Show Me The Way

SOLD to a collector in Colorado
8 X 6 Oil on Canvas board $115
Includes shipping and insurance in U.S.

This is another deviation from my usual palette. Despite the purple, this painting is a little warmer than the ones where I use a lot of blue and green. Which is nice since we are expecting a cold night in the low 20's. There goes my spinach.....
Genesis 8:22
"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."

Time to Play

6 X 8 Oil on Canvas Board $115

Includes shipping and insurance in U.S.
This painting was donated to "Walk for the Cure" and is no longer available

I think I will stick to this format for a while. Mike cut me a bunch of 6 X 8 panels, to which I glued canvas that was already gessoed. I then primed them again with gesso that was tinted either warm or cool and painted from there. I use an archival, water based glue and a quality cotton duck canvas. The panel board is quite stable and doesn't warp ike masonite does. PLUS it will fit into frames designed for watercolors as well as canvases. This year I may spring and buy a roll of linen, but for now I have enough cotton canvas to last a long time, and I like the tooth of this fabric.
Yesterday was icy and miserable - temperature never rose above freezing. Today the sun has shone, the wind blew hard and temperature is around 60 F. Crazy Texas. I have stayed indoors both days trying to get over this cold. This too shall pass.
I may paint flowers tomorrow and think of spring.
Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.

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

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.

Go Away Kid, You Bother Me

6 X 8 Oil on Masonite $135

includes shipping and insurance
SOLD to a collector in Memphis, Tennessee

Our Border-Collie-Wanta-Be, Georgia, loves to play with the horses, but PJ just isn't up to it right now. Eleven months pregnant (yes, that's the gestation period for horses), she really doesn't feel like playing right now. But Georgia doesn't understand. When we go out to check the horses, Georgia usually comes, too, and runs and jumps and "herds" them. I don't always understand the rules of their game, but they do, so I don't interfere.

Yesterday, PJ absolutely refused to play. She pinned her ears and shook her head and looked like a big sister being bothered by an aggravating kid brother. Georgia finally gave up and took off after Easy instead - he's always good for a romp.

I guess I'd be in a bad mood if I was pregnant for eleven months, too......

Isaiah 29:13 The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.

Tag You're It

I couldn't stand it - I said I was on vacation, but I just HAD to paint today. My family was here yesterday for an early Christmas and I will be in a good mood for weeks now, and that makes me want to create. I do not know how I could have been blessed with such a thoughtful, caring "in-law" family. God has certainly looked after me and for that I am grateful beyond expression!
My little dog Georgia just loves playing with my big ole race horse, Easy. He jumps and kicks, and she dodges and ducks. I cringe and cover my eyes just knowing she is going to get clobbered, but it never happens. They both know the rules of their very own game, and I can't interfere. But a problem occurs when I ride Easy, and Georgia still wants to play! He bucks and kicks and rears at the dog - not a good thing while I am on his back! Guess we'll have to work on that....

This 5 X 7 oil on Masonite is available from me for $100.

Merry Christmas!

Psalm 103:19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.

Georgia

I have not repainted the cow painting - too busy getting ready for the Community Center benefit auction tonight. I am cooking 20 pounds of pinto beans and countless cookies as my contribution.

I did this little painting several months ago. This is Georgia - a pound puppy who we think is part Border Collie and part Corgi. She was a lot shorter when she first came home with us - and fortunately her legs grew a little more than her body. She is still disproportionately short, but she doesn't let it hinder her - she can outrun a Cheetah and jump like a gazelle after her Frisbee. She takes her job of overseeing the animals around here very seriously. And when I start packing up the RV for our next trip, she parks herself by the truck and doesn't move for fear of being left behind. She loves to go camping, and her favorite command is "load up"! This dog loves us unconditionally and is eager to please. She came from the local pound and was about 6 months old when we adopted her - I highly recommend the pound for a grateful, loving, loyal companion.

John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Bay City Ranch

SOLD

My Son-in-law's parents are ranchers/custom farmers down near Bay City, Texas, and I painted this little painting for them before our kids got married last May. They've had quite a flood of rain this past year - not much farming has been done, I'm afraid. And that's hard for Mark - he does not like sitting idle at all.

This is pretty illustrative work, and I used to think I would enjoy doing the art for a children's book. Maybe some day - meantime I keep looking for little scenes to paint and put our dog, Georgia, into. Maybe I should write the book myself and use Georgia as the main character.

Ecclesiastes 10:18 If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks.