A Day in the Life...

2012-01-26T09:43:00.001-06:00

Today is my husband's birthday and this is my gift to him. I have always wanted a Bernese Mountain Dog and he and I got Bella for each other for Christmas. She is funny, and goofy, and she makes me laugh out loud every day. I decided to do a portrait of her for his gift. Oh yeah, and I am taking him to the electronic store for a surround sound system for his big screen TV too...I am the perfect wife. :)

Who Me? pastel, 5x7

Snow fun!

2012-01-23T10:42:00.004-06:00

We have had record temperatures this year in Minnesota, on the warm side this time.Christmas was in the 50's. But today, it is typical temps in the 20s and snow coming down. I just love days like this. I fill up my birdfeeder and heated bird bath outside my studio window and paint. But today I took a break and played with my dogs in the backyard...

Bella has a snow mustache.

Working off some pent up energy

Snow dash!

Again, my cam is up pretty much all the time now, so see the post below to catch the link. With the snow and the cold, the squirrels are taking over my backyard!

I will post my new painting in a couple of days, see you then.

For fun...

2012-01-18T09:17:00.002-06:00

The bird feeder outside my window is particularly busy today with the cold temperatures. Not real exciting yet, but as the day progresses, it will get very busy.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/victoriaschultz

Pink and Blue-a tribute

2012-01-16T09:07:00.000-06:00

I grow the most amazing peonies in my backyard. They thrive because I leave them alone, I say that because when I fuss over flowers, they die. Bluebirds are all over our property and I just love watching them, feeding them and giving them a place to live.
January 15th in 2003, the day after her 70th birthday, I lost my mother to cancer, breast cancer was one of the three types she had. She beat it three times until her little body just gave out. I dedicate this painting to her and her fight. I will be offering this painting as a print soon and donate the proceeds to the American Cancer Association.

She was so beautiful! Inside and out.

I loved to tease her about this picture, she HATED it because the photographer made her pose like this. You can see her displeasure in her face! I am overcome with emotion on how much we look like each other at this age. I aspire to be as kind and giving as she was.

A sad passing...

2012-01-14T15:13:00.002-06:00

About four years ago, our neighbors got a leak in their fish tank. It only contained feeder goldfish, so they sneaked over to our little fountain pond and deposited them. They did not tell us this, of course, and about three weeks later we found that there were tiny flashes of gold in our pond. I called my neighbor Peggy and asked her, "Did you put goldfish in our pond?" Her response was, "I swear to you that I did not put fish in your pond...my kids did, but not me."

We decided to get a tank heater and keep them. Today, one left the earthly plane. We estimate that this fish was about 8-10 years old, and yes, that is a full size shovel, and yes, that is a feeder goldfish.

Somehow, they managed to breed and we have one left of the original three and three babies.

Let's pause in quiet reflection and remember this extraordinary fish and it's unbelievable life.

Now, I say...SUSHI!!!!

Harvest Time

2012-01-09T12:29:00.000-06:00

Harvest Time, Oil on board, 9.5x11.5
This is from reference photo that I took on my 20th anniversary trip to Napa. The cardinals are from my backyard. I was fascinated by the combination of colors.
This painting is sold.

Jessie

2012-01-05T17:23:00.000-06:00

I can never figure out why people wander into our lives and wander out, all I know, is there is a reason for it. A special friend of mine, through her facebook posts, introduced me to this special little girl. I "liked" her page, not knowing much about her, but as the months rolled along, she became a part of my day...everyday. I thought of her, prayed for her, and she touched me in a way that no one ever has.
She was diagnosed with two inoperable brain tumors and spent much of the last year in and out of the hospital. Despite her pain and chemo, she managed to create a foundation called NEGU (Never Ever Give Up) and made gifts, Joy Jars, for other children with cancer. She taught me that even though you are faced with the worst of all circumstances, giving back is far reaching and blessed.
Today, sweet Jessie lost her fight. I encourage you to visit her foundation and give what you can. Pay it forward and the world will always be richer.

Check out this link to her story. I hope she touches your life like she did mine.http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=c95EUjw28KM

Too true...

2012-01-05T09:00:00.000-06:00

Not all of my followers are on Facebook, so I had to share this on my blog. My friend Paula Waterman posted this and it made me laugh. You can see her work at www.paulawaterman.com

Before and After

2012-01-04T09:47:00.000-06:00

It is no secret that artists have a tendency to be disorganized and a bit, shall we say, scattered. I went to the extreme in the last few months trying to meet deadlines. So, I am letting you into my studio at it's worst, something that makes me extremely uncomfortable. After all, I am creative, organized, meet all my deadlines, and never, ever forget to return a phone call, right? Yeah, right. Well, here is how my studio looked yesterday.

The floor is littered dog toys (remember, we have a puppy). receipts, paint brushes, and oil rags. Disgraceful!

My "office" is a walk in closet. My wonderful husband created shelves and a desktop for my books, reference photos, and art supplies. Handy in that I can shut the door and lose the look of all that clutter. Notice, that I also have to share my space with fur.

The cabinet to the left of my easel was made by a dear friend, Daniel, and holds the thousands of pastels that I have. I have them separated by color in each drawer. If you are a pastelist and looking for the perfect way to keep your pastels safe, contact me and I will pass on his number. To the right of the easel is a taboret my husband made to keep my paints and pastels on. Also notice the flat screen TV that was a gift from him with a new surround system. blue ray, and iPod docking station. I am sooooo spoiled.

Voila! It took all day, and a lot of elbow grease, but the studio is now functional again. My reference is filed, my receipts are in their proper place, my brushes organized and put away, the palette clean and ready for the next painting, dog toys put away, floors swept and mopped, Borco installed on the easel, and the lights re-installed.

All I can say is thank goodness for Crate and Barrel and Target for storage.

Zoe gives her approval.

You might notice that I have a number of pelts in my studio. Do not be put off by this, I have collected these over the years from estate sales, antique markets, Native American friends, and the skulls, bones and antlers are collected from my property or from friends. I use these for study and education to better understand the animals that I paint. I do not support the fur market and will not buy furs or pelts that promote the killing of animals for their pelts.

'Tis the season...

2012-01-03T12:06:00.002-06:00

My studio is an absolute mess! So before I even try to attempt drawing out a new painting, I decided to get my filing done, the paints and odds-n-ends put away, sweep and dust, and install my new Borco on my easel. I did not plan on having this as a speed bump in my way.

How can I disturb such complete comfort?

I will post before and after pictures and you will see why I am pulling out my hair!

A New Year...

2012-01-02T11:37:00.004-06:00

I started a project last year, I wanted to do a painting a week that was out of my "comfort zone". Unfortunately, I was blindsided by a traumatic injury to my painting hand and my hours at the easel had to be limited. Even now, my hand is still not right, and probably never will be but I am determined to do this project.

This is a pastel I did with four colors, black, ochre, white and red brown. It is 18"x22" and I did it with the pastels and the heel of my hand. I resisted the urge to get into detail (very hard indeed) but I stopped at a point when I looked at it and smiled. I am not sure that this will be my new style, but I hope to do more of these and have some fun. I hope you like it.

2012 Calendar

2011-12-28T08:38:00.001-06:00

My 2012 Home on the Range calendar was very well received. I know this because I am sold out and Calendars.com is sold out as well. The only place I can find it now is on Ebay. Thank you for making my first calendar such a big success. Keep checking back and if more become available, I will post where.

2011-12-12T15:56:00.001-06:00

It has been a wonderful year. We had a wonderful 20th anniversary trip this year in Northern California, had some wonderful times with wonderful friends. We said goodbye to our beautiful companion of 15 years, Loki. We welcomed Bella, in the middle, two weeks ago. We met wonderful people, made new friends, and sadly said goodbye to some. All in all, we are truly blessed.

We hope this holiday season is filled with laughter and light.

Hugs to you and your family from the Schultz Zoo!

The making of a perfect Christmas Card

2011-12-11T14:19:00.000-06:00

And so it begins. The dogs are groomed and decked out. My patient husband starts the posing. Remember, the middle dog, Bella, is our new 6 month old puppy...we are prepared for the worst.

She lays down and the light is wrong. Oh yeah, and her tongue is sticking out. Zoe and Dakota are looking for their treat.

Light is good, but wrong exposure, and again...looking for snausages. Notice John is dashing off to get out of the way.

Zoe makes a dash for freedom. Bella and Dakota being the youngest and the most behaved. My favorite part of this is, Burbank the cat was trying his best to get into the picture. We didn't even know he was in the room.

The final picture, the only picture. And all the time, Burbank is chewing on one of my ornaments. He is probably angry that he was not asked to be a part of the picture. But who would ever think that a cat would sit still?

I have a whole new respect for the mall photographers that take pictures of children.

Merry Christmas.

A short video before I had to get the lighting right...

Pardon me for my soap box...

2011-12-09T13:52:00.001-06:00

I do not like to get political on my blog, in fact, I don't like to get political or preachy at all. But a recent conversation with a friend reminded me of how we have forgotten the power of gratitude. In an age where we text and don't talk, email and don't phone, where the post office is losing it's battle because no one can use a stamp...I am reminded that we have precious few privileges on this planet, and the ones that we do have, we take advantage of. It is not I pads, or I phones, or new cars, it is that we have each other. Do not send me a gift for Christmas that you put no thought into. I would rather you sponsor a hungry child, do an hour of public service, rescue an abandoned dog...or simply give thanks for all that we have. Wake up every morning and say thank you to who ever, or what ever you believe in, and spread the word.
I am weary of the everyday issues of society. I don't care who you sleep with, or eat with, or what kind of car you drive, or who you support politically. Just care for each other and the rest will fall into place.
Imagine a world where we think of others before we think of ourselves. How powerful would that be?

Giving back...

2011-12-08T17:15:00.001-06:00

There are times that we shine. There are times that we fail. Then there are times that we can give back. I was once asked by an artist, "How can you give up your secrets?", my response was "How can I not?"
I did not stumble onto this profession by accident. I called every artist I admired, I mailed every artist I did not have a phone number for, I emailed every artist I admired and asked them, how do you do it???? They are in every painting that I have ever painted. I would never think to keep what I have learned to myself, if I can help you, I will. I am here for you, new artist. Ask me and I will help you in any way that I can.

This video is a perfect example of how we can reach out to each other and change a life. What can be better than that???? Change a life, that is perfection. God gives us gifts, to keep our light hidden is a slap in the face of that gift.

Give up your ego, encourage that young talent...even if you know that they will plow you under as Mr. Buble says.

Talent or Skill?

2011-12-08T13:01:00.001-06:00

My Facebook friend Jim Bortz posted this on his blog and I had to share it. It may be a little..how should I say...heavy handed, but I appreciate his sentiment. I know that when someone who is not an artist comes to me and says, "You are an artist? That must be so relaxing!" (obviously never had to make a living at it), or "That looks just like a photograph" (Here, I must say, is always said as a compliment. But we do not paint like photographs, we paint. I appreciate the compliment, but that is not what I was trying to do.)

One of the hardest things I had to get through to my friends was that just because I work at home, does not mean that I do not work. I do not have time to go to a movie in the afternoon, or to get a pedicure just because you have a day off. I work, I work hard. If I am not painting, I am studying painting, or going through reference, studying anatomy, in the field up to my hips in mud watching how a cow moves, or a horse grazes. I once had to chase a wolf pup down who had one of my lenses in his mouth. I sit on the back porch and dissect the light coming through the trees and how I can make that work on canvas. I am NEVER not working. Yes, I have the greatest job on the planet. I am lucky to be able to do what I do, but don't think that it comes easy...it does not. I am grateful that you like what I do, I am happy if I can make something for you that makes you happy. I am truly blessed, but I work hard for that blessing.

Here is Jim's post...

Talent... or Skill?

When someone tells me that I’m “talented,” I know it’s a term of admiration… though unknowingly misguided. Don’t admire my talent, for it is such a small part of what I do. Admire my dedication, skill, and sacrifice. Those are the qualities of which I’m most proud.

It starts out innocent enough. Someone at a show or exhibit will be gushing over my work, tossing complements about like rice at a wedding (no one throws rice anymore, do they?) and all but making me squirm with at having to say “thank you” so many times. Then the words come out that make my blood boil. “I wish I had your talent. This must come naturally to you.” Really? Like I eat a couple of tubes of paint for breakfast every morning and crap out finished 12x16 canvas later the same night (never mind how painful that might be. And I know they mean nothing hurtful by these words, so I just smile and nod hoping they don’t notice my white knuckles as I grind a fist into my leg. If they only knew the mind-boggling stack of past failures it took to get here and the paralyzing knowledge that there are many more failures to come... the years of study and frustration to achieve a level of competence where I wouldn’t throw up at the thought of showing my work in public... the amount of research and planning it takes before I ever dip a brush in paint.

I love what I do, but there is no “magic” in the process. It’s simply work. Not the kind of work you do with a wrench or shovel. I’ve done plenty of that in my time. And not unpleasant work, but a continual task of study, experimentation, evaluation, and then application of a learned knowledge. It’s a skill… not a talent. The magic happens when someone stands in front of a painting and says something like, “I’ve been there” or “I can almost smell that water.” Now that’s magic!

I don’t deny that it’s possible (maybe even necessary) talent may play a part in the stages of artistic development. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had an obsession with drawing. Still, I didn’t understand much about it until I started studying the work and teachings of others who were highly skilled at the craft. To dismiss what any skilled craftsman or woman does as some whimsical gift by a higher power is an insult (though it’s almost never intended that way)

There will always be folks that disagree with me on this subject (though very few of them are professional artists), and that’s okay. I’m not really hoping to change anyone’s mind. These merely the ramblings of my own tormented mind (discussed in an earlier post). It’s fine that there is some mystery to art. It adds an element of romantic notion to what I do. But I’d rather that romance be directed toward the finished piece than any mistaken enchantment in its creation.

I think he says what we all think at some time or another. We have a tendency to dismiss the work that goes into a finished product. If you go to a restaurant and get a really amazing meal, your thought is not that the chef was gifted...you know that he/she studied to combine those elements of the food to make it work. If your mechanic fixes your brakes, you know that he/she studied to learn how to do that. An artist is no different. We study, we learn, we fail, we flail, we recover, we have ah ha moments, and we succeed every now and then.

Just to let you know, we appreciate your comments, bad and good. We listen, and sometimes we learn, but you are the reason that we do this. If no one was there to look at our work, why would we do it?

Thank you.

Day 3

2011-11-30T08:29:00.001-06:00

Day 3 of the Bella occupation and I have learned a few things...
1. Underwear, bras, socks, pants, etc. left on the floor and unattended are subject to random dispersal throughout the house.
2. Any exposed appendages from under the covers are subject to licking, chewing, or pouncing.
3. Cat tails are officially chew toys.
4. Dog tails are officially cat toys.
5. Anything within Bella's reach is, in fact, Bella's.
6. A SpotBot can become your best friend.
7. Come, sit, down, no no, drop that, what are you eating?, and all other commands are subject to being ignored completely.
What have we gotten into?

New Family Member

2011-11-29T13:53:00.001-06:00

I have not posted in a while because of the holidays, shows, and our newest distraction...Bella. She is a 6 month old Bernese Mountain Dog and has stolen our hearts. I can't wait to watch her grow into a big beautiful girl.

What a pretty face!

Dakota, our five year old corgi, is still skeptical.

Zoe, our seven year old corgi, is not intimidated by her size...yet.

She may be big in stature, but she is short on stamina.

Horse Crazy

2011-11-06T11:25:00.001-06:00

Done. Now I am off to Easton, MD for the Waterfowl Festival. If you are in the area, stop by the armory building and say hello.

Early Snow

2011-11-04T11:27:00.002-06:00

Done. It is not cropped like I would like, but I always paint some "bleed" for the scan. I really like the way this one turned out, which is saying a lot, because I am my worst critic.

I titled this one "Early Snow" because I did not want to paint this gorgeous horse fuzzy like you see them in winter. He is my dream of a black stallion and has the most beautiful face. I hope you like it.

Horse Crazy WIP

2011-11-01T10:36:00.000-06:00

I was infected with the "horse bug" at a very early age. Once it hits you, it is hard to shake. I am now 47 years old and I am still hopelessly lost in my horse obsession. I remember as a kid, laying on my horse's back, book propped on his butt, my feet hooked over his neck as he grazed, for a long summer afternoon of bliss. This painting is dedicated to my childhood and all those kids who were like I was.

I am in overdrive at this point, getting ready for a show next week, finishing up my 2014 calendar, and trying my best to keep my head on straight. I will add photos of this as I can.

Tuesday, end of the day

Wednesday, morning 12:00

Remembering Loki

2011-10-31T13:32:00.000-06:00

The last week had been tough, there is a huge hole in my house since Loki has been gone. I still make room for him with my feet in the bed, I still look behind myself when changing direction because he was always at my hip, ready to trip me, I still go to his food bin to fill his dish, and when I am at the cutting board, I still see his eyes looking up at me, praying that I will drop something...anything. I pulled up a friend's page and this was there...it comforted me in a way that is hard to describe. We may have changed his world for a while, but he changed us forever.

Early Snow

2011-10-30T11:01:00.000-06:00

In light of recent events on the east coast, I decided to name this painting, Early Snow. It still has a long way to go, but I photographed this black horse about 7 years ago and always thought that he would be even more beautiful with a coat of snowflakes on his mane and back.

At this point I am just blocking in the colors and adding blues, purples, and blacks to build an underpainting. It is a small painting, 10x10ish, so it should not take me too long.

I have been swamped with work and getting ready for my upcoming show. My husband has been on the road a lot so the chores and pets have been my responsibility. I apologize to my friends that have called and I have not got back to. I promise I will get myself caught up and then get caught up with emails and phone calls.

Happy Halloween!!!!

What a Cowboy Needs-Finished

2011-10-25T12:41:00.000-06:00

Done! Now...to the next.

All A Cowboy Needs WIP

2011-10-17T10:35:00.000-06:00

My latest pastel, All A Cowboy Needs. This is Jake and Mulie, these two had a bond like I have never seen between a dog and a person. I photographed them at the Artist Ride in South Dakota. I work on a suede board and soft pastels, this gives a soft look to the painting. I put a lot more detail in the background than I usually do, but I wanted to give a look of "openness" to the scene. This is a small piece, 10x12, so it should not take too long...famous last words, right?

MO Show

2011-10-17T07:58:00.003-06:00

I am honored that, Day at the Office, was accepted into the prestigious Mountain Oyster Western Show this year. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to hang my work with some of the best western artists in the country.

The Mountain Oyster Club, established in 1948, is a private club composed of members united in the interest of preserving Southwestern heritage and “Old Pueblo” tradition. Their foundations in this way of life vary. Whether they come from pioneer stock with deep roots in Arizona, are ranchers, farmers, or horsemen, are professionals working with livestock interests or are Western artists or collectors of Western art, this society of Westerners remains dedicated to western traditions, art and the western way of life.
Each year the Club sponsors the Annual Southwestern Art Show and Sale, considered to be one of the most outstanding showcases of western art by many of the country’s finest artists. The club boasts its own extensive collection of western art.

FORTY SECOND ANNUAL

CONTEMPORARY WESTERN ART

SHOW AND SALE

wil be held on

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011

In the Mountain Oyster Club

The Mountain Oyster Club Western Art Show and Sale is by invitation only.

The Mountain Oyster Club Contemporary Western Art Show and Sale began in 1970 with the works of 18 artists in an effort to help the little-appreciated Western artists sell their work. The show has grown to display more than four hundred works of over two hundred artists each year with the works of lesser known artists hanging along side well established ones. Art sales are conducted on a lottery system. Interested buyers complete an intent to purchase form and sign their name to the card presented with the piece. At 5:30p.m. on Sunday, November 20, 2011, a drawing will be conducted to determine the buyer of any contested pieces and the order of multiple bronze editions. Any unsold pieces will remain available until January on a first come basis. Purchased pieces may be picked up or shipped to the buyer (at the buyers cost) beginning in January.

Home on the Range Calendar 2012

2011-10-15T10:10:00.001-06:00

I am thrilled to announce my 2012 calendar from Legacy Publishing is available. It is 15.95 + 3.99 shipping and handling. If you are interested in purchasing one, please send me an email at foxrunstudio@aol.com. I accept MC, Visa, and Paypal.

Goodbye Loki

2011-10-14T13:42:00.001-06:00

14 years ago, I was driving through Sun Valley, CA and stopped at a stoplight. Trapped in the middle of traffic, was a gangley, thin, black shepherd. I pulled my car into the intersection and stopped traffic. I opened my door and grabbed this poor scared dog and threw him into the back seat of my Geo Storm. The rest is history. He was our best friend, protector, clown, and snuggler.
At 11, he collapsed and we found out that his heart was failing. Well, we had a pacemaker implanted and he stayed with us for 4 more wonderful years. We have many wonderful memories of him, and there will not be a day that I won't look for his wagging tail and bright eyes.
I will miss you big dog.

He was big, but he was gentle. He took care of Zoe when she was a baby.

I think this is my favorite picture of him. He loved to play ball, and he was so patient with puppies, even with Zoe, who could be very trying on your nerves.

Patience....

Handsome man.

Keep away games with the short legged dog...

Their play always looked rough, but it was always in good fun.

We called him Canyon Dog. He loved to go for hikes more than any other dog that I have ever had. So we decided to put him to work and he carried his own water, Power Bars for us and film for my camera.

Again, patience with a new puppy. Dakota wanted his treat, he would not relent, but he would share.

All Dressed Up Finished

2011-10-11T15:25:00.001-06:00

Well, maybe...at this point, I will put the painting aside and pull it out again to "tweak" it. Sometimes when you spend as much time on a painting as I did this one, you miss some really obvious errors. So to step away, and come back for a second look, can help. The photo was taken from my table in not ideal light, but you get the idea.
All Dressed Up (Royal Horse Guard), 16x20, oil

All Dressed Up WIP

2011-10-06T07:45:00.002-06:00

Bit by bit...pardon the pun.

2011-10-04T12:12:00.000-06:00

I had a really rough morning, too much to explain, but as a way to escape my sadness, I decided to hit the "next blog" button on blogger. I stumbled upon a wonderful blog by www.nessadeeart.blogspot.com and found this post of her "confessions". I was struck by how many of them we had in common, right down to the Diet Dr Pepper. Please take a minute to look at her blog, she seems like an amazing person.

These are her (and my) confessions....

My studio is so messy right now, I can barely walk through it.
:: I made my kids waffles with whipped cream and syrup just so I could steal some bites.

:: I have a major case of artist’s block.

:: In a little over a week I will be displaying my art at a coffee shop downtown. I haven’t near enough pieces painted yet.

:: I lost my Diet Dr. Pepper somewhere in my house this morning, and I’ve yet to find it.

:: I might have finished the Diet D.P. and it’s now in the trash. I can’t remember.

:: I drink sodas so fast that I don’t remember if I’ve finished them.

:: I now eat peanut butter mixed with plain yogurt. It’s kind of gross, but I look forward to it every day.

:: My door knob falls off my front door every time we shut it. It’s been this way for at least 3 months.

:: I didn’t brush my teeth this morning.

:: It took me 2 hours to get my camera battery off the charger into the camera. Somewhere in the walk from the charger to the camera I misplaced the battery because I forgot what I was doing and started cleaning.

:: Somewhere between cleaning the bathrooms, I misplaced the bathroom cleaners because I forgot what I was doing and started to blog.

:: I finally found the battery in the bathroom only to put it in my camera and find that the camera was still dead. Cursed camera! I put “buy a new camera” on my to-do list.

:: I’m wearing the same clothes as I was wearing yesterday. The sad thing is that I got up, changed out of my pjs into workout clothes to go to the gym, came home, took a bath, and made an effort to dig the clothes out of the dirty laundry to put them back on. Sigh.

:: Sometimes I wish I didn’t have a dog. It’s mainly when I find dog hair in my paintings, bed, food, hair, bath, etc. etc.

:: I just noticed that I never plugged my battery charger into the outlet, hence the dead camera. Cursed brain! I put “buy a new brain” on my to-do list.

:: I think it’s time for ice cream.

xo

nessa dee

All Dressed Up WIP

2011-10-04T11:05:00.001-06:00

This is turning in to a labor of love, I may have to price this painting at 1.2 million dollars to make some money on it. Of course, I am kidding. Sometimes you just have to paint something for yourself and it does not matter how long it takes or how hard you have to work at it. This is one of those paintings.

This is an extended view of my easel. I have my reference photo on the left, and my brushes on the right. I also use a laptop to zoom in on my reference so I can get the intricate detail of the bridle. My husband told me last night that this is one of those paintings that you can use crazy colors in the background and get away with it. I added Cad Yellows, and Sap Green to deepen the colors in the background. I went in with a white pastel and re-drew the chain and reins and I am slowly laying in the colors.

One thing that works for me with oils is to lay in the darkest value of color first and then hit the highlights at the end. So, for the bit and the chain, I put down a mixture of Payne's grey and T White. I do have to say, I am romanced by the Alkyd Titanium White. My underpainting is dry by morning and I can get back to work a lot sooner than if I used a traditional oil. With something as intricate as this, it is nice to be able to get to work first thing in the morning and not have to put it aside until it is dry. I may be a convert.

I hope to have this done by today....hope...

All Dressed Up WIP

2011-10-03T09:29:00.004-06:00

Under painting continues....

All Dressed up

2011-10-01T17:46:00.001-06:00

End of the day...

I am actually taking the day off tomorrow and cheering on a friend in a marathon, playing with my horses and walking my dogs. See you next week.

All Dressed up

2011-09-29T08:22:00.002-06:00

It is slow going, but glazing in colors takes a long time. I try direct painting, but always end up "noodling" the details and glazing anyway. Oh well, I am an old dog, what can I say?

Best Seats in the House, almost done...

2011-09-26T15:51:00.000-06:00

This is the finished product...well, almost. I always sit on a painting for a few days before I say it is "done". I am happy with some elements of it, but there are some more things about it that I think need some tweaking. At this stage, I will put a painting away for a few days, then pull it out and fix the things about it that stand out to me.

Best Seats in the House, Pastel

Best Seats in the House, WIP

2011-09-22T09:36:00.002-06:00

Best Seats in the House

2011-09-19T11:35:00.002-06:00

My latest WIP, "Best Seats in the House". I am in show rush mode again, so I am working weeknights and weekends on top of my day painting. I am tired, but I am liking some of the stuff I am coming up with. I always do better work when I am under a crunch. This has to be done by Wednesday at the latest, so off I go...

A Gentle Touch

2011-09-12T17:01:00.000-06:00

This is the end of the days work today. It still needs a little tweaking here and there but my eyes are tired and I am really hungry!!! So I will put it away for a couple of days and pull it back out and fix what I don't like. It is amazing how much you see when you stop looking at a painting for a while. I will post the scanned final version when I am happy. I hope you like it.

Gentle Touch WIP

2011-09-10T16:26:00.003-06:00

Getting closer....

Burbank dreams of chasing mice...

2011-09-01T16:49:00.001-06:00

I have a "supervisor" in my studio and his name is Burbank. I can not work on the computer, pull out my pastels, or paint without him watching my every move. Today, he fell asleep on the window perch I put up for him and had a dream. I can not even imagine what he was dreaming of, but it must have been a good dream. I was able to work without him trying to crawl into my lap and be a total pest but when I heard him snoring I had to grab the camera.

A Gentle Touch WIP

2011-09-01T08:58:00.003-06:00

My newest work in progress, A Gentle Touch. It is in the very early stages and I am sketching as I go. Stay tuned...

In the Cave of the Old Ones

2011-08-17T12:28:00.002-06:00

This is an old painting that I just had scanned from a transparency. Funny how technology changes so quickly. Just a few short years ago, we had slides and transparencies made of our work, now they are obsolete. Computer scans have taken over for recording our work, who knows what is going to be the "norm" in 10 years?
This is a pastel, 8x10 and is sold.

Three of a Kind

2011-08-16T07:39:00.003-06:00

Finally done. This has been a labor of love. I took pictures of these horses at the Artist Ride a few years ago. They were waiting for us to finish photographing longhorns and eager to get to work. I love the intensity in their eyes, and the anticipation to get to work. These guys are working horses, and love their job. Now if I could just get my horse a job...

Art Appreciation

2011-08-01T21:29:00.002-06:00

I posted on my blog a while back that I went to London with my friend, Linda Besse. While we were at the Victoria Albert museum, she talked about wanting to do a painting of people admiring paintings. What a great idea, and what a huge undertaking. She gave this painting wings and I am in awe of it. Please take a moment to check out her blog and see her step by step progress of it, I know it will wow you like it did me.
www.besseart.blogspot.com

Winter Sports

2011-07-26T15:56:00.002-06:00

This is my new Christmas image, Winter Sports. I was at an antique store recently and saw these skates hanging on the wall. I bought them for 15.00 and brought them home thinking that I could incorporate them in an image for my Christmas card. My neighbor, Tom, has the sled that his grandfather handed down to his father and then to him. I put the two together and came up with this. I hope you like it.
Winter Sports, Oil, 11x14
The original is sold.

Three of a Kind progress

2011-07-21T07:10:00.001-06:00

I know, I know, it doesn't seem like I have got very far, but a white horse is REALLY hard to paint. Trust me...

Three of a Kind

2011-07-15T17:58:00.004-06:00

This pastel is of three horses from the Shearer Ranch of South Dakota. I love watching working horses do their "thing" and these are no exception. I think everyone needs a job, whether it be a dog, horse, or person. These three know what needs to be done and they know how to do it. There was a herd of cattle that were set loose so that we could photograph them and these horses stood at attention, waiting for the signal to get to work.
I have been working on this painting for some time now, and have been interrupted by travel and commissions. I hope to have it done soon, so keep checking back as I will be updating the progress daily.

Baby steps

2011-06-28T07:57:00.002-06:00

My husband, John, and I have taken on our first "baby". This is Jet, a four year old paint horse. This weekend he had his first ride and he did very well. He is definitely a project in the works, as he has some emotional issues. He is very sweet and just needs some work with his mind. He is going to be a very big horse and we are in the process of teaching him to respect our space as he seems to forget that he is not a little guy any more. He is teaching us as much as we are teaching him.

2011-06-20T17:02:00.003-06:00

Jodi and Jasper, Pastel These two beauties were owned by my horse trainer. I did this painting as a gift to him.

Water Dog, Pastel This is one of 5 labs owned by a collector of mine. We were having fun in the pool and I came up with this painting.

Congratulations to "War Horse"

2011-06-13T17:43:00.001-06:00

War Horse swept the Tony's last night. We had the chance to see it on the west end when we were in London, if you get the chance to see it, do it!!!!!

Cottage Roses

2011-06-13T08:52:00.003-06:00

While in Europe, I had the chance to see Salisbury Cathedral. The parrish house had the most amazing garden and these are some of the roses that grew on the wall outside the house. I started this painting the day after I got back and did not stop until it was done. I was obviously inspired...

London!

2011-06-06T07:45:00.004-06:00

When my friend, Linda Besse, called me and asked me if I would like to go to London with her, I had to think about it. I thought about 4 seconds and said, "YES!". We hit just about every touristy place you can imagine and loved every moment of it. These pictures were from our first day, The Changing of the Horse Guard. I fell in love with these beautiful big Irish warmbloods. There was a native standing next to us as we were snapping away and he said to me, " We British are very big on pomp and circumstance." I would have to agree. But I have to say, I loved every moment of it. We saw every museum we could, castles, a Dickens Festival, jousting at Leeds, and even an old cemetary. I will post more as I sift through the hundreds of pictures I took.

Happy Memorial Day

2011-05-29T19:05:00.004-06:00

Red, White, and Blue Oil 11x14

Steady-WIP

2011-04-22T11:28:00.002-06:00

I have been working on this graphite for some time now. With the injury to my hand, I am doing the best I can and working as many hours as I can. I should finish this today and then it is to packing for my trip to LA. If you are in town at the end of the month, come see us at the San Dimas Western Festival.

Open Studio

2011-04-12T19:11:00.004-06:00

I plan on broadcasting live from my studio on Thursday, April 14. Tune in to Ustream to watch me paint from 10:00 am Central to 3:00. Hopefully we won't have any technical issues! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to sign in to Ustream and join the chat. I will not be doing chat through Aim or Twitter this session as it gets a little too confusing. I am working on a pastel painting of three horses. I would love to have you join in. Don't hesitate to ask as many questions as you like. I hope to see you there! The address is: www.ustream.tv/channel/from-the-artist-s-window

The Gift

2011-04-07T13:55:00.001-06:00

Pastel 18x17

The Gift

2011-04-03T13:59:00.001-06:00

My latest, The Gift. It has a lot more work to go, but I am enjoying this one. It will be at my next show, The San Dimas Western Arts Festival in San Dimas, CA. This is also the cover of my 2013 calendar.

On The Job

2011-03-25T13:51:00.001-06:00

Finally finished! This is a pastel, 8 1/2" x 14.

A new workshop

2011-03-22T12:38:00.003-06:00

I recently spent a week in Scottsdale taking a class in Trompe L'oeil. It is a form of art, which it's name implies, that "tricks the eye". In other words, my painting here, done in class is all painted. It is supposed to look like all of these elements are pasted on the board. It is a painstakingly slow process, but so much fun! Our teacher, Jay Davenport, was patient and a very good teacher. I don't think that I have ever taken a class where I was told to go tighter with my detail! This genre of art takes years of practice and hours of study to pull off. I don't know when I will be able to finish it, but I will post the final result when I do.
You can see some of Jay's work at his website www.jdavenportart.com. He will be teaching at the Scottsdale Art School in March of next year if you are interested in learning this method.

End of the day work...

2011-03-10T15:46:00.002-06:00

I did my first streaming video from my studio today working on this painting. I was overwhelmed by the questions and viewer participation! Working on a detailed painting like this is not unlike watching paint dry, but I was happy to see that it was fun for people to tune in and watch. I hope to finish it tomorrow. Now...for a title...

Streaming live from the studio

2011-03-10T13:11:00.001-06:00

www.ustream.tv/channel/from-the-artist-s-window

Click on the website and watch me paint live from the studio. Sign in and ask me questions!

Working Class WIP

2011-03-09T14:09:00.002-06:00

My newest work WIP (work in progress). I took this photo of a young cowboy in South Dakota driving cattle across the Cheyenne River. I zoomed in and in until I got this close up of the two, I could not believe how much detail my new lens could get from so far away. As an artist, not a photographer, I can not express enough how important your equipment is. I do not take artistic photos, but I depend on my photographic equipment to capture things that I might miss looking at the big picture. If you plan on pursuing a full time career as an artist, do not skimp on your camera and lenses if you are able. I do not do many paintings from life other than landscapes, but when it comes to animals and western lifestyles, my best friend is my camera. I never knew that I would make this picture so intimate, but thank goodness I had such good reference.

Having said that, I also have to say, do not depend on your photographs to make paintings for you. Be sure to keep the "artist's eye" and keep the spontaneity of making the most of your reference photos and imagination.

Finished

2011-02-28T08:20:00.001-06:00

Untitled WIP

2011-02-24T10:28:00.003-06:00

The current painting on the table. I photographed Amber in South Dakota while she was ponying three horses across the Cheyenne River. This is a departure for me, I am not really comfortable doing people, but this had an intimacy that I really liked. Amber is an amazing horsewoman and one of the best riders I have ever seen. Here, she is looking back to make sure everyone is onboard and ready to go into the water. I hope to finish this up today or tomorrow, but it has a ways to go.
I am still struggling with the hand injury, so I listen to the pain to tell me when to stop. This is not an easy thing to do when deadlines loom. I will post the final when it is done. Now I just have to come up with a title.

Snowbound complete

2011-02-24T10:24:00.005-06:00

"Snowbound"

Original Pastel

For more information, contact the artist

We got socked!!!

2011-02-22T08:57:00.006-06:00

Minnesota is in the middle of the 10th snowiest winter in history and it is only February. We may be looking at a record breaking year. It is hard to fathom the 12+ inches we got over the last two days when it was 55 last week. I am not complaining though, I am getting a lot of work done. I will posting more work soon.
Zoe seems a bit disgusted here, doesn't she?

The shepherd hook outside my studio window.

The front yard this morning around 7:30. I love fresh snow.

My family...

2011-02-14T16:51:00.003-06:00

I had to share this picture. My husband, John has been fighting a sinus infection for a while now. This weekend, he was not feeling well, so he holed up in the basement with the big screen tv to watch sports and our rescue, Suki, decided to keep him company.
We did not ever plan on having a cat, but she was so sick and so sad when we came across her we could not turn our back on her. Our plan was to get her well, and find her a home...well, we soon found out that giving away a cat in Minnesota is like giving away a form of the plague. She wormed her way into our hearts and as you can see, even John can't say no to her.

What greater Valentine gift can you get than the love of an animal?

Snowbound

2011-02-14T16:16:00.003-06:00

This is a photo I took on the easel. There is a lot more depth to the colors than is shown here. Unfortunately, our days here are so overcast, I have to count on the studio lights for photographs. I am going to put it aside for a few days and then pull it back out to tweak it here and there. I have found that when you look at a painting too long, you lose sight of things that need to be fixed. I will put a painting in the drawer for a few days, then pull it out to see what stands out to me that needs some work.
These two horses are gypsy vanners, a very old and very magical breed. They have amazing manes, tails, and feathers on their legs. To look at them, you almost feel like you are looking at a dream. It is very hard to paint them without them looking like a fairy tale. I hope I did them justice.

Georgia O'Keeffe in New Mexico

2011-02-12T13:27:00.001-06:00

My inspiration, my heroine. Sometimes when I am lost, I look through her paintings for guidance. She was an amazing woman.

Next step

2011-02-10T15:52:00.003-06:00

Little by little it is coming together. I am just having a problem with all that BLUE! I will tone it down later...

Snowbound- today's progress

2011-02-08T18:33:00.003-06:00

The initial sketch...

Layout of the background and the intial sketch of the horses...

Laying in the color.
This is my new painting step by step. It is pastel, the greatest challenge is going to be the snow. Even though I live in Minnesota and have snow outside my window, it is still so hard to make it believable on paper. I hope I do it justice.

Critter cam update

2011-01-19T11:09:00.002-06:00

So sorry...I posted a cam that looked out on my bird feeders, then promptly took it down. My laptop died, so I had to go get another one and set it up. The cam is back up now. I am waiting for an HD camera to arrive in the mail this week, so the quality will be better. I am going to use this camera to broadcast live painting sessions in my studio, so stay tuned for updates.

In the meantime, enjoy the chaos outside my window.

The view from my studio window...

2011-01-13T07:18:00.002-06:00

Just for grins, and partly because some people did not believe me when I told them about the animals that visit my porch, I set up a webcam. Yesterday was the first day, and there was a sparring fight between two bucks, right in front of the camera!

The resolution is not very good, so I am looking for a better set up, but you can still see what is going on. Pardon the pop up ads, but that is why it is free...

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/from-the-artist-s-window

I hope you like it.

Marble #2

2011-01-03T15:39:00.001-06:00

Pastel on Wallis paper, 4x4

My New Year's resolution is to try to paint something challenging every week. These will be small paintings that hopefully don't take more than a few hours. Why marbles? I think the challenge of glass, light, and the shape is an amazing challenge.

Marble #1

2010-12-28T20:06:00.007-06:00

My first attempt at glass.

Marble #1 Pastel on Wallis 4"x 4"

Original available

More backyard wildlife

2010-12-18T11:08:00.004-06:00

And to think that I have the audacity to wonder why I don't have as many songbirds as usual...

My life...in turkey hell...

2010-12-16T12:12:00.002-06:00

Ok...maybe it is just me...but when most artists look out their studio window, they see a beautiful landscape. I, however, see this. An obnoxious turkey who is p-o'd that there is no corn out there for him. They actually peck on the window now. It is starting to look like "The Birds" out there.

Lab painting

2010-12-10T11:11:00.003-06:00

I am doing a series of dog paintings for a company, I thought I would share the process with you. I first start with a rough pencil on my board. Here, I am using Ampersand cradled gesso board, 6x6. I then rough the image in with turp and color. From there, I build depth with layers, or glazes, of color. Finally, I add the highlights.

Backyard visitors...

2010-12-10T11:03:00.004-06:00

We are going through hundreds of pounds of corn, peanuts, and sunflower seeds a week. I put out 100 pounds of corn on Tuesday morning and it was gone by Wednesday morning. Between the deer, racoons, turkeys, opossums, and birds, I can not keep up. I love having all the animals around us, but they are making us broke!!!

The art of listening (Re post from 2005)

2010-12-06T15:04:00.000-06:00

I posted this in 2005, and seeing how it is the holiday season and we are all feeling the warmth of family, friends and home, I felt the need to re post. In the wake of what seems a wave of friends passing away, I thought this might be appropriate...

I recently busted my low carb lifestyle and dove into a huge plate of Chinese food. My passion. Put me on a desert island with a lifetime supply mu shu pork and don't even bother to send a rescue boat. At the end of the meal, I opened my fortune cookie and was totally taken off guard. We all know the silly fortunes that you can get, or the ones that say, "You will win the lottery today" but this one was really special. It simply read, Discover the world of your friends around you. Maybe this doesn't hit you like it did me, but I have for the longest time thought that we are so busy with our own lives, we lose sight of the world surrounding our friends. I have a friend that does not know the first thing about horses, nor does she really care. But she always makes a point of asking me about my horses and listens in earnest about my last horse show. That is so special. In return, I listen in earnest to her stories of her children and the nightmare of potty training, even though I have no kids of my own and have no idea where she is coming from. See how that works? When we step away from that which is interesting only to us, and learn to love the the things that our friends love, we become better friends and better people. So what if you don't care about fishing...if your best friend loves it, listen and learn. Who knows, you may learn to love it too? How boring would it be if all our friends had our same interests in every way? I love my friendships with whom I have very little in common. Yes...you read it right. I learn new ways of thinking from them, a new point of view. If the only people that I hung out with were people of like minds...how boring would that be? Take a step outside of what you know...listen, really listen, to your friend's passions. Re-learn the art of listening, and you might just be surprised by what you find out about yourself.

Inspiration....

2010-12-02T09:45:00.013-06:00

I am often asked who is my inspiration, or what work inspires me...? How can I answer that question? I find inspiration in a sunset, or a friend's twinkle in their eye. If I had a go to artist that I look to when I feel lost, it is definitely William Bouguereau. When I was a kid, my family used to go to the Philbrook Museum in Tulsa, OK. While my family wandered on, I sat in front of his painting, Young Shepherdess, for what seemed hours. The glow of her skin, the texture of her clothes, everything about the painting excited me. Then I read this quote from him, and I understand the connection that I have always felt with him.

"Each day I go to my studio full of joy; in the evening when I am obliged to stop because of darkness I can scarcely wait for the morning to come...my work is not only a pleasure, it has become a necessity. No matter how many other things I have in my life, if I cannot give myself to my dear painting, I am miserable." William Bouguereau

I wish I could say that I went to my studio with this kind of passion every day, but it does happen every now and then. To live in a state of pure inspiration and enlightenment is a goal that I strive for. I believe that when we see artists of this level of talent, we can get a glimpse of the gift that they have been blessed with.

Tuesday Morning

2010-11-30T10:45:00.002-06:00

We heard that there was going to be a snow last night, and for once, we were not mislead. It was not a big snow, but we got a few inches. These are the twins that I have put up on my blog before, they are bigger and furrier now, but still small. They were very disapointed that we did not have any deer feed out for them this morning. We are going through 150 pounds of corn in three days now and they are literally eating us out of house and home. This summer we were buying 250 lbs a week, but that is just too much to spend. So, we have decided that we will buy our three 50 lb bags on Saturday and when they are out, they are out. I don't think they are suffering at all! We were almost 50 degrees yesterday, but tonight will be cold, so we will put out some corn tonight before we go to bed. Yeah, yeah, yeah...we are suckers, I know.

Easton Waterfowl Festival 2010

2010-11-30T09:36:00.005-06:00

It is no secret that I look forward to Easton show every year, it is by far one of my favorites. From the volunteers to the the time we artists get to spend together, it is a great weekend. Unfortunately, I caught a cold at the very beginning of the show and missed out on most of the activities. But by Sunday, I was feeling better and got a chance to get around and see my friends. They are all so talented, I wanted to share these pictures and links to their work with you. If you can take the time, check out the work of these amazing artists.

Linda Besse and I. She was one of the few people that would stand close to me while I was sick....and one of the few who didn't get the cold that we all passed around the show. Linda's oils are luminescent and have a life of their own. She is a sponge, always learning, always growing. I am happy to have her as a friend and a colleague. You can see her work at http://www.besseart.com/.

Ray Brown is a very talented graphite artist and fun to be around. He has helped me to appreciate the corvids in my life. You will just love his composition and use of space. His work can be seen at http://www.raybrownart.com/.

My new friend, Jason Tako and his lovely family. He has always been in another building, so we never got a chance to talk. Luckily, he was my neighbor this year and we found a common bond in that he is from Minnesota. His beautiful oils can be seen at http://www.jasontako.com/. BTW- his pintail painting took second place in the VIP Best in Show. Well deserved, Jason.

Ray Brown, Terry Miller, and Pete Zaluzec in a very serious conversation!!! Truthfully, knowing these three, there was nothing serious going on at all. Terry was another artist that was in another building at the show, but this year, right across from me. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to get to know him better and look at his wonderful art. Pete is a wonderful sculptor and I just love the things he does with his work. Take a look at Terry's amazing pencil work at http://www.terrymillerstudio.com/, and Pete's sculpture at http://www.petezaluzec.com/.

Pat Pauley and Rachelle Siegrist in one of their rare serious moments. Both wonderful wildlife artists, Pat does wonderful wildlife paintings and Rachelle and her husband Wes are two of the most talented miniature artists I have ever met. You can see Pat's work at http://www.patpauleyart.com/ and Wes and Rachelle's at http://www.artofwildlife.com/.

Karryl and her wonderful family. Karryl is a very talented sculptor who, I am happy to say, I have had a chance to add to my collection. Her animals have an expression of whimsy and character that captures your heart. You can see her work at http://www.karryl.com/.

Melanie Fain and Pete Zaluzec. Melanie does wonderful etchings that are both expressive and intimate. You can see her work at http://www.melaniefain.com/.

I can't express enough the admiration I have for these two artists. Lyn St Clair and her magical oils and Julie Bender and her pyrography. They do things with their medium that can not be described. See Lyn's work at http://www.wandermuse.blogspot.com/ and Julie's at http://www.juliebender.com/.

I don't want to slight anyone who was at the show, there are too many to name on this blog. I will add more pictures during the month and links to their websites.

Remember that art is the greatest gift you can give, and while thinking of Christmas gifts this year, take a look at the work of artists and consider beautifying your home or your friend's home with the talents of these artists.

Burning Bright...

2010-11-07T16:17:00.003-06:00

I did it!!! Thanks for all the encouragement. I photographed this tiger at the Tulsa Zoo and she was just beautiful. I try not to paint zoo animals, but there are some animals that I can not catch on film in the wild. This was a labor of love, but I am happy with the result.

The mad dash...

2010-11-06T20:37:00.003-06:00

I have had this painting drawn out for months. Because of commissions and pet dramas, I have not had a chance to start it. For some reason, I thought I could get it done before I leave for the Waterfowl Festival on Monday...can she do it??? Stay tuned....

The Veterans

2010-11-06T15:28:00.005-06:00

A companion painting to the painting "The Rookies". My latest for the Waterfowl festival. Below is the painting that started it all.

Bird Watching finished

2010-11-03T16:20:00.002-06:00

For fun...

2010-11-02T20:43:00.003-06:00

I wanted to do a painting for fun, and this is it. This is one of our barn cats, he is expressive and full of personality. I wanted to play with the light on his fur and his eyes. This is about 2 hours of work so far...

Did you?

2010-11-02T08:38:00.002-06:00

It is our right and our privilege.

Red

2010-10-28T08:51:00.002-06:00

"Red" Pastel 5x7
My latest for the Easton show next month.

Zoe meets the big bad barn cat....

2010-10-20T14:01:00.001-06:00

While waiting at the barn for the vet to arrive, my corgi, Zoe, met the infamous big bad tomcat that rules the barn. She would never hurt a fly, so I encouraged her to make friends. She is completely confused on what to make of the situation...

Dancing with the Light

2010-10-18T16:09:00.002-06:00

My current pencil, Dancing With the Light. This is again my friend, Jane's horse Picasso. I photographed them in bright morning light, and it just was not dramatic enough for me. I am trying to add a little "drama" by making the background dark and the pulling out the whites. I am having fun with it, but it is also not that easy...wish me luck.

Into the Light

2010-10-18T15:55:00.003-06:00

This is my latest pencil, Into the Light. It is of a portrait of Picasso, a beautiful andalusian owned by a friend of mine. Any time you can add such strong light into a piece, it is fun. This is graphite on watercolor board, 5x7. You can see it in person at the Waterfowl Festival in November.

WIP-Weathered

2010-09-15T16:44:00.005-06:00

My latest work in progress. It is an oil of a pump from a historic farm in Elk River and a bluebird I photographed in my backyard. This is the point I like to put the painting aside and pull it out in a few weeks and fix what I can't see now.

2010-09-14T11:20:00.003-06:00

I have not posted paintings in a while, but I can assure you that I am working. We had a curve ball thrown at us recently when our horse Cadillac got sick. To make a long story short, after exhaustive tests we discovered that he has a condition called Stylohyoid Disease. It is a thicking of a bone in his jaw. Presently he is in the hospital awaiting surgery on Monday. He is doing well and is eating a mash that the vets make up for him...which, BTW, he smears on me everytime I go visit.

Needless to say, I am just a bit distracted and I will post my latest painting soon.

Twins!

2010-08-24T10:49:00.003-06:00

We have babies at the feeder every year, and for the last few years, twins! I never tire of watching them.

Simon's Cat in 'The Box'

2010-08-20T11:19:00.000-06:00

Almost there...

2010-08-20T11:13:00.002-06:00

Just a few more things to tighten up and it's done.

"Sisters" Pastel 9x12