Hello, I'm Mr. Easy

nodp
I have an opportunity to sell Easy to a 4-H-er who is looking for a good horse to take her through high school and on into college.
When I bought Easy 3 years ago, I knew he was too tall for me, but I just loved his disposition so much, I brought him home anyway. But he's just too talented to languish away in the pasture, getting fat and just being my model. AND he's getting harder and harder to throw my big saddle on.
So please pray that this is a good thing for both the teenager looking for a horse and the horse who needs a partner and a good home.

You're Supposed to Follow Me

6 X 8 Oil on Canvas Board $125
Includes Shipping and Insurance

This little Arabian filly belongs to my neighbors and doesn't know that she is either supposed to follow Georgia, the Border-Collie-Wanna-Be, or be chased by her. And this confuses the dog.
Life is confusing enough already - do I buy stocks now or sell everything I have??? Should I get all my money out of the bank and put it under my mattress? Buy gold (can't eat gold)? Whew. I know one thing is for sure - I will be cutting wood all winter, because I don't like being cold. And I AM buying extra canned goods. That's about it. I joke and say "I can always eat the horses" but in reality I have real doubts about that, too. We rarely know what we'll do until we are faced with it, do we?
(FYI: There are over 400 references to GOLD in the Bible...)
Proverbs 16:16
How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!

Ma and Pa Cattle - Joined at the Hip

8 X 10 Oil on Canvas Board $125
Includes Shipping and Insurance

These two are a part of my neighbor's herd. John has a nice bunch of Angus cows that he bought as heifers last summer. They should be delivering his first set of calves this spring, and I sure hope he doesn't spend as much time helping heifers as I used to do when we raised Simmentals.
Many a night was spent in the barn waiting for a cow to calve and often having to help pull out a big baby. We had a couple C-Section deliveries, too, so I don't miss those days at all! Mike was working in town back them and since I had a home based business, I was the obvious one to lose sleep watching cows. All but one of John's cows are Angus, though, so I'm betting they'll be just fine. Angus cattle are known to be able to deliver and care for their babies quite well by themselves, thank you.
Acts 9:36
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas ), who was always doing good and helping the poor.

Kiss My Arabian Filly ...

8 X 10 Oil on Canvas Board $125
Includes Shipping and Insurance
SOLD to a California Collector

I drove past the entrance to my neighbor's ranch day-before-yesterday and saw their farrier parked under a tree, trimming feet. PHOTO OP! After I snapped some good images of of the hoof trimming, they invited me back to the barn to see their latest babies.
I am actually blessed with 2 wonderful neighbors who raise gorgeous Arabians. They are greatly outnumbered by all us Quarter Horse breeders, but they don't mind. We all love good horses and they raise some of the best (and even cross them with Quarter Horses occasionally!)
This little filly belongs to the Moores and is really fancy - both in attitude and conformation. What a looker - and she had the attitude to go with her looks. She obligingly pranced and bucked and frisked around me while I took a hundred pictures.
I know this color palette is way different from what I "normally" use, but I was experimenting with 4 different brands of Ultramarine Blue and what it does mixed with Cad Orange Hue (one of the ways I make "black") . I had all this paint left over, so I added a touch of Cad Red to the palette and stuck with just those 3. I rather like the results.
Psalm 33:12
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance

Patriotic Cattle

8 X 10 Oil on Canvas Board $125
Includes shipping and insurance

Ron's cattle are quite colorful (red, white and blue!), and when these three lined up, it made a painting in my head. I probably should have saved it for the next Fourth of July, but I couldn't resist sharing it with you now.
Ron is home from the hospital now - the quadruple by-pass was successful, although he gave us quite a scare with complications following it. The niceness of one's neighbors can make all the difference in the world in how you feel about your own home, and we do have the nicest. And even though our closest is 4 football fields away, they are all important to us.
Romans 13:9 The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Dog Job

5 X 7 Oil on Masonite $125

Includes Shipping and Insurance

Those of you who own Border Collies know that they HAVE to have a job. These are not lazy, lap dogs. They are the entrepreneurs of the dog world. If you don't give them a job, they will make one.
Georgia, our Border-Collie-Wanna-Be thinks every time I go outside, there is something for her to do, too. She has to find and tree all the cats - sometimes the cats cooperate, sometimes they don't. (When the cats are inside, they all sleep together). She has to find all three horses and make sure they are OK. Sometimes Dandy will play tag, and sometimes she just continues napping in the sun. Easy will occasionally play, too, but PJ just shakes her head at her and continues to graze. PJ eats all the time and nothing can interrupt that.
Ron's cows are another job altogether. No matter which direction they are heading, Georgia gets them there faster, and the calves cooperate at this incentive better than the Mommas.
This bull calf is new to the bunch and doesn't have a momma in the herd, so he is easier to intimidate than the rest - for a while anyway. I suspect he'll quickly find out that Georgia is all bark and no bite and won't be hurried any longer. Meantime, Georgia has a job...

Proverbs 10:4
Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth

Time to Leave the Nest

8 X 10 Oil on Masonite $125
Includes Shipping and Insurance

My neighbor, Ron, leases our pasture for his roping cattle. Some are Longhorns, some are unidentifiable. All are entertaining and pleasing to the artistic eye.
This is my favorite cow and her spring-born bull calf who is obviously getting pretty big for his britches. It won't be long before he's bigger than his momma!
Ron's in the hospital right now, though, and cannot wean the calves yet. There are 4 pretty big babies, and since we have beautiful grass right now, I suspect he'll get to that chore when he comes home - or we'll do it for him. Just like some human children, leaving Momma's care is traumatic for calves. It usually means several days of listening to constant bawling when we separate them, but ultimately everyone is happier in the end. Just like with people....
Romans 8:39
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Fair Warning?

16 X 20 Oil on Canvas
SOLD to a Dallas Collector from Dutch Art Gallery

I painted this image as a small painting first, and I am beginning to believe that I do my best work in that manner. I added the cactus and hiding snake to give a reason for the horse doing his spooky, jumping thing. The mountain man image came from the Rendezvous Pageant at Pinedale, Wyoming and I have several more plans to use him.
I have been busy painting larger paintings recently because I have an ad coming out in the American Art Collector Magazine next month. I also participated in a small local show this weekend, and sold one of my big paintings that I WAS hoping to sell after the ad. Being low on large-painting-inventory is a GOOD thing!
I plan to paint a couple more little ones today - Ron's cows were up close to the house yesterday evening and one big old momma cow has a HUGE baby still nursing on her - talk about a chick that needs to leave the nest! I couldn't resist taking their picture.
Psalm 84:3
Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.

Idaho

6 X 8 Oil on re-gessoed panel
FREE!!! (plus shipping)
Claimed by collector in Georgia

Many of my fellow Daily Painters are committed to posting everything they paint, every day, regardless of the quality. Let me let you in on a little secret about MOST artists. We occasionally (and even often) score with a really good piece, but we all have dogs sleeping in closets, hidden on shelves and tucked away in corners. I really admire the painters that are truly honest and let us see their every effort.
I painted all day on a very large painting that I started 4 months ago. I don't like it anymore and do not know how to "fix" it without starting all over. Nevertheless, I spent all day on it and then painted this small landscape which is equally bad (in my opinion). It's on a panel that I had already painted ANOTHER bad painting on!
And yes! it is FREE!!!! I will GIVE it away to the first person to email me - just to see if you are paying attention (shipping will cost YOU, tho! About $10). LOL
I need to return to the basic fundamentals....
Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Kiss My ....

5 X 7 Oil on Masonite $115
SOLD to a Dallas Collector from Dutch Art Gallery

I needed a break from the DETAILED big paintings I have been working on. Little ones are mindless fun. This old bison was having fun the day I photographed him, too. Chasing cows and other bulls. I could have watched his antics all day.
This little one and most of the other small unsold paintings that have been completed this year will all go up for auction on eBay the first week of November - just in time for Christmas. Stay in touch so you don't miss out on the fun. Many will be framed, too, and I will start them all at the same price - probably at half of what I originally listed them.
Acts 2:13
Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine. "

Hurry Up, Mule!

20 X 24 Oil on canvas
Check with Artist for availability

As you know, we spent a lot of time this summer traveling and gathering reference material for my paintings. One of the events we attended was the Pinedale Mountain Man Rendezvous Pageant in Wyoming. They re-enact the settling of the county with a totally fabulous show held at their rodeo grounds.
I took pictures of mules, horses, teams of horses, native Americans, cowboys and settlers, and MORE. My husband declared my photo library complete. I say, NO WAY! But I have to admit that it's pretty close.
This mule was being towed by a scruffy looking guy, and the fellow in the background was actually part of another scene. I put them together and will let YOUR imagination react to the image. (Who's towing the mule and why are they in a hurry? Is the man chasing them or warning them?) All I know for sure is that the mule needs to go faster!
Psalm 55:8
I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.

Risk Takers

20 X 24 Oil on 3/4" gallery wrapped canvas
Check with artist for availability

While in glacier park this past July, at the top of Logan's pass, we spotted mountain goats. They were in the parking lot at the top of the pass (licking the antifreeze spilled from overheated cars - rest assured they they weren't harmed from it), appearing unexpectedly over the edge of the road and on the sides of mountains that were so steep, it was amazing that there weren't constant rock slides. Their agility is only surpassed by the Big Horn Sheep, which we also spotted in precarious places.
This painting is a whimsical contrivance of my imagination and a tribute to those who take calculated risks - based upon their skills and abilities. What seems dangerous and risky to some folks, may actually be a walk in the park for others.....or a simple stroll down a rocky slope to reach a tasty bite.
Deuteronomy 8:18
But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

Battle Scars

18 X 24 Oil on 3/4" gallery wrapped canvas
Contact me for availability

This fellow was a part of a dude ranch riding string in Colorado. The horses were saddled and bridled and left to wander loose in a large corral until needed. Despite his kind, soft eye, it was evident that this horse just didn't have enough sense to keep his nose out of other horses' business! He was well fed, but all beat up from the other horses, and I felt so sorry for him. But some critters (and people) just take longer to learn their lessons!
Proverbs 30:33
For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.

Just Like a Man

24 X 30 on Gallery wrapped 3/4" canvas
Contact me for availability

Here's my bison buddy again, with his tongue hanging out (he was chasing a cow - hence the title!). I believe the name of this painting is self-explanatory!
Warm umbers and browns with hints of ultramarine and violets make this painting a real popping eye catcher. Everyone who has seen it in the studio this week has loved it!
Exodus 4:10
Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue."

I rarely comment on the Bible verses that come to me for my blog, but this one I have to. Those of you who know the story of Moses, know that Moses really didn't think he was worthy of the huge job the Lord had chosen him for. He was NOT a public speaker; neither glib or fast thinking at all (unlike so many of today's politicians.) But God knew what was in his heart and that he would rise to what was needed of him. The Bible is filled with less-than-perfect people that the Lord called upon to spread his word and do his work. Less than perfect people, just like you and me.

On a lighter note, I am delighted to announce that 12 year old PJ didn't forget all the training I put into her while she was gestating and raising Dandy. The weaning is going well without too much loud whinnying and frantic running, and today I saddled her up and worked a little bit in the round pen. I am pleased to report that she has remained supple and light, although she quickly worked up a sweat. But like most good trainers say, "The best training is a wet saddle pad," and I agree.
After our ride, I hosed her off, trimmed her face and bridle path so she'd be pretty again and I let her graze in the long grass in the front yard where she could really excel in what she does best: eating!
My Mom is probably having a fit finding out that I am riding again. I got hurt pretty bad 1 year and a half ago on PJ - but it wasn't her fault. We were having fun in the pasture chasing cows. I zigged when PJ zagged and flew out of the saddle, hit the ground and broke 2 ribs clean through. That took at least 6 months to heal and another 6 months to quit hurting. But I learned my lesson - I promise, Mom! No more wild stuff - just easy riding - and PJ will appreciate that, too...The main problem now is that riding will bite into my painting time. But my heart will be happier.

Bear Footing

24 X 30 Oil on 3/4" gallery wrapped canvas
Check with artist for availability

Four out of the 7 days we were at Bear Lake near Cuchara, Colorado we saws bears. And since I always have my camera handy, I got LOTS of bear pictures. This is from the first sighting and this bear cleared the lake quickly of all fishermen! He first showed up at the far side of the lake and lumbered around to the side where most of the fishermen were. Fortunately, he went slow - looking for fish - giving us all time to pack up our gear and move. He did run from rocks chunked at him, too - twice. But when he returned to the spot where the fishermen were who threw the rocks, they left and gave him the right-of-way. Smart move.
I took photos while hidden in trees about 100 feet from him. I and some other fellow campers stayed behind trees and shrubbery and kept quiet while we watched him fish. Believe me, we were ready to run if we had to!
Mark 1:16
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.

Horse Update

No painting today - I have been horsing around!
Little Dandy got separated from her momma today, per vet's instructions. Easy is 16 hands tall, and as you can see, Dandy is pretty big by comparison - especially for a 4 1/2 month old foal. Vet says she's growing too fast and so we cut her off from Momma's milk and are giving her grass hay only and supplemental minerals. Don't worry - she won't starve! If she's anything like her momma (and she is EXACTLY like her momma), she'll stay fat on dirt. But maybe we can give her tendons a chance to catch up with the rest of her.
By the way, in case you can't tell, she has shed all her red baby fur and is the color of a chocolate hershey bar, so she'll be registered as a brown paint. By next spring her coat will glisten a seal brown and she'll be even prettier than she is now.
Genesis 4:4
But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,

Following the Heat

30 X 40 Oil on 1 1/2" gallery wrapped canvas
Contact me for availability

Here's the big painting I have been working on all week and it's even more striking in person.
This big ole bull was intent on following a bison cow and had no trouble keeping all the other bulls away from his lady love. He was the biggest and fastest animal in the herd and was totally focused on one thing - following nature's call!
I will keep this painting here for a couple weeks, then ship it off to a gallery where I'm certain it will sell quickly.

Dandy Update:
If you remember, my mare PJ had a foal 4 1/2 months ago. We named her Dandy and she is wonderful. I have been gone for nearly 2 months and when I returned I noticed Dandy standing with her right front foot extended and she walked with a limp. A closer examination showed her hoof angle to be quite vertical and she was also keeping her knee bent - pretty classic signs of contracted tendon.
I called my vet and then my farrier. Buster, the farrier, arrived first and did a spectacular job of trimming her feet, removing quite a bit from her heel, making her hoof angle more normal. This was only the 2nd time Dandy had been haltered, and after a short hissy fit, she did great. I had been picking her feet up regularly before we left on vacation, so Buster had very little trouble from her.
When the vet came out the next day, he declared her looking very well and prescribed regular hoof trimming and said we also need to go ahead and wean her. She is growing very fast (like her dam did) and we need to slow that down and supplement her with minerals. SO today I am going to move PJ to another pasture and leave Dandy and Uncle Easy together. That big gelding thinks she belongs to him anyway, so he'll comfort her few the next few days.
Stay tuned, weaning rarely goes smoothly - but this foal continues to surprise me and she may again here.

Psalm 5:11
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Bison Run

5 X 7 Oil on Masonite $110
Includes shipping and insurance

I drew this fellow while we were in South Dakota and knew he'd be good for a number of different paintings - and all big. This is one of about 10 different images I plan to use of bison.
We came upon a herd of around 150 animals while visiting Custer State Park in southern South Dakota (which was a spectacular state, by the way) and I went nuts getting photos. There were several bulls and every one of them was chasing a cow. They weren't interested in me, so I didn't feel too threatened. I was, however, very threatened by one very large, angry, head-shaking cow who definitely didn't think I should be in her territory. She charged toward me twice and I got the message the second time. There was a fence between us, but I had no doubt that she could go through it if she wanted. We used to have a Simmental cow that behaved that way when she had a young calf. That cow nearly caught me several times and once chased me around and around the tractor bellowing and head-shaking the whole time. We called her "Spooky", because she was also hard to catch and pen and nearly impossible to get into a trailer. Obviously we finally DID catch her...and we vowed to never again coddle spooky cows. One cow that is difficult can "infect" the whole herd and make catching them impossible. What a rodeo that used to be!
Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Just a Little Skiddish

5 X 7 Oil on Masonite $110
SOLD to a Texas collector

This is from one of the multitude of images I saved at the Mountain Man Rendezvous Pageant in Pine Dale, Wyoming last month. This man was in full mountain man costume and he was showing off the spinning ability of his horse. This is one image that I will making into a larger painting - maybe placing a snake hiding in some cactus to the left of the horse - and retitling it "SURPRISE!".

I worked all day today on this little painting and another 40 X 30 canvas of a bison that has been in my head since I saw him a month ago. It is a total departure from my past work, and I hope you all will stay tuned while I go in new directions with my paintings.....I will reveal it Saturday.
Deuteronomy 8:18
But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

Wild Rio Grande River

SOLD
6 X 8 Oil on Masonite $115
includes shipping and insurance

One of our first stops on our trip to Glacier was Creede, Colorado. That is where I experienced fly fishing for trout for the first time - and it was on a float trip down the Rio Grande River. Before the Rio Grande turns into a wide, muddy expanse in Texas, it starts in Colorado as a crystal clear river of cold, melted snow and ice. And it's fast flowing and exciting and home to rainbow and brown trout.
Mike and I hired a guide to both teach us correct fly fishing technique and to take us where the fish were. Both tasks were accomplished and it was the beginning of a 7 week adventure to make the fly rod my partner.
This little painting is from a part of the Rio Grande where we fished.
Philemon 1:17
So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.

Looking for Dinner

6 X 8 Oil on Masonite $115
Includes shipping and insurance

Well, we are finally back from our big summer trip. Except for rioting flower beds and grass tall enough to hide in, everything at home seems just fine. And to top it off, a cold front followed us home from Colorado and brought 20 degree cooler weather and rain to Texas - LOTS of rain, which our area sorely needed.
I painted this little painting while at our next-to-last campground - Bear Lake near Cuchara, Colorado. We were there 7 days and saw bears 4 of those days, and I got pictures of each sighting. I have many more bear pictures planned - both large and small.
This lake is stocked periodically with rainbow trout and is available for anyone to fish. Unfortunately many people throw back the trout they catch, without being very careful with the fragile fish and they die. Bad luck for the fish, good luck and easy pickings for the bears. They are quite aware that at any given time there are dead fish along the edge of the lake, waiting for them to scoop up and eat. And the bears come at all hours of the day - quickly clearing out the fishermen lining the edge of the lake! I kept my distance, but still stayed and snapped hundreds of photos. What fun! I will be painting from the 7 weeks' worth of photos for years, I think.
And this October I will be having a HUGE SALE of all paintings from last year that are not yet sold. So stay tuned and get ready. I haven't decided whethert to host the sale on Ebay or just cut everything unsold a certain percentage. BUT BE ASSURED, I want to clean out my storage and you, dear collectors, will benefit!
Job 8:14
What he trusts in is fragile ; what he relies on is a spider's web.

Setting Up the Jump

SOLD
8 X 10 Oil on Canvas Panel
$165 includes shipping and insurance

Yesterday we spent an wonderful day at Rebbecca Farms in Kalispell, Montana. They were hosting a five day equestrian event and it was a real learning experience for this western-only-rider. The events were dressage, jumping and cross country and the competitors ranged from novice to Olympic USET (US Equestrian Team) contenders. We attended both dressage and cross-country competitions and I was able to get some fabulous photographs.
The owner of the farm is originally from Louisiana, like myself and she built this facility with the expressed intention of hosting such affairs. It was first-class, family and dog friendly, entertaining and enlightening. If I were younger, I would love to pursue acquiring the skills to ride in such a fashion. Not only were the horses impressive in their conditioning and abilities, but so were the riders.
Acts 3:8
He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

Mountain Man

SOLD
8 X 10 Oil on Stretched Canvas $175
includes shipping and insurance

We are currently in Hungry Horse, Montana - touring Glacier Mountain National Park. WHAT A PLACE! Gorgeous views everywhere I look and as far as the eye can see. Tomorrow we go up in a helicopter to see the glaciers up close and personal!
Our experience in Pinedale, Wyoming, was wonderful and I took a passel of photos. This mountain man was one of the participants in many of the activities, and I had to paint him before I got home. I haven't really had much time to paint, but I am filled with ideas for when we return in 3 1/2 weeks, and you will probably be seeing more of this character and his horse.
Psalm 33:17
A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.

Travel Update

We are still traveling - in the Jackson Hole/Pine Dale area. We go to West Yellowstone Monday. I have taken some WONDERFUL reference photos. Two of my paintings in Blanco, Texas sold this week and they want more. Life is good and we are fine. Georgia, too!
You will learn all about our trip through my paintings...
Ecclesiastes 5:18
Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot.
Blessings to all.

Partners

5 X 7 Oil on Masonite $135
includes shipping and insurance

While we are on the road, I will probably stick to these little paintings. Many of them may be enlarged to 18 X 24 or larger when I get home. Also, you must remember: If you purchase this painting, it will be toward the end of August before I can mail it. I varnish all my paintings and I cannot do that while we are in the RV - neither space nor ventilation permit it!
I caught this cowboy on a hilltop after our hike in Creede, and he graciously let me take his picture. His wife was right behind him on a good looking bay with a flashy paint in tow. They may be in another painting or I may put them all together....artistic license, you know! At any rate, the title will still be accurate.
Today is our 35th wedding anniversary, so I think the title of this painting, PARTNERS, is doubly appropriate, because Mike and I have been true partners for so many years in so many ways....
1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.