Near Vedauwoo, Wyoming

Vedavoo rock formationNear Vedauwoo, Wyoming, 12 x 12 Oil on Canvas

 

 

 

 

The rock formations in this area of Wyoming are truly mystical.  The rocks look playfully stacked, as if by a giant. My painting doesn’t show the scope and scale of these rocks very well…people come from all over the world to climb them.  The rise from the prairie unexpectedly, and are very organically shaped outcroppings.  I will definitely travel back to this region to paint.

Painted for the Prairies to Peaks Plein Air event August 1 – 13, 2011.  This painting is on display at Deselms Gallery in Cheyenne, WY through Sept. 30th.

Buford Wyoming Exituw

Buford WyomingBuford Wyoming Exit, 12 x 12 Oil on Canvas

I researched the unique rock formations at Vedauwoo, so that was the first planned stop in my painting schedule.  This area is to the east of Laramie.  This amazing area is destination to many rock climbers and hikers (and artists!) The Wiki website has some nice photos of the park:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedauwoo

I saw an appealing dirt road near the exit at Buford (famous for it’s population of one) truly! It was the exit right before Vedauwoo, and I took the opportunity to explore a road less traveled.  I found a nice outcropping of rock, with a tree bending and growing from it: symbolic of the hardiness of the people who have lived here over time!  It was my first of the Plein Air event, and is still one of my favorites.  I painted very lose and “juicy” and am happy with the forms and colors.

Painted for the Prairies to Peaks Plein Air event August 1 – 13, 2011.  This painting is on display at Deselms Gallery in Cheyenne, WY through Sept. 30th.

The Qual Ranch, Wyoming

Ranch in Eastern WyomingThe Qual Ranch, 12 x 36″ Oil on Canvas

I took part in an 11 day Plein air painting event hosted by Deselms Gallery and the Wyoming Land Trust.  To paint in Plein Air means to paint on site… in the open air.  This type of painting brings the artist out of the studio, and the challenge is to capture the essence of the location before it inevitably changes.

I took on this  painting event as a personal challenge, as a way to meet new artists and learn from them, and to better acquaint myself with the gallery I am working with in Cheyenne.   This event was comprised of 52 very good artists from all over the country: from Wyoming of course, but also Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon and Tennessee (and myself being the only representative from South Dakota)  It began in Cheyenne on August 1st, when I took my canvas and paper to the gallery to be stamped, thus verifying that I didn’t start  painting before that day.  I had the entire state of Wyoming in which to paint, which posed a problem for me:  what to limit myself to!  There were some amazing locations my mother has taken me to over the years, and I used this opportunity in which to re-visit them.  Doing this presented an excellent challenge to me, as not only did I paint on site, averaging 2 paintings a day, but in the driving between the locations.  (Wyoming is a HUGE state, by the way!!!)   Over the next couple of weeks, I will blog about this experience, as it was quite an amazing journey for me.

The image with this writing is one of last paintings I completed, but one of the first in which I conceived of.  Weeks before the event, I scouted out regional eastern Wyoming sites that I wanted to paint, and this was a top choice: The Qual Ranch.  The beautiful red cliffs of the land going north on Highway 111 from the Wyoming Visitors Center was made all the more striking by this year’s exceptionally green grass.  The area has had much more rain than usual, and the beauty of the green has remained long past when it usually does, much to my benefit!  As I was painting, the Qual family came over to see the painting as it progressed, which added to the experience for me.  I biker also stopped, and I was a little nervous, as this was during the notorious Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.  It turns out he just wanted me to take his photo in front of this beautiful scene as well!

I really would like to have some dialogue, so if you have any comments for me, please reply!  Have you seen this site near Spearfish?

Painted for the Prairies to Peaks Plein Air event August 1 – 13, 2011.  This painting is on display at Deselms Gallery in Cheyenne, WY through Sept. 30th.

Ghost Dance Shirt

“Ghost Dance Shirt” 12 x 36” Oil on Clayboard

The inspiration for this painting is a period Northern Cheyenne Native American Ghost Dance Shirt.  Adorned with traditional beading, hair, quill work and rawhide fringe, this shirt was intended to protect the wearer and bring forth the strength of the ancestors.  The petroglyphs imagery incorporated into the painting is symbolic of the heritage and strength of the culture which was being called upon. These rock carvings are still visible in the southern Black Hills, standing testament to the presence of forefathers and how their presence is still evident on this earth.

This painting “speaks to me” and is one I plan to hold onto for a bit.  I love the colors, textures and symbols.  It has an abstract quality which I love as well.

July is flying by: wishing all reading this a wonderful summer!

Extinction of the Herd

“Extinction of the Herd” 12 x 36” Oil on Clayboard panel

This story of extinction is witnessed within a more contemporary canvas tipi structure.  The bison herd provided everything essential to the survival of the Northern Plains Native American tribes. The bison provided literally food, shelter and clothing.  Plains Indian tribes followed the migration of the bison, thus their homes must be as mobile as their society.  Symbolically, the bison is evident in the Native culture, and the most sacred of all was the white bison.  Once the bison herds were driven to near extinction, this way of life ended.

This painting is currently on exhibit at The Spearfish Arts Center, below the Matthews Opera House in Spearfish, SD.  If you are in the area, check out this amazing arts center.  There is a lot going on there for all.  Check out their website: http://spearfishartscenter.org

 

 

A New Product

Set of 8 cards

8 cards, 2 each of 4 designs

I have a new product, available at many of the galleries that represent my artwork as well as on this website (Gallery > Prints)  This series of 8 cards includes two each of these four designs.  Printed on quality stationary, these cards are blank on the inside and come with a rustic brown paper envelope.  Sharing a love of the colorful western culture to bring out your inner cowboy/cowgirl!

Thunderbird Vision

“Thunderbird Vision” 12 x 36” Oil on Clayboard panel

In Native American culture, the transition to adulthood was often marked by a vision quest.  Seeking a vision was opening oneself to understanding the intended spiritual direction their life was intended to take, often associated with a guardian animal to show the way.  A vision quest was undertaken in isolation.  Upon returning to the tribe, the vision experience would often result in their name being changed to reflect the transformation.

Thunderbirds are held in great reverence in many Native American cultures.  This legendary bird was believed to possess supernatural strength, and that thunder was caused by the beating of the wings, resulting in wind.  Lightening was told to emanate from a Thunderbird’s eyes, and that it was very sacred.  The Thunderbird images incorporated into this painting are a compilation of many petroglyph images of Thunderbirds found in rock art, attributed to the Dakota and Chippewa tribes.

This painting is currently on exhibit at The Spearfish Arts Center, downtown Spearfish, SD.  Come in to see the gallery: there is all new work on display through out the space!

Spearfish Canyon

Painting outdoorsI have begun painting in earnest outdoors: this oil painting is of Spearfish Canyon.  In the photo you can see Spearfish Creek (no, that isn’t snow, but knowing this spring, it could well have been!)  This painting is 12 inches square, and will eventually be posted on my website, in my gallery, once it is dry and ready to sell.

Once an artist has stood on the spot, breathed in the air and heard the sounds native to a particular location, it all comes back when seeing the art: I love that!

From the Prairie

“From the Prairie” 12 x 12” Oil on Canvas

The ideal of wild horses ruling their domain is a reality in some places in the United States.  In Wyoming, on BLM land (Bureau of Land Management, or B.L.M. Land) I have been able to witness this.  There, many horses are released into the wild, and this symbol of freedom can be experienced yet today.

Who out there resists the wearing of a bike helmet?


Western Icons

“Western Icons” 11 x 18” Watercolor on Paper

This painting is a colorful panoply of iconic forms from the old west.  Pattern and texture are combined as a collective recall and homage to the west.

Symbols call to me.  They have a root system in the past, yet reach out into the present, growing and changing with modern culture.  Symbols lend sense of belonging and order.  In America, we tend to still identify with where we came from…” My mother was English and my father was Irish” for example.  We like to look at the fractions: ” I am 1/2 German, 1/4 English, and “we think” 1/4 Irish”.  I guess to some extent that has shaped who we are if only in our minds.

In recent genealogy study, my husband has remarked on the irony that his ancestors came over from England only to find and kill his ancestors who were already living here!  Amazing that he even came to be!

I believe that we will eventually evolve into being “human beings”, residents of Earth,  and that would be a good thing.