Saturday, August 28, 2010

Big Bucky...

Big Bucky isn't really very big, but he's beautiful.  Hubby was in the barn taking pics with the good camera and the big lens.  I don't know the settings or the lens size, but he was about 100 feet away from the group of deer that showed up in the morning.  Such lovely antlers in velvet!

Tiger in the sunlight...

He has been spending most of his time in the barn where the fan blows cooler air.  The heat is awful here this summer and we have a bumper crop of huge horseflies.  He eats, then bucks and runs back inside.

This morning, hubby heard him talking to his paint mare next door.  (Yeah...she started it...neigh, neigh!) He's missed her since we had to keep him off the big pasture.  It's such a shame to have a horse who is an "easy keeper" (read that: gets fat and founders if he eats too much!).  The only food Tiger gets is some carrots in the morning, all the not so good quality grass hay he can have and the little bit of good grass in the small pasture behind the barn.  We love him, but he's become a big pet now since Big Al (my riding horse) developed cancer and we had to put him down.  Tiger is just has too much spirit for me to ride.  (He's an Arabian gelding, by the way.)

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Paintin' in the Rain...

We had one of those "pop-up" thunderstorms this afternoon.  I knew it would probably be done soon.
I quickly tore a sheet of watercolor paper, added dabs of liquid acrylic, ran to the deck with bubble wrap under it and let the rain do some painting for me:
The thundershower was almost over in 10 minutes, so I took it down to the concrete patio and began spritzing and dripping alcohol on it, then decided to try some kosher salt and a bit of clear gesso:
I'm soaking wet, but at least tried something new today! *lol*

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Miss Kay's Art...

Wow!  I was traveling home from a trip to Nashville today and was behind a white van with a logo and a website address on it.  When I saw it, I wanted to see more...the picture on her homepage was on the back of the van along with the addy.  Evidently she was on her way to Bowling Green, KY for this: 

International Newgrass Festival Bowling Green, KY
August 20th,21st, and 22nd

Glad I had that Starbuck's napkin and a pen handy in my truck!  *lol*

Y'all go meet:   Miss Kay  Her work is fun and fine!~

Sunday, August 15, 2010

One big happy family...

...with a few exceptions. 
Sometimes the turkeys chase the deer. 
Occasionally the bunnies chase each other. 
Now and then the horse chases them all!

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Mr. Velvet...

Oh, I gave up.  I couldn't decide on which one to share. 
I just grabbed one of the hundreds of hubby's pics.
There's a hen turkey on the same rock, two feet behind this buck!

Friday, August 13, 2010

Two of the four bandits...

The birdfeeder pole is greased...this time with "Ben Gay" ointment!  So are the lids to both of the sunflower feeders!   Science is discussing the theory that an ingredient in Sunflower seeds acts as a narcotic to both adult and juvenile raccoons!  The photographer (husband) is merely five feet away taking the photos.  Auntie Em has been cropped out of the last picture to get the full effect of the joy of the little thief during his stolen meal.  I am just to the right bent over double with laughter.











Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Freedom to do something new...

How interesting that the class I've taken online has made me feel the freedom to do some artistic images I would never have tried before.


"The Lost Beret"...is a long story, and sad for me.  I suppose it is journaling without words.  Still needs to be finished...the wings in white need shading.  It's done in a variety of watercolor pencils. I'm debating whether to touch it with water or leave it as is.  I'm thinking leave it.


"Blue Butterfly"...is a first for me.  It's a beeswax transfer onto pre-painted canvas.  Thanks to our friend,  Sheila, yesterday we had five members of our Art Club all working with this process for the first time.  We enjoyed ourselves and made some wonderful art pieces. 

BIG "Scribbles"

In our online class, BIG with Connie Hozvicka, I felt the need to show some of the work that developed when I started to let myself really take charge and paint.

The Loss...

I put his picture up here on August 1st, when he lay at my feet and purred his love, but now I'll put the picture back of my foremost art critic.   The kitty is "Mirage" (aka "Bubba") named for his habit of appearing and disappearing so easily.
 The painting that follows is a large one that I had to make to express my feelings when Bubba died as a result of a poisonous snakebite just 5 days later, on August 6th.  He had received much care, two blood transfusions, pain and clotting factor shots, but nothing was going to bring him back. 
For at least nine years, he had been the guardian of the ranch, bringer of mischievious rodents and smart enough to stay inside each night with "Marigold" kitty to avoid the coyotes and things that go bump in the night.  He was never going to accept inside life, so we finally had to give in to his decision.  The painting is titled "Big Joy...Big Sorrow":
 

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Freedom to post this...

It's a very odd and off-putting composition, but I have fearlessness to post an unfinished piece today. 
I began with several contour drawings from various magazines, using a black Inktense colored pencil.  Keep working it with liquid acrylics.  We'll see what happens.
Finished below:

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Connie, Effy, and freedom

*big sigh*  You dear people...too many to thank.  You are freeing my life, my emotions, *lol* even my Belly~  I paint from my soul, not my little pen or little brush or little paper....although I can if I desire, and it's more art and more soul no matter what the size.  Take a look!  For Auntie Em, please!

People...please let them become part of your lives, and hearts, and ART!  "BIG" is beginning again with Connie.  I urge you to become a part of the best Tribe of artists on earth!


Connie Hozvicka

Effy Wild  
(Effy...I am also a recovering "nicotine addict"...and I'm laughing because it's been 5, that's FIVE, whole years!)

Monday, August 02, 2010

"Belly Love" for my She-roes~

This post is for the fine "Fearless She-Roes" of  "the tribe of BIG". 
I can't stand chickening out of a really BIG dare! 
I did it there, now I really want to be brave for the world.

I send you "Belly Love"  
When I woke up from gallbladder surgery at
Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, TN in August of 2005
(thank you, Dr. Russell and staff!)
this is what I found:
After all, some of my FEARLESS friends
have shared Belly Love too!
Then:
Our friend:
Connie finished in grand style