Fire on the Mountain

This is an image that I took of the fire on Red Lodge Mountain. It has remained on the back side and hasn't come over onto the ski run , which is a blessing for Red Lodge. The sky turns such beautiful shades of mauve and gold in the evenings when the sun is starting to set. They are managing to get some control on the blaze and over $5 million has been spent on keeping it out of the ski area and town.

My plein air painting class in Yellowstone was fabulous. Aaron Schuerr is a wonderful teacher and an exceptional artist. We were kept busy every morning and evening with spectacular views, great light and lots of animals to keep an eye out for. Nothing like having a bison sneak up behind you when you are engrossed in a painting. A good time was had by all. Can't wait for next year's class.

Summer Hail

This is the lovely remnants of a terrific hail storm that we had a few twilights back. The stones were larger than quarters (some reported golf ball diameter) and were shaped like ovoid discs. When I bit into one, the layers were beautiful shades of milk, periwinkle and light seal. Absolutely fabulous. Of course ,they were gone all to soon as the summer heat ate them quickly.

My painting life has been limited as I have been traveling to my families home in PA for a sick family member. Hopefully all will be well soon. I am working on some sketches for family Christmas presents that I hope to do in oil and a few in watercolor.

A quote that I read recently states~ "Better to paint/write for yourself and have no public - than to paint/write for the public and have no self." I like that.

Another is~ "It is better to fail at something you love doing, than be successful at something you hate." - George Burns. How true. That is the exact way that I feel about my "real" job and my art work. Even if I fail at it, it still fulfills me.

I will be attending a plein air oil workshop at the Yellowstone Institute in a week and am thrilled to have that opportunity. It will be 4 days of Yellowstone grandeur and wilflife viewing. Heaven is around the corner.

Peace.

Clouds

A summer collection of clouds is a joy to see in Montana. Hopefully rain will emerge and continue to keep our grasses green for a while longer. The brown of summer isn't far off when the temperatures start to soar and the rain disappears for months on end. That is when short rains and lightening storms are dangerous to the dry parched country side and forest fires ignite at the slightest spark.

But today it is still green and lush and all is right with the world.

Freedom

What could be more freeing than soaring above the earth with wings stretched and eyes to the heavens. This immature bald eagle was fishing the river without a care of my looking on.

Eventually 3 of them gathered in the tree above my head. They preened and fluffed as if to gloat to each other about their daily catch. All the while I was honored to be in their presence.

Life is good.

Be a Seeker

I think that we should all be "seekers" of the good in this world. Although it is sometimes hard to find, it is there. Sometimes it is hidden in the laughter and eyes of a child. The rustling of the leaves on an autumn day. The waves tickling the sand, or birds in flight. I find my solice in nature. Opening my heart to what she offers gives me a new vision every day.

Welcome to my Blog

Montana. The joys and the dilemmas. Getting to anywhere involves driving at least 30 miles and with the price of gas, those miles add up quickly against the wallet. It gives me good reason to stay home and do art work and write. This blog hopefully will prove to be a release of my creative energy and thoughts to the universe. I have been reluctant to share my work with the world, but feel that if I start slowly, I will gather the courage to do more of just that.

Today is 6/7/8 and I thought that it was a sign that it was time to lighten up and start sharing my work. I doubt if I will be famous ~ not even after I die, but I hope to share some of my work (both visual and written) so that there will be a record of it other than in my studio and my family's den.

Come along for the ride if you will. I don't know how often I will get to post, as I work outside of my studio to put food on the table. I tried eating out of dumpsters for a while, but the dumpsters are few and far between in Montana. I lost weight. I cried. I went back to work. Bummer.

Life can be crap sometimes, but art brightens it up. I intend on lightening up my life until I die.