​Bison in the winter watercolor is inspired by the rancher is Kremmling, Colorado who raise the bison. They are so amazing my time there as the school principal really changed my life. Each day I remember it fondly. While I was painting each bison, I kept remembering all of my old students and teachers. I sure loved my time there. Such lovely memories… I have led such a blessed life.
Spring has arrived here at the lavender farm. So much going on her the lavender that wasn’t eaten by the rabbits is starting to green up and we are starting to water again. We will be replanting those plants that were eaten and getting the fields back in order. The fence is up to keep the rabbits out so that they can be happy on the outside, and the lavender safe on the inside… Life on the farm is moving forward and we are waiting to see if any of the eaten plants actually survive… Fingers crossed!
My leg is still broken but is healing nicely. I am putting weight on it and am hopeful that I will be able to have it completely healed soon. It has been 11 weeks… So, we shall see in my 20’s I would be out of the cast and running down the lane… Ah well! I do love being my age so much more. It was so stressful back then. Much better to live on the farm and make art! Healing slow is a minor price to pay!
In these times of craziness enjoy your time and breathe easier, do some yoga and if possible, go for a walk! As I have said before go on YouTube and take a class or just meditate and do something for yourself. If you have family with you play cards, do a puzzle, play games or just do some silly things together. Try to take some time off technology and just be together. Have a great day! Best ALWAYS stay healthy! 

​Working on new painting during this crazy time. Are you wondering what to do during your social distancing? Well for me it has been a great time to get some painting done. I think for artist it is really just business as usual. Most of us work alone and live in isolation. I know however this is very difficult for so many of you. Maybe it would be a great time for you to take a YOU-TUBE class on watercolor or painting. Or do a class that you have been wanting to do. I suggest that you invest in yourself, renew your mind. Do some yoga, or if the weather allows go for a walk. It is really easy to binge watch TV and watch craziness on the news, go 50-60 times to check the number for CO-VID19 do yourself a favor step back and breathe easy and do some art! It doesn’t have to be perfect and just do it for yourself. There are so many wonderful ways to release stress that don’t cost anything but your time, which right now you may have a great deal of! BE GOOD TO YOURSELF! Remember you are loved! Life is Good and all is well. We are not controlled by this virus, it shall pass and in the end we shall learn from this and we will be stronger in the aftermath! Be BLESSED my Friends!

I chose this painting of the 25th anniversary of the Gulf War that I painted for the Veterans Affair Arts Expo because it really helps to tell my story of how I began my journey into art. You see  I am drawn to the paint brush.  For years my life revolved around my work and family, one day that all changed and now I paint. I started as a way to be calm and to find an escape from the memories of going to war. It was my way of getting out the tragedy, ravages, and rage and changing my vision from the destructive to beautiful.  I try to paint the images that capture me. It seems in their capture of me a way to express my feelings. I feel truly blessed in my painting inspired.
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I’ve learned to ask for God’s help as I paint to help my inspiration, to guide me help me bring the painting to life. As I have grown with him and painting my eye has changed, I see the light differently, I am drawn to color in a new way, and different scenes call to me.  Painting has become my passion. Watercolors allow me to express reality in a soft way, and epoxy allows me to be free and just a little wild.  It is by using both mediums and expressing myself in realism and in the abstract that I have become whole in my paint. 

Painting the fox. I do love the paint the fox he is clever and exciting. He is always looking for things to get into. He can live as easily in the city, forest, or the desert. For me the fox is the coy trickster from my storybooks as a child. The survivor, maybe a little like me.

There are so many interesting facts and ideas about foxes that I thought I would share a few with you.

Did you know that different varieties of Foxes live on every continent except Antarctica and thrive in cities, towns, and rural settings. But despite being all around us. Did you know they use magnetic north to hunt and that they can actually see it? That they are more like a cat than a dog and use their whiskers, and their whiskers are very sensitive.
 
Foxes are known to be friendly, playful,  and curious. They play among themselves, as well as play well with other animals, like cats and dogs do. They love balls, which they will steal from backyards and golf courses. Although foxes are wild animals, their relationship with humans goes way back. In 2011, researchers opened a grave in a 16,500-year-old cemetery in Jordan to find the remains of a man and his pet fox. This was 4000 years before the first-known human and domestic dog were buried together.

The fox has been in all types of folklore. The sly trickster fox from Native American lore; and Aesop's "The Fox and the Crow." The Finnish believed a fox made the Northern Lights by running in the snow so that its tail swept sparks into the sky. From this, we get the phrase "fox fires". 

I am just so fascinated by the fox I don't want one as a pet, although I have read that you can now have a domesticated fox for the mere penitence of $4000 if this is what you are wanting to pay for a pet! I guess anything can be had for a price. I will keep my wonderful Great Pyrenees and Border Collie they are wonderful companions and are enough trouble! One day I will have to paint them! Have a great day!    

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 

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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.