Even other artists have thought Red Allen’s detailed oil paintings were photographs. “Hurry Up and Wait” is an example of his skill. The canvas features three cowboys on horseback passing time in the field. An unforgiving sun casts shadows from their hats onto their denim work shirts. Viewers can almost swat flies and smell the hay as they, too, work up a sweat.

Allen’s work is up in April at Texas Artists Museum. Sure he studied business in college, but he also worked as a cowboy at White Ranch in Chambers County and at the famed LX Ranch outside Amarillo. That must be how all those images of boots, kids sitting on fences and animals got stuck in his head. This award-winning artist also painted an image of Will Rogers.

After a visit to TAM, head to Museum of the Gulf Coast to experience more of Port Arthur. It’s also the season to head to Sea Rim State Park.