"Keeping Watch"

Keeping Watch 9 x 12" oil/linen panel

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Another one for Bill's fan club. He really is the best of working cow dogs. We couldn't do it without him!

"Listen Up"

Listen Up 10 x 8" oil/linen panel

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Heres one for all his adoring fans - Bill the cow dog.

This is another painting I'll have at the Western Master's Art Show in Great Falls, MT - Best Western Heritage Inn - Room #166 - March 16th - 19th.

A.L. Swanson Gallery - Grand Opening!

Cows on the Stubble 8 x 10 oil/canvas panel

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This week I've been scrambling to get a few paintings together for the opening of a new gallery in Helena, MT - the A.L. Swanson Gallery. It is located downtown, in the Great Northern Town Center and the owner is an exceptionally gifted woodworker and furniture artisan. Helena is actually my home town, so its nice to make my way back and have the opportunity to be exhibited there. The opening is this Friday, January 21st. Above is one of the paintings I'll have featured in the show. Hope to see you all there!

"Tuckered Out"

9 x 12" oil/canvas panel

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Another painting of my sweet Bill.

I actually did this one last week, just before the show.

Below is the little sketch I did earlier.

The Muse

"The Sentry" 12 x 9" oil/canvas

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Last week I got news that I'll have a room at the Heritage Inn during C.M. Russell Week - March 17th - March 20th - here in Great Falls, MT. This coincides with the C.M. Russell Art Auction, in which I have two paintings featured this year. My room number is #166 and I'll be sharing with artist Dave Powell a member of Cowboy Artist's of America and son of famed artist Ace Powell. I couldn't feel more fortunate!! As a result, I've been pinned to the easel doing over-time. I'm working on two large canvases I'd hoped to finish by then, but since the death of my horse Buddy, my heart seems elsewhere. So to shake things up a bit I shifted gears and decided to bring out my muse. This guy has been pinned to my side ever since last Tuesday, with lots of doggie hugs and kisses. I couldn't ask for a better friend. I did this finished painting from an earlier sketch seen below.

This painting will be for sale in my room during the show.

2010 C.M. Russell Art Auction

"Highland Dreams" 12 x 16" oil/canvas panel

"A Passing Presence" 24 x 30" oil/canvas

I am so thrilled to announce that I'll be part of the 2010 C.M. Russell Art Auction next year, with not just one, but TWO of my paintings! The auction is in March and I'm so excited!

Looks like Bill's going to get his 15 minutes of fame after all.

:O)

"Tall Grass"

12 x 9" oil - canvas panel

sold

Its been awhile since I did a painting of my dog Bill. He's such a great subject. I still want to work on it some, but for the most part I think its close.

What is it that we love so much about our dogs? Aside from the fact that they'll love us no matter what. I think for me its their cartoonish ways. I mean this is about as serious a look as Bill can muster and he still looks adorably goofy.

"Lucky Dog"

8 x 6"  oil/canvas

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We've got lots of family coming in for the Thanksgiving week, so I may not get back here till after the 30th.  Remember everyone, in spite of the hard times we are all facing, there is still so much to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Oil Painters of America Show, Detail and Color Charts

12 x 16" oil/canvas panel

For purchase information click here.

I'm off tomorrow for Idaho to attend the Western Regional Oil Painter's of America show in Coeur d'Alene.  The opening reception is Friday September 12th, at Devin Galleries and will run through October 11th.  If you are in the area I hope you'll make it down to see my painting "Highland Dreams" in real time.  (I'm SO excited and nervous all at the same time!!)

Anyway, I won't be back until Monday, so here are a few things I wanted to squeeze in before I go...

 

This is a detail of a painting I've been working on this week.  I have a few deadlines coming up this month so I'm trying out a few ideas.

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Below are two of the color charts I promised Edgar I'd show.  The top one is a Yellow Ochre Palette and the bottom Cad Red.  Click on the image and it'll show a larger view of the colors mixed with each.  I only hope you can read my scribbling!  I love how you can see the effects of blues, whites and compliments and how they make grays.  Is this bad?  Well...only you can decide.

Have a great week everyone and wish me luck!

"Cow Dog"

8 x 6" oil/canvas panel

For purchase information click here.

Oh my gosh! I can't believe its already Friday! This week just flew by!

I worked on a larger painting early on, but mostly my husband and I spent the week moving cows home. I got to ride my horse though, which has been forever so he was pretty froggy. We got everyone home alright, except the bull. Last we saw of him, he was heading for Molly's Crossing. You may remember Molly, the young heifer that got loose here a year or so ago and swam the Missouri to avoid the meat plant. Someone rescued her by paying the owner 5 figures or some crazy thing. I don't think our bull will find the same good fortune. Anyway, the good part was getting to see my boy "Bill" work his little heart out. He sure is a natural! So heres another portrait of my Sweet William.

Just one more day?

10 x 8" oil/gessoed hardboard panel

NFS

So again, just to buy me time while I wrap up this brewery painting, here is a painting from my website.  This is "Kit" my husbands first wife.  (posthumous)

"Lucky Dog"

8 x 6" oil/canvas panel

For purchase information click here

Okay, I missed my Bill so much while I was gone this past week, I just had to do another painting of him.

He has been following me around with this goofy look on his face, so I think he missed me too.

Anyway, the following is part of an email I wrote recently to the woman who bought "Thistle Patch."  She is keeping several rescue dogs, so I shared with her the story of how Bill came to live with us.  I hope you will enjoy it.

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Our "Bill" is also a rescue and came from a home where he did things like, eat the couch and drapes, then ran off cross country to entertain himself on a daily basis.  Thats how we found him, running around out here by the ranch.  When we tracked down his previous family, they told us that they had also found him as a run away and asked if we would call the sheriff and have him taken to the pound, that he just wasn't worth the effort.

As he settled in here, we were shocked by his intelligence.  He seemed to actually know the English language!  He LOVES the ranch and especially the cows.  He has never run off, or been destructive in any way.  Its almost as if they were talking about a different dog.  He is always with us though, during work or play, so gets plenty of attention and direction.  He is however, TERRIFIED of the "F" word.  Also flies (yes the bug!) and the fly swatter, scare the wits out of him.  That tells us all we need to know about his previous family.

He is our first BC and I'm amazed it took us so long to discover how fantastic they are.  But I'm also amazed at how many BCs end up at the pound.  We are so lucky he found us.  There has never been a more well behaved, affectionate and intelligent dog.

"Thistle Patch"

10 x 8" oil/canvas panel

sold

 I love this one and thought I might keep it, but I promised a few more for Ebay, so good luck everyone!

"Highland Dreams"

12 x 16" oil/canvas

For purchase information click here.

detail...

Update...

After considering all the options, I decided I liked the word "dream" as a suggestion. However the tartan is not a true clan replica, but a combination of an Irish Galway pattern and my own imagination. I thought this might not translate well, so I decided make it easier and just go with the origin of the Border Collie, which is Scottish. The blanket is obviously wool, it even looks scratchy! So I'm giving it over to the Scots and "Highland Dreams" it is.

Thanks to everyone who helped out. I am definitely not the best at coming up with good titles.

Dare I say it? Finished?

12 x 16" oil/canvas panel

Yes, I think so! Yahoo!!

I had such a great time doing this painting. I got it just how I wanted. My only complaint would be that I now wish it were larger, say 24 x 30" or so. The blanket in back became a Tartan (Irish) after I realized I wanted a more symbolic message. I've done some really nice paintings that miss this element. I think its what sets a work apart from the average painting. Anyway, now I am not sure of the title, "Couch Potato". It doesn't seem quite right and I could sure use help. Could everyone please click on the comments link below and give me some ideas? (You can sign in as "anonymous" if you don't have an account.) This painting is for entry into the Oil Painter's of America - Regional Exhibition and I want it to be perfect, so I hope you will all help me!

Click here to read the outcome.

"Couch Potato"...almost done!

12 x 16" oil/canvas panel

I've been working on this painting for a couple days now.  Its for entry into the regional OPA show in Idaho this coming fall.  The deadline is in two days!  wheeze...wheeze!!!

I could give a whole dissertation on how this painting came to be, but just to keep it short...

This whole daily painting business is really making a huge difference in my work.  (As I was hoping it would!)  I also have found a few artists blogs that have helped me to stay focused and true to myself and my style.  Thanks to both Karin Jurick, who paints her own way and is amazing!  Also to David Malan, for offering such a huge resource of talent (his own included) within his website and blog.  I can't begin to tell you how important studying other artists work is, especially for an emerging artist such as myself.  Also sketching is a big part of it!  Thomas Eakins taught his students to sketch a subject fifty times before going to the main canvas.  I didn't paint my Border Collie that many times, but around fifteen or so.

"Couch Potato" - study

6 x 8" oil/canvas

sold

Heres another of my favorite model, Sweet William.  This sketch was inspired by another painting I did back in January entitled "Nap Time" which sold to a woman in Virginia who also lives with a Border Collie.  We had a good laugh at how many people think BCs have no down time.  They do however, need full-time monitoring due to their needy and compulsive nature.  Hers likes to jump off the boat dock into the lake - over and over and over!  Mostly, I think they just want to be with you.  Our governor, here in Montana, takes his BC to the office, press conferences, meetings, etc.  Everywhere!

My Bill is sleeping in his favorite studio chair as I post this.

 

"Spring Grass"

8 x 6" oil/canvas panel

For purchase information click here.

"Thistle Patch"

Whew! Its been a very busy week so far!

Our branding weekend was lots of fun, and I got some good shots that I'll try to make into paintings later on, but first I need to catch up on a few things this week.

Friday I'm off to Ennis, for a paint out with the Montana Painter's Alliance.  This means more plein air painting for me, which is not my strong suit, as you know.  But it is SO important for any artist who wants to improve their painting skills.  So with three days of outdoor painting, I should be able to come up with something I can share here.  Keep your fingers crossed! :))

10 x 8" oil/canvas panel

sold

This is a variation on the "Potato Patch" theme.  Our ranch like most, has its share of weeds.  Thistle seems to be the most prolific (and thorniest!!)  They are pretty when they bloom though, and really as far as weeds go, not such a bad one.  All our critters enjoy eating them, even our horses.  Well, with the exception of Bill!

"Hay Bill"

6 x 8" oil - canvas panel

sold

Okay, heres two more, then I better get packing for the OPA conference.
We are doing some Plein Air painting on Sunday, so I'll try to do something worth posting, (hopefully not just poorly rendered trees and bushes!)
Otherwise I'll be back Monday night.
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Another painting of my best friend "Bill" on the hay stack.