One of my focuses as a painter is portraying the women of the west, as I feel their stories should be told. Originally I had intended to paint primarily my rancher friends and those hardy women that live close to the land. I keep coming back to the Native American women though, as I respect what I feel to be their spirituality and appreciation for the Circle of Life.

“She Loves Their Stories” tells of a visit by this wise woman’s magpie friends. Magpies are thought by many cultures to be messengers that can travel between the dark and the light, bringing word of other events and places. These magpies bring good news!

I have just started showing with Mountain Trails Gallery in Jackson, WY. and this painting is there. It is an oil, 24″ x 24″.

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!

When coming back from a paint out near Big Timber, MT., I rounded a curve in the road just as the last light of the day was teetering on the top of this rocky cliff wall. Nature never ceases to amaze me! This image stayed in my mind, eventually requiring that I paint it. This is a small painting, 8″x8″. I intend to do a large one of the same subject some day.

This tiny painting is one of the series of small paintings I have done recently. I have really enjoyed the freedom I find when painting these little guys. The subject here is the Madison Range, south of Ennis and on the way to west Yellowstone. It is truly beautiful country. Many of these small paintings are now on display at Creighton Block Gallery in Virginia City, MT.

Sadly, yesterday they found Tara Bowman’s body in the wreckage of the gallery explosion. So many of us in the art community are devastated. Tara was our champion, and such a great person. Today was her birthday…

Tonight I did this computer sketch in honor of Tara. It will become a painting at some point. I will quote Kahil Gibran’s words, hoping this to be true.

“For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?”

Tara, we will all miss you so.

You may see other tributes to Tara at these blog sites:
David Lemon - http://adayinthelifeofalemon.blogspot.com/
Debi Schmit - http://www.debschmit.blogspot.com

This has been a tragic week. On Thursday, March 5th, an apparent gas leak in downtown Bozeman, MT. caused a horrific explosion. Three buildings were totally demolished, and many others damaged. Montana Trails Gallery was at the epicenter of this explosion. The gallery and everything in it was destroyed by the blast and subsequent fire. But much worse than that, Tara Bowman, our beloved gallery Director is feared to have been there and killed. There are no words to describe the loss and sadness so many of us feel this week.