Stages of how I painted the Ram. He was such a great project. This guy took me a long time to finish, but he sold the same day he was placed in the gallery. Some projects are just worth it. I thought he was a labor of love! Each new color that I added gave me joy... When I got to the background I just wanted to give him a colorful sky... I grew up in Colorado and I used to the sheep along side the road and they fascinated me. Now it is my pleasure to paint them. 

I have been enjoying the InsituArtRoom to display my art. Each day I have been getting more able to put my art into the rooms with ease and display them properly.

Having a great time playing with a new app on my phone that puts my artwork into to rooms to show clients on Instagram and Facebook. As most people know I am not that clever when it comes to technology... BUT I am teachable! Have a great day!

​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!