They're Not Dancing Yet - palette knife oil painting

24 X 30 Oil on Canvas Contact Artist for Availability

The State of the Union Address is tonight and I have heard that some senators are going to "sit with the enemy" - Democrats and Republicans side by side. How nice. I wonder how many will be gritting their teeth! I have not seen them dancing together yet!!!!
I rode little Dandy yesterday - all by myself (yes, Mom, and no bones were broken!) I followed Trista's orders and did not let her get pushy and come into my space. I lunged her and flexed her and got up properly without twisting the saddle and she stood quietly.
Whew.
That was almost enough. But we also walked and trotted in the round pen. And turned and stopped and backed up and side passed. My "horse legs" are returning.
This painting is a bit different for me. It's painted with a palette knife over another image that was a semi-abstract that I just could not finish. It was also two horses fighting, so I have kept with the theme, but changed the composition and color - a LOT. These rich warm browns and earth tones really look cool in my studio, too, so I will be happy to live with it in here for a while.
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Psalm 149:3
Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.

Indian Camp 4

10 X 20 Oil on Belgian Linen

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I am still struggling with this landscape. This layout is twice as wide as it is long and I am going to do another that uses the proportions of the "Golden Mean" - a ratio called "phi" (1.6180339887499). If you are a mathematician, you'll appreciate how this ratio appears in nature. If you are not, just trust me that it is an eye pleasing proportion. The Greeks used it in constructing the Parthenon.
See if you can tell the difference in this sketch using the Golden Mean proportions both for the shape of the rectangle as well as where the focal point (the campfire) occurs.
Yesterday I rode little Miss Dandy for the first time - it was her 10th time to carry a person, and she was wonderful...a little choppy and wiggly, but very willing and cooperative (unlike her Momma who has always been a whiner and complainer!) Once she learns to balance herself and I learn to maintain her impulsion, we will get along just fine. Now she is home again and the "family" is reunited! Now they can all just get through the winter and we'll begin training again in the Spring.
If you want to see me actually trotting on Dandy, go here. It was so GOOD to be riding again...Hard to believe it has been 4 years already since I first thought about breeding PJ to that wonderful Paint stud, Banjo.
Romans 14:18
because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

The Last One?

12 X 16 Oil on Belgian Linen

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This is the final painting in a series of three. I have never painted a rainbow before, but I love the symbolism in the image. After the flood during Noah's time, God placed a rainbow in the sky as a symbol of his covenant to us that he would never again destroy the world (we can do that very well ourselves, thank you).
The great bison herds in North America weren't nearly wiped out due to divine anger. Mankind did it. Fortunately we came to our senses before it was too late and now there are several large wild herds in Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas, as well as many animals being raised commercially (I know of three small herds in Texas).
So often we seem to be in the brink of destruction and at the last moment we come to our senses - both individually as well as globally. Do we need to be down to our last bison before we realize the price we have paid? The Lord's prayer concludes "...world without end. Amen." I understand that this means "the kingdom of God is without end". However, this physical world holds no promise for us, therefore I am setting my sights on higher ground...
Do you see all this in the painting?
On a lighter note (and to aggravate my mother and Mikey), I plan to ride Miss Dandy this afternoon for the first time. No prayers needed - I will take it easy! Check my Facebook page for photos later!
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Matthew 24:13-14 (NIV) ¹³ but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Object of His Affection

6 X 6 Oil on Belgian Linen $100

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Is there a "strutter" in your family? We have several in our yard and the speckled rooster is a master at it. At the moment we employ 2 roosters and I suspect at least one of the 4 chicks will be one as well. Hard to tell at this point. One individual does seem to posses all the qualities, even though at 3 months of age, they all appear the same, sex-wise.
What "qualities" are good for a rooster, you might ask...and I will answer with a list:
Wariness, alertness, brassiness, tenderness (with the chicks), stubbornness, bravery, foolhardiness, cleverness and diplomacy. I will let you, dear reader, come to your own conclusion about comparing those traits to your significant other.... LOL...and why each of those qualities are valuable
This particular rooster lives in Morgan Mill and has gathered all the hens that have survived the coyotes and wayward pickup trucks and kids with sling shots. I suspect they have him to thank for helping keep them safe for this long....

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Psalm 140:4
Keep me safe, LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet.

Winds of Change

6 X 6 oil on Belgian Linen $115
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Our good friend, John, is having open heart surgery this morning. After experiencing tightening in his chest for several weeks, he had an angiogram performed, and the surgeons discovered a couple major coronary arteries 80% blocked. They are in locations that are difficult to stint, so he opted for bypass surgery instead.
John is in his 60's and had never been hospitalized, so this is new to him. Active all his life, he has taught scuba diving and flies his own plane. He knows that this surgery is going to cause some changes in his life...and he is taking it remarkably well. So far.
We all have to face changes from time to time. Changes in health, changes in relationships, changes in jobs, changes in our families. How we face them and adapt to them say much about our personality...and the relationship we have with God.
Luke 18:27
Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

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Windrunner 4

6 X 6 Oil on Linen $115
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Texas has been in the deep freeze for the past couple days and I have enjoyed the excuse to stay inside by my little wood stove in the studio, dreaming of nicer days when I can ride my horse again. It's almost like being in a cocoon - evolutionary things seems to happen in the winter. I usually try some new techniques, palettes and subjects, although I always love painting the horses....

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Job 34:22
There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness, where evildoers can hide.

Indian Camp Commission - WIP

I am working on another commission for a patron in Delaware. He wants an Indian camp landscape, and after some exchange of ideas, I started with the above painting. It was not quite right, though so I widened the water in the foreground. Better.
The colors weren't right either, so I warmed it up a bit to appear like afternoon light instead of morning. Better.

Trees in the foreground needed to go back, and I added some drifting horizon clouds. They are indistinguishable from the mountains, though, so they need some tweaking, too. I also think I will change the direction of the shadows to come more toward the viewer instead of horizontally.
I think this would make an interesting winter scene, too, but this one will have grass and rocks indicating late summer. nodp
1 Corinthians 12:6
There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

Color Pride-Red White and Blue

6 X 6 Oil on Linen $100
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My mother chastised me for bringing up political issues in my last posting...she likes the Bible quotes but not the social commentary. It's hard NOT to voice my opinion, though - and it really WASN'T "party oriented", in my opinion. It was more a rant toward ALL talk radio, which is so focused on ratings instead of substance.
So today I listed to "Coast to Coast" instead and heard how the Ice Age is coming and we all need to get out our woolies and prepare for major changes in climate. Geez. I guess I need to stick to my old time radio programs station (164 on XM) - except that I have heard the same episode of "Life of Riley" four times now...THAT gets old!
I found this cute little enamel tea pot in a local antique store - the red apple and blue cup were a perfect addition to make a patriotic statement.
OK, Mom - I'll hold the rantings to a minimum - your nearly 82 years on this earth HAVE provided you with a certain amount of wisdom that I would be smart to heed...I admit!

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2 Samuel 17:6
When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, “Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion.”

Wind Runner 3

6 X 6 Oil on Linen $100
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Cold day in Paradise - ice on the sidewalks did not melt today and tonight is gonna be colder. I am enjoying the excuse to stay inside and paint this image which reminds me of the joy I get when I ride a running horse.
I almost ruined the afternoon by tuning into Talk Radio on XM. First the Conservatives then the Liberals. BOTH incite me to riot, so I guess they all need to be taken off the air, huh? Actually, the Liberal radio personality (RANDI RHODES) makes me want to kill something more than the conservative Glenn Beck. So I guess she is the one who needs to be removed first.
Folks, your First Amendment Rights are being threatened by all this controversy. The Talk Nazis want to squash your ability to voice your opinions about anything they don't agree with. The tragedy in Arizona is just that - a tragedy. A sad, mentally ill young man lost control - and he wasn't inspired to take up a gun by anything other than the voices in his own head. He didn't listen to the radio anyway (maybe THAT would have PREVENTED him from going berserk - the conservatives stress NOT being militaristic!)
Keep praying, oh ye faithful...

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Exodus 10:7
Pharaoh’s officials said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is ruined?”

Back to Basics - still life with pitcher

12 X 16 Oil on Canvas Panel WIP nodp

I attended a demo by Beth Prichard at my Art Association meeting last night and came home inspired to set up a still life stand in the studio.
Painting still lifes have not been a favorite occupation, but they are great exercises to re-enforce the basics of composition, light source, color and value. PLUS I can finish them quickly. My biggest problem is finding props that are interesting. Close at hand studio objects are easy plus a lemon from the kitchen. Today was not grocery day, so I was rather limited in my produce choices - PLUS it is the middle of winter - NOTHING is growing in the garden right now.
I have had this pitcher for a while and bought it for the only purpose of using as a prop. I would rather paint a saddle, but the white pitcher shows up well and is almost a "given" for a great image.
I think a better title for this would be "When Life Hands You Lemons, Either Make Lemonade or PAINT!"
Going down to the low teens tonight - Texas does NOT do well in the deep freeze. The outside faucets are covered, heat lamp plugged in for the chickens and cabinet doors open under outside-wall-faucets. We are ready, Jack Frost. Bring it on!
click here to send me an email or to view my latest paintings on Daily Painters go HERE.
Jeremiah 9:24
but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.

Julie's Cow - longhorn cow painted on bone

Oil painting on cow scapula commission
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Those of us who live on farms and raise animals know about the special attachment we get for some of our critters. We have raised horses and cattle for over 30 years now, and most of them had a price tag on them. However, a few I wouldn't let go for any price. They were like my kids and deserved special care and attention. Most of the stock breeders I know are like that.
Julie Pack raised this cow from a calf and took her to shows when she was in High School. She won some pretty significant awards with her (Breed Champion) as well as scholarship money. The cow had a bunch of calves for her too, and when she died Julie managed to salvaged some of her bones - including this scapula. Some of you might think that is pretty icky, but Julie is on her way to becoming a veterinarian and like most people with interests bending that way, bones are a source of fascination and wonder - not things to viewed with dread and disgust.
Anyway, Julie came up with the idea of having the cow's image painted on the cow's actual shoulder blade, and since I always like a challenge and new "canvases" I agreed to the task.
I painted the image area with gesso first as a primer and then painted using traditional oils. To protect it I will spray the entire bone with a matte finish varnish when it dries. And the whole thing stands horizontal on its own due to the shape of the bone.
A pretty novel idea, don't you think?
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Isaiah 22:22
I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.