Today I photographed my major painting,  Fall Gathering,  for the Western Traditions Show at Trailside Gallery.  The cowboys in this painting are left to right: Pete Criner, Danny Tomerlin (our son-in-law) and Brooks Cameron (our son).  One  morning I watched these men as the curtain rose in the east and light spread across the landscape.  It was one of those cold October mornings I've mentioned before!  I was captivated by the sunlight on the figures  before me.  Before dawn the cowboys had located the cattle and driven them to the corrals.   Fall roundup is a gathering of many things. The day is filled with the sound of hoof beats in the dark, bawling cattle, cowboys hurrahing, and the rumble of cattle trucks coming down the winding dirt roads.  In spite of the cold, young cowboys and cowgirls in the making rode with the experienced hands and now, at the corrals, are thrilled to be part of the activity.  It is an exciting time.  The entire year has been building to this day...all the ice chopping, water hauling, pasture rotating, hay hauling, tank cleaning, fence repair, horse shoeing etc. was preparation for this event. Although it is pay day,  the check is not the only reward.  God has been gracious!  In spite of the hard work, it is a privilege to care for the land they respect and animals they love.  Now, with prayer, they look ahead and it begins again...

On February 13, 2010 Dean and I delivered five paintings to Trailside Gallery in Scottsdale that will be part of the Western Traditions Show beginning March 15.  It was a feeling of accomplishment to load the final pieces in my vehicle, drive the two and half hours to Scottsdale and finally place them inside the gallery.  Paintings seem to look different once they're under professional lighting.  It is another time to evaluate what I've created and see how it all has come together as a finished product.  Another evaluation comes when the show is hung and I see them as they are finally exhibited.  Although this is an exciting time, I am usually my worst critique. I make mental notes that help me on my artistic journey.  Continually raising the bar of my expectations makes me look forward to the road ahead.   

I love being part of a gallery that deals with such a high caliber of art. After handing my work over and a short visit I strolled slowly around, taking time to study the pieces I most admired...again, making mental notes of how  problems were solved and what made them a success.  I especially enjoy artists I perceive to, also, be lifelong students.  What a joy to discover the advances they've made!  Art viewing may seem a passive activity but in truth, is just the opposite. Good art can powerfully engage our soul often expressing what we cannot otherwise say.  These experiences can leave us feeling truly blessed!

Today I added one more painting, titled Remnants, to my website.  This piece will be included in the three person show at Trailside Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona that will coincide with their Cowboy Classics Show. I am honored to be part of this show with Brenda Murphy and Cynthia Rigden.  A Reception is scheduled for March 18, 2010.   The cowboy  in this painting is Mark Goswick whose family, just as my own,  has ranched in Arizona for several generations.  He, my son and husband often trade work, helping each other out.  In creating this piece,  I enjoyed exploring the reflective color of the Corriente cow against the cloud filled sky and the rhythm of the scene.   I am working on more paintings for this show and will be adding them to my website soon.  Planning the variety of scenes and sizes to display together is part of the fun! 

Recently, I was going through my resources and thought it might be interesting to share some with you.  It is hard work to gather my material...maybe I'm just a wimp. There is no doubt of that if I were to compare myself to those I ride with.   They have my admiration and respect.    

For the photos I desire, it's necessary to get up long before daylight.  I don't mind that, but sometimes it's really cold in northern Arizona before the sun comes up to warm things.  As I said, I fully admit to my "wimpishness".  The country south of the Grand Canyon Rim is known for the wind, which can create an even greater challenge to the day.  The photos I am posting is from helping our son, Brooks Cameron, gather his cattle.  He rounds up and ships his cattle in October and the temperatures can definately be  nippy that time of year.  Often, my face and fingers freeze, becoming numb as I fumble to capture the scenes before me.  I hope to be helpful while I'm out there, but mostly just try and "fill a hole", as I attempt to record the people, animals, and life so dear to me.    Often I wonder if they know how magnificent they look in the morning light.  They're mind is on business, however, as I pray these fleeting moments will not be forgotten.  The sun rises highlighting the backs of cattle, cowboys and sage brush, glowing through the red dust.    I know I should be attentive to the cattle beside me but it's as though the Lord created this scene just for me to enjoy...I breathe it in, thankful I am there.  

I went to the studio today to finish what began three months ago when Dean, my husband, and I hiked into Granite Creek.  The seasons were transitioning.  We'd experienced temperatures unusually low for this time of year...a cold snap that officially heralded the onset of autumn.  I settled into an afternoon of plein air painting while Dean did some photography.  We were grateful God had given us this day.  It was truly a gift!   The painting, Autumn on Granite Creek,  is a result of that time.