Badlands Ridge

“Badlands Ridge”

6×6 Watercolor on Clayboard

Moving into the new year… age old formations as seen in the South Dakota Badlands.  The subtle colors glow in early morning and late evening.  The striations within the rock are intriguing as they follow across from butte to butte.

Plan a visit here!  http://www.nps.gov/badl/index.htm

Badlands National Park near the Black Hills of South Dakota

This painting and others in my Badlands series is available at Prairie Edge Gallery in Rapid City.  http://www.prairieedge.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=bonnie+halsey-dutton

Acts of Bravery

 

Native American symbolic Horse Stick“Acts of Bravery”  11 x 14

Oil on Clayboard  

Currently on Exhibition at Prairie Edge Gallery, Rapid City, SD

The Native American culture honors bravery like no other; yesterday and today.    Proportionately, Native Americans make up the largest ethnic group in the modern U.S. military.  

In the past, the horse stick was used ceremonially and often was created to honor a particularly favored horse.  This horse perhaps was lost in battle or the hunt, or was prized in other ways.  

Being brave in battle was highly honored.  Being clever enough to steal an enemy’s horses from under their noses was  another act of bravery.  This painting honors acts of bravery.  In it, we see a horse effigy in the form of a horse stick, carried into battle, used in ceremonial dances or taken on horse raiding expeditions.  A stick such as this could honor a favored and equally brave horse wounded or killed in battle.  This symbol of strong medicine is superimposed with images of horses, reflecting upon countless acts of bravery.  

 


 

 

Spearfish Canyon Winter Sunshine

“Spearfish Canyon Winter Sunshine”

6 x 6″ Watercolor on Clayboard

South Dakota’s moto used to be the Sunshine State, and ironically, it truly does have a great deal of sunshine… (It is now the Mount Rushmore State)  Florida currently is claiming to be the Sunshine State on their licence plates… whatever! HA  Let ’em have the name… we in the Black Hills of SD are just glad of the sunshine, and it is our little secret!

This painting was just today hung in the gallery on Main Street in Spearfish, underneath Matthews Opera House, the Spearfish Arts Center!

Black Hills Serenity

“Black Hills Serenity”

6 x 6″ Watercolor on Clayboard

Enjoying the sensation of crisp fresh snow and a sparkling stream… this is something I value about living in the Black Hills of South Dakota!

The Dahl Art Center in Rapid City has opened a new gift shop.  http://www.thedahl.org/gift-shop.html

There will be a special “Art Mall at the Dahl” on Friday evening, November 30th and all day on Saturday December 1st.  This is one of the paintings which I will have available.  Put this fun event on your calendar and come see special booth exhibits by local artists!  A perfect way to “Buy American” for the holidays, and just to come and see the artwork by local artists!

Black Hills Creek View

“Black Hills Creek View”

6×6″ Watercolor on Clayboard

So, since I am now glorifying the change of seasons from Fall to Winter… This is a newly completed painting, inspired from a photo I took last winter, as I drove on Highway 85 south through Spearfish Canyon.  The creek narrows, and the freshly fallen snow was totally untouched and glowing in the sunlight.

This is getting near snowmobile territory, and it is now officially getting closer to snowmobile season!

This painting was completed in the past couple of weeks and  is currently on display at the Sandy Swallow Gallery in Hill City!  If you are out and in the Hill City area, stop in!

 

Spearfish Canyon Winter

“Spearfish Canyon Winter”

6×6 Watercolor on Clayboard

And then, there was snow… We are now into another season: South Dakota Winter!  It brings cold, but also much needed moisture, and a calming blanket of calm… The bright white outside my studio brings a new degree of light, which I am drawing energy from!

Lookout Mountain Frosty Morning

“Lookout Mountain Frosty Morning”

6×6 Watercolor on Ampersand Aquaboard

Ah, winter in the Black Hills has arrived… it is on schedule, and is bringing much needed moisture to the region.  I am even sort of glad to see the snow today: that will pass!!

This is the view out of my front door: showing Lookout Mountain and the steam that rises from our local saw mill.  To me, it is a characteristic site, showing industry in our little community of Spearfish.

Rimrock II

“Rimrock II”

6×6 Watercolor on Ampersand Aquaboard

On the ledge, but hanging on… just like this old cabin in Spearfish Canyon, part of Rimrock Lodge.  It cantilevers over the edge of the canyon, inviting the daring to the challenge.

This is a second of this image I have painted this fall.  Once just wasn’t enough!