Lancaster Art

A Wandering Soul Candles

2011-10-18T11:31:00.000-05:00

A Wandering Soul is my favorite Etsy shop and Connie is awesome. I was thrilled to get my all natural soy candle in an earthy eucalyptus and sage scent. I can't tell you how much I love the smell. The soy candles last so long plus no sooty smoke. I plan on getting a few more for gifts and at these prices another one for me!

All natural soy candles available here

The beautiful hand cut luminaries come with an electric tea light.

Art nouveau Flower luminaries are here.

Connie also custom cuts these pretty vellum luminaries to go over a candle. And don't forget to check out the ther goodies in Connie's shop.

If your shopping for gifts or want to get something to pretty up your home head on over to A Wandering Soul. You'll be glad you did.

2012 Spirit Horse Calendars

2011-10-05T12:21:00.000-05:00

Spirit Horse 2012 Calendar by DianaLancasterArt
See more Horse Calendars

Yee haw!

Here they are the new

2012 Spirit Horse Calendar!

Twelve Spirit Horses for you to enjoy thoughout the year. You can choose from three different sizes.

So go ahead and order one for yourself.
These will make wonderful gifts so get a few more to get a jump start on your holiday shopping.

You will love your Spirit Horse calendar.

I promise.

Hugs, Diana

A New Job For Chickens

2011-10-04T11:20:00.000-05:00

Who knew chickens could be so creative?

Maybe I should get her a paint brush.

Amber Moon

2011-09-27T12:06:00.001-05:00

SOLD

Harvest time in the Ozarks has kept me going full tilt until I actually did.

While taking my hundred pound dog Tonka on a brisk walk over the weekend he crosses in front of me mid step and flips me over his back. I go down into the road hitting quite hard and spraining my wrist.

Luckily it was my not painting and not previously broken wrist.

Unfortunately I have no video of my acrobatics.

Graceful I am not.

Riding I am also not.

I am getting much better already and as soon as I can hoist that saddle up I’ll be in it.

(Note to self: Teach horse to lie down)

Anyway...

I am inspired by the golden light and the big harvest moon in the fall. My latest work is Amber Moon. It is here. Hope you enjoy it.

The Jackass Fairy Pays a Visit

2011-09-21T11:03:00.001-05:00

Tonka starts barking at daylight. I can smell a skunk and think that is what he is barking at. It's not and he won't be quiet. I get up and see pea soup fog, no horses in the barn waiting for their breakfast.

But I do see two donkeys. And where are my horses. The Jackass fairy must have come during the night and brought these donkeys and took my beautiful horses. #@&*^!

I call them up. Nothing..... I go out to the neighbors pasture where the donkeys live and there they are, so scared that they have their heads buried in knee deep grass. They don't want to come home. There are horse eating donkeys over here

I halter Miami and bring her back to the barn. Flash comes with her. I go back for Missy and the other two follow. I get them fed and try to decide how to remove the donkeys. Drive them over with a whip??? No, that's liable to take all day. Bucket of pears, yes that should work. And it did. They like pears!

I get every body in the right pasture and let my guys out. They run to the fence and make sure the mean little tiny donkeys are at their house.
Another morning in paradise!

Hiking in the Ozarks with Tonka

2011-09-14T21:05:00.000-05:00

Tonka and I went out for a couple of days hiking in the Ozark National Forest. It is a place that is very close to my heart and roots. My grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother all had farms here. The trail winds through and close by these special places.

This is Sylamore creek. It was named for Sylamo a Shawnee. My family settled next to a Shawnee village when they came from Tn. Tonka says it feels like home.

Livingston creek down the trail a ways.

Trying to take a photo of us together with the camera balanced on my pack.

The rope swing at Barkshed.

Taking a break in the water.

Tonka was either on a leash or in his muzzle. He can really scare people. We did not see a soul and that suited him just fine.

End of the trail.

Just How Smart is a Chicken?

2011-08-11T11:09:00.001-05:00

The young female

The Male

The two strays showed up a few days ago starving and dehydrated. Neither me or Tonka could run them off and I'm still trying to find the owners (doubtful) or get them in a shelter (difficult).
Anyway they are trying to kill my chickens so I chain them up during the day when the chickens are out and let them loose at night. Apparently one of the hens decided to roost in a tree last night instead of joining the rest of the flock in the coop.
I go for my morning walk and come back to hear the hen by the coop, so do the strays.
They go after her and so do I. I love a good sprint in the morning. (NOT) She heads towards the hay field and crosses the fence. I can't cross the fence very fast but the pups can. I thought for sure she was a goner.

Then she did the one thing that would save her....
she runs straight to me.

I scoop her up and save her from the dogs and return her to the flock.

I always thought chickens were pretty stupid but now I am beginning to wonder.

Words to Live By

2011-08-02T12:43:00.001-05:00

Star Mountain

sold

1 * Accept the fact that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're

            the statue!

2 * Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat

        them.

3 * Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the

      middle of it.

4 * Drive carefully... It's not only cars that can be recalled by their

     Maker.

5 * If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague

6 * If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was

probably worth it.

7 * It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a

   warning to others.

8 * Never buy a car you can't push.

9 * Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you

      won't have a leg to stand on.

10 * Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

11 * Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

12 * The second mouse gets the cheese.

13 * When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

14 * Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

15 * You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the

     world to one person.

16 * Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.

17 * We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty

      and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colors,

      but they all have to live in the same box.

18 * A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

19  *Save the earth..... It's the only planet with chocolate!

20 * God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise
every morning.

Dancing Dream

2011-07-06T10:41:00.000-05:00

The dentist came for the horses last week.

It was my job to hold a rope that was strung over the rafter and connected to the dental halter on the patient / horse. Missy had to have a tooth pulled. At the momet of truth she rears and backs.

Now I am of the "letting go" school but for some reason I didn't and was hoisted to the rafter like a rag doll.

I must have liked it because I did it twice.

And it was kinda fun.

I wasn't hurt, Missy said she was.

Anyway.....

I dream that night of dancing with a horse. A wieghtless, colorful , clear vision.

Dancing Dream is available here.

Rain, Rain and Raven Dance

2011-05-02T16:47:00.000-05:00

It's been a month since my last confession errr...I mean ride.

Rain, rain, rain. Tornado warnings nearly everyday. Last night the cellar was full of water, well not full, just to the top of my boots. If y'all remember from the snow days I don't like anything to the top of my boots. I am getting taller boots. The other people were in sandals, so I was the lucky and driest one. They had to hold the yorkies or they would be swimming. Tonka was having a good time playing with the plastic jugs that were floating around.

And when I decide to go ahead and stock our new indoor cement pond with catfish it goes and drains. But its raining still so maybe I should be ordering those fish....

Just got the lovely Raven Dance prints. The colors are perfect and they available here.

Feeding Horses in a Storm

2011-04-27T11:05:00.001-05:00

Red Pyramid

The storms and tornadoes continue. Spending quality time in the cellar nearly every day. And the water OMG.

I have fed theses five horses through some weather but last night was the scariest feeding time I have ever seen. I waited and waited for the storm to ease up but it didn't so I went ahead and started with the wind howling, heavy rain and lightning. It looked like a hurricane. My old mare Missy wasn't bothered too much and went in her stall. I left the door open. The lightning would crack and the other horses were reluctant to come in the barn.

I waited some more. Missy finished eating.

The rain eased up. I decided to feed them all near the door and spread out the other four dishes and started them all at their own dish. A gust of wind would blow the rain in and they all spooked. I was focused on staying out of the way. They switched dishes.

Lightning would crackle, they spooked and went back to a different dish. Repeat. I tried to keep up with who was eating what but the constant spooking and moving in the dim light made it impossible. All the dishes got emptied but one and I picked it up and threw out the food. I would rather them have too little than one get too much. I practiced my dancing skills tring to dodge these fast and frequently moving horses.

Ready for some sunshine!!!

Moon Joy

2011-04-21T14:15:00.001-05:00

Moon Joy
sold

We have been getting some rain and storms and although it is great for my fledgling little garden it has cut my riding time to zero.

I have just listed Moon Joy is sold but have more art on my website here.

The commission is almost finished. This is where I am now.

I should have it all done and ready for approval tomorrow.

We'll see.....

Peeling Apples Commission

2011-04-14T12:40:00.000-05:00

I am working on a commission this week. I did a pastel of this photo a long time ago, like 15 years or better. The daughter of the lovely lady I did this for tracked me down and wanted another as her sis and her both wanted it after the loss of their mother.
We decided to do a painting this time. The subject is her great grandmother.
I love the photo and have been enjoying revisiting this grand lady.
At this point I am about halfway finished. The forms are starting to take shape but a whole lot of finishing left to do.

It would be going faster if the weather wasn't so perfect. I am spending every morning I can riding Miami so I don't even start working until after lunch. Rain is moving in tonight so that should speed up the painting. :)

How Not to Bury a Possum

2011-04-11T14:30:00.000-05:00

Bliss

My sis and I were hanging out in my little barn apartment the other night with her grandson. We noticed Tonka doing something in Missy's stall. We could see from my door as Missy's stall in right across the barn aisle from my stall.

He was burying something which is not unusual at all, but it was taking him an awful long time. So we got to watching him and saw he was burying a possum. He'd get it all covered up and it would start moving. He then dug it back up, bit on it until it stopped moving and buried it again.

Repeat.

We started laughing.....

Repeat.

We laughed some more.

Not wanting the possums at the barn cause they can make the ponies sick I called my stepbrother to come and shoot it cause the playing possum act looked like it was working pretty well with Tonka.

He gets up there and I scoop the critter up with a shovel and carry it out back.

He shoots it and shoots it and shoots it.

How many lives and burials does this possum get???

After about ten shots it finally dies.

The neighbors are calling by now thinking we are having a gun battle.

Thinking burying him has already been done I cremate him.

Forgetting to Turn off Your Car Lights Is Not the Only Way to Drain Your Battery

2011-04-07T12:17:00.000-05:00

There is so much truth to this article and it reminds me of so many things I have done in my life I thought I would share it. I hope you enjoy it.

Forgetting to Turn off Your Car Lights Is Not the Only Way to Drain Your Battery

by Carolyn Henderson

This article is by Carolyn Henderson, the managing half of Steve Henderson Fine Art. She is a Regular contributing writer for FineArtViews and her freelance writing appears in regional newspapers, online magazines, and her humor blog, Middle-Aged Plague.

If you are old enough, or drive an old enough car, it is likely that you have at one time left the lights blazing away while you devoted an entire winter afternoon to browsing happily through a yarn shop.

Okay, so maybe not a yarn shop. But I'm focusing on the "leaving your lights on for a long time in the middle of arctic winter" part. By the time you return -- animated, energized, laden with packages -- your battery's dead.

So much for animated and energized.

Under the right -- or rather, wrong -- conditions, batteries drain quickly, and what can happen in your car can happen to you as well, if you permit people with the wrong way of looking at things to wield too much influence in your life.

I call them battery drainers -- friends, relatives, colleagues, enemies, acquaintances, strangers on the street -- in whom you confide your plans and aspirations about being an artist, and who in return deplete the life force from your soul, leaving you feeling listless, without hope, defeated, and scared.

They're not always obvious about this -- "Are you kidding? What a stupid idea!" -- and actually, most of the time they are, wittingly but generally unwittingly, more subtle, oftentimes expressing a sense of concern and caring that makes your knees hurt and you're not sure just why.

"There's such a recession going on now," one will sigh. "Many established artists are finding that they need to get second or third jobs -- I heard of one who was pumping gas."

"So sad."

Others feel a need to point out to you the painfully obvious, as if, for some reason, you had never thought of it before:

"So few artists make it to the top you know," this with a sage nod. "You're not planning to quit your day job or anything?"

Or,

"How wonderful that you won first place in that national show! Of course, you have to realize that this won't necessarily make you. Lots of people have won prestigious awards and they haven't fulfilled their desire to be full time artists."

I'm sorry -- I'm missing something here. Does one of the sub-definitions of "artist" include terms like "naive," "irresponsible," "childish," and "delusional"?

Years ago, we sold our house in town and moved our family flock to a renovated barn in the middle of untamed land. Our plans were to build a modified timber frame home, which we would pay for as we went along, and pay off the land as well -- this, all on one modest income and one whacking quantity of sweat equity.

We told very few people of our long term plans, and, indeed, many secretly thought that we had totally lost it -- but after all, what can you expect of a Norwegian Artist and a Polish Writer? Those poor children of theirs . . . and why did they have so many?

There was one acquaintance in particular with whom we avoided sharing the . . . particulars, namely because he made Eeyore look like an optimist. Only when the house was fait accompli and we were all settled in did we mention what we had done:

"That was really risky," he said, shaking his head and pursing his lips. "You know, if your house isn't up to code, you'll never be able to resell it."

What is it with these people?

Through the years, some of the things we have NOT shared with certain people include bicycling to South America, homeschooling the kids, birthing the aforementioned kids at home (with a midwife, okay?), and, most recently, making our livings as an artist (Norwegian) and a writer (Polish).

As far as the particulars of our business plan, only the Norwegian Artist and I know what we're up to, and the only other people privy to the details are our progeny, who, having been born and raised with us, share some genetic DNA thing and internalize the concepts of working hard, plugging away, keeping your hopes up, trying new venues and avenues, picking yourself up when you fall down, and celebrating every single little step forward -- the girls prefer cake, the boys go for exotic fruit.

For those out there who think we haven't thought of this, we do tap into other people's expertise and experience; we read; we ask questions; we research -- we just don't spill our souls onto the sidewalk where they can be pierced by stiletto heels and ground into the pavement by boots.

By all means, find your confidantes and confide in them. It is good to have companions close by, walking alongside of you.

But choose them carefully.

----------------------------------------------

This article appears courtesy of FineArtViews by Canvoo,

a free email newsletter about art, marketing, inspiration and fine living for artists,

collectors and galleries (and anyone else who loves art).

This article originally appeared at:

http://fineartviews.com/blog/29508/forgetting-to-turn-off-your-car-lights-is-not-the-only-way-to-drain-your-battery

For a complimentary subscription, visit: http://www.fineartviews.com

Raven Dance

2011-04-04T13:08:00.000-05:00

Raven Dance

available here

The spirit of the raven has been on my mind and in my heart. The power of the wind and healing as my friend's daughter is going through a serious and scary surgery.

This is my prayer to the wind.

Future Farmer

2011-03-16T17:05:00.000-05:00

It's that time of the year on the mountain when I have a mountain to move. It is my huge compost pile. I am hauling it to the garden to prepare for planting.
My great nephew Dylan helped me today while his mom was at work. He is a farm hand in training. Tonka was serious about guarding his small friend.
We filled the dump wagon and hauled it downhill to the garden where the chickens were waiting to spread it for us. Dylan rode in the wagon back up the hill.
Repeat until the whining started. About the time I stopped whining Dylan started. We put up our tools and went in for a nap.

Photo Caption Contest

2011-03-09T12:34:00.000-06:00

This darling photo of my grand daughter Hailey and the love (so far) of her life, her mustang Flash.

Can you think of a caption for this scene?

Winner gets a $15 gift certificate to use on anything from DianaLancaster.com

You can play over here a Lancaster Art on facebook.

The winner is the one with the most votes.

(you can ask your friends to vote for your caption.)

Contest ends at midnight CST Sat. 3/12

Good Luck!!!

Blue Star

2011-03-02T11:02:00.001-06:00

Blue Star

I have not been blogging much lately. Abcessed tooth has me doing little except painting and the farm chores I must do. Getting farther behind by the day.

Starting to feel better but back to the dentist today, so thinking I will not be great later????

Anyway this little painting in a beauty and an 11x14. It is available here.

Sweet Sleep

2011-02-22T12:06:00.000-06:00

Sweet Sleep

I arise from dreams of thee

In the first sweet sleep of night,

When the winds are breathing low,

And the stars are shining bright

I arise from dreams of thee,

And a spirit in my feet

Shelley

This is the painting I did the study Good Night Moon for. Sweet Sleep is an 11x11 acrylic on primed watercolor paper. The photo of it framed is not as good of the painting.

But it looks so beautiful in this frame. This painting is available either framed or unframed here.

Naming Paintings

2011-02-15T10:57:00.001-06:00

Wild and Free

sold

I named these two paintings Wild and Free after the Thoreau quote "All good things are wild and free." I was thinking of the mustangs.
When I posted them on my website they were posted as a pair, but I also said I would split them up if someone only wanted one.
I was working on the website and happen to notice a message I got that did not come through on my email. Barb had wanted to purchase Free with subject line Wild and Free. I pop on over to my email and there it is two days old and in my junk file. I find it rather strange cause I get all the other messages. I email her with the subject line the same.
I ponder over this curiosity for a bit and have an epiphany. (It's one of those things I have a lot but can't spell.) It was the word free in the subject line that got it throwed out. So I send her another email without the offending word.
So she bought Free and Wild is going to another home.

Naming paintings is usually pretty easy. They tell me sometimes from the idea (vision) and often from the first sketch what they want to be called. I do have paintings that won't give up their secrets but that is pretty rare. I keep feeding my soul, hanging out with the horses and listening. That is my method.

I wonder what Thoreau would think about this.

Chickens and Snow

2011-02-11T12:28:00.001-06:00

Good Night Moon

sold

My chickens have been unhappy with the 8" of snow we got. They finally ventured out after two days and went to the barn.

When I fed the chickens only half were there. At sunset I head back down and half a dozen chickens were still at the barn not wanting to cross the snow to get back to the chicken house.

I did not want to catch them all and wade through the snow so I called them and figured they would be OK at the barn if they didn't make it to the chicken house.

I get halfway back and my little tame hen Lucy runs up to me and wants me to carry her to the hen house. I do.

I need to get a life.

Inner Peace

2011-02-10T11:39:00.000-06:00

Snow Horses sold

We got so much snow yesterday it was over the top of my boots. Have decided to either get taller boots or snow shoes for next year.

Here's a little somethng I saw today that I thought was so cute and true.

What Is Inner Peace?

If you can start the day without caffeine,

If you can always be cheerful and ignore aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you anytime,

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without liquor,

If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

...Then You Are Probably The Family Dog!

Making the Decision to Send Dad to the Nursing Home

2011-02-07T11:55:00.001-06:00

A Gentle Hand prints in two different sizes now available here.

Last week we put Dad in the nursing home. It was a difficult choice but one long over due. Lots of people I know are dealing with this very issue as our parents age.

Dad has been in poor health now for 6 or 7 years. My step brother and I moved in about the same time to care for our parents and my grandmother as well.

It has been difficult. For a long time now I have thought it was a mistake to keep him at home. He was isolated and unhappy. He considered us his jailers mainly because we kept him from driving. He even went as far as secretly getting a lawyer to try to escape.

My step mother is his guardian so my attempts to change the situation in the past met with failure. This time however was different. Part of the change was due to her heart attack in the fall and other health issues she faced last year. The rest of it was Dad’s mini strokes and lessening mobility.

My step brother and I made a plan to force the issue. We spoke to the rest of the family and made sure we had their support. We did. My sis joined us as we did what we called “our intervention”. She saw we were not going to take no for an answer and her son’s threat to move out was probably not even necessary.

It seemed I would have been OK with this choice and I anticipated the feeling of a weight lifting off me but that is not what happened. I just got a pit of sadness in my gut. It freaked me out and made me doubt my decision. I took Tonka out on the river trail and we took a nice long hike to clear my head. When I returned I looked at my feelings and decided it was grief. Once recognized it passed quickly.

Dad said he felt like we had dropped him off at the pound the first day, but that has also passed quickly. Most of the patients and employees are women so he is in his element. He seems very happy now and he is getting 24 hour skilled nursing that he needs.

The stress level here has dropped considerably. He being just a few miles away makes it possible for us to see him at least once a day and take his dog to see him too.

See that wasn’t so hard…..

( Yes it was.)

Zodiac Prints

2011-01-25T11:05:00.000-06:00

I made it too the post office yesterday and the new prints of Zodiac had arrived. They are so beautiful. The color came out perfect!

It was another great job by Fine Print Imaging.

The Zodiac prints are here.

Snow Girl

2011-01-22T10:05:00.000-06:00

We are lovin the snow!

If Wishes Were Horses

2011-01-19T11:39:00.000-06:00

Some of my plumbing is on the North side of the barn. Already it froze a bit.

I went into town and bought 4 bales of straw. $20
Stacked it up on over the plumbing to give it a bit more protection from that North wind.
The horses come and scatter it everywhere. I rake it up and put some in the chicken houses and the rest in the stalls.

Put up a fence around the new propane tank and to protect the straw against marauding horses.
$20 more straw and another trip to town.

They bent the fence down and busted the bales and were eating the straw....
EATING IT.
It's not like they are starving....but

Come on guys......you don't EAT it when it's in your stall!

So I rescue the pieces of bales that are left and bag up more to store for bedding for every one.

It's my fifth wheelbarrow load of straw and I'm muttering to myself
"I wish...

I could feel my late grandmother at my side whispering in my ear "If wishes were horses..."

And then I see a picture. I sketch it. The painting did not go as easily as some, but after a bit of a struggle it finally came around.

As for the plumbing I ended up building an insulated box to go over the wall. We ran out of temperature here the other night and my plumbing didn't freeze so mission accomplished.
And the horses are continuing to inspire me.....

And for those of y'all that don't know about running out of temperature.
My Dad always says it can't get below zero cause then you run out of temperature.

Malachite Moons

2011-01-12T21:36:00.000-06:00

I don't talk much about my process, but I will today.

I have these visions. Mostly with color, sometimes with names.
I sketch them asap and makes notes on colors, ect. If I don't sketch them sometimes I forget but mostly I don't forget and they haunt me.

Multiple moons is a recurring theme. I have always wondered.....

Malachite Moons is available here.

Life is Good

2011-01-11T13:38:00.000-06:00

Paula comes in the morning. We sit huddled next to the stove with steaming mugs of coffee waiting for the storm to roll in, remembering other winter storms since we started keeping our horses together. We step out to feed and walk a few steps to the feed room in the enclosed barn. In a few minutes we return to more steaming coffee and the warm fire.

The first year I only had a small one horse shelter. The other four horses slid on the ice in the corral as we stood feeding in the sleet. Then there was last winter…so cold and eight inches of snow on the ground for over a week.

The barn was up then anyway but barely and nothing like it is now with the north and west winds completely blocked and stalls for the ponies. It’s been a year and a half long ongoing project.

The apartment is getting homier with a temporary kitchen set up and the bathroom nearly finished.

I spend the afternoon doing more caulking and weather stripping. It gets noticeably warmer in here. The horses start to look in the windows as it gets close to feeding time again. I think they like Tonka and I living out here with them.

It starts snowing.

Zodiac

2011-01-07T11:00:00.000-06:00

Zodiac is my first painting of the new year. It was sold before I even got it posted on my website.
This painting is a result of my seemingly endless manual labor working on my new place. Some how that kind of work just makes images appear in my head.
Why can't that happen when I'm sitting in a recliner?????
Anyway still splitting my time between the construction and studio. Making more progress with the apartment than getting new paintings finished, but I just got 20 yards of canvas and lots of sketches for more work. So we'll see what comes in the next week.

My Christmas Vacation / Construction Marathon

2011-01-04T12:48:00.000-06:00

I have NEVER been so happy to get back to work in the studio. Before Christmas I was so busy I could get no work done on my barn apartment. I was determined to get moved in by the first of the year. I almost made it. Although it is not near finished....I moved in anyway. And I'm exhausted.

This is before. This is my fire exit door to the outside of the barn. It's tiny old solid wood at just 17" wide found at the Habitat for Humanity Restore.

The kitchenette area and some cabinets that need much love.

A bargain....vanity, sink and faucet for $25. The medicine cabinet for $15, both from Habitat for Humanity. I am still painting them white.

My best score by far was the north windows. They are 6' tall and look out to the pasture and the mountains. These were probably $800 new each and got them both for $100 you guessed it Habitat for Humanity Restore.
If you haven't checked them out, you must. There should be one in your area. There are three in Ar and we don't have nothing here. Not only do you get great bargains the profits go to help others get housing.

I'm thinking of getting a new curtain rod, but somehow the hay string gets seems appropriate.

I don't think you can tell from the photos but the walls are textured. I have been working on getting the sheetrock finished enough for the light texture treatment and then texturing.

I hate working with sheetrock.... Day after day and it looks like nothing gets done.

Finally the paint. Love the color.

I and getting plastic glue up ceiling tiles here. No more sheetrock dust for me.

Anyway I am glad to get moved in. It has a nice feel to it already and....a flush toilet in the same building you sleep in...what a novel idea!

The best part is the studio feels better too.

5 Ways to Beat Creative Burnout

2010-12-30T23:07:00.001-06:00

Suffering from creative burn out after the rush of the holiday season is just part of the job. This year has been no exception. It is nothing to worry about it.

These are sure fire ways to get those visions of sugar plums out of your head, and get the visions of art back in.

Clean and make improvements to studio space
Spend quality time with a shovel or any other manual labor preferably outdoors
Take very long walks
Scrub floors with a scrub brush
Spend the day with grand kids and horses (my favorite)

This year I have been finishing and texturing sheet rock in my new space. It didn't take long for the ideas and visions to start filling my mind. I am sketching them daily and already raring to get back to work in the studio.

But I will wait.

I hope to be ready to move into my new space next week/ next year.

Merry Christmas Wishes and a Song

2010-12-24T10:09:00.000-06:00

We wish you all the special happiness the Christmas Season brings filled with peace, love and joy.

And some special Holiday music for you.

A Feeling of Accomplishment

2010-12-13T18:30:00.001-06:00

The portrait of Max for his human that misses him so.

I have a feeling of accomplishment.
This has replaced the rush and near panic that has been with me since the first of November and the start of the construction project.
And my usual mode of operation I either call "chasing my tail" or "running in the family hamster wheel".

It just happened and came out of no where.
Calm, peace and a deep sense that I have managed to keep all the balls in the air.
Or something.
I make an effort to recognize goals when I reach them and give myself a little pat on the back, but it usually something I have to remember to do. (One more thing)

But this time was different. I have been wondering why...

The Willie Nelson Concert

2010-12-10T09:59:00.000-06:00

Woo Hoo! It was awesome! No zoom here yall I had the camera sitting right up there on the stage.
I don't hardly go to concerts or anywhere else for that matter any more. Don't like big crowds or driving in cities. I'm thinking sweet Willie knew that about me and played this very small sold out concert in Mountain Home Arkansas. There was only about 1000 people . Willie and the band were sooo good. He sang all my favorite songs and signed autographs after the show. When he sang "Me and Paul" he changed the lyric from "almost busted in Laredo" to "busted in Laredo". The crowd went absolutely wild.

This is from my seat.

Saw the infamous tour bus, but the security guys couldn't be bribed with a check. :(

Had a 60 mile trip through mountain roads to get home and saw more deer than cars, but didn't even hit one.

Peek in the Studio

2010-12-06T20:03:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I see photos people post of their studios. I am always green with envy. My studio never looks like that....and then there are days like Sunday. After working on packing, framing and last touches on portraits....OMG

Warning: Photos may be disturbing to some viewers. (especially me)

But I got to the post office and it's better now. (but not much)
Every year it is like this with the last minute portraits and all the shipping to do for Christmas. I have finished the last four portraits. Two of them were these adorable kids. I am so glad to have them finished and all the shipping done.

I am thankful for all my customers and the great number of sales
and anxious to get to work on the new space.

Does your studio get neck deep around the holidays?

Shipping Blues and Portraits

2010-11-30T21:55:00.000-06:00

My shipping department is all tuckered out.

Tonka has been working pretty hard with all that shipping to do. His favorite part is going to the post office.

While Tonka is busy running the shippping department I have been doing some portraits. This is soon after starting.

And this is the finished lifesize pastel portrait of this beautiful boy. His parents will be thrilled with this thoughtful gift.

Winds of Change

2010-11-24T09:30:00.001-06:00

Sold

The south wind blows in warm air and rain, then it turn and comes from the north with the blasts of cold air across the mountain. I think of the stories I've heard from native elders of the battling of the winds. I see the south wind son winning the battles. Then the North wind son grows stronger and starts winning.

The horses feel this change as they face the wind manes flowing in the south wind, turning their backs to the north wind.

I stand in gratitude of so many things this season.

Happy Thansgiving!

Lost and Found

2010-11-22T21:56:00.000-06:00

Peacemakers

To say things have been chaotic around here would be putting it very lightly. The construction is still underway at the barn. I spend alot of the day running after various do dads and what nots for the crew.

Red Triangle Horse 2

Sales have been brisk in my etsy shop and on the website, thank God and all my loyal customers and collectors.

But....

I sold a couple of watercolors. I went to the large drawer where I keep all them.

I found one straight away,

the other nowhere to be found.

I searched and searched.

I found these three paintings that I had forgot about.

I searched some more.

I find another little stack of watercolors I need to photographh.

And finally just before I go into a full blown panic I find it.

I wonder about myself sometimes.

Red Triangle Horse 1

Barn Apartment Construction

2010-11-18T22:25:00.000-06:00

My housing situation since moving in to assist the elderly parents... well not so good.
First I tryed living in the main house but discovered the three, yes 3 TVs running 24/7 was way to much for me. NowI live in the tepee in the summer and it's awesome. But the winters in the studio....

I built a studio in part of an old greenhouse. It's a pretty good space but no running water and no clothes closet, plus to live in too ... not really big enough.

After building the barn last year my plan was to build a small aptartment in there. I went to my freind Diana at DK Berg Designs. She is a fabulous space planner and since the space is only 12 x 24' I needed every inch to count.

The plan was to start at the beginning of November. Even though this is the busiest time of year in my business it is the best time for the horses to not be using the barn.

After visiting the Habitat for Humanity Restores around Arkansas and finding some great deals on windows, doors and an adorable bathroom vanity I was ready to get started.

I called James and the crew that built the barn. The guys like lots of construction workers these days are very glad to have the work. As with the barn they are just doing the basics and I will do all the finish work.

Most of the framing lumber came from a local sawmill. It was a great price but to get it takes a trailer and digging through the stacks to get to the wood that I needed.
The insulation for the walls I bought at 1/2 price because of ripped bags at the local home store.

The septic system was put together from two 55 gallon drums and these great online instructions.

It's a good thing I did all this to save money because everthing else went over budget, mostly from my miscalculations and all the extra stuff I didn't know I needed. The shower stalll alone costs a whopping $500, twice as much as I figured. But I like it.

The guys will be finished by next week. There will still be plenty more for me to do.

Spirit Horse Note Cards

2010-11-17T21:30:00.000-06:00

So many of my fans and collectors have asked for note cards.

After much searching I found Caleb and Emily Designs
and

WOW!

I received them and was absolutely thrilled.

The blank note cards are professionally printed on heavy fine art paper. They are packaged in sets of six (two of each design) and come complete with white envelopes.

Just imagine how adorable they will look peeking out the edge of a stocking or the warm feeling a faraway friend will get when they see these precious little ponies.

A great gift for all the horse lovers on your list.

And my favorite part:

Super Fast and Easy Shopping
Lancaster Art

Sunday Bloody Sunday

2010-11-15T09:07:00.000-06:00

This is the opening weekend of modern rifle deer season here in the Ozark Mountains. It's like a bloody holiday here. You won't see many menfolk working at their jobs this weekend, a tradition. It's time for the deer woods, drinking, gambling and other male/ family bonding time.

Although I have witnessed this tradition here I have never joined in. Alcohol and fire arms is not something I want to be a part of, but still...I deer hunt with my cars :(

I do regularly reap the rewards. Today it was two rib cages. Not much meat on em but some. I gave one away to a fella that was here helping me move sheet rock for the new barn apartment. (more on that in another post)

So I had one ribcage. I decided to get the hacksaw and cut it in small enough pieces to put in my dog food cooking pot. After throwing a small tarp on the patio table I went to work. There was luckily two other bones in the bag to keep Tonka busy while I worked. Although they were unwieldy they cut up pretty fast. I hosed them off and double packaged them in plastic grocery store bags. Seven I dropped in the freezer. That'll give Tonka meat for months and he'll like it.

Tonka's Food
I feed Tonka dry gravy dog food mixed with what I cook him. It varies some depending on what I can get free or cheap. I start by boiling a pound or two of meat in a pretty good sized pot and then add 2 or 3 cups of brown rice. After the rice is cooked I put in anything else I have like leftover veggies. (Right now I have some baby food and rice cereal that was expired and was getting thrown out at a local store.)

After the soup cools I refrigerate it. A pot will last him a week or ten days. I spoon it over his dry food, add hot water and stir. He loves it!

Mystery Solved

2010-11-10T11:45:00.001-06:00

Now I know where all those sketches came from I don't remember doing.

Everyone is a critic.

I need to give her a paint brush.

Golden Moon
sold

My latest construction project has me very preoccupied. It'll be finished soon I hope and will get back to a more normal schedule.

Been painting some and selling lots. It's a good thing as my new barn dwelling is going way over budget. I may be able to squeak by and get most of it done.

Will post photos of it soon.

Dark Horse

2010-10-29T11:57:00.000-05:00

Stargazer

My painting for today is Stargazer. It is an 8x8 gallery wrap canvas.

Available at Lancaster Art.

Have a safe a happy Halloween!

The Fear Factor

2010-10-26T09:52:00.000-05:00

Blue Blazes

Today I want to share a few thoughts on fear. There is rational fear designed to keep us safe and alive. Then there is irrational fear based on no reason whatsoever. This will be the focus today.

Rational fear: Trapped in a Cave

Irrational fear: blank canvas

                       It is crazy, but I have certainly felt this way.
Or worse get half way through a really great painting and then get frozen with fear that I would screw it up.
                       When I was a young artist I used to watch a German painter on PBS. I never liked his style of painting/teaching, but I loved his philosophy on life and art. The one thing he said that has stayed with me all these years is:

(and you have to imagine the German accent)

"I used to go to the canvas and shake but NOW THE CANVAS SHAKES!"

I still periodically feel the fear but to get through it I consider myself going into battle. I put my warrior princess hat on, take a breath and get the canvas to shake.

Sometimes the canvas will bend to my will easily. Sometimes it is a fight.

Even if the battle is furious and I lose, the worst that happens is a slightly bruised ego and a canvas goes into the trusty wood stove where all my artistic sins are cleansed.

Getting my Head Back into Painting

2010-10-22T10:21:00.003-05:00

Messenger sold

It's been a busy week here Jo Anne returned from the hospital after her heart attack. She is doing very well.
I talked Dad into going to the nursing home for respite care and physical therapy. He will go next week.
Ive spent alot of time talking to doctors, nurses and other health care people.
Then there are the renters and all the stuff with the rental properties, Dad and Jo Anne's business that we run (are stuck with) now.

Then I try to sit down to paint in between. I think I will never be able to get my head wrapped around it. I flip through my numerous sketchbooks filled with ready made ideas and escape.

Sisters of the Horse

I think with all the distractions I've had the paintings will suffer, but I've found some of my best work comes out of times of great stress and many distractions.
After all these years it's autopilot. Sit at the easel.....and it just comes.

Of Hay Bales and Heart Attacks

2010-10-19T12:32:00.000-05:00

Sometimes the drama.......
            We start out the weekend with a passel of kids for some good outdoor fun with horses and farm chores. The hay was cut and getting ready to be baled.
       By Saturday night we had 6 kids, three elderly folks,three women and a stack of large pizzas. I was passing out milk and animal crackers to the children. My step mother Jo Anne walks through the kitchen talks to me, takes ten steps into the living room and collapses on the floor. She had enough strength to call out to me to call an ambulance. I grab one of the house phones. One of the kids had pushed a button and no dial tone. I holler for someone to find a cell phone. 911 was called, my stepbrother was fetched from his place on the farm. I sent the kids out on the patio and by the time the first responders were starting to roll in the kids were on the cellar making ambulance sounds. I herd kids and dogs into the studio while the other adults dealt with the ambulance and stuff. It was a heart attack and a bad one. She was life flighted to the city had a stint put in a couple of hours later. Stable...thank God.
      The hay started getting baled on Sunday afternoon. All the kids were gone but one. Paula and I and 10 year old Terra get 50 bales up that night. I lift bales but know better. I sleep with a heating pad around my wrist. That bad break from that bad landing. Terra goes home.
    Monday rolls around no help in sight. Paula brings her 90 year old mom. We feed her and Dad before heading out to the field. I take only one glove to keep me from using my left hand. Paula loads I drive the truck and trailer. I pull the bales off with one hand while Paula stacks them in the barn.
    Lunch for the parents and us. They are doing fine. Mike shows up to finish baling. We get another trailer full and put in the barn. We get slower. It's 4 and we fill the trailer again. Help shows up. We count bales left on the ground and decide to sell 50 bales. A few phone calls later we have folks pulling up to pick it up. My niece brings dinner for us all. We are done, tired and relieved. We have 200 bales up for winter. It starts raining after midnight.
       Jo Anne is being released from the hospital today.

Thoughts on Being Trapped in a Cave

2010-10-15T13:53:00.000-05:00

My sister Dale and I waiting for rescue.

As I watched the miners being rescued my mind turned back to that Monday in May. I've been thinking about it allot through out this whole ordeal with the Chilean miners.

What really struck me is the sunglasses they were wearing and how I wished I had sunglasses that day.

It's been what 12 or 14 years now, a beautiful May morning and a girls day out adventure. It was me, my sister Dale and Jo Anne. Jo Anne was in her 60s and her son owned the land this huge cave was on.

I had been in the cave several times and my sis and I had explored this very deep section once. We had planned to go back in and look for a passage to another even deeper section I had heard about. Jo Anne wanted to go and check it out.

All went well as we descended climbing, and crawling a half mile or so down. We enter a small room with a flow stone on one side and a small hole that is the entrance to a corkscrew like tunnel going up. I go in first as I am the most experienced spelunker. I twist my body while climbing up the rocks stuck in the clay and gravel that make up the tunnel. Twenty feet or so it opens up to a room the size of a football field strewn with rocks the size of cars and buses. The other gals crawl through with no problems.

We all have a great time looking at formations and exploring the huge room and several others that connected to it. We were still looking for the other passage when suddenly I said "Lets go". Dale was surprised and did not like the way I said it. We still had another half hour or so before we had planned to leave. She swears that is the moment the tunnel collapsed. I don't know I just got nervous all the sudden and felt it was time to go.

I crawled down the tunnel to find rocks had fallen and the exit was only big enough to get my hand through. I hollered at the others not to come down and waited.

Soon our spotters showed up and realized we had a BIG problem.

In Arkansas there is a group that is trained for cave rescues. I didn't know about them until that day. Our rescuers were called and we busied ourselves getting supplies in through the small hole thinking we may not have it very long. Sleeping bags were twisted up into a long small rope to fit through the hole. We carried up water, a thermos of coffee and some food. The cave rescue team sent up a walkie talkie. We settled down in our make shift camp, drank coffee, ate lunch and waited.

We talked about what could happen if the whole tunnel goes (hoping we weren't in it at the time) and the only way out would be to drill through the mountain. Weeks or longer? There was no way of knowing how deep inside the mountain we really were.

And then there were the news crews that were showing up outside. When we heard that we made a decision. If any reporters were on the property we weren't coming out no matter how big they made the hole. I've had my ass in a crack plenty of times but didn't really want the whole world knowing about it. They were asked to leave and did.

The walkie talkie would squawk and call us down into the tunnel. Dale and I would take turns going down and moving rocks. We would also work on the bracing they were putting in to stabilize it. It was dangerous work from our end.

We found out the mayor of a local town showed up with a pickup filled with fried chicken and pizza donated by local restaurants. There was a crowd of people outside playing Frisbee, eating and helping with any thing the rescuers needed. I wanted pizza and a couple were brought down and rolled up in the box and stuffed through the little hole. Messy but good.

After 11 hours they called and wanted me, the smallest, to try to slide out through the log bracing. I stayed in the tunnel for about an hour until the rescue team gave me the go ahead. I carefully eased out the hole into the flow stone room.

Now I hadn't been panicky through out this whole day but stepping out of the tunnel I got freaked out.

The lights nearly blinded me, battery powered but still bright. When I could see anything at all it was a room full of people. I had trouble standing up and felt very disoriented.

I needed sunglasses. That's what made me think of this whole thing again, the sunglasses.

I could see as Jo Anne and then Dale came out, the flow stone had shifted. The whole thing.

Luckily it was almost dark by the time we got outside to see the news helicopters overhead shooting pictures.

The cave rescue team was awesome and made something which could been a disaster for us into a just another adventure.

Art Business, Business, Business

2010-10-06T10:57:00.000-05:00

The last month I have immersed myself in business. Getting the website up was a huge project, there was the big honking T shirt project and adding more prints.

The website is fantastic. Clicpik was certainly the right choice for me. All went pretty smooth until it came time to pay my yearly $54 fee. My bank would not let me use my debit card for an overseas transaction. I had to go to the bank and do a bank transfer. No only did it cost me $40 but took a while as the gals down there did not have a clue how to do it.

Did I say I live in a really small town?

If you haven't checked it out you can here.

Then there was the tshirt project. This was different for me as I have only ever done paintings and had no desire to sell t shirts but....

I had this idea mainly because this is how I describe myself. It kept kicking around in my head and would not leave me alone.

So I finally did it.

It came with a myriad of issues as well, from getting my local printer to produce anywhere near my time frame, to promotions and now the big storage issue in my already cramped studio.

I ordered adorable tags from moo.com with my paintings on them

and purchased resealable cello bags for the T's.

They officially went on sale yesterday and the sales have been good so far. I've got my fingers crossed.

I keep adding more prints of my paintings. Across the Universe (above) and Outriders (top) will be available real soon.

I have been using Fine Print Imaging. They are fantastic! If you decide to have prints made I would highly recommend these great folks. If you use me as a referral (Diana Lancaster) they will show me some love and $.

I am soo ready to get back to painting.

Whew, all the business stuff just makes my head spin.

Skinny Catfish

2010-10-01T14:59:00.000-05:00

Renegade

Available here

My friends came to fish at the pond yesterday. They made some catfish bait using hot dogs, strawberry koolade and garlic. It worked very well. They caught a bunch of catfish, but ended up throwing them back because they were so thin.

I feel bad because I haven't fed them all summer thinking they could fend for themselves.

Plus if critters aren't following me or making a rukus I figure they are ok. I'm off to the feed store again to get some fish food.

I dreamed last night my man came to cut my hay. With a full week of dry weather expected I am hoping dreams really do come true.

Come and Play! Contest on Facebook

2010-09-30T11:37:00.002-05:00

YeeHaw! We are going to play a game on facebook… and the winner will get a brand spanking new T shirt. Tell us your favorite horse name. It can be a real or imaginary horse but only one name please. Ya’ll will be choosing the winner by the number of “likes” the name has. Hint: you can invite your friends to come, play with us and vote for your entry. JThe game will end at 5pm on Friday. I will announce the lucky winner before evening feeding time on Friday Oct 1^st. (That’s 5:30 central) Have fun!

Here is the place to go: Lancaster Art on Facebook.

The EOCD t shirts are available here.

New Website DianaLancaster.com

2010-09-27T11:17:00.000-05:00

Miami and I are doing the happy dance.

The new website is up. Go take a look and let me know what you think.

DianaLancaster.com

Our barefoot trimmer was here today and all three of my horses were perfect.

Tonka needed some words as he likes to get underneath the horses for his hoof snacks.

A beautiful fall morning to spend in the barn.

My trimmer is so knowledgeable about horses I learn something every time he comes.

I feel very blessed.

Inventions I'd Like to See

2010-09-24T13:10:00.000-05:00

Happy Spirit Horse at Lancaster Art

So many new things get invented everyday.... things I could never dream of...

and then there are inventions I wait for.

Here's my list:

An app for my phone that tells me if I left the water on at the barn.
Helium filled breast implants.
A riding vacuum cleaner

Do you have any inventions you'd like to see?

I Walk In And Out of Many Worlds

2010-09-21T12:36:00.001-05:00

SOLD

"I walk in and out of many worlds."

In my mind are many dwellings. Each of the dwellings we create ourselves - the house of anger, the house of despair, the house of self pity, the house of indifference, the house of negative, the house of positive, the house of hope, the house of joy, the house of peace, the house of enthusiasm, the house of cooperation, the house of giving. Each of these houses we visit each day. We can stay in any house for as long as we want. We can leave these mental houses any time we wish. We create the dwelling, we stay in the dwelling, we leave the dwelling whenever we wish. We can create new rooms, new houses. Whenever we enter these dwellings, this becomes our world until we leave for another. What world will we live in today?

Creator, no one can determine which dwelling I choose to enter. No one has the power to do so, only me. Let me choose wisely today.

--Joy Harjo, CREEK/CHEROKEE

Epona

2010-09-15T16:56:00.002-05:00

The Divine

sold

Epona, the divine mare

I took some time out from working on my website to research some ancient myths about horses. I found some interesting stories on Epona.

In Gallo/ Roman religion, Epona was a protector of horses. She was particularly a goddess of fertility and was often depicted with foals. The goddess and her horses were leaders of the soul in the after-life ride.

The feast day set to celebrate Epona is Dec. 18, which is also my birthday.

This is also the source of the word pony.

Choosing A Website Provider for Artist

2010-09-10T10:26:00.001-05:00

Sundancers

sold

After much searching I have found a website provider that is perfect for me.

And the winner is Clikpic!

In my search I found very nice websites that were too expensive....

very cheap ones that well... were not the look I was going for.

then

there were the ones that took forever to load.

Then I found Clikpic which was everything I was looking for.

Based out of the UK
cost 35 lbs or $54 per year
designed for artists and photographers
two weeks free trial
lots of pretty easy to understand instructions
slides shows and other great options

I'm very excited to get it finished and online. I'll keep youu posted.

Dreams of Horses

2010-09-08T12:29:00.000-05:00

Mystic

8x8 canvas available at Lancaster Art

The thunder starts in the distance waking Tonka and I. It grows closer, the thunder of hooves. The herd circles the tepee, whinny, snort and take off galloping to the distant hill. The thundering hooves move closer again, this time they circle the tepee and stop.

I sleep again to the sound of grazing and dream of horses.

My Green Paint Horse

2010-09-03T09:36:00.001-05:00

Bountiful

I did this painting in honor of my green paint horse Miami. It cracks me up every time I use think of that term.

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend.

My Artist Statement

2010-09-01T09:52:00.002-05:00

Across the Universe

sold

I've been trying to wrap my head around the business stuff lately which is no easy task for my right brained self. I did get my artist statement finished with a little help from the ideas from Heart of Business.

The spiritual approach to my business was a much better fit and easier to use my spirit than try to drag my left brain out of the cobwebs.

So here it is.

The Spirit Horse series is a contemporary vision of iconic images of the horse. Using myth and imagination I explore the ancient connection to the equine spirit.

Combinations of layers of texture with rich illuminating colors make an interesting surface filled with movement expressing the great freedom and mystery of the horse.

I strive to express the love and spiritual connection between humans and horses.

What do you think?

Fun With Collage

2010-08-29T22:44:00.000-05:00

Travelers

available at Lancaster Art

I did a black and white watercolor a while back called "Blue Blazes"

Sorry I don't have a photo of it on this computer and the other still sits in the shop.

You'll have to pop over to Lancaster Art to take a look at it.

Anyway I liked this piece and wanted to take the image in a different direction. After cropping it I did a study in acrylic simplifing the black and white shapes.

The horses look like Gypsy Vanners so I decided to do a traveling theme. Topo maps I have of the national forest worked well for the white. I had to do a little searching to find the destinations paper used for the black.

I started with applying the topo maps to heavy watercolor paper using gel medium. Tracing paper was used over the study to make patterns for the black shapes which were carefully applied over the maps. It was all sealed in with the gel medium which gives it a glossy look.

I did another a bit more simplified one. I'm planning on playing with some color with that one. Seeing red.

Fire Horses

2010-08-25T10:08:00.001-05:00

Fire Horses

sold

Prints available at Lancaster Art

This painting reflects the power of the horse....

and the scorching hot temps we've had.

The Cowgirl Way

2010-08-04T10:21:00.000-05:00

The Cowgirl Way

available at Lancaster Art

I did this 14 x 14 collage for the Small Works on Paper exhibit and at the last minute decided not to enter.

It just seemed like too much trouble for no prize money and one more thing for me to do which right now is one thing too many.

Still minus one person here as my step brother is still out of state working. The parents have not been healthy this summer and between hospital stays and doc visits for them both I cherish the days when I can actually stay in the studio and work uninterrupted for just a few hours.

So today no doc visits... tomorrow at least one.

And its hot-record setting hot.

108 yesterday.

Tonka and I have wimped out and slept in the studio the last two nights. No riding until it cools of a bit. The horses are grouchy and in the barn all day.

Even the chickens are panting and in a fowl mood.

Summer Stuff

2010-07-22T11:35:00.000-05:00

The tepee living has been awesome this year. Although it is very hot during the day the nights are cool and breezy up on the mountain. I have two sides pulled up and the door open. Thank God we don't have mosquitoes here. We have had some flies. They start buzzing about 6:30, but I am getting up that early to ride anyway before it gets too hot. I'm sweating allot less and I think Miami appreciates it also.

This is me trotting on Nadine, a lesson horse during a riding lesson. Things were not going well. She was not cooperating and my stirrups were too long.

My grand daughter Terra practicing her bareback riding on her horse Missy. I started her out with a neck rope to hold on to. I did not want her balancing on the reins. She never used it and developed great balance quickly.

As far as work goes I'm still in portrait world and hope to finish up in the next day or two and get back to painting.

Canvas Patterns

2010-07-12T23:26:00.000-05:00

A charcoal portrait recently completed.

I am always searching for ways to make my studio more efficient. I thought of making canvas patterns for the most frequently used sizes of canvas. I finally got around to doing it. I used poster board and figured the size of canvas fabric I need to do the deep gallery wraps. After measuring and marking I cut out the patterns. Now when I get ready to cut a piece of canvas I don't have to do any measuring or even unfold the whole roll of canvas. I just get out the right size pattern, pull out a corner of the roll of fabric, draw the outline and cut it out.

Wanted: Desperate and Gullible Artist

2010-07-06T23:26:00.002-05:00

The crooked folks looking for desperate and gullible sellers on etsy

The "buyer" and I use that term loosely had no feedback, location, favorites and had joined today.

As much as I would be thrilled to sell this painting...........this is so wrong on so many levels.

Although I was born at night it sure as hell wasn't last night.

This is the convo I received today except for the email address that I left out for their own protection.
I know after y'all read this they will get thousands of hateful emails.

(just kidding)

Sunset Girls

I am interested in the immediate purchase of your item and will be make payment via cashier check/money order, my private shipping company will handle the shipping, but before payment will be made i need to be sure of who i am dealing with if you are going to be honest and sincere throughout the transaction. A certified cashiers check is cash-able the same day,there is going to be an excess fund on the check ,the excess fund is meant for the private shipping company who will come to your place for pick up of the item, so shipping is not a problem,will you be able to transfer the excess fund to the shipping company the same day you receive the check?. check would be sent to you so when you get payment you can easily cash it at any cashing point near you or deposit in your bank. You'll be sending excess fund to my shipper , which would be meant for shipping arrangement.if you agree, signify your interest by forwarding to me your Final Asking Price, Full Name & Contact Address and Tel # also i will want you to email to my husband private email address yada yada yada[!at] rocketmail.com make sure you reply back to my husband email,So plz kindly email me to my email address I await your response soonest.

Best and kind regards,

She didn't sign it with a name unless her name is , (comma) yet they want my name and phone #.

Are you sure you don't want my ssn and bank routing number?????

This is my response:

Hi, If you are really interested in Sunset Girls you will have to purchase it through the normal etsy channels. I do accept money orders and my shipping price will be added to the sale. I do not contact private emails nor do I give out any more info than is on my profile.

If you would like to use your own shipper make sure they will come clear out here to the backwoods and pay them separately yourself.

Hugs, Diana

I tried to be nice.
It was hard. :)

I bet you a million pounds (And I have won that much with my email!) I don't get a response.

Worming Chickens

2010-06-25T18:31:00.001-05:00

My chickens have not been looking very healthy lately and one of the older hens even had a bit of diarrhea. I make one of my frequent trips to the feed store and it was recommended that I worm them. Now I am certainly not new to country life, but had never even heard of worming chickens. I don't know why it never occurred to me as I worm everything else.
I buy a bottle of Piperazine-17 and get it home to find out there is nothing about chickens on the bottle. Thank God once again for the info on the Internet. I find out I put 1/2 tsp in 4 cups of water. After pulling their water the night before I put in the medicated mixture and keep them in the pen until they drink almost all of it. We can't eat the eggs for 2 weeks but I am giving one a day to the dog as I figure it won't hurt him. The chickens look better and the diarrhea cleared up very quickly.

I plan to do it again in the fall. I have an 8 oz. bottle of this stuff and using it 1/2 teaspoon at a time I think it is a lifetime supply.

Blue Blazes and a Fast cat

2010-06-21T22:52:00.000-05:00

Blue Blazes

11x14 watercolor available here

I've always liked the expression "hotter the blue blazes" and it's been on my mind lately as it's been ...well hotter than blue blazes here.

This is a painting where I came up with the title first and thought black and white paint horses would be a great subject for it. I am thinking of doing a square larger more abstracted version for the small works on paper exhibit.

I've had the two 10 year old grand daughters here for riding lessons and all kinds of summer fun. They work at the barn an awful lot. Mucking stalls is one of their favorite things. (Yeah)

I asked them to put up a few sticky fly papers in the feed/cat room. They got out the ladder and tried to do a good job. They hung one up too close to the cat door. An unsuspecting cat came through the cat door and went screaming out, running across the pasture faster than I thought it could run dragging the fly paper that was stuck to it's tail. The girls thought it ended up in Texas, but it came back for feeding time minus a bit of hair.

Another lesson learned for the girls. :)

Moon Shadows

2010-06-18T22:44:00.000-05:00

Moon Shadow

available here

I pick blackberries in the evening now, wading though the tall grass as the sun dips behind the hills casting a pink glow. Tonka goes with me. He's taken a liking to the berries and will pick them carefully off the stickery branches. I'm hoping he is watching for snakes. I can see where the deer have taken bites, too high for rabbits. We only take the ones on the edges, leaving plenty for the bear that moves through here this time of year.

I sure don't want him stopping by the tepee to file a complaint.

Whoa

2010-06-15T11:15:00.001-05:00

Kisses From Heaven

sold

As y'all can probably tell from the paintings I've been pretty pleased with the progress of my mare Miami. She is smart and willing and seems to enjoy our rides as much as I do.

I always see such a connection with what I'm painting and what is going on in my heart.

Miami has got a whoa on her. She can be on a rope right in the middle of a panic attack, like when we were being stalked by a horse eating kitty the other day as we were walking on a lead rope in the pasture. She knew we were under attack and started galloping and bucking on the end of her rope. I said whoa and she stopped instantly.

The fact that she did it at all is why we still ride in the arena. Our comfort zone is rather small still yet.

Anyway back to the whoa.

When I am riding her I say whoa and she stops immediately. Actually when I say anything she stops immediately. This has caused me to go bouncing forward a few times when I said something that wasn't whoa and she went errrkk and stopped. So we had a lesson on words that were not whoa. As much as I talk to her I would think that she knows this, but she is still a bit unsure with the whole riding thing and just wants to do it right.

I have to smile as I think of how hard she tries to please me.

Catching Up

2010-06-09T17:02:00.001-05:00

Shining Heart

sold

The parents, grandkids, horses and farm have kept me hopping lately. My stepmother has been ill and there have been frequent trips to the doc and the hospital for tests. Nothing has resolved and she she was admitted to the hospital today. Dad is doing well but needs lots of care and cannot be left alone.

I have one or two grandkids eight days a month. They are old enough to be a big help caring for the animals and working in the garden. They are starting riding lessons, well one is anyway. Missy is still lame so Terra must wait longer for hers.

I ended up making about 20 quarts of cherry jam and now have green beans and new potatoes ready to cook tonight. Yum.

The new riding instructor came out to help me with Miami. She said Miami is a very smart horse. Everyone says that. :) And we were a good match for each other. I have had plenty of fear to deal with trying to start her out at home after breaking my back and wrist several years ago on another horse. It's difficult having so much fear blocking what is a major dream for me. My trust in her and confidence has grown slowly. We switched from a training bit to a snaffle which caused all kinds of protests from my darling little paint, but I had my big girl panties on and we worked through it. It took us several days. I've been spending my mornings working with Miami, afternoons and evening dealing with the parents and farm. And at night instead of working much I am studying how to boost my confidence riding this horse and working on a lesson plan for the next mornings ride. I have spent years, since she was a yearling, training her and sent her to not one but two trainers for her saddle work. She is still very green, but groundworked to death. So for now I will be painting little and spending what time and energy I can muster to get her trail ready and advance our riding skills.

I am very grateful to have the opportunity to be able to pursue my dream and very pleased with the progress with are both making.

Front Page!

2010-05-25T10:33:00.000-05:00

Aqua Appaloosa made Etsy's front page! Yehaw.

This awesome painting is on sale as is everythng in my shop through Friday.

You can take a peek here.

The cherries are ripe now so all stops until I get them picked and the jam made.

Sale and New Prints

2010-05-20T23:44:00.000-05:00

Dreams of Flying 8x10 print

I am so excited to announce my sale!

For this week from May 21st through May 28th take 20% off any purchase from Lancaster Art.

This includes everything, even my two lovely new prints.

Just purchase through paypal and I'll refund it right back to you.

If you want to pay by check or chickens or something give me a holler.

The Night Walks Down The Sky With The Moon

10x10 print

So if you have had your eye on something, but money's been a little tight this is a great time to buy.

And don't forget we have Father's Day coming up.

( Yes, already.)

Have a terrific weekend y'all!

Wild Blue

2010-05-20T09:18:00.001-05:00

Wild Blue

sold

This is the horse of my spirit.

This is the horse of my heart.

never be sold

A Gentle Hand

2010-05-17T09:04:00.000-05:00

A Gentle Hand

Available at Lancaster Art

Having the horses in grazing muzzles this spring has given me some surprising results.

All five have been very humbled. They are every one more quiet and cooperative than I've ever seen them. It has been to wet too ride but I continue to saddle the youngster Miami and leave her tied for several hours a day. Hopefully it will be dry enough to ride tomorrow.

I took Tonka hiking by the lake and to the marina to help him with his social skills. We had a mile long trail down to the lake. He had 8 pounds in his pack this time and carried it well. At the marina there were quite a few people. With women and kids he was great. One man petted him and he did fine. Another tried to and he growled at him. He seems to be as person specific when he comes to men as my late wolf Synco. Not that that is a terrible thing. I trusted Synco to be a good judge of character and I hope Tonka is as well.

We hiked on around the campgrounds and ended up hurrying out as a fierce afternoon storm was moving in. We made the mile trek uphill very quickly and were both panting by the time we got back to the car just as the rain and lightning started.

How to Set Up a Computer in 47 Gut Retching Steps

2010-05-14T09:13:00.000-05:00

My laptop has been on it's last legs so a while back I bought a rebuilt one from my computer fixin lady. For mothers day I got a new flat screen monitor. Yeah!!!.....kind of. (I still remember the VCR hook up nightmare)

The Box I try to get the monitor out of the box after piling up all the wires. I can't seem to budge it. After 15 minutes I find the little instruction pictures on the box and manage to wrestle it loose. It has nifty little picture on the monitor too. I try to sort out all the wires and discover the computer didn't come with a power cord. I call it quits. I need a glass of wine.
The Wires I make the trek into town and get a power cord for the box thing. I get the old keyboard my sis gave me that a dog chewed the wire in half and it's taped together with black electrical tape. I decide to put the computer on a shelf above my desk to keep it away from the dog hair and teeth. It's a black hole of a place and I use a flashlight to see what I am doing. I struggle and cuss and finally get it all hooked up. The keyboard cord is too short and I can't pull the desk drawer out to use it. I have to move it. I cuss some more. I move my printer and put it up on the shelf and move the computer down where the printer was. The flashlight comes out and so did the wine. I hook it all up again.
The Wizard I find the File and Setting Transfer Wizard to move all my stuff. I need another cord. I make another 20 mile trek into town and get one. I excitedly get home and get ready to do it. I go through the wizard following the instructions. I hook up the wire..... and nothing. I try several more times and it can't seem to communicate. I need a martini.
The Files The next day I call my computer fixin girl. She is not in but the guy there says use the flash drive. So I did. I get almost all the files moved and it starts lightning. I shut everything down and give up for the night thinking I need a shot of whiskey.
The Programs I start putting in my programs. One after another. One for the wireless antenna, one for the printer, camera ect. Most are a confusing struggle. I have to get my sis to help me get all the office programs on. I don't finish, it starts lightning and I call it quits. I need a whole bottle by now.
Keyboard I get ready to move the rest of the files. I turn them both on. I unplug my one mouse from the laptop and try to plug it in the other on. It does not work. I try a few more times and realize I have some stray wire from??? I finally get the right one but then try to type and the keyboard is not working. I had moved the wires around too much and where a dog chewed the wire. I mess with the wires. Each time I touch them I hit the off button on the monitor. Sh*t. My blood pressure is going up. I find the power cord. I quit. Zoloft
The Internet Entering day seven I cringe just thinking about the dam thing. I turn them both on to finish the *%$#@ files once again. I try the keyboard and miraculously it is working. ( I was fixin to get the hammer) The Internet works on the laptop but not the other. I try to fix it, nope. My Internet service is countrified and sporadic at best plus I am aways and in another building than where the router and such lives. I move the router and modem closer to me and plug it in a different phone jack. I get an awesomely strong signal, but can;t get online on either of the SOBs. I think it my service. It starts lightning.I need more tranquilizers.
Day Eight I move the freaking router and modem back to where they were and get Internet on the laptop but the other fades in and out. So does my attention span. I sit and drink and ponder how the hell one phone line will work and not the other. I remember the phone co/ Internet provider said they'd come someday. Maybe someday will come..... I'll call them AGAIN. I can't deal with the files. I need blood pressure meds. I dream of doctor shopping.

So this is where I am now.

And my daughter told me entering the twentieth century was safe now cause it was over.

Wrong wrong wrong.

Harlequin Blues is available at Lancaster Art

As the Wind Blows

2010-05-08T10:39:00.001-05:00

On this mountain the wind blows allot. It is usually cool at night and breezy which makes for nice sleeping in the tepee.

Last night the winds were very strong and gusty. Tonka and I headed up to the tepee in the cool north wind. It felt like a storm was moving in but the stars were shining brightly in a clear sky. We get in the tepee and are greeted by a lone firefly. I catch it and let it go outside.

Inside it is cool but the wind is blocked. I start a small fire. It lights up the interior of the tepee and makes it very cozy. Tonka has been sleeping between the tepee and the liner but decides to sleep on the bed with me. I am glad as it is definately a one dog night. It'll be cold by daylight.

I lay in bed and listen to the gusts of wind. The tepee is very stable but neither quiet or still. It rocks and flaps as the wind rolls around it. The stronger gusts even rock the bed. It feels like I am in an ocean of air. The poles creak and where the liner meets by the door keeps blowing back. I set a chair in front of it, it stills it and keeps the wind from coming in.

As the fire dies down Tonka stretches out beside me. I hear a whinny in the distance.

I fall asleep and dream of horses on the plains.

Light Horse Painting Equine Energy

2010-05-07T10:05:00.000-05:00

Light Horse

Available at Lancaster Art

The spirit of the horse shown as dancing multi colored lights illuminate this powerful spirit horse. Light Horse dances with rainbow colors on a deep purple background.

This brightly colored and deeply textured original 8" x 10" gallery wrap canvas painting is about the spirit, energy and color of the magnificent horse.

I have been riding my paint horse Miami. Our connection continues to grow with each ride. Her training has been a long and beautiful and bumpy road. After breaking my back and wrist getting thrown by another horse when Miami was two I have had allot of fear to overcome.

She was sent to one trainer that did not work with her much and did not have the skills to get her where she needed to be for me to ride her. I bought Missy to help me with my confidence and finally found another trainer. After waiting for Miami's sunburn to heal she went early in the fall.

Elise is a petite gentle trainer and did a fabulous job with her. NE Horse Training is located in Conway, Ar. Riding her this spring I am still impressed with all Elise accomplished with her.

Miami deserves allot of credit also. She was known as the "smart horse" at the stable and has a calm cooperative demeaner. Of course the four years of ground work we did, didn't hurt either.

Hiking in the Ozark National Forest

2010-05-03T09:14:00.000-05:00

Our weekend started with storms, tornadoes and periods of heavy rain. Friday evening we all perched by the back door and listened carefully to the storm tracking hoping we didn't have to get Dad down the cellar stairs. We thankfully didn't.

The heavy rains sent water and mud pouring into my studio that was once part of an old greenhouse. Saturday I cleaned up the mud. More storms were predicted but we just got a tad more rain.

Sunday cleared off and was a perfect day for Tonka and I to hike in the Ozark National Forest. We Started in Allison and headed towards Blanchard Springs and the quaint town of Fifty Six where my Dad was born.

The whole trail is 14 miles and the section we hiked is almost five.

The trail started out at a creek crossing but the water wasn't too high. I carried my boots and waded barefoot. Wildflowers were everywhere. The wild iris and the Indian pinks are my favorites.

Trotter Hollar was a great place to stop for lunch. The recent rain made for a spectacular waterfall.

Tonka looks around after he is convinced all the summer sausage is gone.He surprised me by eating trail mix.

That tree on the bluff and the height of the waterfall.... heavenly.

A shelter bluff, one of many in the area and great place to take cover during storms.

We didn't do the whole section because we had to turn around and come back. Tonka carried a pack the whole 7 or 8 miles we hiked. He was tired. I kept him on a leash most of the time, an option that didn't work very well for either one of us. He stays close off lead but freaks outs a bit and won't come if he hears humans. We'll work on that. Summer sausage is probably the answer.

We met a friend at a restaurant with a patio and Tonka got his first dining out experience. He was a perfect gentleman and enjoyed his cheeseburger.

Entering the Sacred Forest

2010-04-30T11:28:00.001-05:00

Entering the Sacred Forest

sold

Spring is still keeping me pretty busy with fence mending and horse keeping. I got the ponies in grazing muzzles half the day and bless their little hearts they have still not quite figured out how to graze with them on.

It has been wet and windy here so riding has not been happening. There will be time for that later.

Tonka and I are planning his first big hike in the national forest this weekend. It truly is a sacred forest to me. My grandmother and great grandmother were both raised in this place so there is a very deep connection.

Persistence

2010-04-26T09:07:00.000-05:00

Silver Wings

available at Lancaster Art

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan, 'Press on,' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race --Calvin Coolidge

Persistence is what it took for me to finish this phase of work on the barn. Though tool malfunctions to many human malfunctions, I kept pressing on just stopping for tornado warnings and lightning. Finally I got to the last stall door latches and figured out how many wrong ways they could be installed before getting it right.
(sigh)

I finished planting the garden and moved into the tepee. I did a new series of trenches inside and out to try to stay dryer than did last year. With as much rain as we had last year the only way I could be wetter is by wearing scuba gear. Anyway I didn't have to wait long for a storm to roll through to test my trenches and new ozan (partial ceiling). The tornado warning kept me in the studio and closer to the cellar, but I was pleasantly surprised to see very little water in the tepee.

I am working towards more simplified days revolving around painting and riding. We'll see.

A Giveaway, A Winner

2010-04-15T09:27:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I reached 100 fantastic followers on my blog. I was thrilled to give away one of these lovely Spirit Horses.

Between my blogs followers, my newsletter subscribers ad my facebook fans I had 333 entries.

I cranked up the random number generator and got 315.

Drum roll please....

and the winner is Kris from Alberta Canada.

I sent him a message. This was his immediate response.

"Wow! I'll grab Sun Dancer!!

I love your work!! I'm so excited!! Thank you! "

Congratulations Kris!

Sun Dancer is galloping on up to Canada.

Yeehaw!

This was fun. We'll do it again.

Two Hearts, One Spirit

2010-04-14T08:41:00.001-05:00

Two Hearts, One Spirit

sold

The feeling of getting a real connection with one of your friends Equine is Nothing less than magical. I think the magic is flowing through this painting.

Spent a peaceful day at the barn trying to finish up the stalls. The weather was pleasant, music on the radio and lots of company. The mares were with me as well as my dog Tonka, and various cats and chickens. A wonderful day.

I am thrilled receive Happy 101 to the Blogger Award.

A great big hug and thanks to Martine!

Check Out Her Blog wonderful paintings and fabulous here.

Here Is The Process to this award ...

- Pass the "torch" to 10 wonderful bloggers...

- Attach this trophy on my blog.

It Is Difficult to make a choice Among all the bloggers I know. You all deserve all this trophy ...

Felicia has over Another Bright Idea for all your lovely work and fun charades games.

Elizabeth your collage Always make me smile. You can see 'em at Elizabeth Seaver Fine Art.

Kimberly your dog paintings and compassion are tops. Check out Painting A Dog A Day.

Bowsweet You Have the cutest babies.

I Always looks forward to new posts from A Year With Horses

Lauren your work is beautiful and so is your new daughter. Look at this wonderful work has Lauren Alexander Art.

Juli I love reading about your country life at Barefoot Gypsy Blog.

Jay Will Represent the male out here.Check out his lovely candle holders (my favorites) and his other woodwork at Hand Crafted Woodworks jn3.

Pretty purses and a very entertaining blog by Michelle at By Your Side

And last but Certainly not least ... your adorable always Mollimoo.

The Inspector at the Barn

2010-04-13T10:15:00.000-05:00

Hay, food giver lady why don't you try using that level?

I have been very preoccupied with trying finish the last bit of stall building before I have to start putting grazing muzzles on the horses. I need to be able to separate them so the pushy mustang doesn't run the mares through the fence when they are all closed up in the barn together.
I have already started Miami on her summer schedule of spending the morning riding and the afternoon in the barn with Missy. So she's been inspecting everything I do. She is particularly interested in her stall.

I want it pink and wth a tv and air conditioner.

And room service.

Today Miami gets the morning off as I attempt to put up a 3/4" 4x8 plywood stall door by myself. It's so bulky and heavy I'm not sure I will be able to do it.

Terra taking a break to brush Missy.

Terra my helper went home and its just as well as the door is too big for her to help with.

Still finding time to do a little painting. This one is The Golden Journey.

Tepee or Para Sail

2010-04-08T11:10:00.000-05:00

It came time to put the tepee back up. I had a couple of friends available to help me. The sun was shining but the wind was blowing hard.

We got the 24' long poles out of the bar loft. It was harder than putting them up there. I guess the whole gravity thing was working too well. I was on the bottom trying to lower theses long poles really heavy on the butt end and not able to get far enough up to really balance them. Times 24 poles.

Three of us started to measure where the tripod went and surprised at how much we had forgotten abut doing it last year. After much head scratching in the wind we got the tripod tied together and stood up. We stepped back to ponder the next move and the tripod comes crashing down.

We remeasure and try it again. The rope slips down before we get it raised up.

We use a different kind of rope and try it one more time. This time it holds and I hold onto it until some opposing poles can be laid in and the rope wound around. The rest of the poles go in quickly and the frame feels stable.

I spread the tepee out on the ground and lay the last pole on top to tie it on. Tonka lays on the tepee and I can't get it positioned right. I tell him to move. He does. A gust of wind blows and the huge canvas tepee lifts up and moves. Do it all over again this time humans hold it in place until I get it tied on and start to bundle it and tie it all the way down the riser pole.

The wind continues to howl.

Just in time three more people show up to help. I knew we were going to need them.

We lift the riser pole into place. We start to unwind the rope tying the tepee and wrap it around the side the wind is coming from. A gust catches it and we all feel the power of the wind as it pushes the canvas and we watch as half of the poles slide towards the middle. I hang on to the riser pole and the other half of the canvas. If the unfurls I think the whole thing will be airborne.

Stakes go in quickly, the poles get moved back into place and we wrap the other side around. I have to lace the front backwards starting at the bottom, from the inside on a ladder as several people held the edges together to keep in all from moving. As soon as the lacing is done the wind blows smoothly around and the whole tepee feels very stable. We stake the rest of it down.

I know how stable from living in it last year on this very windy mountain. But putting it up in the wind....

we won't be doing that again.

*** These photos are from last year. We were so focused on not getting hurt no photos were taken. It too bad they would have been interesting. :)

Long Journey Home

2010-04-05T22:12:00.000-05:00

Long Journey Home

Available at Lancaster Art

I had a wonderful Easter. Great food, family and grand kids, lots and lots of them. Lots and lots of great nieces and nephews and chocolate ice cream.

My youngest grandson Jaxson on the right and my sisters youngest grandson Dylan trying to get his ice cream.

So he keeps it away from his cousin as it drips down his back.

This is how he will look with a mustache and beard.

Hope y'all all had a wonderful blessed Easter.

Fast Times

2010-04-02T10:31:00.001-05:00

Solitary Journey

sold

I finished this painting in the morning, had it listed after lunch and went for a ride on Missy.

It was sold before I finished my ride. Whew, that was fast!

I briefly think I wish they would all sell that fast, but come to my senses and realize if they did I would probably pressure myself to paint more and ride less losing that elusive balance I try to grasp hold of daily.

Missy was fast too. I haven't ridden her in a while, my grand daughter Terra usually rides her. I used a snaffle bit instead of the usual hackmore to gear up for ponying Miami. I was trying to slow her some as my experience with ponying has been Missy going at a fast trot while Miami wants to walk. They are trying to make my arms longer I think. She still went fast and we had great ride. The other four were racing up and down the fence in the adjoining pasture so all five got exercised. I'll just ride her for an hour before trying the ponying again.

Tonka was also fast. After feeding the animals, people were standing around in groups talking. We have guests from out of town and Paula and her mom were still here. Tonka started racing around raising clouds of dust. We were kind of watching the show he was putting on. Then BANG he hits the top of the 5' garden fence and does a somersault in the air and lands in the garden. My heart goes up in my throat as he lays there for a minute. Paula and I open the gate and rush into the garden to see if he is hurt. He gets up obviously freaked out about what just happened and limping. He comes to me while Paula tries to check the hip he just landed on. He gives her a low growl and plops that hip down in my lap. He was fine but got baby aspirin anyway for good measure.

What Do Creative Poeple Look Like?

2010-03-31T11:16:00.001-05:00

What makes us creative? Where does it come from? What are the differences between creative types and everyone else?

Introversion - appears to be most important for occupations and endeavours that require isolated work and thoughtful consideration. Typically, creative scientists and artists are introverted. Studies show, however, that commercial creatives (advertising, marketing, etc.,) tend to be extraverted. How can we explain these differences? The work of an artist or scientist will often involve long hours working independently (in the studio or the lab), such that a predisposition to favour solitude holds the creator in good stead

Neuroticism- appears to be particularly elevated in "artistic" domains. Such that poets, artists and designers are often more emotionally sensitive. Why?

The answer may be tracked back to the notion of what we consider art and artistic products to be "for". If we run with the idea that art "exists" in order to generate emotions in the viewer or recipient. Then... if artists are more emotionally sensitive, they are in a better position to understand emotion and convey it through their artistic products to evoke emotional responses in the beholder.

I find these things to so true in myself. And the source of numerous "issues" in my life. I find things very easy that involve art or spacial relationships. But more left brain activities I find puzzling or impossilble, like math or words.
I think the reason I connect so well with horses is they are emotionally sensitive entities as well and I can communicate with them via movement or thought.

I am very curious if these things ring true with other artists as much as they do me. Please leave a comment with your opinion or experience.

Threes

2010-03-29T09:54:00.000-05:00

I have noticed threes. I had three paintings sell this last week and I am currently in three treasuries. I don't think I've ever been in three treasuries at once.

Here is the Blue Treasury featuring Dreams of Flying.
This one is called Deep Water and it features Water Horse.
And the last is Moody Blues also featuring Dreams of Flying.

I also have three horses, but have decided to re-home one of them. The mustang I got for one of my grand daughters I have been trying to retrain for almost a year. He hadn't been ridden in a while when I got him and tossed his head. I had his teeth floated, changed bits and started him at groundwork like he didn't know anything. He is 16 sweet and beautiful.

In the arena he does great but take him out in the pasture and he falls apart, fights the bit and generally has a temper tantrum. I thought he was buddy sour. He has done better this spring so I had my hopes up. Terra, my other grand daughter rode with me on Missy and Paula came to ride her horse Dolly. We took them all out in the pasture and Flash was terrible. It was a constant fight and riding in little bitty circles to keep him from bolting back into the arena. Missy hadn't been ridden since fall and was perfect, same with Dolly. I fought with him for four hours.
I laid in bed that night and tried to figure out what else I could do with him to make improvements as he had been a pretty decent kid horse in his past. I ultimately decided I didn't want to work with him anymore. He was never gonna be the horse Haily wanted and I need to focus my training on my young paint Miami.

I am going to try to find him a good home and look for another horse for Haily.

Cobalt Blue Treasury

2010-03-28T12:13:00.000-05:00

Dreams of Flying has been featured in this fabulous cobalt blue treasury.

I love, love , love this color blue. I use it often in my paintings. I had fun looking at these wonderful shops, all members of Design Style Guide.

You can check it out here.

A great big thank you to Christina over at Mashed Potato Mosaics.

And as always you can see Dreams of Flying and my other work at Lancaster Art.

The Virtual pARTy

2010-03-26T11:07:00.000-05:00

The Virtual pARTty paintings for March were done from a lovely photo by Linda Shantz.This is the original photo and I must say although it is a beautiful photo I was not crazy about it as a reference source for a painting. I cropped it drastically but still stayed pretty close with the photo. I am not very pleased with the result and feel now if I would have veered farther away from the source or used a different medium it would have been a better painting.

My contribution is called "Hay?" and is a 4"x11" acrylic on canvas. While it is technically passable it just doesn't have any pizzaz. This will motivate me to push the limits a bit farther next round and see if I can do better. To see all the paintings done for this pARTy (and there are alot) check out the Virtual pARTy blog.
I have been working on some small watercolors I'll be posting in the next day or two so stay tuned.

Dichotomy

2010-03-24T09:33:00.000-05:00

The dichotomy in my life is very obvious some days living here with the elderly parents and dealing with their rental property business.

Yesterday it was a meth lab. Yikes! The drug task force arrested a young couple who had been in this house just a couple of weeks with a nine month old baby. WTF are people thinking.

I spent the morning going into the contaminated house with the yellow sticker on the door and seeing the results of a small fire. I put up the eviction notice as they broke the drug policy in the rental agreement. Then I called the lawyer and tried to find out what are legal responsibilities are as far as clean up and decontamination, they didn't know. Next was the sheriff's office and DTF. I finally found out that the house had been released due to low contamination levels as it was a "one burner operation" as they called it, plus I guess they hadn't been there long. So it wasn't going to cost us $5,000 to get it cleaned up, whew. Next was the young woman's grand mother who was going to move her out as she is in jail. She was trying to get the baby out of foster care. This part was heartbreaking. I took her a key.

By this time it was after three and I still hadn't even started on what I planned to do plus I was stressed out

from all the drama. I take the rest of the day off.

I go to the barn and saddle my grand daughter's mustang Flash. I relaxed as soon as put my foot in the stirrup. We ride for almost two hours. I unsaddle Flash and groom the mares. As I brush off the piles of hair that fall to the ground I think about how the dichotomy in my life, the zen and the drama, remind me of this painting of Yin Yang Horses. Thank God for my horses.

Yin Yang horses is an 8x8 gallery wrap canvas available at Lancaster Art.

Heaven Bound

2010-03-20T09:49:00.000-05:00

Heaven Bound

6x6

Available at Lancaster Art

This Spirit Horse started out being a palomino, at least that was my intention. The intention of the pony was lavender. Sometimes they just have a plan I am not aware of. So what can I do but go with the flow and be thankful there is one.

In real horse news I do not have a palomino or a lavender horse, but none the less they have me smiling

today.

I am still waiting for the lumber to finish the barn and have been called off to work on one of the family rent houses, laying tile floors. I didn't mind as it has been cold and windy.

Today the wind calmed and the sun warmed us up nicely. I took my grand daughter's mustang Flash out for a ride.

He is

a very buddy sour horse . After having the winter off I had a plan and hoped for the best but prepared for a fight. Flash pleasantly surprised me with little fuss when I headed him out of the arena into the pasture. I took him as far as he was comfortable and a few steps farther before heading him back into the arena where Miami whinnied at him from the gate.(She was not helping.) Each time we left the arena he went farther. With out too much fighting the bit he ended up calmly walking half of the pasture. Tonka spooked him as we rounded one of the outbuildings and he jumped sideways. I kept my seat easily and he pulled himself together quickly.

I was pleased with his attention span and his try. It was probably because I told him if he would pull it together a behave for Haily he would only be ridden once or twice a month.

Miami seemed disappointed I didn't ride her today. It is a good thing she is looking forward to getting back to work. She is my green broke paint mare. She has new Old Mac boots we have to break in before I start riding her. So twenty minutes in the new boots tomorrow.

I wish I had some new boots.

Beauty And Whimsy Treasury

2010-03-19T09:57:00.000-05:00

Dreams of Flying has been featured in this amazing treasury by Elizabeth Graf.

I am honored to be along side the beautiful works of art in this collection. Check it out here.

And for another treat check out Elizabeth's etsy shop here.

Re-homing Corky

2010-03-16T10:57:00.003-05:00

I've been having some trouble with my dogs lately chasing my neighbor's baby donkeys. It is a very bad thing to have your dogs after someones livestock. I know I've had dogs coming up after my chickens, but Tonka has been able to keep them run off.

Corky would get the donkey chasing game started then Tonka would get in on it.

Corky came to me a year and a half ago after being abandoned at one of our rent houses with two puppies. She had obvious signs of abuse. I couldn't get her and the pups in a shelter so I brought them home. I gave the pups away and worked on training her as much as I could. She wiry and not very smart. The kick she took in the head from one of the horses nearly killed her and did nothing to improve her mental abilities. She switched from chasing horses to donkeys.

Tonka

Tonka is just a little over a year old and about ninety pounds. He is still an impressionable young boy. I have worried allot about her bad influence on him. She is not very obedient and he must be. He must also stay within the boundaries of the farm.

My daughter and grand daughter wanted a dog so it seemed a great idea to send Corky to live with them. She is somewhat trained and will make a better house pet than a farm dog. I have wanted to re home her but needed to know she would be well cared for and happy.

Tonka and I both miss her already but she will come back for 4 days every other week when Terra comes to stay with me.

He is more focused so his training should go better.

Dreams of Flying and Healthy Horses

2010-03-11T23:54:00.000-06:00

Dreams of Flying

11 x 14

Available at Lancaster Art

I am having dreams of flying and riding but spending day after day working on the barn.

I got the grazing muzzles for the horses and they look and smell awful. Good as grazing muzzles go but awful to wear. The rubber disks at the bottom are the source of the horrid smell so strong I can smell them as they sit in here to get color coded for each of the five horses.

I wonder how much resistance I'll get from the herd.

Tomorrow I will be able close them all in to eat and get their grazing muzzles on before being let out to graze.

The pasture has started to turn green overnight after a early spring rain.

Spring grass can cause founder in horses. Some are more susceptible. Horses that have foundered before, (I have one of those) older horses (there are two over 25) and overweight horses (there is one). The other one, the paint Miami gets sunburned and will have to be in the barn all day.

Gee what a group.

This time of year worries me for good reason and motivates me to work like a mad woman to be able to have a little more control over the food intake of these ponies.

Last year I kept them in a dry lot and let them out for short periods gradually increasing time on the pasture. Not only was it a full time job of moving horses there were some that caught on and didn't want to play.

I may have unhappy horses, but hopefully heathy ones.

2010-03-07T23:32:00.000-06:00

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies. - Martin Luther King Jr

New Prints of The Witching Hour

2010-03-06T09:47:00.000-06:00

The Witching Hour

5" x 7" print available at Lancaster Art

I was so excited when I got to the post office today and the prints were there. I held my breath as I opened them. They are gorgeous! The colors and clarity are perfect. I popped one into a 5 x 7 frame and it was fabulous.

So many of my lovely followers and customers have asked for small prints of the Spirit Horse series. The Witching Hour is the first one.

The barn siding is almost done. I have run out of lumber long enough so on to framing up Flash's stall and putting up the fence for the small adjoining paddock. The weather contines to be perfect. It makes working outside a real pleasure.

Another Day In Paradise

2010-03-05T09:56:00.000-06:00

Dark Moon

available at Lancaster Art

Missy has perked up in this mild weather and beautifully sunshine. It's great to watch her trot around and feel so good. It's got me feeling pretty good too.

I worked at the barn all day putting up siding. I made an effort to use my right hand to hammer. I am ambidextrous and can do most things with either hand although I usually use my left hand when I paint. I' m sure not good at hitting a nail though.

A couple of years back I got thrown by a horse and had a terrible landing. I broke my back and left wrist. I had to have surgery and have the wrist pinned together. I guess I healed up pretty good. It doesn't bother me unless I pound nails more than three hours a day.

Today I made a conscious effort to use my right hand. You can tell which hand I used by looking at the boards. The ones with all the gouges in the wood around the nails was my right hand.

It went slower and I still had to start the nails left handed but I did manage to get through the whole day without my wrist getting sore. I have many more days to practice improving my aim.

It's a huge project.

Horse and Barn Work

2010-03-04T09:42:00.000-06:00

Spirit Dreamer

8x10

available at Lancaster Art

My barefoot trimmer came this morning to trim all five horses.

He had made such a huge difference in the health of my mares hooves. He is now doing my mustang and Paula's two horses that live here.

Her 87 year old mother was sick so she couldn't be here, but I managed to catch both her horses for their pedicure.

My step bother went and fetched me a whole trailer load of lumber for the barn siding. The weather is getting very nice with sunshine and the mid fifties for at least the next several days.

It feels so good to spend the day in the sun again.

Only a few more followers till one of those pretty little ponies up in the right corner gallop away to their new home. Yeehaw.

Signs of Spring

2010-03-01T12:08:00.000-06:00

I was so excited to see the first flowers of the spring blooming I just had to share.

I live in northern Arkansas and know many of you are a lot farther north. Letting you now I am sending warm air and wishes up to y'all that are still dealing with snow and really cold weather.

For me now it's time to get back to working on the barn and getting an adjoining corral built for the horses before the spring grasses come up with a vengeance.

So more quality time with my hammer for me.