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.

I’m still working on two larger paintings that aren’t finished enough to show, so I thought I’d put this one out there, a little painting done on location near Ennis, MT. one autumn. Is that Ennis Creek south of town? I painted from the bridge as the sun was going down.

On the larger paintings I’m working on now I’m playing with a palette knife which I haven’t done much, trying to develop a more textured surface. It’s been fun to experiment a little. The surface is quite different than that painted with just a brush.

Good news in that the Creighton Block Gallery web page is soon to be launched, and it sounds like it will be wonderful with a virtual gallery tour, professional photography of the art, and a link to the artists’ blogs. I’m looking forward to seeing it. Colin sent me this image which shows the beautifully restored Virginia City building that is now the gallery. Those are my pieces on the white wall. David Lemon’s bronzes are in the foreground and Russell Chatham’s pieces are on the stone wall. Stay tuned. I’ll let you know when their site is up.

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’ve been meaning to mention the wonderful feedback I’ve had during the Coeur d’Alene Galleries “Miniatures by the Lake” Show. Before the event someone contacted me about one of my pieces. Later they told me that during the Silent Auction, all their family members put a bid in my box, hoping to increase their odds as the box was overflowing with bids! I was thrilled to hear that, and so glad that those people did end up with the painting! Thanks you Thams!

We recently returned from a week in Jackson for the Fall Arts Festival. We were lucky enough to stay in someone’s beautiful guest house, and had family and friends visit. My husband Tom Gilleon was the Featured Artist for this year’s event – which is a big deal! I thought I might honor him here today. He had a one man show at Altamira Gallery, which went very well. His painting Yellow Leaves Moon sold well and was also on the festival poster and wine bottles! Of course we had to bring home two cases! I also was very happy to meet everyone at Mountain Trails Gallery, and look forward to my relationship with them.

We drove home through Teton and Yellowstone Parks. The leaves were turning and it was beautiful! All in all, we had a great week!

This is Tom’s painting, Yellow Leaves Moon. It is an oil, 50×50

One can only imagine that the Statehood Ceremonies as they came to be in the territories were very exciting – full of promise and hope – for most. This Sioux boy stands under an American Parade Flag, the kind that was used during Wyoming’s Statehood Celebration. His perspective, even as a young boy may have been a little different than those celebrating in the streets.

This painting is an oil, 18″ x 12″ and is available at Mountain Trails Gallery in Jackson.

I’ve done a few more lily pad paintings lately. I have to space them out as they’re so involved and intricate. They tend to make me a little crazy!

Anyway, I’m glad – after the fact – that I’ve done the lily pad paintings. They remind me of the times some of my lady friends and I took all the kids camping at the lake. The lily pad cove there was in a secluded place across the lake, ten minutes by kayak. I loved to go there by myself to reflect, and take pictures.

This painting, “Daydream Cove” is 20″ x 20″ and is at Mountain Trails Gallery in Jackson, WY. I am excited about my new relationship with them! I’m not on their web site yet, but will be.

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!