Sand Creek Ventures

Nuthatch

2012-01-29T15:42:00.004-07:00

Here's another little bird that has a tendency to capture hearts, a red breasted nuthatch. Again, this is 4" x 4" on gallery wrapped canvas.

I've done a series of this little bird paintings lately, and do offer both prints and greeting cards of most of them. You can view and purchase those at Art Fan Fair, one of my on-line stores.

Chickadee Fledgling

2012-01-09T19:50:00.002-07:00

After the holidays and lots of family time, I'm finally back to painting! This little guy was fun to play with today. He's small, as chickadees are, on a 4" x 4" wrapped canvas.

The Wise Old Man

2011-12-29T06:12:00.002-07:00

This is a portrait of my friend Jon's Arabian gelding, Shariff. I've known Jon and Shariff for about 15 years, and Shariff is getting up there in years. I've spent countless hours riding with Jon, him on Shariff, and me on Topaz, and Rawah since I've lost Topaz. I've also ridden Shariff from time to time, and it was always a delight. A well trained, perfect gentleman who is quick on his feet and floats through the sagebrush. I've wanted to do this painting for a long time, and finally got it done for Jon. I call it "The Wise Old Man".

Montana and Lazer

2011-12-14T11:02:00.003-07:00

Uhoh....it's been a month since I've posted! I'm sorry about that; I've been working on some commission pieces for Christmas, and time has just slipped away. Anyway, I have the commissions done, and this one of Montana and Lazer is the first one I'm posting. This is 16" x 20", oil on canvas. The cats were quite fun to work on, but I had trouble getting the eye color just right. The supplied photo was not clear on the eye color, which isn't unusual for photographs. Since I have never met these two characters personally, I had to guess a bit and e-mail back and forth with the client. But, according to him, I finally got it right, so this painting will ship tomorrow. Whew!

Orange and Blue

2011-11-14T20:48:00.004-07:00

The autumn colors in this area were especially brilliant this year, with more than usual amount of reds and oranges. This 12" x 16" oil painting is of a scene along the Laramie River. I call it "Orange and Blue".

Marsh Wren again!

2011-11-10T22:55:00.004-07:00

Here's the second Marsh Wren painting; 8" x 8" oil on gallery wrapped canvas.

Marsh Wren

2011-11-08T21:46:00.003-07:00

I enjoy painting birds, and this little marsh wren was no exception. This is an oil on 8" x 8" gallery wrapped canvas, so no frame is necessary. The scene continues on the sides, top, and bottom of the canvas.

Last Light

2011-11-02T17:47:00.002-06:00

This is a 20" x 16" oil I just finished. I call it "Last Light".

Autumn Glory

2011-10-27T07:26:00.003-06:00

I hadn't done anything in pastel for awhile....in fact, I hadn't painted at all for a few months. This time of year is just too busy with the horses and outside work to get much artwork done. But I did this 12" x 16" pastel of aspen trees during the height of the color change this fall. My sister bought it before I could get it to the gallery, so now I will have to do another one!

Prairie Storm

2011-08-22T07:08:00.002-06:00

Summer is flying by. I've been busy training horses, and the artwork has been put aside for now. The only painting I've done this summer is this 8" x 10" oil of a late spring storm that I caught by camera. I hope to be back into the art swing soon, though!

New Day

2011-06-08T07:51:00.002-06:00

I just finished this 16" x 20" painting of my mare, Sioux, with her new baby, Izarra. This is how I first found them in the pasture a little more than 2 weeks ago, very early in the morning as dawn was just starting. I think Izarra was just a few hours old at the time. Fun painting this!

New Baby!

2011-05-25T10:48:00.003-06:00

I've been taking some time off this week to watch over the new baby! Born early Monday morning, she is a gorgeous bay roan filly, and so far, is doing great. This baby was "pasture born" instead of in a barn, and there was an anxious moment or two on Tuesday. When I went out to check her, I found that she had somehow gotten on the opposite side of a barbwire fence from her mother. Luckily, both she and her mama have pretty calm dispositions, and I was able to reunite them with nothing but an insignificant scratch on the baby.

I haven't named her yet.....still open for suggestions!

I have many horse images (fine art and photography) on a variety of products. You may check them out here: horse image products.

Featured Artist at Art Matters Gallery

2011-05-16T14:30:00.003-06:00

Hello all! Welcome to the new followers....nice to have you checking in from time to time

I haven't had time to paint lately. (Big sigh) But I did make a trip to beautiful Salida, Colorado, over this last weekend, for the Gallery Walk reception on Saturday night. I am Featured Artist at Art Matters Gallery for the month of May. The reception was lots of fun, and I met many wonderful people. I always love going to Salida, and Gloria Countryman runs a fabulous art gallery.

If you are in the area, check it out! Or take a virtual visit at the link provided on this page. And, thanks!

California Coastline

2011-05-01T06:23:00.002-06:00

Life has been busy and hectic lately. Unfortunately, I had to travel to Minnesota for an unexpected death in the family. This times are always difficult, but my Christian faith, painting and working with the horses always bring me peace. It's still wintery up here; just a bit of snow, but the coldest April I can remember. Where IS that global warming when you need it?!!

So I decided to work on a piece that feels warm, and went back to a photo I took some years ago along the California coastline, near La Jolla. This is 16" x 20", oil on canvas. At least it made me FEEL warm!!

Cat Kisses

2011-04-13T10:57:00.003-06:00

Here's another one that is a bit out of the ordinary for me, but was fun to do. This is oil on gallery wrapped canvas, 12" x 12". I call it "Cat Kisses".

Shadows of the Past

2011-04-11T19:40:00.003-06:00

This is a new version of a painting I did years ago with the same title. That first painting is owned by a family member, and I had always wanted to do the scene again, so I finally did. This is part of the old corrals at the Old Historic Moulton Homestead in Grand Teton National Park. The day I took the reference photo was bright and sunny, but it had snowed the night before. By the time I arrived on scene, the snow had melted off the old corral posts and the fence, but still was still fairly deep on the ground. The Tetons are spectacular at any time, but especially in the winter!

Chickadee 2

2011-04-01T16:46:00.002-06:00

This is the second in a series of chickadees that I have been painting. I finished this little painting a few weeks ago, and totally forgot about posting it here on my blog. Sorry!

This is on 8" x 8" gallery wrapped canvas, identical to the previous one.

Chickadee

2011-03-08T21:17:00.003-07:00

This is just a little 8" x 8" oil on gallery wrapped canvas. These little guys are so pert and active; very friendly to humans, too. I love to paint chickadees!

Window to the Soul

2011-02-18T17:29:00.003-07:00

OK, something very different for me, but I can't even begin to explain how much I enjoyed painting this. So much fun to paint, and I'm very pleased with the result. It's good to stretch out of your comfort zone every once in awhile!

My good friend, James Paulsen, who lives in Nebraska, showed me this picture he took a few years ago in Egypt. There was something about it that just grabbed me, and I immediately asked him if I could have his permission to paint from his photo. He graciously granted permission, and this is the result. This woman's eyes said so much to me....I hope I was able to capture just a portion of her beauty in this painting.

12" x 16", oil on stretched canvas.

Connected

2011-02-15T15:51:00.002-07:00

Raising American Quarter Horses for 25 years, I've often witnessed a moment like this between a mare and her foal. They definitely have special communication skills, and I decided this moment would make a nice painting.

This is 12" x 16", oil on gallery wrapped canvas. I intend to donate this painting to a benefit auction, but prints are available.

The Protector

2011-02-14T16:46:00.002-07:00

Back to painting horses. For reference on this one, I used a fabulous photo taken by western Colorado wildlife photographer John Wagner. John spends countless hours searching for, and photographing the wild mustangs of Sand Wash Basin in northwestern Colorado, and graciously gave me permission to paint from one of his photographs. This is a beautiful buckskin mustang stallion, warning an intruder to stay a distance away from one of his foals. The intruder is just out of the picture.....perhaps a curious bachelor stallion? This is oil on canvas, 20" x 24".

Waiting for Orders

2011-02-10T17:49:00.002-07:00

Here in the mountain country of Colorado, cattle are grazed in the National Forest on leases during the summer, and gathered to ship or change pasture on warm autumn days. The land is pretty wild, and so are the cattle! So good cow dogs are helpful in getting the cows out of the ravines and trees. Here is one of my Australian Shepherd Dogs, Shiloh, as she waits for orders on a "gathering day".

Untitled

2011-02-01T15:14:00.002-07:00

This is an oil painting that I was not happy with, and I put it aside for a time. Today I pulled it out to, hopefully, finish it. At this stage, I'm still not sure I'm done fiddling with it, but for now, I think I'll call it done.

I pass by this old abandoned car dozens of times each summer, as I travel to and from Ft Collins on the Cherokee Park Road. I imagine it would have some stories to tell, if it could speak.

Back to Open Range

2011-01-07T08:22:00.002-07:00

This is a 12" x 16" oil on canvas that I just finished.

I ride by this old fenceline often, as it is just down the road from my house. I usually find myself pondering the history of this fence. Who built it, and why? It probably remains from when much of this property that is privately owned up here belonged to one large ranch. But not many fences were put in, as this was "open range" country, with the cattle left to roam and graze freely. In the fall, huge "round-ups" were held to gather them in for the harsh winter, and ship. So I wonder about this fence.

To me, it represents the determination of man to tame this wild land, and the futility of it, too. The fence remains, but the man or men who built it? Who knows?

Blue Roan Mustang

2011-01-03T18:57:00.003-07:00

I doubt that will remain the name of this painting, but right now, it's the best I can come up with! This is 16" x 20" on gallery wrapped canvas. After viewing the photo, there's a few little things I want to tweak, so I may post an update tomorrow after I do that.

Photo credit goes to John Wagner, who takes such wonderful photos of the wild horses, and allows me to paint them. This guy I changed a bit, by giving him a blaze and a snip, and a bit more color.

Untitled #2

2010-12-29T16:09:00.004-07:00

I'm still playing around with sky colors. I see so much color in the skies around here, but both sunrises and sunsets are QUICK, because of the mountains. This particular scene is to the west of my house, depicting Sand Creek pass between Deadman Mountain and Bull Mountain. It's what I see out my dining room and family room windows, and sometimes the sky is ablaze with color late in the day.

Untitled

2010-12-28T14:40:00.002-07:00

I haven't come up with a title for this oil painting yet. It's a scene I caught last summer at the top of my property. It's 12" x 16", oil on stretched canvas. Any name suggestions?

4 Wheelin'

2010-12-21T07:16:00.003-07:00

This is a small (5" x 7") oil on canvas. I'm really enjoying painting some minatures lately. I think this one needs a bit of touch-up when it is dry, but is mostly finished. Again, photo credit goes to John Wagner. Thanks, John!

Breezy

2010-12-16T15:34:00.002-07:00

This is a small (8" x 8") oil portrait on gallery wrapped canvas. The subject is one of the wild horses found at Sand Wash Basin, northwestern Colorado. These wild horses are an extremely colorful group, dominated by paints, grays, duns and palominos. Fun to paint!

Photo credit goes to John Wagner, who takes wonderful photos of these gorgeous animals, and is very generous, allowing me to paint them.

Trust

2010-12-14T19:37:00.002-07:00

Here's another little oil painting that I did in the days following my mare's unexpected death, painting from alot of emotion. It seems to have made my painting a bit looser, as this is somewhat different and more contemporary than my normal style. But I like how it turned out. It is 8" x 10" on gallery wrapped canvas.

Autumn Majesty

2010-12-09T06:15:00.002-07:00

OK, back to painting. It's the best way to heal......well, it's what I know, anyway!

This guy took the better part of a week to finish, but I think I'm there now. He's big, for me, anyway.....20" x 24", oil on stretched canvas. Mule deer are making a comeback around here. After not seeing many of them for years due to their numbers being depleted because of "wasting disease", now I'm seeing them again in big numbers. Nature has a way of righting itself, even when man has interfered and messed it up. We need to remember that.

Credit for the fantastic photograph that I worked from goes to John Wagner of Dinosaur, Colorado, a wonderful wildlife photographer that I have the privilege of knowing through Facebook! Thanks, John, for your generous permission to use this incredible shot. It was lots of fun to paint.

For Topaz

2010-12-07T05:51:00.012-07:00

How did the years go by so fast? It seems like just yesterday that I first spotted you at the sale barn, sticking your head up to try to get a bite of grass in a feeder that was too tall. I thought to myself, "Now, there's a Sugar Bars head if I've ever seen one." I walked over to look at the papers posted on the fence, and sure enough, mama was a line-bred Sugar Bars mare, and papa was Coy's Bonanza. You were just a yearling, but good looking even then, with balance and good red dun color with that line right down the middle of your back.

I went to lunch with David and Dustin, and said, "There's a yearling that I want to bid on this afternoon." They were more worried about their golf game, and David told me to use my best judgment.

I did. I bought you. Some other guy wanted you, too, but I hung in there. I thought I'd spent too much, but I was wrong. I got a bargain. It was the best money I've ever spent.

I didn't think so at first. You were a little shit as a yearling, and as a two year old, too. Beautiful, yes, with just the conformation and size I liked, but kinda sour and sneaky. I didn't often turn my back on you, and we had some real "respect" issues. I kinda didn't like you much, and I think the feeling was mutual. So when you turned 3, I decided to breed you to a champion palomino stallion down the road from us. I was raising a few colts back then, and my plan was to keep the baby, and sell you.

But that little palomino stud colt you had was sick when he was born. The vet diagnosed septicemia, and figured he got it from you, because your womb was full of infection when he biopsied it. I named the little fella Jack (after the Two Eyed Jack/Bonanza bred stallion), and did my best for him, even moving him into the house to bottle feed him and give him 24 hour care. David was gone on active duty, so I took a week off work, and the neighbors and I nursed Jack the entire time. The vet told me I'd have to milk the mare, and I remember thinking, "Milk THAT mare? She'll kick me all over the stall." But you didn't. You didn't move an inch. And I remember the look in your eye after we had taken Jack away. I think you knew; you knew we were trying to save him. You never gave me a bit of trouble. And we started to bond.

Jack didn't make it. I took you to equine reproduction specialists after that. They put you on antibiotics, cleaned up your womb, but in two weeks the infection would be back. They finally told me that you "weren't a good candidate for a brood mare".

At that point, I decided to send you to Dave Shumpert to train, because I was working full time and just didn't want to mess with you. You and I had never had a really good rapport. After a month, I called to see how you were doing, as I already had a buyer lined up. He said, "Well, pretty good." I told him I thought I might pick you up early, because I had a buyer. He said, in that slow, easy-going way that Dave has, "You know, of all the horses I've worked this summer, if I was to keep one in my own string, I think it'd be that red dun mare. Maybe you'd better ride her first."

So I did. I trailered you up to the local State Park, and turned you loose. When I got back to the trailer, I knew I'd never sell you. I called the buyer up and told her she'd have to keep looking.

From that day on, you and I were together. I guess there's just not many trails or hills in this area of northern Colorado that we haven't been on......most of them dozens, and maybe hundreds of times. You worked alongside me all those years at the ranch. We gathered horses and cattle, searched for lost people, led hundreds of guest rides into the wilderness. And we rode together, alone, alot.

You weren't the best wrangler horse at the first. You walked too fast. I refused to lay on your mouth, which was as soft as butter, so I'd warn the guests, and let you take off. You never broke into a trot, unless I asked for it. You just walked out. After awhile, I'd stop you, turn you around to face the string behind, and we'd wait for them to catch up. Then I'd warn them again to move their horses out, and off we'd go. Within two minutes, you'd be way ahead again, and we repeated the whole thing, all the way up the mountain, and then coming home. But when we had Bright along, all that changed. Bright was the one we put the very young, or very old, or handicapped riders on. Bright was lazy, yes, but I think he also knew what his role as a dude horse was. He stepped carefully. And when we put Bright right behind us, you walked carefully and slowly, too. I didn't have to stop you.....you would stop periodically and turn to look, just to make sure Bright and his rider were close by.

Some cowboys don't like to ride mares. They never rode you. If I asked you too, you'd put yourself up against any horse so that I could help a rider out. Yeah, you'd kick the H out of a nosy gelding in the pasture, but, under saddle, you never kicked out once, even when a dude horse would run right into your hindquarters. And you'd outwork any gelding I've ever owned, except maybe Pecan. And you always looked great doing it.

You got me out of tight spots more times than I can remember. Once a hillside caved way, and swept us up against a gnarly pine tree. Neither one of us could budge; I couldn't even get off as my leg was wedged too tightly. The ground started moving again. Most horses would have flailed around and done major damage to both of us. You stood stock still until someone could get there to help us out. That was just one of the times we got into a spot, and we came out ok because you kept your head more than I did.

You never missed a day of work, even though you had a quarter of your front right hoof gone from the time you were a 5 year old. That injury went clear into the coffin joint, and thankfully, CSU patched you up. It cost alot of money, but you paid me back through the years of work. I just had to keep front shoes on you, even in the winter. Other than that, you never had an injury; never was unsound, even though you & I, for years, were the ones who took all the high rocky trails into the wilderness because too many of the newer wranglers didn't know the way. We weathered lightning storms, falling trees, falling dudes, hail and thunder rainstorms that soaked me all the way to my underwear. We took countless disadvantaged kids up the mountain every summer for Rendezvous. These last years, I've let others ride you during those times. It wasn't because I DIDN'T want to ride you; it was because I needed to let them ride, and I knew you would take care of them. I had to ride the young ones that I couldn't trust with them. But I watched you.....I watched you every step of the way, taking care of those folks, and looking so good, and I was always so, so proud of you.

I ponied all my young ones off of you. How many young horses have we drug all over Sand Creek, teaching them to negotiate the hillsides, cross the streams, step over deadfall? These later years, when I spent so much time on the young ones & left you in the pasture, I always felt a bit guilty, and I don't know if I'll ever be able to stop comparing them to you. No one floated over the sagebrush like you, no one ever had the heart and the willingness to go, go, go like you did. No horse listens to me quite like you did, when working cattle, or running horses in, or just letting a big group lope off away from us. Yeah, you wanted to run too, but more than that, you wanted to do what I wanted you to do. You were so athletic, you walked and ran with your beautiful nose vertical to the ground, and I didn't even teach you that. It was just you.

The only trouble you ever gave me was at vaccination time. That's when you reverted to your 2 year old attitude. I've vaccinated hundreds of horses, many without even putting a halter on, but not you. It didn't matter what trick I tried, you weren't going to have any of it. I don't know how many needles you've destroyed, how much vaccine you wasted. You'd even throw yourself on the ground to avoid getting stuck. At the ranch I'd put you in stocks, and then you'd stand quietly and take it, but all the time giving me that "evil eye". And penicillin......forget it! If you got cut, I'd reach for the oral antibiotics, 'cuz I wasn't even going to enter THAT fight!

I moved you, Tess, and Pecan down to Ft Collins last week to save you from the tough Laramie winters. I checked you all over on Friday, and all of you looked good....I was happy. But walking away, something told me to go back. I spent a few more minutes with you, scratching your ears and talking to you. You looked at me like, "Yeah, well, I guess I can handle this." I know now that was a gift from God.

Then on Monday morning I got the phone call that told me you had died. A brain hemorrhage, we think. It was quick. There was no thrashing. Folks have told me that they think you were gone before you hit the ground. That would be good. And it would be you, too. I remember thinking this summer that you were just now starting to show your age....still looked good, but a little bit of sinking in the back. I thought about how hard it would be to see you age.....always my beautiful one. But I dismissed it; after all, it would be years before I would have to make any hard decisions. You were always so healthy and strong. You saved me from going through that.

And now I grieve. I know there will never be another Topaz. I've owned too many horses to fool myself into believing that I'll find another like you. Oh, there are good ones, even great ones. I'm not done tramping over these hills, valleys and mountains on a good horse. But not on you, anymore, and that's gonna leave a big hole in my heart. I struggle to keep things in perspective. Afterall, I've experienced profound grief in my life, I've lost a son, and I've seen divorce. But you were the one, Topaz, who carried me all those miles after losing Dustin, giving me the time and space I needed to work things out between me and God. You were my escape from the everyday tasks and reminders that threatened to close in on me. You and I combed these mountains together. I can't see a time when I won't miss you so, so much. Now I know He put you in my life because He knew I needed you.

But yet, I know I have to keep things in perspective. There are people around me who have suffered immense pain and loss in recent months. A family who lost their eight year old boy after a ranching accident. My best friend, who lost his nephew fighting for this country in Afghanistan. Another friend who is slowing losing her battle with cancer. I know lonely people who spend their days living in the past and trying to let their own accomplishments and their belongings fill that great gap of emptiness. Life is harsh. And those who suffer are everywhere around us. I must not forget this, or them.

So I read Revelation 21, and I take hope in those Words. And I thank God for letting me have the privilege of knowing you and enjoying all that I did with such a wonderful creature. I know that the Bible says the horses in heaven are all white, and I think that's symbolic. I've never been one who holds much stock in believing our pets will meet us in heaven.....we won't need them; we'll have our "everything" in Christ. But I can't help wondering just a little bit if, we really do get horses, maybe He will see fit to make a bit of a exception for me, and I'll be given the privilege of riding one very special red dun mare.

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full on His wonderful face. And the things of the world will grow strangely dim, in the Light of His mercy and grace."

Have a blessed day, my friends. God is truly good.

The Color of Winter

2010-12-04T20:50:00.003-07:00

Here's another seasonal painting. This is what it looks like in the winter in my little corner of the world. Oil on canvas, 12" x 16".

Old Nebraska Barn

2010-11-24T19:31:00.002-07:00

I took a photo of this old Nebraska barn about 5 years ago, and many times had considered painting it. Somehow I just never got around to it until now. I posted the photo on www.wetcanvas.com as one of the November challenges in the Southwestern/Western art forum, and several other artists painted or drew it this month. Unfortunately, the old barn was torn down shortly after I saw it; I'm so glad I took the picture! What a grand old barn it was in its younger days!
This is oil on canvas, 8" x 10".

Eagle

2010-11-23T16:56:00.002-07:00

Here's a little (5" x 7") oil on gallery wrapped canvas that I did today. Just another small painting to keep me going while I'm thinking about the next project. Fun to do!

Just a little Wintertime Scene

2010-11-22T11:32:00.002-07:00

This is just a small 8" x 10" inch oil on canvas. It's beginning to look like this up here! Winter has arrived.

Cougar

2010-11-12T16:31:00.004-07:00

I had alot of fun painting this guy....love to paint those kitties! This is from a photo taken by a super photographer on wetcanvas.com who goes by the name of Crias. Wetcanvas is a great reference, because photographers and other artists post royalty free photos there for artists to use.....I've posted quite a few of my own for other artists to use. This is 9" x 12", oil on stretched canvas. The bottom image is before I decided to subdue the background; the top image is the finished painting. Interesting how much difference a background can make!

Wrangler Waiting for the Lil' Dude

2010-11-09T15:18:00.002-07:00

I did a similar painting of this subject last year, but I messed it up by making the background too busy. Had wanted to try this again with a simple background so that the focus remained on the wrangler taking a break leaning on the dude horse.

There's a story behind this one. When I worked at the guest ranch, I was ready to take my ride of 8 dudes out on the trail. At the last minute, the youngest rider, a boy of around 8, decided he needed to use the restroom. I snapped a photo of Ben, the head wranger and the boy's mount, Lil, waiting for him to return. We worked long hours at the ranch, and learned to take our "catnaps" at every opportunity.

The background on this is showing bluer than it really is, due to having to use studio lighting to photograph. It's snowing and overcast here, so couldn't use natural light. In real life, the background in the painting is more gray & cream than blue. This is 11" x 14", oil on canvas.

Comes the Dawn

2010-10-20T17:03:00.002-06:00

It took two days to paint this one, but I think it is mainly finished now. There may be some minor tweaking done before framing. What do you think? This is pastel on sanded paper, 18" x 24"; about as large as I ever work in pastel.

Dugout at the Old Whirl Ranch

2010-10-13T16:09:00.002-06:00

This is just a small 8" x 10" gallery wrapped canvas painting that took about 2 hours to do. It's a scene from the Old Whirl Ranch, which is an old historic ranch that I pass on my way into Laramie. Fun to do!

Today's Plein Air

2010-10-04T15:55:00.002-06:00

I'm still having trouble finding time in my life to paint. But I can't complain about today. The fall weather has been spectacular here, so I was able to get out to do some plein air work today. It was a bit hazy, but it just felt good to be out there! This is 11" x 14", oil on canvas.

Untitled....just an exercise!

2010-09-22T08:14:00.003-06:00

This is the first painting I've done for two months. Basically, it was just to "get the juices flowing", and not meant to be a finished piece. After a long, unplanned absence from art, I just needed to get back into the studio and push the paint around. It felt good, and I'm hoping that I can get serious about pushing that paint in the next try.

By the way, I'm very honored to currently be the featured artist on the Cowboy Showcase website. This is an absolutely fantastic and interesting place to visit. Check out: http://www.cowboyshowcase.com

and click on "Cowboy Arts".

It's been a crazy summer!

2010-09-22T08:09:00.002-06:00

And I must apologize for my extended absence from my blog. A series of trips, a problem with my rental property resulting in alot of damage to the house, AND a family medical emergency has taken up all my time since mid-summer.

Very, very little artwork done. And very little training time with my horses, which I am completely frustrated about. I'm hoping that things are settling down now, and I can get back to a regular schedule. Unfortunately......winter is just around the corner, and that means that I will not be able to complete my training goals. But it also means more time for painting, which I am definitely looking forward to!

It's a busy summer!

2010-07-24T19:37:00.003-06:00

I'm afraid not much art work is getting done this summer. I've been super busy with training horses, lots of visitors (that's what happens in the summer when you live in the mountains!), and I've taken a few trips. Went to the Red Desert in Wyoming to photograph wild horses for reference, and also went to the Wild Horse Art Show and Sale in Rock Springs, where I had 4 horse paintings on display. Also, the Laramie River Valley Rendezvous, which is an annual project that I have been involved in for the last 25 years, took up 2 weeks of my time in July. Can't say when I'll get caught up and back to painting....summer is always crazy for me. Here's a pic of me at the end of the Rendezvous week....I was a bit tired, as you can probably tell. You can read more about this worthwhile project for teens on my website at: http://www.debramickelson.com/.

Limber Pine Tree

2010-06-24T20:21:00.002-06:00

I've been too busy with horses, fencing, garden work, etc. to paint lately. So early this morning I set out to catch the good light. Found my spot, set up the easel and pastels, and went to work. Unfortunately, the mosquitos were also up early, and even though I had bug spray, they were incredibly horrid! I guess that's what we get after such a wet winter and spring....I've never seen them this bad before! So I did a quick color sketch, took a photo, and got the H out of there!!!! Back at the studio, I completed this painting.

I like to paint these limber pine as they always have so much individual character. They can live up to two thousand years (!), but I'm guessing this guy is about 100...hard to say. Unfortunately, we are losing many of them, because of the pine beetle infestation. But today this guy was healthy and happy, and I was happy to find him doing well.

Untitled

2010-06-12T20:32:00.002-06:00

I can't come up with a title for this one! Anyone got an idea?

I still have some minor tweaking to do, but am posting this now because who knows when I will get back to it? It's summer; my life is crazy!!!!

This is 16" x 20" on Wallis Belgian Mist paper, pastel.

Fry Bread

2010-06-01T14:28:00.002-06:00

It's been two weeks since I've posted! It seems that, since I returned from the workshop, all I've done is deal with family issues and horses......must be summer even if the weather doesn't think so!

I was able to finish this 11" x 14" pastel today...just in time to get it framed and delivered to a show. This is a bit different for me, and I had to pay special attention to the shadows and details, but it was a fun painting to do.

Water Lily

2010-05-15T17:56:00.002-06:00

Well, after finishing the Lily Pond painting, I decided to paint a close-up of a water lily. This is a small oil painting, only 5" x 7".

I'll not be posting here for a week or so, as I'm attending a workshop near Denver. The instructor is Albert Handell, who I consider to be one of the finest American artists, so I'm really excited about it. An added bonus is that Lorenzo Chavez, whose work I also admire greatly, will be participating in the workshop, also. Lorenzo just gave my pastel painting "Winter Silence" a Merit Award in the Sunny Vista Art Show in Colorado Springs, so I will have the opportunity to thank him in person!

The Lily Pond (Step 4)

2010-05-12T12:23:00.003-06:00

I believe this painting is mostly finished, except for a few touch-ups to complete after it is mostly dry. It's been a tough few weeks to paint......too busy with other things, and all the problems our inclement weather has been causing! Hoping for better times soon.

The finished painting is the 1st one; I decided that the bush on the lower left hand corner was distracting, so I removed it. The difference in the color is due to the variance in lighting at the times the painting was photographed....the true color of the painting is actually somewhere in between these two images!

The Lily Pond (Step 3)

2010-05-08T07:48:00.002-06:00

Wow, I can't believe a whole week has passed since I last posted. I had to make a trip to Colorado Springs and Denver to deliver paintings for shows, and the weather up here has still been difficult. What should have been a two day trip turned into a four day trip, as I had trouble getting out of here. Then, while gone, it snowed and blew again, so I wasn't able to return on the day I wanted. It's a good thing my son and daughter-in-law live "down below" and are willing to have a guest once in awhile!

Before I left, I was able to do a bit more work on this painting. I'm really hoping that I can get back to it today and post another update soon.

The Lily Pond (Step 2)

2010-05-01T17:24:00.002-06:00

Here's where I'm stopping for today. The Kentucky Derby is on soon, and I want to watch it!

I've decided to make the cloud an elongated form, so it doesn't look a cotton ball right in the middle of the scene. I hope the client doesn't mind!

You can see I'm saving the water until later in the painting......I almost always do water last in scenes like this. I want to make sure the rest of the painting is working, first.

The Lily Pond (Starting)

2010-05-01T17:18:00.002-06:00

Here's the initial block-in. You can see that I'm uncertain about the cloud form still!

I'm working on an 18" x 24" stretched canvas.

The Lily Pond

2010-05-01T17:07:00.003-06:00

I've decided to post this oil painting as a WIP (work in progress). This is a painting that I have neglected to do for a long time, and it's well past time to tackle it. It's a commission and the client has been way too patient! I've procrastinated on this, because there are some elements about the composition that I'm not wild about, and I've taken liberty, as usual, with making changes. Here is the reference photo for The Lily Pond.

A note on the back of the photo says that this picture was taken in July of 1984! I haven't procrastinated THAT long!

This is a place I know well, as I visit it dozens of times each summer, and have done so since the mid 80's. It was a resting place for riders on one of the more popular rides when I worked at the Rawah Ranch, and I still spend a week stopping there every summer with a camp for disadvantaged kids that I've participated in since the mid 80's. So I can't use the excuse that I'm not familiar with the subject, although it hasn't near as much water now as it did in the 80's.

But I have a problem with the reflected cloud form.....it just looks weird, so I'll be thinking on how I can make that look more natural. I also know that it is one of the features that the client likes best about this scene, so I'll have to be careful with my changes!

Antelope Flats Afternoon

2010-04-29T17:01:00.002-06:00

This is an 18" x 24" oil on canvas that I just finished. It's from a photo I took a few years ago in Teton National Park, near Kelley, Wyoming.

Mountain Bluebird

2010-04-25T14:32:00.003-06:00

We ended up getting 34 inches of snow, starting Thursday afternoon and ending Saturday morning. Yikes! That's the biggest snowfall we've had this year. It's a good thing the weather will warm up this week so we can melt it away.

The mountain bluebirds had arrived, and the females were busy investigating our bird boxes. When the snow started, they headed down to a lower elevation to wait it out. I'm hoping they will return this week to start nesting......they are late this year due to our colder, wetter than normal weather. I guess I was thinking of them when I decided to paint this little 8" x 10" oil on gallery wrapped canvas. I love to see those quick flashes of bright blue as they dart around during the summer, and the fledglings are always fun to watch as they venture out into the world. They and the hummingbirds are a sure sign of summer in the mountains.

Snow Again!

2010-04-23T20:08:00.003-06:00

I know it's late April, but you have to love springtime in the Rockies! It's been snowing hard since yesterday, and we now have an estimated 3 feet of the lovely white stuff. So....what to do but paint a snow scene! This is a minature, only 4" x 6" on gallery wrapped canvas, which means the sides are painted, also. Ready to hang without a frame, and it was fun.....guess the snow is worth it!

Black Capped Chickadee

2010-04-17T17:05:00.002-06:00

I had alot of fun painting this little guy. Oil, 8" x 10" on gallery wrapped canvas.

Origin

2010-04-15T08:04:00.003-06:00

I just finished this 12" x 16" pastel. I call it "Origin" because it shows the alpine glacier lakes where our freshwater supplies originate from. This particular scene is Lake Marie, located in the beautiful Snowy Mountain Range in southern Wyoming. I've painted similar scenes from the Rawah Wilderness area in northern Colorado.

I've actually had guests from other areas, when viewing these always present alpine glaciers from a distance claim that "those white areas must be sand, because it's impossible to have snow in August"!!!! Imagine their surprise and delight to dismount and make snowballs when we finally reached those areas in the Rawahs after 4 hours on horseback!

Watchful

2010-04-09T10:33:00.002-06:00

This is a common scene where I live. Pronghorns are in abundance here, and we see them in herds of hundreds, or in small groups such as this one. I call this "Watchful" because that's the way they usually appear, curious, but always ready to run.

16" x 20" pastel on sanded paper

Eternal Light

2010-04-03T17:30:00.002-06:00

This is an 11" x 14" pastel.

Happy Easter, everyone!

"He is risen!"

"He is risen, indeed!"

For Hire

2010-03-31T15:59:00.002-06:00

Ok, these big guys were NOT easy! It took me the better part of a week to do this 20" x 24" oil painting. I have a few minor details to correct, but for the most part, I think this is done.

His First Day

2010-03-24T15:14:00.002-06:00

Here's an oil painting I am just now finishing, but a painting I've wanted to do for a long time. This is my now three year old buckskin American Quarterhorse, Cash, with his mama, Sioux. He will turn four this summer, and I've been riding him for a year now, so it was long past time to get this painting done!

I may fiddle with this some more yet; probably deepen the shadow a bit & soften some of the edges on the mare's face.

Something Caught Their Eye

2010-03-16T17:03:00.002-06:00

I doubt I will keep that title for this painting, but it will do until I come up with something better!

This was not an easy painting. I pieced it together from about six different photos of my own horses, the sky is totally from my imagination. But I think it's the next thing to being finished; perhaps I will have some touchups here and there after I view it for a few days.

20" x 24", oil on stretched canvas.

The Edge of Eric's Hayfield

2010-03-15T16:35:00.003-06:00

Here is the 2nd oil I've done of my neighbor's late summer hayfield.

Eric's Hayfield

2010-03-09T14:10:00.002-07:00

Late in the summer, a ranching neighbor of mine gave me permission to walk one of his hayfields and take photos. I spent a pleasurable morning walking all over the hayfield, accompanied by his dog and a little calico kitten, who braved the wet grass to follow me. She eventually fell into an irrigation ditch, and I had to rescue her!

This is the first of several oil paintings that I plan to do of Eric's hayfield.

Final - Hawaiian Golf Course

2010-03-06T10:55:00.002-07:00

Busy week....it took me forever to get back to this for the finishing touches. But here it is finished, I think....unless I see something else that I want to change while it stays pinned to my studio wall. This was a tough one, mostly because I'm just not as familiar with the scene as I like to be. But fun to try a new challenge.

Hawaii Golf Course - Stage 1

2010-02-24T16:38:00.004-07:00

My sister has wanted me to paint this Hawaii golf course scene, and I've put it off for over year. Something about all that GREEN. But today I decided that I had procrastinated long enough, so I pulled out a 16" x 20" piece of Wallis Belgian Mist sanded paper, took a deep breath, and began.

This is quite different for me, because I usually stick to subjects I know well. I've been to Hawaii, but I can't say I'm really familiar with the vegetation, landscape, or, in particular, golf courses! There were some differences to painting a scene in the Rocky Mountains, or the plains, that I knew I would have to incorporate. The biggest difference is the amount of humidity, which makes all the colors different. I hope I don't have a disaster as a result!

Because I have a tendency to work too "tight", and I try to combat that as much as possible, I start with a very loose, broad sketch, just laying in base colors, keeping in mind temperature and value. This is the stage that my husband usually says, "What the hell is that?" But it keeps me from getting into the detail too soon, weird as the painting looks at this stage. There's alot of red here, because it's the only way I can eventually get to all that green!!!! And, as a really good artist once told me, "in nature there's always a bit of red in every green". It ends up being a small amount, but, believe it or not, that little bit keeps the green from completely taking over.

Hawaii Golf Course - Stages 2 & 3

2010-02-24T16:21:00.004-07:00

Now we are at the really ugly stages. I continue working all over the painting, laying in color upon color, keeping in mind value, and temperature, and beginning to consider edges. Big shapes are starting to be detailed a bit more into smaller shapes. I spent the most time on the cloud formation, as the sky and clouds are the only areas that I blend when working in pastel. I use my fingertips, so in this painting I've worn off about 3 layers of skin already, since I'm working on sanded paper and the sky is a considerable part of the painting. I'll have to send my sister a bill for the band-aids I'll be wearing for the next few days!

This is a moody scene, as the sky is somewhat overcast, so I've played Ian Tyson's "Yellowhead to Yellowstone and Other Love Stories" CD about 3 times while I work on this. It's sad and moody & believe it or not, it really helps me get into the painting. Weird, yes, but whatever works.

Hawaii golf course--Stage 4

2010-02-24T16:08:00.005-07:00

Well, here it is as it currently stands. It's not finished, and the right side is especially rough as it is the last area I got to. But the light is fading, and the finish will have to wait until tomorrow. I already am thinking about changing the big cloud formation a bit, as its edge is much too close to the center of the painting. I should have caught that earlier, but it will be a simple matter to extend the cloud to the left a bit.

And that tree! Different from anything I've had experience painting before, but it will eventually get there. I should charge extra for that! (LOL.......Dianne!)

Arkansas River in February

2010-02-24T10:18:00.004-07:00

Here's a 16" x 20" pastel painting that I'm currently working on. It's of a scene near Salida, Colorado, along the wintery Arkansas River. I still have some tweaking to do on this one before I call it finished, I think.

Bonnie & Clyde, Take 2!

2010-02-19T09:05:00.002-07:00

This is a commission piece that I've held waaaayyyyy too long! It's a good thing the clients are very nice, patient, wonderful people! I can't remember the exact breed of these colorful cats, but they are very unique, and it was difficult to get the correct gray/blue/tan mixture that their fur is. So this is the second try at them, because the first was a total failure! It happens (more than any artist wants to admit!). As their names imply, these two are quite the characters, and I enjoyed spending time with them. Oil, 16" x 20".

Snow in God's Garden

2010-02-17T08:13:00.002-07:00

Here's a theme I decided to revisit. I made a pastel painting of this subject a year or so ago, but wasn't satisfied with it. I made this one larger (18" x 24") to better show the scope of the subject. The Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs is always spectacular, but with a fresh covering of snow on a clear blue morning, it is easy to see how it got its name.

Hillside Wildflowers - Reworked

2010-02-10T14:26:00.002-07:00

Today I decided to take an older pastel painting out of its frame and rework it. I had always thought the painting had some good things going for it, but I didn't care for the frame. Before reframing it, I decided to make some changes in the painting, also. I punched up some of the color, and took the clouds out of the sky, as felt they were distracting. It looks much better now, and is ready to go back to the gallery in its new, updated frame.

Hedgehog Cactus

2010-02-08T16:14:00.002-07:00

It's snowing again today. Guess it IS still winter. I was in the mood to paint something bright to counter all this white and gray, so I pulled out a reference photo that I took of a blooming Hedgehog Cactus that lives in my yard, and this is the result.

Quiet Siesta

2010-02-04T13:58:00.003-07:00

Here's a 12" x 16" oil that I just finished. It's from a reference photo I took back in my dude ranch wrangling days, and was a fun painting to do!

Winter's Last Grip

2010-01-26T16:15:00.002-07:00

This is an 11" x 14" pastel of an area in the Rawah Wilderness Area, near Preacher's Pass. We sometimes camp near here on horse packing trips, and fish the beautiful lakes. There are permanent glaciers here. The photo reference for this painting was taken in August, and there were still quite a few snowfields left.

Morning Walk II

2010-01-21T09:35:00.002-07:00

This is a pastel version of a scene that won me a "Best in Show" award when I did it in oil. It's always interesting to me how different each version turns out, although I use the same photo reference. I've posted both for comparison. The oil sold long ago (at the show), but the pastel is still available.

Rock Cliff (updated)

2010-01-18T11:15:00.003-07:00

I made a few changes to the pastel painting of the rock cliffs. They are subtle, but I think it is an improvement. What do you think?

Rocks, rocks, and more rocks!

2010-01-16T18:01:00.003-07:00

I actually don't have a title for this yet, and I've avoided painting all the rock cliffs that abound around here, but this is my first attempt. Got rocks, might as well paint rocks! Not sure this is finished yet; will hang it on my studio wall and study it for awhile. Pastel, 16" x 20" on Wallis paper.

Winter Silence

2010-01-08T13:13:00.002-07:00

We are in deep into a very cold and snowy winter here in the northern Colorado mountains. Since winter surrounds me, I feel compelled to paint it! This is a scene near the Laramie River, not far from my property. Pastel on paper, 12" x 16".

Hohnholz Barn

2010-01-07T13:53:00.002-07:00

A new year, and finally back to painting. This is a tiny pastel, only 4" x 6", and it took about an hour to do. Just to get back into the swing of things!

Sweet Dreams & Merry Christmas!

2009-12-23T12:49:00.002-07:00

Sweet holiday dreams and Merry Christmas to everyone from my cat, the Pipster, and our family!

This is oil on board.

Ram

2009-12-17T14:40:00.002-07:00

This is my first attempt at painting a ram, although I see dozens of mountain sheep whenever I ride up to Twin Craters Lakes in the Rawahs. They are notorious lunch sack thiefs once they smell the potato chips!

This is for a minature show that's coming up, only 5" x 7", oil on board.

Cowboy

2009-12-15T15:28:00.003-07:00

I'm looking for a title for this one.....any suggestions? Thought about calling it "Local Scenery" but decided that might be a bit sexist! :) This is oil on canvas, 20" x 24", large for me.

On the Sunny Side

2009-12-11T16:45:00.002-07:00

This was a fun painting, and I really enjoyed it. A common scene around here in the winter.

12" x 16", oil on canvas.

Red Willow Creek

2009-12-08T15:48:00.002-07:00

Still working in pastel. This is a rare square landscape. I don't use this format often, but I like the results here.

Aspen Torches

2009-12-04T15:32:00.002-07:00

Although I live among the aspen trees, I find them quite challenging to paint. Their light trunks reflect the warm grasses near the bottom, and the sky toward the top. They often are painted much lighter than they actually are. The fall yellows and oranges are difficult to capture. But I keep painting them......figure I will get it just the way I want it one of these days!

This is pastel on Wallis sanded paper.

Morning Wrangler

2009-12-03T09:36:00.002-07:00

I think this pastel may need a bit more work; I'm happy with it except for the gray horse. Need to give a bit more attention to his anatomy, I think.

This was inspired by working at the guest ranch, and mostly by Ian Tyson's great song, "Chasing the Moon"......especially the line about "Pincher Creek Wrangler", which he was in reality for several years. Loved those early morning tasks with just you and the horses.

This is done in pastel.

Bonnie & Clyde

2009-12-01T15:06:00.002-07:00

Title of this oil painting is also the names of these cats. I can't remember what breed they are, but they are a beautiful bluish gray/tan sable color with very green eyes. Really unique and sweet cats. This is a commission....I hope the customer likes it!

Wrangler, Waiting for the Late Dude

2009-11-30T13:46:00.002-07:00

A short break for the Thanksgiving holiday, and then back to work. I think this painting is now mostly finished, although I'm not sure I'm happy with the background. Will let it sit for awhile to think about it. Any comments?

2nd Day....WIP

2009-11-25T13:41:00.003-07:00

Here's the 2nd day of painting on the "Work in Progress". I think one more day's work might finish it.

Waiting for the Lil Dude

2009-11-23T15:02:00.003-07:00

Wow, it's been forever since I've posted here. Sorry....busy summer, I guess!

The best way to get back into the swing of things is to post a work in progress. I've wanted to do this painting for a long time. It's from back in the days when I worked at a guest ranch, and from a photo I took of one of my co-wranglers, Ben, who decided to take a quick nap leaning on one of our "kid" horses, Lil. It seemed we almost always had to wait for one of the "dudes" who was late for their scheduled ride. We worked long days there; it was always good to grab 30 winks whenever you could!

Here's the initial block-in of light and dark on the subject. You may be able to make out some rough pencil sketches in the background of other figures; not sure I'm going to include them all at this time.

This is 16" x 20", oil on canvas.

Autumn Beaver Pond

2009-05-17T15:35:00.002-06:00

It's still early enough in the year that the willows at this beaver pond near my house haven't fully leafed out yet, so I painted this pastel from a photo I took last fall. As warm as it was today, though, my easel will be set up at this little pond soon, and I won't have to paint from a photo.

This little beaver pond is nice to paint in any season.

A Memory on Pine Creek

2009-05-05T10:49:00.004-06:00

This is a pastel painting of an old shed located on property once known as "Pine Creek Ranch". We used to ride on the deep pine tree mountain in the background. Believe it or not, there IS a trail through all those trees, although you don't get to see much EXCEPT trees until you get to the top! From there, the view is fantastic.

Sadly, the property has sold to out of state buyers, who, I think, are holding it for an investment, and this area is now closed off to us. But this is what you see of it from the county road.

First Snow

2009-04-30T10:40:00.003-06:00

I think this is the first black bear I have ever painted! I took a late summer picture of the bear, and decided to change the background to make him stand out more. So the winter environment is totally made up, but very similar to what I see around here in early winter. This was a fun painting to do!

Winter Stubble Field

2009-04-24T09:45:00.002-06:00

This little 9" x 12" oil was done mostly from my imagination, from remembering all the corn stubble fields that I saw growing up in Nebraska. They were perfect cover for pheasant and quail. It was fun to see how much I could do just from memory. I'm not sure I always want to paint like that, but it was worth a try this time!

Mountain Bluebird

2009-04-23T16:11:00.003-06:00

After another HUGE spring snow storm last weekend that dumped almost 3 feet of the white stuff on us, I was really looking for signs of spring. It's been warm all week long, and the snow scene has turned to a swamp! But this little guy cheered me up when he and his mate arrived two days ago. They are checking out the birdhouse nearest our deck, so I'm sure little ones will be on the way soon! A sure sign that, despite the weather, springtime in the Rockies has arrived.

Morning Rest

2009-04-14T08:31:00.002-06:00

Here's a 14" x 18" oil that I just fussed and fussed with. Sometimes I just need to make myself STOP and say it's finished!

Safe Haven

2009-04-07T17:03:00.002-06:00

Here is today's effort, a little 5" x 7" oil on board. A little different for me, I think!

Bluebonnet Lane

2009-04-06T17:21:00.002-06:00

Back to the oils! This is just a little 8" x 10" on canvas. It took me about 3 hours to paint this, and I really enjoyed it. I'm pretty happy with it, but, as always, might tweak it a bit here and there after I view it for awhile.