A friend of mine who lives on the Cheyenne Reservation told me a beautiful story about lying in the field near the Rosebud River watching the clouds roll by. He was so still that a magpie came and sat on his knee!

Magpies are one of my favorite birds, and in the Native American cultures they are seen as beings that can travel between the dark and the light. They also are known to be the bearers of news from other events and places. While I didn’t recreate my friend’s story exactly here, it is my own version of that great story. This piece is 18 x 12, and will be in my showroom – 176 at the Western Masters Art Show & Sale beginning tomorrow in Great Falls, MT. at the Heritage Inn.

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″.

I’ve found it interesting that when on paint outs with other artist friends, men tend to paint the cars in a street setting into their paintings, while women often leave them out, myself included. Still, as an artist I find I am drawn to the rusty old hulks of vehicular history. The first painting I am showing you here is a new one – “Going Nowhere Fast”. It is 14 x 18, and will be among those I will be showing at the Western Masters Art Show, March 16-19 in Great Falls, MT. I love the combination of the vehicle that implies (or once implied) movement, and the tree that says, “No there won’t be any of that!”

I had done a similar painting a year or so ago, the second one shown here. It is called “Opportunitree” and was inspired by an actual car and tree combo I spotted when driving through the countryside. That painting was chosen as one of the Top 100 in the Paint America Top 100 Competition for the year 2009.

I do have a lot of fun painting these old vehicles! I have a couple more in mind, both involving old trucks I have come across. I had hoped to get then done for this show, but don’t think it’s going to happen as I’m out of time!

Going Nowhere Fast 14 x 18

Opportunitree 16 x 20

I’ve been painting madly for the upcoming Western Masters Art Show, previously the C.M. Russell Art Show at the Heritage Inn in Great Falls, MT. The show begins on Wednesday, March 16th, not far enough away! I have a piece in the The Russell Wall Sale, and share display room 176 at the WMAS Show with Sheila Rieman, a great pastel and oil painter.

I have many pieces in the works, but not many are really finished. I’ll show you this one. It’s another lily pad piece, one of my favorite subjects. I like the fact that much of the painting is in shadow, and the dappled light finds just a section of this lily pad garden. I’m not sure of the title yet. This is an oil, 16×16.

Yahoo! I see that TWO of my paintings were chosen for the Paint America Top 100 competition for 2010! I am excited! Those paintings will go to Kansas and then travel with the National Show. I have been lucky and made the cut a few other years as well. I am wondering though, does having two paintings in the Top 100 move me into the Top 50? Ha! Just kidding!

These are the paintings that were chosen. “The Home Place” is 16×16 and is of a ranch homestead near my home. Much as I don’t like getting up early, I was driving down the road early one morning, and was lucky enough to catch this view of the sun coming up on Mt. Cecelia, or “Pooh Bear”, as my girls used to call it.

“The Season’s Last Lilies” is 24×24 and one of the series of lily pad paintings I have done. This particular scene is on the north end of Yellowstone Park.

Both of these pieces will be for sale through Paint America.

The Home Place 16×16

The Season’s Last Lilies 24×24

You really can’t beat the Montana “big sky”. This is a view looking east from our house. The summer cloud formations can be incredible at sunset! This is the other painting I sent to the Settlers West American Miniatures Show, to be sold the night of February 12th. It is 9×12, and an oil. If you’re in the Tucson area, I hope you’ll get there to see the show.

I did this painting for the Settlers West Miniature Show in Tucson on February 12th, although it opens for previewing before that I believe. Settlers West is a beautiful gallery! I called this man Cowboy, as he is a  Native American cowboy from the late 1800′s. I enjoy upsetting the stereotypes when I can. Someday I want to do a large painting called (creatively) Cowboys – that depicts the many men that did shape that part of our history – white men, but also blacks, Mexicans, Native Americans…

This is a small painting, 12 x 9. I didn’t get my images in to the gallery on time, so as yet, my paintings don’t appear on the web page. My fault and loss. It looks to be a wonderful show! I hope some of you will get there to see it!

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.

I’ve been trying to move in a more painterly direction and so have been fighting the battle as I try to take that step forward. While I’m working on several things right now, none are ready to show. I thought this cartoon by “Russ” sort of says it all.

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.