like sometimes it’s a wildlife. Like I’ll see something

run off on my trail, like, why don’t I go and follow it, see what it

does.

[SFX—BIRD SCREECH]

[CLEMENTE] A hawk. Watching a hawk fly over you, it just passes

right in front of you, you know. It just an experience that you were not

expecting it, and it just crossed your path for a reason. I believe

things happen for a reason. But, you know, it’s things like that that

drives me, and I could have an idea in my head already planned out, when

I come out it might not be there anymore. I might be pulled by a

different direction, that’s how inspiration works. So you got to

follow it when you see it, you know, and it leads you to something else

that you might not be thinking of.

[MUS—LOTUS FLOWER]

[SFX—SCRAPING CANVAS]

[CLEMENTE] I create art because it inspires me, it moves me.

When I’m not inspired, I don’t feel like painting. And being out in

nature does that to me. It has that magic. You know when you have it

because you can’t sleep. You know, you’ll get up…it’s like falling in

love, you know, you’re just thinking about it all the time.

[MUS—INX443]

From Texas Parks and Wildlife…this is Under the Texas Sky …a podcast

about nature…and people… and the connection they share…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Support from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation allows us to bring

you stories from Under the Texas Sky. In fact, since 1991, the Foundation

has raised more than $190 million to conserve the lands, waters and

wildlife of our state. You can help by becoming a member. Find out how at

WeWillNotBeTamed.org Something else that will not be tamed is the work of

artist Clemente Guzman. His paintings of wild things and wild places

graced the pages of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine as well as

brochures, posters, stamps and more. This past spring, Producer Randall

Maxwell spent a day with Clemente, getting to know the artist and his

art.

[MUS—BUTTERFLY EFFECT]

[RANDALL]Clemente Guzman spent nearly thirty years creating art for the

people of Texas through his work for Texas Parks and Wildlife. He's

retired now

but by no means is he putting away his brushes. In fact, you might say

he's graduated to the rank of Centennial Artist. You see this all came

about when he was recently commissioned along with 30 other Texas artists

to create paintings commemorating the upcoming 100th anniversary of Texas

State Parks in 2023.

[CLEMENTE] To be a Centennial painter, that’s like from the

creator. That’s how I feel. You know, I looked up on the internet, the

other artists. They’re extremely good painters. So, I’m up for a

challenge. You know, and I’m looking forward to it.

[RANDALL] Clemente was commissioned to create paintings for three

parks. Government Canyon State Natural Area, Palmetto State Park and Lake

Somerville State Park. All of which are just a hop, skip and a jump from

his home in San Antonio.

[SFX—CAR DOOR]

And that first hop... was to get inspired.

[SFX—CAR START]

[RANDALL] So he headed out to Government Canyon with camera in hand to

capture inspiration. But once he hit the park's trails, he quickly

realized the canyon's spirits were already communicating with him.

[CLEMENTE] The canyons to me are very inspirational. When I

run into a canyon, I say, man, people probably lived here, you know,

going especially back hundreds of years ago, maybe to Native American

times, uh, they lived probably underneath it, you know, thinking, well,

man, I’m walking right on their path, you know. That, to me, is powerful,

like…or it could be an abandoned building, you know, from an old farmer,

rancher, in the same spot that you’re standing, and you think of, how

many people walked in that same little spot you’re on? And it could be

humans or animals, you know. It just, to me that’s fascinating.

[SFX—HIKING TRAIL]

[RANDALL] Clemente loved the ruggedness of the habitat in Government

Canyon. And while he saw a lot of wildlife on the trail, two images stuck

with him. The park's 110-million-year-old dinosaur tracks and a small

lizard. Suddenly inspiration hit.

[CLEMENTE] I took some pictures and got my mind thinking, I

found this lizard that I thought it would be a great idea to put him

inside a dinosaur track. I got those elements together, the dinosaur

footprint and the lizard. It just fit beautifully, the angle of the

lizard and the footprint. I’m going to paint that for Government Canyon.

[MUS—RAINY MORNING]

[RANDALL] Marrying the past with the present. What a great representation

of Government Canyon State Natural Area. Clemente Guzman's eyes are not

just on the canvas, but also on the conservation of native habitats. He

feels if we don't leave any space for wildlife, they won't have a home

and he won't have anything to paint. But he's hopeful his artwork will

inspire others to cherish and connect with

nature.

[CLEMENTE] When somebody looks at my painting, I want them to

feel the experience that I experienced, the excitement, the inspiration

that I got. You know, some people, they don’t go out to the parks. But,

the parks has tremendous benefit into our mind, body, and soul. Just by

being out there with your family, or by yourself—just hiking, biking, it

molds a person into something better.

We agree, Clemente. Life is better outside. Out on the trail with

Clemente Guzman, I’m Randall Maxwell.

[MUS—THE ART OF HAPPINESS]

Thank you, Randall. The book celebrating the 100-year anniversary of

Texas State Parks, featuring the work of Clemente Guzman and 30 other

Texas artists is scheduled for release in 2023… along with an initial

public exhibition of the paintings at the Bullock Texas State History

Museum in Austin.

I have some news for you…Under the Texas Sky is taking a hiatus to work

on the next season of programming, which begins in April 2020. We’re

working on shows about women in conservation, rainwater harvesting,

paddling in Texas, our Texas state park system, wildlife like bats and

coyotes and—as they say—a whole lot more.

Meanwhile, we invite you to revisit the past year’s shows—or hear them

for the first time. AND…we’d love for you to get involved in the podcast.

Send us your story ideas. Tell us what you’d like us to talk about on the

podcast.

Another way to get involved is to send us your Shout Out to the Wild.

That’s where you let us know about a favorite memory or experience or

impression about the great Texas outdoors. And we’ll let you share it

yourself with podcast listeners right on the podcast. Who loves you? Just

go to underthetexassky.org and click on the “Get Involved” link. We’ll be

in touch.

[MUS—TO ORBIT YOUR SOUL]

And so, we come to the end of another podcast. Under the Texas Sky is a

production of Texas Parks and Wildlife and is available at

UndertheTexasSky.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

We record the podcast at The Block House in Austin, Texas. Joel Block

does our sound design.

I’m your producer and host, Cecilia Nasti, reminding you that life’s

better outside when you’re Under the Texas Sky.

Major support for this podcast comes from the Texas Parks and Wildlife

Foundation: Conserving Our Wild Things and Wild Places for Over 25 Years.

Join us again next time for Under the Texas Sky.

[CLEMENTE] I create art because it inspires me, it moves me. And

being out in nature does that to me. It has that magic …it’s like falling

in love