I had intended to post another of the paintings I’m taking to the Western Masters Art Show, but now see that none of my photos are good enough, so there’s another job I need to redo before Wednesday! Instead, I ran across pictures of the little painting I did for my daughter’s boyfriend for Christmas. This is of his then very old dog Henry, who, sadly, is no longer with us. I enjoyed doing the painting, as old Henry had so much character, and had obviously traveled so many miles! I’ve done a few of these little paintings of people’s  beloved pets – on gessoed panels with 2″ returns, so they hang without a frame. This one is 10″ x 10″.

This painting developed as a story that needed to be told. An old rancher friend of ours was going on about dairy cows one day. He was a black angus man… He said that “He would never have one of those magpie cows!” meaning the black and white dairy cows. (That’s not the cowboy way, you know?) I always liked the visual there, and when coming across some pictures of longhorn cows, I decided to tell Oscar’s story, or a twist on his story anyway. So, here is my version – and he is most definitely not a cow! This painting is 18×24.

The Beartooth Gallery asked me to do some wolf paintings. Humm….there’s a controversial subject! I decided to give it a try and really had fun doing a few pieces. I felt I had to portray this wolf as the sort of scary fellow I believe he can be. Having a ranch in Montana, I can tell you that I wouldn’t be happy to see wolves here. (We did hear one once.) Regardless, I enjoyed doing this painting and hope I imparted the feeling of vulnerability one might have if you were to run into this guy at dusk in the mountains.

I also enjoyed doing this in a fairly black and white color scheme, something I don’t do often as I’m sure you may have noticed! In fact, I did a B&W study a few weeks ago, and failed miserably in that attempt. Now, another shot at it, and as with everything, there is so much to learn when trying something different. That’s what makes it fun!

“Night Stalker” is 20×20, and an oil.

I was going to save this image for a blog closer to the 4th of July, but I wanted to put something besides a landscape up today. This is very Montana – and appropriate as it’s now Rodeo season. The brand on the horse is ours – TL. “Stars & Stripes” is 18 x 12 and for sale at the Beartooth Gallery in Red Lodge, MT.

I seem to be doing double consonants this week… Remember the second of my two little paintings didn’t work out. This is the third, and is of a Cactus Wren, the Arizona State bird, perched on a prickly pear cactus fruit. I haven’t thought about cactus wrens for a long time, but now am remembering watching them when I lived in Phoenix. They’re a scrappy little territorial bird. Fun to watch! This painting is called “Desert Delicacies”, is 12 x 9 and will also be for sale at the Settlers West “American Miniatures Show” on February 13th in Tucson.

This is one of the little paintings I was working on this last week. I had fun with it as I was glad to have an excuse to do some southwestern subject matter. I love the Arizona desert and it’s wildlife. The Sonoran Desert is really so beautiful, and more lush than some deserts as it has two rainy seasons, winter and the summer monsoon season. I like this silly title, and feel it does reflect the way the crazy hare takes cover – sort of like an ostrich sticking it’s head in the sand! Harebrained Hideout is 12 x 9 and will be part of the Settlers West “American Miniatures” Show on February 13th in Tucson, AZ.

Oh, I had mentioned how one of these little paintings (this one) went so smoothly and the other not? The other didn’t make it… I painted it out and did a third painting I’ll try to remember to put up tomorrow.

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.

The last few weeks, I’ve been working on some larger paintings, now to submit for the Russell Museum Art Show in the spring. Nothing to show you yet, but I should have one done in a few days.

I’m posting two pictures I took a few weeks back during the autumn Montana Painters Alliance (supposed) paint out in Glacier Park. I pulled into Duck Lake just as the snow clouds were descending. The storm lifted for a few hours the next day, so I did get  some pictures at least, at Many Glacier. It’s so beautiful there, but painting in the snow is something I was not prepared for! This hawk was nice enough to pose for me and was very patient. I believe it was a Swainson’s Hawk by the markings.

MPA is going to have a show at the C.M. Russell Museum next summer with paintings we’ve done, inspired by Charlie Russell’s haunts in the Judith Basin and Glacier Park. That will be fun!

I have painted our horse Cricket several times. He has such wonderful bone and character. Here he is, looking for the mare, as he always did. We sold Cricket a year or so ago to someone who really wanted him and talked us into the deal. I’ve always been sorry we did. He was a real “Frederick Remington horse” if you know what I mean!

I wanted to do something a little different, a little looser and wilder, and so did this little painting of Rosie and her magpie friends. I had a good time with the color and the great cow shape. Cows really are wonderful shapes, you know? This painting is 12″x12″ and is on a gessoed board with a 2″ return (no frame). A little more modern and fun.

Also – I’m celebrating! Some of my artist friends and I submitted a show proposal and were accepted by Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art to do a five woman show entitled “One Hundred Mile Radius – A Response to Place”. The participating artists will be Fran Carlson, Lisa Easton, Christine McKay, Debi Schmit and myself. This show is exciting to us, as we all approach art from very different perspectives and mediums. We are finding already that this collaboration will stretch and push us all in different directions artistically, and make us reexamine our own work and focus as we interact with each other. I’m thrilled! Date to be determined, but will be at least a year from now.