Western Master's Art Show and Auction

Buffalo 8 x 10" oil/canvas panel

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Here we go! Tonight is the start of the Western Master's Art Show. It runs through this Saturday. I am sharing my room with Dave Powell this year. We are at the Best Western Heritage Inn, Room 166. Hope to see you there!

Grand Moeder

Grand Moeder 12 x 16" oil/canvas panel

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As some of you may know, I've become a Grandmother this year, and this painting was inspired by the feelings I have being placed in that role. Whats so surprising for me, is I never thought I'd be into it. You know, those goofy grandparents pulling photos out of wallets, pockets and purses, gushing over their grandkids? I always looked at the photos and nodded politely, thinking - 'eh, its a kid. But I'm here to tell you they really are...dare I say it?...delightful! So heres one for all you Goofy Grandparents out there.

I get it now!

By the way, Moeder is the Dutch work for mother.

This is another painting heading for the Western Master's Art Show (formerly the C.M. Russell Art Auction.) The show times and dates are listed in the side bar of this blog. Subscribers, click the link at the bottom of your email notification to access the blog and see the time and dates. Hopefully you can all make it down this year...we really do have SO much fun!!

Little Traveler

Little Traveler 8 x 6" oil/canvas panel

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Most of the paintings I post in the next few weeks will be at my room for the Western Master's Art Show in Great Falls, MT during Russell Week. I'll again be at the Best Western Heritage Inn - Room #166 - from March 14th thru 17th. Hope you can make it to town and join us for this annual celebration of western fine art.

Prairie Waif

Prairie Waif 16 x 11" oil/canvas panel

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I did this painting on one of my "toothy" 12oz. canvas panels.

With the way it pulls the paint off the brush,

I took the opportunity to add a little texture to this piece.

Cowpoke

Cowpoke 10 x 8" oil/canvas

A painting of mine that sold recently over the internet.

Thanks Alan!

Poor Boy

Poor Boy 10 x 8" oil/canvas panel

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Another of my many farm kid paintings. I liked the cap, so gave this painting a title with dual meaning.

Cable Knit

Cable Knit 10 x 8" oil/canvas panel

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Heres a little painting I did today of my daughter Rachel.

She's kind of an anchor for me when I lose my way in the studio trying to figure out "what the hell should I paint?!" It happens to all of us at some point. I get my artist block about once a year...usually just after the Holidays when I've let my brushes go idle. Self portraits are also a great way to get things moving again. Maybe tomorrow.

One from the Archives

Lonely Leaf 30 x 22" watercolor/arches

This is a painting I did many years ago while living in Seattle. I love the colors you get there. Blues and those lovely subtle gray tones. Plus my all time favorite - indirect light.

Christmas in Big Sky, MT!

Another great stop for the Holidays.

Christmas at Latigo & Lace in Augusta, Montana

Latigo & Lace in Augusta, MT - a super favorite stop of mine for Christmas shopping. Avoid the madness!

Small Works Holiday Show at the Lodestone Gallery

This show starts tomorrow December 2nd, during the Great Falls Christmas Stroll and First Friday Art Walk.

A Little Overdressed

A Little Overdressed 18 x 24" oil/linen

This is a painting I've been wanting to do for some time. While researching the history of U.S. Cavalry (McClellan) saddles for my painting Foray to the Front, I came across several images of parade saddles. I thought it might be fun to put one on a demur little donkey - a contrast I couldn't resist. These saddles originated around the 1930s and have all the craftsmanship and tooling of any fine art. You may remember seeing saddles like this in Hollywood Westerns during the 1950s and 6os.

Technical Issues Update:

Thanks everyone for your patience while I get these tech issues worked out. I think I have everything squared away for now.

A Brief Absence....

Tail Wind 8 x 10" oil/canvas panel

I'm back from a brief absence. My husband and I took horses to the Bob Marshall Wilderness after finishing up paintings for the 100 Mile Radius Exhibition. After returning home, we've been organizing things here on the ranch...planting wheat, selling calves and purchasing replacement stock. We are now settled in and ready for winter. In many ways this is my favorite time of year. I can finally relax into painting and don't feel the pressure of being pulled away from the studio as in the summer months. Sometimes I think I need two lives, just to get it all done.

Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art - 100 Mile Radius

Beartooth Travelers - a Self Portrait 24 x 18 oil/linen

This is my final painting for the 100 Mile Radius Exhibition which opens today at the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art. The show will hang through October 15th, with an artists reception on August 30th from 5:30 - 7:30pm. Heres the story in today's Great Falls Tribune.

It has been such a pleasure to be part of this show, working along side these four amazingly gifted artists.

We made it girls!

Blue Collar Cafe'

Blue Collar Cafe' 20 x 20" oil/linen

This painting I finished today is another that will be included in the 100 Mile Radius exhibition at the Paris Gibson Museum of Art in Great Falls, MT. This painting is my interpretation of the Great Falls community - the nucleus of this 100 mile expanse. A city steeped solidly in the blue collar tradition of agriculture and industry. All this set in a contrasting backdrop of panoramic buttes, the Rocky Mountain Front and the majestic Missouri River.

Harvest Wagon - a larger view

Click on the image for a larger view.

Harvest Wagon

Harvest Wagon 36 x 46" oil/linen

This is the finish of my latest historical harvest painting. Click the links below to see the other paintings in this series.

Nineteenth Century Harvest

In the Heat of Harvest

Foray to the Front

I wanted to show here the amazing frames Julie Tippets has been creating for these paintings. They are works of art in their own right. Thanks Julie!

Also as a huge bonus, for this painting I was able to work from life. Bruce Morgan, a talented artist from Columbia Falls, MT, creates amazingly accurate replicas of nineteenth century work wagons and generously offered to build me one for this project. His wagons look so real in fact, some look to have mud actually clinging to their axles. Below is one of the preliminary sketches I did ahead of time. Bruce is represented by Creighton Block Gallery in Big Sky, MT. Thanks Bruce!

Harvest Wagon - detail #2

Another detail from my painting Harvest Wagon - 36 x 46". I will post the completion here in a few days. This is definitely my favorite part of this piece. I wanted to show the fatigue draft horses must have felt during the 19th century when they carried the work load of a growing nation.

Harvest Wagon - detail

Harvest Wagon - detail 36 x 46" oil/linen

Here is a detail of my newest harvest painting - one I've been slowly working away on. Its getting close to the finish now, so I thought I'd give everyone a little teaser of things to come. This painting will be in the upcoming exhibition at Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art entitled; 100 Mile Radius - A Sense of Place. The show opens on August 22nd, so is a ways off yet, but I'll be working up until then and posting my progress as I go.

Virgelle Ferry

Virgelle Ferry 24 x 36" oil/linen

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This painting is one I've been wanting to do for some time. Its of the old cable ferry that crosses the Missouri River at Virgelle just outside Loma, Montana in the Upper Missouri River Breaks country. When people visit Montana, most come to see the mountains in the western part of the state, but Eastern Montana holds some hidden jewels that make you feel as if you've stepped back in time. This is one of them and also a favorite destination of mine. This painting will be part of an upcoming exhibition at the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art this summer entitled; 100 Mile Radius - a Sense of Place.

More on that later.

Click on the image for a larger view.