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A Reason to Fly

Posted on November 14, 2009 by Laurie — 5 Comments ↓

My good dog Boone is the inspiration for this painting, and it was lots of fun doing him the honor! Boone is a Border Collie and a supposed cow dog who is not there yet. He loves to run, but isn’t allowed to chase horses or cows. He has found however, that he usually isn’t in trouble if he’s chasing the birds. He must be 3/4 Greyhound!

A Reason to Fly is 24 x 30.

Posted in Animals
5 comments on “A Reason to Fly”
  1. Sandra says:
    November 14, 2009 at 9:17 AM

    This painting makes me smile! Looks like Boone has the determination to actually get airborne if he sets his mind to it. Love how you captured movement and personality! It brings memories of our old lab Sadie..except the birds would come DOWN from the sky to dive-bomb her, once they figured out she was too old to “fly”. Very original piece – tells a great story! The title is perfect – describes both Boone and the birds.

  2. Christine McKay says:
    November 14, 2009 at 11:04 AM

    Laurie…You’ve sure hit on something here!! Just love this painting! Makes me want to run with Boone and, of course to frolic with Ravens….What could be more wonderful!? Considering the life this little guy had before you got him, what could be a more fitting tribute to his freedom? Fabulous!!!!

  3. Bill & Sereta Taylor says:
    November 14, 2009 at 12:19 PM

    terrific action packed painting! You have captured the frustration of the chase, the joy of getting the old birds moving and the bird’s irritation with the dog. I love the way you have presented the sun on the hills; beautiful colors and play of light in this work.
    Sereta

  4. Deb says:
    November 14, 2009 at 12:20 PM

    Go get em’ Boone!!!

  5. Karen says:
    November 15, 2009 at 2:26 AM

    Laurie, your painting conveys so much! Boone’s frantic chase, plus the look of that one bird in particular. Love your lighting, too. The painting draws you right in…terrific!

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Laurie Stevens

Recent Accolades

6-2020 “The Artist’s Wife” was one of 150 paintings juried into the National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society 2020 Spring International Online Competition.

2-2020 I was accepted into the Booth Western Art Museum show Making Their Mark: American Women Artists. May 27 – Aug. 23, 2020.

2018 – I was chosen as a Finalist in the Portrait Society of America’s “Members Only Competition” (in the Non-Commissioned Portrait Category) with my painting, “The Artist’s Wife”.

2018 – I was chosen to grace the “Classic Moments” page of the July / August 2018 Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. This is the last page of the magazine and a full page spread! My painting, “The Artist’s Wife”, 32×24, was my response to a painting of the same title by William Merit Chase, done in 1892. – https://fineartconnoisseur.com/category/magazine/current-issue/

2018 – “An Early Breakfast” was juried into the NOAPS 2018 Best of America Small Painting National Exhibition at Richland Fine Art in Nashville, TN. April 30 – May 26, 2018 – http://www.noaps.org/copy-of-best-of-america-prospectus

2018 – Portrait Society of America – 6×9: Limited Size, Unlimited Talent Mystery Art Sale, April 20 at the Art of the Portrait Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. – http://www.portraitsociety.org/

2017 – C.M. Russell Museum Auction “The Russell” – http://www.cmrauction.com/

2017 – Dinghies and U-Turn were juried into the National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society Holiday Small Works Show in Parkville, MO. – https://www.noaps.org/holiday-small-works-show

2017 – Portrait Society of American Members Only Competition Finalist in the “Outside the Box” Figurative Competition – for “Mourning Dove” 36×24 – https://www.portraitsociety.org/moc-2017-winners

2017 – Two pieces juried into the National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society Holiday Small Works Show – https://www.noaps.org/holiday-small-works-show

2016 – Portrait Society of America “Members Only Show” – I placed in the Landscape Division with my painting “Milk and Honey”! See the images on the slider. – http://www.portraitsociety.org/moc-2016-winners

2014 – Spring, 2015 – Juried into the Spring American Women Artists Online Juried Show. http://www.americanwomenartists.org/news/html/t_oli_2014_fall.html

2014 – Juried into the Fall NOAPS International Online Showcase. http://www.noaps.org/html/t_oli_2014_fall.html

2014 – Juried into the American Women Artists National Competition & Exhibition, Orleans, MA.www.americanwomenartists.org

2014 – Chosen to be an “Art in Action” Artist for the Russell Auction event at Meadowlark Country Club, Great Falls, MT., Mar. 21www.cmrussell.org/the-russell

2013 – Juried into the American Women Artists National Competition & Exhibition, Fredericksburg, TXwww.americanwomenartists.org

2012 – A piece of mine, “Motel Galata” was selected to be part of the permanent Modern West Collection at the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, GA! www.boothmuseum.org/

2012 – Top 100 Paint the Parks National Competition (2 pieces) www.paintamerica.org

2011 People’s Choice Award at the Clymer Museum of Art Exhibit & Auction www.clymermuseum.com

2008 C.M. Russell Museum CEO Award – given to one Russell Auction participant www.cmrussell.org

2008 – 2010 Paint America Top 100 www.paintamerica.org

About Me

Stevens’ work reflects the small daily wonders of the land she calls home: the first crocus of spring, the resilient beauty of the plains, or that special sense of hope and possibility that is only found in the West. Stevens is also interested in regional history, particularly the interactions of Native Americans and white settlers during the Reservation Period. Many of her paintings are an exploration of this dynamic and a meditation on the “taming of the West.” From Billings, MT, Laurie began her career as an artist in Los Angeles where she spent 12 years working for the entertainment industry as a scenic artist and muralist for television, theme park, theater and movie productions. She spent time as a member of the Walt Disney Imagineering team, lending her talents to many Disney theme park projects worldwide. She also did some set design, illustration, and matte paintings for several animated childrens’ movies. In the 1980’s Stevens returned to her native Montana, first to the mountains near the Scapegoat Wilderness and then to the ranch near Great Falls where she currently lives and works.