Itty bitty paintings

I just love to paint small paintings. These are all for my upcoming show in Easton. None of them measure over 2" x 3". Doing small paintings allows you to step out of the norm and focus on the animal and have some fun with detail. Each one of these has a fun story that I will add with each painting.

Now, I don't claim to paint miniatures, that is a whole different form of art. Rachelle and Wes Segriest are probably the finest miniature artists I know, you can see their art and read more about miniature painting at www.artofwildlife.com. You can see their work at the Easton show as well.

I have a few more small paintings to do, then I am going to spread my wings again and do the larger ones. But in the meantime, I am sharpening the point of my favorite 00 paintbrushes and having a "little" fun.

Friends in...odd places

Recently my dearest friend, Rita, took time out of her busy schedule and came to visit me. We went to the South Dakota yearly artist ride and then spent some time hanging around here, swapping stories and riding my horses. It was a great time. On our way home from Wall, we stopped at the 1880's town in South Dakota and what else you would you to expect to see at a western town?? An affectionate camel of course! This one took quite a shine to Rita, as you can see. Rita is also an amazing artist, please take a minute to check out her work at www.drawntonature.com.

Shame on me...

I just received an email from a dear old friend who berated me for not having any pictures on my blog of myself. I did not realize it, but I have manned the camera for so long, I have not been included in any family pictures. I looked and looked and this is the only one I could find (that I liked). It is a few years old, and my hair is no longer blonde (thank goodness). Perhaps it is the ever increasing wrinkles and waistline that age brings on that has made me camera shy, but what ever the reason...this is for you Rex, now pony up some pictures of those kids for me!

New work

These are two small 5x7's for my upcoming show. I just love being able to paint things that I can see right out my window. These lilacs grow on the north side of our property and I look forward to them every year. We only have the ruby throated hummingbird here in Minnesota, but I have plenty of sketches of other species from living in Southern California.

I may be one of the most prolific fuschia killers on the planet. Every spring, I buy three from the local gardens and slowly, methodically murder them over the course of the summer. But...I always get plenty of pictures and color sketches before they go, so I guess you can say that they don't die in vain. I may have been born with a black thumb, but I was also born for a great admiration for them.

These are both in oil on board. I am growing more and more fond of oils the more I do them.

Swan

Of all birds, swans are probably my favorite. We are lucky to have so many trumpeters all around us I am never at a shortage for material. This one is a mute swan that is in a pond not far from us. He is owned by (or shall I say...resides with) my dog sitter, Tina.