Cob Cottage Studio

Her Horse Was Blue

2008-07-12T14:03:00.000-07:00

At least that is how he looked to me.... very blue...! This casein is done. It is 12 x 9" and is painted on Colorfix paper. I finished it this afternoon as my corgi lay beside me in my studio. While I waited for this work to dry, I worked on the two watercolors I am doing, one will be going to the 'Fertile Ground' show that will be exhibited at Skyline Farm, in North Yarmouth this September. More on that later.

My bags are packed and I leave on Thursday flying down to Lexington, KY for the first book signing of "Equestrian Style", Vicky Moon's new book at Gallery B. I shipped out my papercuts on Friday that will be shown at the Gallery ...That all will happen on Friday evening , the 18th. I hope to get time to see a bit of Lexington, the Kentucky Horse Park and the beautiful farms around that part of Kentucky on Friday and Saturday.

I am going to have a vacation from shovelling horses stalls!!! YAY!!!

Lipizzan In The Works

2008-07-07T13:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I started this watercolor of a Lipizzan horse , what a powerful horse he is and you can see the power and movement in his eye and neck. A good friend of mine, Juliet Harrison, who happens to be an accomplished photographer, gave me permission to paint this shot. I am always so excited to see her new work ...and this [ a bit edited ] is from a photo shoot that she did in New York. Thank you, Juliet!

I started with a rough sketch and this time I didn't do a value study with graphite, but have gone right into the work with watercolors. This work has a long thin composition, and my scanner can only show part of it...
I will keep you posted as I make head way on this. I am working on a watercolor of Herefords at the same time ...oh.. and a new papercut! My muse is working overtime!

But I must admit I have been a bit reoccupied at the moment getting things finalized for a trip down to Lexington, KY to go to the opening book signing for Vicky Moon's new book 'Equestrian Style"...and to show a few of my papercuts at Gallery B. And while there I plan on getting to the Kentucky Horse Park.....and Keeneland ...and The American Academy of Equine Art.
This will be a fast trip...but fun I am sure. And for 4 days I will not have to clean stalls or throw hay!

Here's Looking at You!

2008-07-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

The quick watercolor of 'Wizard Kitty' is done..........and here it is! I went in with some pen and ink and gouache for fun. Done.....so now I need to get back to work on the new caseins and two papercuts that are ready to be cut.

Last evening UPS stopped with a package for me...I love getting packages!.. and wasn't I surprised to see it was a complementary copy of Vicky Moon's new book sent from Random House. How exciting! And I stand corrected as just my paper cut made 'the cut'........but I am 'over the moon' about it!!! It is book full of lovely photographs of horses, the people who love them and the homes and life styles they enjoy. Brilliant!

Good thing I am back doing a few cuttings again!!

The cutting that was chosen for "Equestrian Style" will be at Gallery B in Lexington, KY during the book signing in July. I should be there too!!!
We will have to see about that??!!

Green Paint

2008-06-30T10:08:00.000-07:00

The art show “ Hip to be Squared” at Gallery B located on 145 West Main St in Lexington, KY is running until the end of July. This is a neat show with all works in it done in a square format. I have 3 caseins in it. One is a still life that includes a bottle of wine and a half full wine glass…and some other hidden items that were required by the gallery in order to participate. The other two caseins are of a filly at different times in her ’childhood’ growing up process.

The weather has been VERY muggy here lately. Afternoons seem to bring thunderstorms and then fog. I have had a hard time getting varnish to dry on paintings that I needed to get out for clients and for shows coming up. When weather is like this forget about trying to do a paper cutting. The humidity makes my paper soft and then it tears. I quests it is time to get the air conditioner up and running. I am trying to be ‘green’ and not use it!

Speaking about green…I just realized that I was green before it was in vogue. I do works in casein, a milk based paint that does not pose a health hazard. It never dawned on me until I was speaking with a client recently and I was explaining about casein and its properties. He was interested in the fact that it wasn’t toxic like oil paint can be…a plus for me in my studio which is small and off the bedroom.
Back to the watercolor work and a casein painting I am working on. The watercolor is of my wizard kitty, Mittens!

GREAT NEWS FROM GERMANY!!!!!!

2008-06-27T12:44:00.000-07:00

I just received an update from Germany, where a good friend of ours is competing in the 2008 FEI World Championship for Drivers with Disabilities. Mary Gary is in 3rd place … but all three girls from the USA are “over the moon," and with great reason.
Both Mary and Meghan are driving horses they have only driven 3 times before!! Their ponies [Welsh!] are leased from England. This is exciting for us, as Mary is the driver who has our colt out of our Cob mare ,Victoria. Mary competes here in America with Thistle Mead Lloyds Legacy……Legs was born into my arms on our North Pownal Farm called Thistle Mead Farm. He is full brother to our Maggie. My goodness it is all in the family!!!!

Meghan Benge [ from N.C.] is in 1st Place after dressage with a 41, Diane Kastama [CA] is in 2nd with a 42 and Mary Gray [ME] is in 3rd, putting The TEAM USA in 1st overall.

Go TEAM USA!!!!

This is a photo of Victoria and Fergie ...our Welsh Cob mares...on our old farm in North Pownal.

Trevallion Victoria is on left. What a corker of a pair they were... and they were given to us by a lovely friend years ago!! Seems like yesterday.

Dogs and More Dogs

2008-06-24T12:15:00.000-07:00

This watercolor of a sweet Lab, called Jesse, was commissioned by the friend of the dog's owner after Jesse past over the rainbow bridge. Working on the painting brought back memories of the Labrador Retrievers we have had over the years. We always had one or two in our home while our sons were growing up. I always called them our 'doofy' dogs......but oh, how those dogs loved. Labs are also so ready to please and share hugs and kisses.

I can tell this little lady was much loved too. I can see it in her eyes.

And then there were Corgi's!!

These Cardigan Corgis are part of a HERD of Corgis that belong to a family in Texas. Herd? [or is it a gaggle of Corgis???] The Bucks' Cardigans actually herd their Beefmaster Cattle on their ranch. How cool is that?!! Corgis with real jobs to do! There will be more Buck Cardigan Welsh Corgi paintings in the works. I can't get enough of looking at these wonderful dogs and the Buck's beautiful farm.

In the meantime I need to get works out to Saratoga Springs for the summer show with Equidea Gallery....and do work for the invitational art show "Fertile Ground", to be held at Skyline Farm in September.

And the gardens are growing!!! Roses coming open and veggies growing.

This is a good thing!

Wizard Kitty

2008-06-18T12:59:00.001-07:00

I have a Maine Coon Cat..at least she might be one. When she is walking away from me..which she does a lot....she looks just like a raccoon....and she is from Maine!

Mittens was born in our barn when we lived in North Pownal, Maine. She and her litter mates were born in the loft in a cozy den that her mom had found under all the bales of hay. When a friend and I finally were able to catch the little 'wildcats' , I kept Mittens and tamed her to become my lap-kitty. She can sing a pretty powerful song when she feels like it. Paula, my friend , kept two others from the litter. This was years ago and Mittens is still my lap kitty and resident mouser.

But this photo tells it all. That lofty imperial look definitely shows her attitude.....and see her wizard lighting bolt on her forehead? This cat is a wizard cat there is no denying it!!

OK..........now back to the drawing board!! I am doing a watercolor of my wizard cat!

Published?

2008-06-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

Some news about what has been happening career -wise for me while I have been 'playing' in my gardens.....

I have had two artworks chosen to be featured in a new book By Vicky Moon, titled “Equestrian Style -Home Design, Couture, and Collections from the Eclectic to the Elegant “ to be coming out next month. [July 2008] It is published by Clarkson Potter. The book captures the equestrian way of life with an unprecedented peek into several dozen stunning residences…. a French-accented mansion decorated with contemporary horse art; an equestrian resort on 395 acres—complete with cottages for owners to rent and a large private collection of carriages; a spa with a swimming pool for horses; and a working barn that Kathryn Ireland decorated to do double duty as a home for a professional horseman, riding instructor, and model, and whose students included Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

“Rhapsody In Blue”, a casein painting of A Friesian under saddle and “Acadian Four”, a cut paper drawing of a coaching scene at Acadia, were picked to illustrate equestrian actives for select chapters of the book. “Equestrian Style” is certain to be a good read for horse lovers everywhere.

These two artworks will be exhibited at Gallery B in Lexington, KY at several book signings for Ms Moon's Equestrian Style" new publication held at the Gallery.

The Sun After The Storm

2008-06-11T12:14:00.000-07:00

For two days we have had weather that seemed more like August than June. I mean this is spring, we shouldn't have temps in the 90's here in Maine!!! When it is that hot outside ..my loft studio gets heated like a oven. Not a fun place to be. But today started with cooling fog and then cleared and a lovely breeze blows through the house. So why was I out working in my gardens?? And taking pictures??? Why indeed! It is too nice to be in the studio!! I think I will take paint and paper out into the gardens to work.
Boy, this is a hard job!!

My poppies have started opening at last....I can't wait for their brilliant bobbing heads to add excitement to the very green landscape. So out I go to capture their brilliance!!

Beautiful Jim Key DONE For The Mural

2008-06-08T13:26:00.000-07:00

My panel is done and ready to be shipped..........Nice to have it done....

and now I am able to get busy on some other works, some commissions and works for upcoming shows, that I have had to put on hold because the deadline loomed for the Le Cadeau Du Cheval- The Gift of the Horse. I will be checking for my panel to see when it gets up onto the mother image.

It is hot today in my loft studio........95 outside. This is hot for June in Maine. I guess I need to start working outside a bit when the weather is like this!!

Yesterday we took the day off and headed north the I favourite spot...ACADIA! No artwork was done but I did get some awesome photo shots for future paintings. I love Acadia National Park! It always feeds my muse!!

Almost Done- ALMOST

2008-06-05T13:01:00.000-07:00

I must confess....I have been in the garden more than the studio ....but, heh...it was a long cold winter and that is my excuse. That and the fact that I have too many gardens and am making more all the time. With me it is like potato chips....one is never enough. That is also my excuse for why I have 4 horses. This is the walk way to our home.......gardens to the left of me ...gardens to the right!! But I love it and they feed my soul.
[There are also gardens behind the house]

This is where I am with the panel for the mural "Le Cadeau Du Cheval" . I think I only have to add some highlights and then it will be good to go. I think..................

The painting that is sitting on the easel behind it needs to get done................
I guess I do NEED to get out of my gardens...for a while at least.

Hue and Saturation

2008-06-02T13:44:00.000-07:00

Today I worked on my panel ..........it is coming together ...and I feel I need to get it done, so I can varnish it before sending it off to hang in the mother image.........I just found out today that I am almost OUT of purple........Shiva Violet! This is not good.....I know I cannot find Shiva Casein paint any where near Belfast ...never mind Morrill, Maine!!! I need to make a note to myself to always have two of every color! Lesson learned!

Tomorrow I won't get much done in the studio.....the vet is coming to float teeth on the equine kids and to give everyone their checkups. I am sure the horses will be so happy. NOT!

Jim Key and Dr Key

2008-06-01T07:10:00.001-07:00

The painting for the Mural progresses...the first foray into the casein is drying and I had to wait at least a day before going back into the painting... as I didn't want to pick up much of the first casein layer that I threw on there. It gives me time to sit back and reflect about changes I need to make and think about where I am going with this work.

I have now added the 1904 World Fair Pavilion where Jim preformed those years ago. This horse could read and spell and count...made change with money....My goodness..I can't even do that!!!

There are a few panels that have already been finished and are up at the Le Cadeau Du Cheval website. I love seeing what other artists are coming up with for their panels...Check it out for yourself! Just think, over 238 artists all working to the same end..the mother image that will emerge as the panels are finished and put up onto the grid! Exciting!

I need to finish my painting and get it up there!!

So back to the drawing board so to speak!!

Le Cadeau Du Cheval-The Gift of the Horse

2008-05-31T11:15:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago I received my panel for a mural that I am working on with an impressive bunch of artists from around the world. The project is directed by The Mural Mosaic team and the mural we are now working on is called "Le Cadeau Du Cheval" or "The Gift Of The Horse". All artists receive a panel already toned with color and we have to create our own painting staying within the realm of the tones and values in the panel. I received #174 [see above ] and have started my panel with a sketch of the subject matter which I chose.
I elected to do a painting of Beautiful Jim Key [the smartest horse in the world] and his owner Bill Key. I am reading the book about Jim and his life right now! So far so good!

So I have sketched Jim and the Dr. in charcoal and have already started painting in casein. Below is the sketch after in the first day of work.........figuring out the composition and what information I want to portray in the work. I also will be adding a building into the background.

Since then I have added some casein and added a background of the pavilion where Jim was introduced to the world at the 1904 World Fair...........It is a fascinating story about Jim...his owner and trainer and the start of the American Humane Education Society. William Key, an ex-slave from Shelbyville, Tenn. , a Civil War veteran and an acclaimed horse-whisperer, is recognized for helping to start a worldwide animal rights movement. And Beautiful Jim Key was the star who helped with that humane movement.

As the panel progresses I will keep you posted............ this is fun!

Harness Racing and Papercuts

2008-05-28T06:32:00.000-07:00

My papercut drawing titled "Five by Three" was chosen to be highlighted in an ad for a fundraiser for The Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Goshen, New York and the ad will appear in the 'The 2008 Hall of Fame Souvenir Journal' . This event has the annual induction ceremonies for the 2008 Hall of Fame members on July 6t, 2008. The banquet and ceremony held at the museum.

The image being used in this full page ad was placed by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey , which represents the owners, breeders, drivers, trainers and caretakers in that state. Neat!

The image and the ad can be seen above.....but in the ad, the image was flipped for this format...as the original is shot from the other side of a race.........but I learned something new....harness racing in this country is done counter clockwise. Live and learn!!!

Stuart-Thinking

2008-05-27T10:25:00.000-07:00

This hairy 'beast' is a furkid belonging to a couple from Cumberland, Maine. A part Standard Poodle and something else, pooch's name is Stuart [after Ron Stuart- the rock star]. This Stuart is a star in his own right. But his hairdo really does bring to mind Ron Stuart's hair!!! In this 'pose' he is stretched out and I am sure he is contemplating life and its meaning.

When his owner saw the painting his reaction was" He looks great! You caught his true emotions. He usually lets out a long sigh before he gets that "thinking" look."

That is what I want to hear!!!

There will be more works of Stuart.....he is so paint-able.

Memorial Day

2008-05-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

Today is a day of remembering and honouring.

My family on my mother's side come from Germany originally and settled in Pennsylvania. They were farmers, painters, entrepreneurs and proud to be Americans by choice.

My father's parents came from Poland ...settled in the Boston, Mass. area and were hard working folks...........my paternal grandmother never learned English well. But she didn't need to as she did not venture out of her Polish neighborhood much throughout her life.

My husband, Les , was born in Kenya, East Africa. We met in Rome, Italy, were married in Italy and our first son was born in Italy. When we came to America...back to my home country....Les became an American citizen and he is VERY proud of his adopted country..the US of A. Our second son was born in America after we had settled here and decided to stay here.

We all are indebted to the veterans who have fought for our freedom in America and abroad, in the past and even today. Some of them were from my family.....and today is a day to take time to remember them and what they have given for us and future generations.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Show Opening In Belfast Maine- May 22, 2008

2008-05-19T11:41:00.000-07:00

I have been working..both in and out of the studio.

My gardens are starting to look good. I think that June is when they are at their prime. I am looking forward to that! Both our sons gave me plants for the gardens for Mother's Day [and dinner out to boot!!]. Such good men they are!!!

On The art front: The 2008 Festival of Art presented at The Hutchinson Center in Belfast opens on Thursday, May 22nd with a Reception for the artists and public. I will be there... and so will my casein "She Rode A Purple Horse". My painting "In Your Face" is hanging in the Gothic Building storefront window in Belfast on Maine Street , along with some other local artists' works, to celebrate this show. There is a Biblical saying "A prophet is not recognised in his own country"....so it is with me. This is almost my first local showing...new for the Belfast arena, not Maine. I look forward to getting more involved with the art scene here.

"The Horses In Art" show at the Columbia Art League has closed and is now being moved to the Wildlife Experience Museum in Parker, CO. My two casein paintings [ "Shades of Black # 8" and
"Shades of Black # 9" ] hanging in that show, will be traveling to the museum for the Opening Reception on June 6th, 2008. I will not be able to go to that opening.....

What May Means To Me Or Why I Blog

2008-05-06T14:05:00.000-07:00

May has always been a special month for my family…spring is in full swing, my husband’s birthday falls in May and of course so does Mother’s Day. But this year [and last year] May has taking on new meaning for us as it is designated as Stroke Awareness Month.
And we are very aware about stroke. Now.

On July 29th of 2006, my husband and I, along with my sister who was visiting from California, were all headed from our farm in Morrill, Maine to my eldest brother’s home in New Hampshire to celebrate his 70th birthday. It was a surprise party for him and for the first time in a long time, my siblings and I were going to be together to party and have a good time. We arrived on time and I got out of our car to greet everyone, feeling so happy to see us all together. My sister-in-law, Bev walked up to me and started talking …I could hear her, but I couldn't make out a word that she was saying. I didn’t feel right, but was busy looking around at everybody when I realized I couldn't see my right hand or arm and I couldn’t figure out where they were…and I was still trying to understand Bev. She sounded like a slow broken record and her words were all jumbled to me. I looked around for my husband, Les and when I saw him I asked, “Where’s my arm? And he said “By your side? What’s the matter?” Then I guess everyone saw something was wrong with me. I remember them helping me into the shade of a huge tree on the grounds and helping to lay me down on the ground. I looked up at everyone…I didn’t know what was happening. I couldn’t really talk and tell them what I felt and a sea of faces looked down on me. But through it all a strange feeling of calm and peacefulness filled my being and I knew it would be all right. I was suffering a stroke. I missed my brother’s 70th.

To make a long story short…I was rushed to a hospital in N.H. and then was transported by ambulance to Portland, Maine, and admitted into Maine Medical Center. This was done in order that I should be closer to my family and doctors.
Tests were started.. The left side of my brain had been ‘attacked’ when the blood flow was interrupted or stopped due to a blood clot. A significant part of my left temporal lobe was affected and this left me with right-sided paralysis and Aphasia. Aphasia is a condition where language problems make it difficult to talk the way I used to and makes writing very difficult for me. Something that was so important to me in my life [I have worked as a newspaper reporter and fashion editor in the past…and wrote poetry] ....was now something that was so difficult. My understanding and comprehension of speech were unimpaired, but speech itself became hard as my speech related muscles wouldn’t cooperate and my brain could not find the words to say what I wanted to.

But what was more important to me, as I lay on the hospital bed with my family around me…could I draw??? I managed to get the nurse to understand what I wanted…. a pencil and paper. She brought them and everyone looked on as I sketched an eye, a horse head……….okay… I could live with the limitations I had a this point. I could draw, and this would mean I could paint. Life was good!!!

In the week that passed in between hospital tests, MRI’s and blood work, I sketched some, slept a lot, but I knew I needed to get home, to our quiet farm where I would be alone with my husband, see my Corgi and our horses, see and smell our gardens and get down to the business of getting better…. to getting ‘Kathi’ back!

This year and half that has passed has been difficult. Our horses became my therapy, as I brushed them while walking with a cane my hand and arm gained strength. I cleaned stalls needing the muck fork to help stand up with. Throwing hay and lifting shaving bags became my upper body strengthen exercises. I had a speech therapist come and work with me in our home, who helped me start to get over some the Aphasia problems…and an occupational therapist to help me get my hand coordination back.
And I painted…and drew and I slept. I slept a lot. I still sleep during the day needing naps to replenish my energy.

I started a blog after my therapist suggested that I do it as an exercise to recapture my language skills. Each and every blog entry has my recovery in it. Metaphorically each of my paintings tells of my struggles and my victories...most in the form of equine art.
But through it all I knew that my attitude about what I was going through was more important to me that what had happened to me. My recovery depended on my attitude. I cannot control what happens to me in life..but I can control my attitude. And that is my life mantra now……….’if it’s gonna be..it’s up to me.’

And I have also been blessed with a wonderful husband who has been beside me through it all. Les has been the wind beneath my wings.

So in a nutshell….that is my story. Why I blog.. and the road leading up to the beginning of my blog. That is my story and I am sticking with it.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

STROKE FACTS*
About 700,000 Americans each year suffer a new or recurrent stroke. That means, on average, a stroke occurs every 45 seconds.

Stroke kills more than 150,000 people a year. That's about 1 of every 16 deaths. It's the No. 3 cause of death behind diseases of the heart and cancer.

On average, every 3 to 4 minutes someone dies of stroke.

Of every 5 deaths from stroke, 2 occur in men and 3 in women.

The 2004 stroke death rates per 100,000 population for specific groups were 48.1 for white males, 47.4 for white females 73.9 for black males and 64.9 for black females.

Americans will pay about $62.7 billion in 2007 for stroke-related medical costs and disability.

*Source: ASA

STROKE SYMPTOMS*

Any or all of the following:

Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body

Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

Sudden, severe headaches with no known cause

*Source: AHA statistics 2004

Taking It Laying Down

2008-05-02T14:44:00.000-07:00

I have been very busy the last week or so......but I am almost done with a commission and some deadlines I needed to get through. It has been hard forcing myself to stay in the studio. I swear that I will get out in the sun more tomorrow ......transplant some perennials and did I see grass growing that needs mowing already??
I may even get a ride on one of the horses in!!

The 9 x 12" painting above is of one of the draft horses at Acadia National Park. This fellow is done in casein on Colorfix....a favourite combination for me.

More later.........time to feed the horses. [Isn't it always time to feed the horses ,or the dog, or the cat, or the flowers, or the husband...............etc etc....................

Me? Acrylics? Never!

2008-04-24T11:22:00.001-07:00

Well......we should never say never.

The two acrylics - above and below - have just been finished and I must say, I am a bit pleased with the way they came out. They are both 9 x 12" on gallery wrapped canvas and ready to hang on a wall...together or separately. I will be doing more work with acrylics in the future. I am using acrylics with some of my casein paintings too, finding an interesting effect with the mix. So one could say I am getting into more mixed media works of late. These two works were inspired by our Welsh Cob Filly, Maggie. In a previous post I showed the graphite study I had done of this filly's eye, to figure out the format I wanted for the paintings.

The weather has been so lovely lately in Morrill, Maine. This is a such a nice change from the long winter we had. I am trying so hard be good and work in the studio ...but goodness... the sun and the gardens call for me. How can one concentrate?
I have also been walking our Cob mare Victoria...some folks walk their dog...I walk my Cob. She enjoys the time to get out and away from the herd...and I enjoy having her company. Her daughter Maggie isn't too pleased that her mother is getting out and about without her...........but such is life!

It Was A Long Winter

2008-04-17T07:52:00.000-07:00

The snow is almost melted from the fields on our farm and our Cobs are taking advantage of the warm April days we have been having...and basking in the sun. Miss Maggie filly is doing just that in this watercolor done on watercolor board. [ image size 8 x 13"] She was very curious as to what I wanted has I snapped this picture.....but not so curious that she had to get up and approach me. Normally she would be 'in my face' and wanting to know what I had in my hand. Munchies maybe? But the sun was warm on her back and she was comfortable and resting......lazy one could say?

Spring is really here and a girl needs to take advantage of it.

It was a 'LOOONNNGGG' winter.

Happenings at Cob Cottage and Elsewhere

2008-04-15T07:05:00.000-07:00

I have been invited by Anderson Galleries of Locust Valley, NY, to participate in an art exhibit, “Horses in Art” opening at the gallery on Thursday May 1, 2008. Paintings and sculpture from the show will first be previewed and exhibited at opening day at Belmont Racetrack, Wednesday April 30th at a private luncheon. How I wish I could be there for that! But our four horses, our Corgi and cat keep me at home feeding, cleaning and doing for them. I am often the artist in absentia. My painting “Gypsy Vanner and Wagon” is headed down south for that show. This is the watercolor and tempera painting shown above.

And THEN my mixed media painting “My World” took first place at the Grand National Western Art Exhibit and Sale that was held at the Cow Palace in Daly City, CA. last week. This painting is done in casein, and liquid gold leaf……….a dreamy work with white horse and moon. Several of my ‘Shades of Black’ Series where also hung at that show.

Today I will try and work in the studio…with the sun and warmth calling me outside. My spring bulbs are peeping up in the perennial gardens and I even see my curly onion tops emerging through the ground in the veggie garden. There is much to do outside…. but much to do inside too…what a predicament??? Which way to go???

Feet Don't Fail Me Now

2008-04-08T13:28:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of times when I feel my feet aren't listening to my brain....yesterday was one of those days. I was wearing my Wellies to do barn chores and I slipped on the frost covered grass and sort of did a split and roll...is there such a maneuver? Anyway...my feet were not listening me to for sure!!

But this is a good way to segue into the title of the above painting , 'Feet Don't Fail Me Now".
This a a 12 x 12 " casein that I 'whipped' out on canvas on board. Not much detail, but I liked the composition of this and went into it with lots of color. I can hear the pounding of the hooves and the roar of the crowds................

I need to get back into my watercolor paints and I already have a few works started. I always have at least two going at once so that I can keep working and not have to wait for paint to dry. It is always a welcome change to get back into another medium............I am looking forward to it.

Acadian Deer

2008-04-05T12:53:00.001-07:00

The reference photo for this drawing of a young Acadia buck was given to me by a passenger who was on the horse drawn carriage my husband was driving on the carriage roads in Acadia National Park last summer. I decide to try this shot in a close up in graphite. This drawing is about 9 inch square on Bristol paper. It is available for purchase.

It was fun doing this in detail, with no actual details of the trees and leaves... just the suggestion of their being there. This young buck had soft velvety antlers. He wasn't afraid of the carriage full of visitors as they snapped pictures of him from the carriage. I wonder if he couldn't smell the humans due to the draft horses being there.
Les [my husband] had told the folks during the ride around Day Mountain, that his wife was an artist...and the fellow, who shot this picture, offered to send me the photo to paint, draw or whatever. So here is my first work from the reference photo.

We have many deer around our farm in Morrill......[sometimes I think TOO MANY when they eat my perennials!]....and have been enjoying watching a young skipper run around our horse fields in the evenings of late. He is so full of himself.
Spring is in the air!!