Texas Cowboy - 1896 
Pen & Ink on Antique Map
Texas is nicknamed the Lone Star State, symbolizing its independent spirit, as well as its former status as an independent republic. Texas is the second-largest state in the Union by both area and population. In 1845, Texas joined the United States of America as the 28th state. Texas is known for its cowboy culture and boasts a rich cowboy heritage with cultural icons like the Texas Rangers. In 1930, “Friendship” was adopted as the Texas state motto. The motto was most likely chosen because the name, o Texas or Tejas, was the Spanish pronunciation of the local Indian tribe's word meaning friends.
Texas is known for cowboys because of its history of cattle ranching, cattle drives and the development of the cowboy way. The history of the cowboys in Texas begins with the vaqueros, who were the first cowhands in the region and began herding cattle in northern Mexico in the 1590s. They were skilled at managing cattle on horseback with the use of the lasso as well as developing techniques for branding and herding. 
When the United States annexed Texas in 1845, expanding new markets for Texas cattle and with the vast open lands of Texas ranching, it became instilled in American legend. Cowboys were very independent and became famous during the Texas cattle drives of the 1860s through the 1890s. This large-scale cattle ranching led to cowboys herded large herds of longhorn cattle across long distances to market, particularly after the Civil War when the demand for beef surged; this system solidified the iconic image of the Texas cowboy with their distinctive skills and gear, including the lasso, branding and horseback riding. 
Cowboys continue to help run large ranches in Texas. The cowboy lifestyle and culture are still found across Texas.
I combine antique atlas maps with the art of pen & ink drawing, using my version of stippling with my own creative perspectives. The background for this drawing of a western saddle is on a Texas map, which was published in 1896 in a Johnsons Cyclopedia.