Circle of Hope

Circle of Hope

10x20

available at Lancaster Art

Here I am again exploring the primitive cave ponies in a contemporary manner with Circle of Hope.

I wasn't sure about this one but after a few days it started really growing on me.

The aqua and orange just glows.

On the farm we ended up getting about 10" of snow and a to lightweight southern girl this is a bunch. It seems like the barn is about two miles farther trudging through the deep snow.

The Witching Hour

The Witching Hour

sold

I was relieved to wake this morning to snow coming down and the power still on. We ended up getting some sleet, no freezing rain but mostly snow. The ponies evidently were out a bit last night and had horsecicles hanging off their manes and bellies.

The Witching Hour is the first in a series painted in a size to print due to the many requests I've had for prints of the Spirit Horses.

My inspiration:

I did leave out the helicopters. :)

 They may not or may not find what they are looking for, but in the meanwhile I'm finding something.

Inspiration.

Waiting for the Ice Storm

Wildwood

available at Lancaster Art

This painting reminded me of ice.

 The beautiful sparky trees glimmering in the ice that I have never been able to capture in a photo.

And now I sit here waiting for the ice storm that has been predicted.

I spent yesterday in preparation.

Shopping done,  water troughs filled to the brim, wood for me and the parents, fuel for the camp-stove and the propane heater, candles and flashlights located.

If we get the 2" of ice predicted a trip to the barn will be an adventure.

And a trip anywhere else out of the question.

Plus we will likely lose power.

And so I wait.

Horses and Helicopters

Flash of Color

8x8 available here

I got jolted out of bed by the sound of helicopters. Dreams of Apocalypse Now and the thought of napalm in the morning followed closely by the thought of my horses, especially the BLM mustang who at some point in his young life was herded up and traumatized by helicopters.
The seismic testing for natural gas has been going on for over a year along with drilling, pipelines etc. Although it has done allot for our local economy it has been annoying. This last round has been worse. The testing they are doing involves cables all over and even more blasting. The helicopters are used to drop big bundles of cable and equipment all over our pastures and all around us.
The wind was bowing forty miles an hour and the horses freaked out as the orange bag swung over where they were quietly grazing.

He is the leader of our little herd, the BLM mustang and mad.

Today I was more nervous about their safety as cables are everywhere. The copters started up again and flew close. They just watched from a safe distance without tearing around the pasture.

Blasting will start sometime this week. By theory they will call me so I can shut off the south pasture, but I don't trust that will happen. I will shut it off today.

Synchronicity

Lightning on Horse

8x8

available here

I say something. I get a look.
"What?".
"That is just what I was going to say."
The phone rings.
 "Of coarse  it's you. I have been thinking of you all day and was just going to call you."
I go to talk to someone.
They ask how I knew they wanted to see me.

My friend comes to visit. We stand at the fence and pet the horses.
 She asked "Do you worry about lightning?"
"Some."
I think about my latest painting Lightning on Horse.
She goes on "My brother-in-law lost two of his horses to lightning."
We have lots of lightning strikes on this mountain and I do worry. I turn to Miami and tell her to stay in the barn during storms.
I didn't show my friend about the painting but now wish I had.

Anyway it happened all week over and over again. The synchronicity that is.
 It makes people think I can read their minds.
 The truth is I'm just bumbling along.

This is usual, but not consistent like it has been this week.

And my sales.....

So I feel very blessed.

And humbled.

Hearts for Haiti Etsy Shop

Hearts for Haiti
This brand new etsy shop is so awesome! There are over 600 wonderful handmade treasures.
In just one week there have been over 800 sales
 and $10,000 dollars raised. WOW!!

About The Shop

This is an Etsy collective of donated items from hundreds of Etsy shops to raise money to rebuild Haiti. 100% of the proceeds from this shop (minus Etsy fees and Paypal fees) go directly to DoctorsWithoutBorders (http://doctorswithoutborders.org ). This shop has permission to use the DoctorsWithoutBorders name and a separate bank account and Paypal account have been opened to maintain the integrity of this shop.

You can read more about this generous project at Hearts for Haiti

This is a wonderful reason for me to do a little shopping for the grand kiddies upcoming birthdays

and make a donation.

There are so many cool things to choose from.

Hearts for Haiti

It warms my heart to see millions and millions

of people coming together to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

God bless them all.

Shiny and Sparkly Gypsy Jewels

Gypsy Jewels

8x8 gallery wrap acrylic

 SOLD

Art is a collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does the better.

                                                                                                                                - Andre Gide

I just can't seem to stay away from my metallic paint for very long when painting these ponies. The grayish days of winter seem to call for some shininess. I love the way the sky sparkles in Gypsy Jewels.

I also can't seem to get away from doctoring real ponies.

My darling Miami has had rain rot for months and though it's getting better I'm still scrubbing and medicating her skin. She now has has pink spots on her white spots. If that shows up in a painting you know where it came from. :)

Miami and Missy both have white line, a bacterial type of infection in their hooves. So more scrubbing, picking and medication on eight hooves. I am always glad they don't have more feet by the time I'm done. And with all that scrubbing they should both be shiny and sparkly, but they are just kinda grumpy.

The High Maintenance Girls

And Flash, well he's healthy as a horse.

Earthly Treasures

Earthly Treasures

SOLD

Happy Martin Luther King day everyone.

I have been included in a fantastic treasury. Check it out.

Etsy :: Treasury List

Aqua Appaloosa Contemporary Primitive Horse Painting

Aqua Appaloosa

8x8

Available here.

The horse is the projection of peoples' dreams about themselves - strong, powerful, beautiful - and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence.”

                                                                                                                      Pam Brown

Red Star Horse

Red Star Horse

10x10

available for sale here.

When I work most of the time I don't plan much, well I do but the painting doesn't really follow my plan. I sit at the easel and try desperately to stay out of the way.

I see these images and lay them out without much editing.

Some cultures believed that the artist is not responsible for their work. It was the muse, genius or something outside that actually brings the creative force into being. I totally believe that.

Plus just think......

Anyway I observe the paintings I do and try to connect the dots.

It's been very cold here and the paintings, fire red sky with the blue horses.

Coincidence?

Creativity and Education

Shooting Star Horse

SOLD

I went to 13 grade schools in various cities mostly in the east. When I started my secondary education it was in the backwoods of Arkansas where folks had just started getting indoor plumbing  and some of my teachers didn't have college degrees. By my senior year I was stuck in study hall four hours a day just because I had already taken all the classes.

I would put my books in my locker, forget the combination and still maintain a B average. I never thought my lack of education hurt me much but as I listened to this speech I realized that four years left to my own devices and imagination may have been a huge advantage for me. I was selling my art before I got out.

The downside (and there always is one) is I can't speel (thank God for spellcheck!) and I can barely string three words together to make sense or a sentence.

But as the great philosopher Paul Simon said "My lack of education never hurt me none, I can still read the writing on the wall."

This talk by Sir Ken Robinson is eye opening. Although it is 20 minutes long it's funny and enlightening.

Chasing Twilight

Chasing Twilight is a 6x6 acrylic on wood panel. It comes framed and ready to hang.

SOLD

It is cold outside! We are getting like many parts of the country usually cold weather. I thought in the fall about getting a heater for my stock tank but decided against it as I can usually take a hammer and break the ice. Not this year. The water is frozen solid.

I am reduced to using a smaller tub and putting water in it several times a day and taking hot water out to mix in the horse’s food and offer them a drink of it. Needless to say I cannot get one locally now but will have one before next winter.

I am thankful as I know the horses are for the nice new barn we have that is large enough for all five of them.

Blue Moon Spirit Horse Painting

Blue Moon

This is the first of my new paintings Blue Moon. It was of course inspired by the awesome blue moon of New Years Eve.


I have taken a full two weeks off from work which is typical for me. I needed it.

The reorganized studio it is so much more functional.

I feel like my creative juices are really flowing and I am coiled up ready to paint. I am looking forward starting back to work today and excited about the new paintings that are dancing around in my head.



It is available for sale here.