Wildlife artist Penny Winn has created a new painting of a koala bear. She did this because Australia is in the midst of a catastrophic early fire season.  As dozens of fires rage the animals of Australia have taken center stage in the media. Even though wildlife artist isn’t from Australia she knows the perils of these dying animals and wants people to see them and hopefully help to do something for them. 
Images of burned and dying koalas are all over the news, they seem to be the symbol for the fires. People are asking if the koala bear are now going to be finally consider extinct since they will no longer be able to have enough of the only food source, they eat the eucalyptus plant. They are now being seen to drink water which they never do since the plant has enough water to sustain them. With the fires taking this vital resource the koalas are going down from the top of the trees to the forest floor to find what they need. They are desperate to find what they need. They are so slow they can not get out the of the way of traffic, the fires, and other things that will slowly or quickly kill them.
It is imperative that we find a way to change what we are doing as a society and look at what we are doing to our wildlife and look how nature is changing. We need to put their needs ahead of our own before we no longer have them. Soon it won’t just be the koalas. So many animals are struggling… Artist Penny Winn is looking at ways to put this painting and its proceeds in the Australian relief fund for Koalas and other animals in need. If you know anything about this, please contact her. Thanks 

​

WOW! What a happy day!
My art took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the Raymond G. Murphy Veterans Creative Arts Festival. The Main divisions for the festival are Music, Art, Creative Writing, Drama and Dance. Local winners go on to compete at the national level via digital images and videotape. 
 The Visual Arts entries will be on display from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. Feb 11-15, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on in the Recreation Hall (Building 2). The Performance Arts competition takes place from 1-3 p.m. on March 2 in the Education Auditorium (Building 39).  A closing ceremony is set for 1-2 p.m. on February 15 in the Recreation Hall.  First-place winners from local competition may be invited to the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival taking place in Tacoma, Washington during the week of Oct. 29 to Nov. 5, 2020.
  The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Legion Auxiliary, is the culmination of a yearlong, fine arts talent competition involving more than 3,000 participants nationwide. The festival is open to all veterans receiving care at VA medical facilities.
My 1st place art piece was the Soldier and the dog. I am very honored that the VA has chosen my piece. We will find out who took best in show at the Feb 15th closing ceremony. Thanks everyone for all of their support during the process. So excited about all of the next steps in the process.

Well I did it! I put my art in the:

Veterans Creative Arts Festival 

Raymond G. Murphy
Veteran's Affair Medical Center
 I did it in three different categories. I will keep you posted how I do. The first step is the state... Next will be Nationals if I do well here! Keep me in your prayers! THANKS
In the Following Three Categories…
 
Special Health Mental Health Challenges: 
Three Zebras by: Penny Winn Painted 2019
I started painting as a way to control my pain and deal with my PTSD. It helps me to let go of the war and find joy in life again. By focusing on wildlife and things not in my past and the things that I have seen I can see the beauty that is all around me and not the nightmares that plague me. I have found a way to see past what used to haunt me always. I find if I paint 5 or more hours a day, I am so much happier. I can escape and be blessed in life again. By finding expression in wildlife I am moving past many things that used to hold me back. The zebra painting is tranquil and calms the heart, I do love many creatures in Africa, but I am not limited to painting them. I paint any animal that strikes me.  

Military Combat Experience: 
Soldier and Dog by: Penny Winn Painted 2019
 
When I was in the Gulf War I was stationed in medivac. Every day we would get calls to go to soldiers who were out doing their mission. We would never go to places that the soldiers were safe, and they were unharmed. These soldiers were in the mix, the battle heavy, or finished. I was always intrigued by the dogs that remained loyal in the fight, that could stand the noise and never leave their sides. I would see such comfort there. So much chaos, and yet, they remained steadfast. I painted this soldier and his dog as a reminder of those who I saw there. I never had one of my own, but I did see them in my time in the military and would like to honor them with this painting.

Watercolor: 
Rhino by: Penny Winn Painted 2019
 
This whimsical watercolor of the rhino is filled with fun colors and the dandelion seeds escaping up into the air around him. It is just an expressive way to play with the paint and show the lightheartedness of the rhino in a bright and inviting environment. 

Finding grace while I am healing in my paintings. I am working on this one now. There is such comfort in the paint and seeing a painting come to life.... This one isn't finished it is still flat and the horse is not round yet. I think I will add more grasses, maybe even some grass seeds... Who knows? Fun it yet to be had on this one!!!
Painting horses has always been a passion for me. I just love their majesty. The way they look so tranquil in a field, or so excited and on fire running as they play. I have been painting them now for 8 years and with each painting I get more excited in the doing of it. In this painting I am putting the two of them in tall grasses with each of them close together as if they are whispering, or maybe about to nuzzle one another. What could be better.
Wildlife art is such a joy to create. I think it is important to add distinction to the background by making it a little abstract, different than the picture of what you were actually painting from. So, for me I do that from my imagination. I just go a little wild with them. I pull in fun colors, I do always use purple and white, but right now I am using a lot of golds and coppers in my paintings. I am just loving it. I think it is bringing a new kind of painting out for me…
I started using the golds and coppers in my wildlife art about 1 year ago when I stumbled upon the watercolor paint in a shop in Seattle, WA. I just knew one day I would use it in my artwork. Now I find that I am using it in all of my paintings. I won’t say that I will always use it in my paintings but for now it is a signature look for me. I like the glittery effect when the light falls on the painting in the light, but also in the dim light of my working it has a translucent glow that intrigues me to continue to add it to my backgrounds and the underbelly of all of my animals.
In my equine paintings I have been using the copper on all of the coats of the horses for the glow it creates it makes the animals come to life for me. In my latest horse portrait, I fell in love with it. I will post its picture on my next blog!
Have a blessed day! Penny


​

My purse and I had a grand mis-adventure. The strap got wrapped around my leg as I was getting out of the car, now I am going to have some time to rest, reflect, and listen to all that the universe has to offer me. I have needed to take time in my meditation practice and to slow down to listen... HUH. LIFE it happens in interesting ways. I am smiling as I type this thinking about all that I will do in the next 8 weeks that I cannot put weight on my leg. I am blessed in so many wonderful ways! Life is good! 

For a long time I have been trying to figure out how to sell my paintings online a little cheaper and easier. I am going to try to do it here on my website if I can afford it. I have had to pay the website for the store and the upgraded service so I will see if it is worth the expense of doing it. I am going to put a new site up on Facebook as well. I thought if my paintings were more affordable that I could get them on more walls. I sure hope so! So here is the deal. I am going to do this for one year. I still have my work available on Saatchi and Artfinder. They can still service you. However, after one year if I am doing enough business through Facebook and the website I will stop using both of them.  I have only been selling a couple of paintings a year on Saatchi and have never sold on Artfinder. So I don't think that it will be a great loss to take my work down from them.  If you see a painting that you would like a card or print that is not available please let me know. Also, if you have seen a painting that is not listed also contact me, it may still be for sale, just at my local gallery here in Madrid, New Mexico so not up on the site. Thank you so much for looking. Also, I am not a techie, if you have any comments or ideas to make the site better please let me know. I am always open to making things better... I may not know how but will try.  THANKS PENNY

I've been working on painting and farming here  in Madrid, New Mexico. I love the weather and spending my time just enjoying my time in the field when I am not painting new animals. Every now and again I get a commission to do something fun, I did a cool black and white of a man and a cougar, but it is for Christmas so I can't post it now. I will post it in January. So much fun going on here in New Mexico. Hope all is well with you!