Cool Cat!

I am having a hard time finding a decent name for this one that has not been used a hundred times before...Any suggestions?

Cougar

Just finished this one. I have actually been working on it for quite a while, but finally said today that it is done.

The Explorer

Another one ready to go...
Ok, Ok...I gave in to "the cute" again...

My First...

My freind, Lyn (www.wandermuse.blogspot.com) and I have talked hours about our obsession with horses since an early age. My first horse was a nasty tempered little Shetland that I received for my birthday at age 10. I will never forget my family leading me out to the barn of our newly rented home and my brother coming around the corner with this shaggy, dirty little pony at the end of my mother's bathrobe belt. He was the most beautiful stallion I had ever seen! And he was all mine! My brother, Chuck, hoisted me on his back and with a few hops and bucks, I was on the ground again. Your dream horse does not throw you off!!! He nickers at you when he sees you, he gallops to your side, he comforts you when you are sad. Well...not my little man. After much encouragement from my family I hopped back on and we were inseperable from that moment on. We galloped through the feilds of heather behind the barn racing Secretariat, we hunted leopards by night and indians by day...I also spent alot more time on the ground, but that is another story.
He was my right of passage, and my trial by fire...if I could survive him, I could survive any horse. Even though he was only in my life for a short while, I still smile when I think of him. He was the fuel of my obsession for lo, these 35 years!
Here's to the Buckys in our life that show us the way and shape us into the adults that we will become. I am sure that you will agree with me Lyn.

Daydreamer

Okay, Okay...so I gave into "the cute". It happens to the best of us. At any given time at our stable, we have kittens somewhere. They are energetic and hysterical to watch. This little one, not a kitten anymore, is now a mommy herself as of last week. I can't wait to take pictures of her babies antics. Maybe I will give into "the cute" again.

Help Me!!! Spring has sprung!

One of the biggest changes I have had to adjust to since moving from Los Angeles to Minnesota is the changing seasons. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the snow and the cold does not even bother me. But by March/April, I am ready for spring. Today it was 60 degrees!!! Blue sky and absolutely gorgeous. I had to cancel my riding lesson because I had to go to the twin cities to drop off some paintings and pull some prints...at least I was still outside. But now, I sit in my studio, fresh new painting itching to get started...and I can't pull my eyes off that window. I even went out and threw the ball for my corgi, hoping that would do it and I could get back to work. Nope, no dice. Here I am, less than a month away from two art shows and no less than five paintings that need to be finished...and beautiful weather outside my window. Here is a small prayer for rain, wind...anything but snow to keep me focused and inside. I hope it works.

Girl Power!

I have wanted to paint this for a long time. I was at a working ranch in South Dakota and saw this delicate girl among the dozen or so rough cowboys working the ranch. Don't think for a moment that she wasn't on her horse, right in the middle of it all right along with them. I think this painting shows her softness, but also her determination. My first title for this painting was...Don't Tell Her She Can't.

Sunlit

I absolutely love the draft horse. I had heard about the breed, the American Creme Draft, but never got to see one in person. At the Grass Valley Draft Horse Classic, the grooms walked a whole team right by me. I only had seconds to get my camera up and snap a few pictures before they were gone. This was one of them, he walked out of the shadows and into a small patch of sunlight. Glorious! The coats on these beautiful horses just glowed. I couldn't wait to paint it.

Splendor

While traveling back from the Wildfowl Festival in Maryland, my friend and a fellow artist, Scot Storm (www.stormwildlifeart.com) and I got lost. It wasn't the first time on that trip, and wouldn't be the last! We pulled off the highway to check the map. Right off the road, in this little culdesac was a quiet, beautiful little pond, with two beautiful mute swans on it. Just goes to show that you can find beauty and nature, just about anywhere.