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In 2009, I received a call from Tyrone Penick, of Altus, Oklahoma that began a long email correspondence and friendship. He shared with me with great emotion the discovery of these Vern Parker paintings. Now they can be shared with other Parker admirerers. For more information, contact Tyrone: tpenick@sbcglobal.net
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| In the summer of 1978, my family and I were enjoying another trip to Colorado, as each year we would cover a different part of the state. Little did I know when we drove into the small town of Silverton that a discovery would be made that would thrill me for years to come. Keeping two small children in tow, we would work our way down one side of a street and up the other side. Then IT happened.
I stepped into a world of disbelief. There hanging on the walls were original paintings of horses that I had looked at for hours on end.
Let me regress here to tell you what I mean. When I was a young boy in the late forties and early fifties, my mother and father would go to Colorado every summer. The only difference between the trips then and later with my family was my mother thought seeing Colorado was looking thru the windshield and window. The only time we would stop would be for gas and to spend the night. When we would stop for gas I would hurry to the post card rack to see if I could find some more horse pictures. Of course the prettiest ones where painted by Vern Parker. I would spend hours looking at the conformation, alertness, beauty, and the story in the picture of the horses. My love for horses was deepened just by looking at the post cards.
Back to present time, stepping into the building, needless to say I was in a world of total amazement. Words cannot express the joy in my heart. Here in one place were pictures I had cherished for years.
All of the pictures had a Not for Sale sign on them. Questioning the man behind the counter I asked “How is it that you have all of these paintings”, to which he replied, “This is Vern Parker’s studio”. I said, “I have got to meet him”. The gentleman informed me that Vern had died two weeks past, but that his son and wife were in the other room. (This is the room that Eloise and Allen sold in later years.) This room was covered with paintings that I had not seen, but they all had the same sign Not for Sale. |
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Upon meeting Allen and thru my tears of disappointment of not meeting his father, I told him my story. He finally told me he would sell me one of the pictures in that room. (All the other big pictures in the other room were those of earlier postcards).
After looking at the paintings for a good hour, and meeting Eloise, I asked Allen to take two pictures down for me. One was the stampeding horses and the other one was calling to me. I chose that one.
It is a painting of an appaloosa with a ghost horse and other horses in the pasture behind. (See Painting) The appaloosa was calling to me as if it had been painted just for me. I told Allen that this was the one I wanted: to which he replied, “I’m sorry, but we did not take pictures of that one for post cards”. I was devastated. I asked him “Why the ghost horse in the picture”. Allen was surprised and asked how I knew it was a ghost horse, because he had asked his dad the same question? Pointing out that it was obvious to me, the horses in the background had had individual paintings made of each and that the horse was looking at me. He let me buy the horse with the promise that I had to let him have first opportunity to buy it back if and when I sold it. |
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This painting was also purchased by Tyrone at the studio. It is 5"x7". |
| Each year we would make our annual pilgrimage to Silverton. Finally in 1996, eighteen years later, I purchased “White Stallion in the Moonlight” and “Palomino Stallion”. "White Stallion in the Moonlight" is 49x33, and “Palomino Stallion” is 28x44 inches. I also requested they hold four paintings for me when they decided to sale them. |
 
| Original painting "White Stallion in the Moonlight " Vern Parker Postcard |
 
| Original painting "Palomino Stallion" Vern Parker Postcard This is one of Parker's first and most popular horse postcards. |
| In 2003, I purchased “Buckskin”, “Black Velvet”, “Ranger”, and “Golden Boy”. The these four are all 20x28. |
   
| Original painting "Buckskin" Vern Parker Postcard Original painting "Black Velvet" Vern Parker Postcard |
   
| Original painting "Ranger" Vern Parker Postcard Original painting "Golden Boy" Vern Parker Postcard
I know these paintings to be authentic as they are signed and I purchased the ones I have from Eloise directly over a long period of time. She knew of my love for Vern’s art and we shared a passion for his art for several years. |
| Tyrone was privileged to see and photograph other original paintings that had been published by Petley Studios. The whereabouts of "Time Out for Lunch" and "Palomino Mare and Colts" are unknown. |
   
| Original painting "Time Out for Lunch" Vern Parker Postcard Original painting "Palomino Mare & Colts" Vern Parker Postcard |
   
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Original painting "Battle of the Stallions" Vern Parker Postcard Original painting "Shetland Pony with Saddle" Vern Parker Postcard
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| The latest entry to the Known Art Page: In June, 2009, I received this message through the website: "Came across your website as I was looking for information on Vern Parker. My parents bought a painting while we were on vacation in Colorado in the early 70s. It is of a stagecoach riding over the top of a ill and it is painted on a piece of barnwood with a couple of old chains for hanging. It passed on to me and it is hanging in my garage. Just wondered if there was a story behind it. I don't remember the store but I think it was near the Durango train we took a ride on. Any info would be helpful. Thanks, Rich." |
 
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