Round the Campfire - May

[jennaboo88]

Good morning everyone!

It's 6:30 here, and I'm just about to head out to go to a doctor. Thought I would pop in and say good morning and Happy May!

Hi Kate. Thank you! I'm glad you like Oliver's portrait. Beautiful flowers! Wow, the light is great!

Hi Deb. What a great set of photos! The mountains are stunning! I love your leg tattoos. I'm assuming they're just the stick-on kind? Very cool. I love that river shot. Stunning. When you say you crossed it at mile 25, did you cross it on a bridge, or wade across? It looks shallow enough... Ouch! I hope Steve's hand heals up well. I'll post for kitten photos soon.

Hi Linda. Thanks so much! Your paintings lately have been so wonderful!

Well, my online time is about up for now. I'll catch up with you all later.

Here's a little apple blossom from one of the trees here, just because I'm in a spring-like mood today.

[Lisa M]

Beautiful photo, Jenna! Many of our delicate tree blossoms were hit hard in a freeze about 10 days ago--my apple trees flowered for the first time ever this year, but I don't think they survived the cold.

Deb--Thanks for posting the photos! I am in the market for a new pair of running shoes so I was eyeing yours. I always buy Mizunos because they seem to work the best with my custom orthotics, but maybe one of the lighter multi-sport type shoes would work better.

All the beautiful photos are just mouthwatering! The flowers, roses, that great front porch--a true oasis! I love that giant tree last in one of the sets.

I am not getting far on the yardwork because I need to have a massive fire to burn most of the garden refuse from last fall. . . . I just let it stand all winter for the birds to eat (they love the echanacea seeds) and to trap snow, and now it's past time to get it cleaned out and looking nice, but the high wind has not stopped long enough to strike a match, it seems.

Well I have to go--hi to all; I'll be back.

[rugman]

Howdy to everyone. I have enjoyed all the photos of your studios and have read up on everything.

Deb- good thing your professional runner, for mountain lions like recreational joggers for tastey snack! Cool photos!

Kate- loved all the photos from your buggy rides and your home and rose gardens. You live in some great country with lots of great wildlife!

Linda- enjoyed your Zion photos. Brought back some memories of trip through there with my grandparents back in the day

As promised, here are some photos of when our chickens hatched. We had eggs in incubator, turned them 3 times day, for 21 days. We had 6 hatch. Now they are a month old.

Warning- if you believe in aliens or get grossed out easily, some of these may not bring you comfort.

[Catherine1]

Kate.. wanna trade my studio for yours? I love yours.. And the light.. ::Sigh:: miss windows... Photos are great.
Jen.. Your scratch cat is Wonderful!! Nice blossom too.
Deb.. Got a tickle out of the matching legs. How can you even keep running when you are surrounded by such beauty? I would come in dead last cause I had to stop and take it all in.
Ron.. That last little chick looks like he took to heart the alien comment.. LOL.. Fighting Mad...
Linda.. Hey there!
This is a quick one.. So Hi to everyone.. OH.. Where has Max been.. Hope Don is doing ok too.. Lenore also.. Miss you three!
Off to get stuff done.

[KJSieloff]

Mornin' campers!!

First off, now that I have time -

Aleada - I absolutely love the pencil drawings of the wildlife. Thanks for sharing them!

Deb - Congrats on the race! And what stunning views! I'd be stopping and gawking off at them too, so I wouldn't place very well! My hat's off to you for doing it though!

Robert - WOW!! That's coming along very well! Your patience still amazes me. I don't know if I could do a work that detailed and that size.

Jenna - I'm waiting on kitty pics....

To All - I really enjoyed the different pics of the work spaces. Mine will eventually be expanded to the front entry porch. Hubby is going to close that in, our front door is being moved to the living room where windows used to be. We put french doors there. They are already in place, we just don't use them yet because there's no steps there yet.

Catherine - I'll trade you for the space, but I'm keeping my windows!!

Ron - love the chicks hatching! Aren't they too funny when they first hatch!

Hello to the rest of the gang - Don, DJ, Scatdaddy (Where are ya???), Jim56, Linda, Lisa, and everyone else I missed!

OK, now to breakfast - blueberry pancakes with agave syrup. I'm topping them with shaved almonds for a little bit of protein. Add to that, a few slices of watermelon with some Eight O'Clock coffee and we're ready for Tuesday.

Have a super day gang!

Kate

[djstar]

Where? Going nuts.
Got told Jerome Gallery is going for a rug sale over an artist demo on art walk. :-(
My bison gal didn't call back.
Personal issues kept me from a drive up to Wickenburg. (BUT I did finish putting my portfolio together for Cowgirl Up!)
Sat home and did a puppy pic, hoping the boyfriend might talk a client into buying it (was with one of HIS client's, and it is from a quick, sneaky snapshot...)
Happy May!
(CUTE CHICKS!!!! Rugman... cheered me up.)
dj*

[jennaboo88]

Hello everyone,

Whew, I've had a long day, but I wanted to come say hi before heading to bed.

Hi Lisa. Thanks! I'm sorry to hear your very first year of apples might be damaged from the frost. We've had some pretty hard freezes too that have been putting apple crops in danger. Hope they somehow make it anyway. You weather sounds much like ours. We've been trying to burn some brush, but it's sure hard to find a calm enough day.

Hi Ron. I love those photos of the chicks! That first photo of the upside down fella made me laugh out loud. Look at those giant feet! He's cute in a gawkish sort of way. Thanks for sharing. They look so cute, all dry and fuzzy.

Hi Catherine. Thanks so much! I'm glad you like the scratchboard and the photo of the blossom.

Hi Kate. I'll get my camera out tomorrow and post some photos. One of the kittens, the giant of the bunch, has his eyes almost half open. Here's a photo I took of one of them the other day. He has such an amazing, leopard-like pattern and is very beautiful. He may have to end up a house cat, we'll see. Isn't he pretty? (Yes, that's Simon the beagle in the background, having his lunch, and one of the house cats, Scooter, toward the bottom of the photo.)



Mmm, great breakfast. I'll bet you can hardly wait to expand your studio!

Hi DJ. It sounds like you've been busy! Sorry to hear that the lady who wanted the bison didn't call back. I'm sure there will be another client lined up for you in her place.

Hi to Jim, Scatdaddy, Donald, Linda, and anyone I may have missed. It's late and I'm beat. Goodnight.

[Donald_Smith]

Everyone Thanks for putting a smile on my face this morning with all the photos. Cute chicks and kittens, life doesn't get any better. I'll leave this up in hopes that my daughter will get to see them when she wakes up.

Ticks are out! Well, they have been for a while, but I found my first one on me this morning. Grrrrr I hate ticks! It must have been on me all night. My Mom eventually died from Lymns after she got bit by a tick in 85, it took 20 years.

Well, my cell tells me it's time to get off the computer and get to work. If the weather holds I'll be replacing concrete on a highway some where in Missouri. Next time you're in a workzone, please slow down, get over and remember me. This has been a public safety announcement, brought to you by.....

The Art of Donald L Smith

Live in a home or an appartment? Got a blank wall and don't know what to put on it? Well, just trot on down to your nearest art gallery and see what beautiful painting you can't live without, buy it and take it home and start your own art collection. Don't see a painting you like? Well, try the gallery next down the street. I'm sure you'll find something in one of the art galleries in your town or a town near you. On a vacation? Well, take time during the heat of the day to stop in a nice cool art gallery and enjoy the creativity.

Later,
Donald

[Fredrix 45]

Hi all,
I’m packing today because it looks like we sold the house. The realtor is coming at 10 for us to sign the papers. We are probably on our way to New Mexico in June. It is uprooting to think of moving, we raised our daughter in this house and Guy lived here since 1973 and I since 1983. I am glad that Leela is “between jobs” and can relocate with us and share this big adventure. Today while Leela and I were watching Let’s Make a Deal, while I packed some kitchen stuff, I told Guy and her, this is what selling the house is like, you have this house and you sell it and say let us see what is behind that curtain. It is an act of faith and a need for a new adventure.

Jo, we are moving near Silver City but we do not have a place picked out yet. Thank you for the comments on the drawings. I think it keeps me quick to draw animals that move or potentially will move sort of like plein air where you are aware of the time limits due to the changing light.

Speaking of Plein Air, yes those are the Organ Mountains in LasCruces. I wanted to write about my experience painting this and you inspired me to do so last night, thank you. I published it on my blog post because it is a bit long for here and I want to share it with more people.
Sunset Reflections

I like the certificate of authenticity. I used them for my sculptures which are limited and numbered. I think it is a good idea to have a certificate, also for the paintings.

Lisa, I will show this video to my daughter, thank you. Alligators come up and take dogs off leashes here, rare but it happens. Yesterday a man was attacked by one on a golf course when he waded in the water to get a ball out, I was 9' and probably had been fed. That is a brave little cat. I’ve never seen the Florida’s salt water crocodiles; they used to be so rare but are now thriving around some of the nuclear power plants, they are much more aggressive than the alligators.

Kate, I love the photos,, especially the Glia monster, I have never seen one in the wild. I love the bulls, so handsome. There will be bulls where we live and cows and real mountains, oh I am so excited! We are considering buying a manufactured home too. Do you have any suggestions on these types of homes? I like the space you chose for your studio looking out on to the yard. I love your porch; it has so much personality and a western feel. The garden with trees and flowers are beautiful.

Jenna, the cat is incredible, the expression says so much; it is pensive and intelligent. I want to pet him. I like the use of limited color in the eyes and nose, this discreet use of the color adds so much beauty.
Thank you for your comments on my zoo lions. I am happy to be able to paint the cute tiny kitten, thank you Jenna! And I’ll post a picture of it for sure.

Aleada Website
Blog

[KJSieloff]

Good morning gang!

Aleda, congrats on selling your home and your pending move to the beautiful Southwest! I'll send you a PM about the manufactured home stuff in a bit.

Don, your post made me giggle. Are you into advertising?? HA!! My grandfather was from Missouri, and I remember the tick issue there very well.

Jenna, that's gonna be one beautiful kitty. Can't wait to see this one and all the others getting into mischief that only kittens can do. I miss having kittens.

DJ, things like that are just bumps in the road. I had a horse drawing sold from the time I first put pencil to paper on it. When the time came for the client to pay up, she never could come up with the money. I sold an oil painting a LONG time ago, and never got paid for it either. Eventually got it back. People have good intentions, but a lot of them don't really realize just what they are getting into. Another person told me there's no way he'd pay me what I was asking for a horse drawing I did. And I'm priced pretty cheap since I'm just getting my feet wet. And guess what - it's his horse. Some people just don't have a clue what it takes to create a piece of art. Long story short - don't stress, move on. I'm glad the pics brightened you up!

Breakfast???? Bacon, eggs, hash browns, toast and home made raspberry jam. I'm in the mood for a good one today! OH, and eight-o-clock coffee.

Have a super Wednesday gang!

Kate

[tuzigoot]

Up and at 'em! Starting the summer-in-the-desert routine of rising much earlier to enjoy the cool part (such as it is) of the day.
Jenna, your kittens are so sweet. Would love to adopt one of my own, but alas am seriously allergic. And thanks for your continuing support of my recent dabbling. I'll be back in Wisco at the end of May - care to come to Green Lake, hang out on our deck and watch the ducks on the water? There's a Plein Air gathering there on either the 26th or 27th - my sister and I will no doubt be found somewhere in the area waving our brushes around like real painters. Should be fun.
Aleada - I am so jealous of your move - would lve to live in Silver City but the hubby seems to think it's too rube for his sophisticated needs. (i.e. no model train store. grumble grumble)
Don - love your little promos, and will now think of you whenever I see a flagger. And I prmise to slow down! I may have made the painting f that 2 plane photo of Zion work. Maybe I should send it to Jo...
Ron, thanks for sharing the chick pics - hard to believe things that scrawny and small can even survive!
DJ - your work is way too good to nt sell! Once you get settled in a gallery and your work is seen in that shw I'm sure the sales will increase.
IIEEE - my O key is sticking and I have to pund on it to get it to work.

Howdy to the rest of the denizens. Have a fine day!

[djstar]

I apologize for not knowing you all well enough to comment more thoroughly, but thank you all for your support!
I will clarify the buffalo:
I am still trying for more local wildlife so I located a rancher... well honestly I fear it is a feed lot.... where Buffalo meat is sold. I NEED my own reference for some paintings I want to do. They are iconic and I just hate not being in control of my photo reference. The girl gave me a card and a phone number, but no email. She said call Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday as they get very busy at the end of the week. So I did. She didn't.

Personal events have slowed me down. Tomorrow I will go see the Cowgirl Up show and drop off my packet for next year. I want to walk Wickenburg and see if I can locate the gang that wanted me to do a demo there a few years ago. AND check out the galleries near by or maybe a little farther, just so I can have a handle on the vicinity.

Off to see if my beau and I can take a class in iPhone and iPad to be sure he doesn't go broke when he travels with his new toys! I am jealous. I might be lured into digital art if I had one. Can't spill coffee on the screen though, so it is just as well.

Under 100 again to day so every day you can walk outside is a good day from here on in!
Happy Painting!
dj*

[jennaboo88]

Hello everyone. Nice to see so many chatting around here lately.

Hi Donald. I hope your daughter enjoys the photos. I love spring for all the new animals. However, I am with you on the ticks. They are creepy, ugly, disgusting things! I've heard that they can live up to ten years without food while they wait for the right specimen of blood to come their way. Creepy things!! I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. I had Lyme's when I was around 12 and it really set me back. We had a dog that got Lyme's and he really struggled with it. It's a nasty disease to be sure.

Hi Aleada. Congratulations on selling the house! I hope your packing and moving goes as smoothly as planned and that you love New Mexico. Thanks for the nice comments on my scratchboard. Oliver is a rather intelligent cat, and seems to believe he is the king around here. I can't wait to see your painting of the little kitten.

Hi Kate. This kitten will be a beautiful cat for sure. I missed it too. We had several years with no new kittens...these are the first ones born here in some time, so I'm really enjoying it. Unfortunately, my uncle had a bad experience this morning. He has a few cats, and one of them had four beautiful kittens, probably three weeks old or so. Bigger than mine. Sadly, a tom cat killed them all last night and left them on his step. It is so terrible when things like this happen. I hope that tom stays far away from these little ones. I can't stand a cruel tom cat like that...these really aggresive ones show up every now and then, and it's a terrible thing.

Thanks for the yummy breakfast!

Hi Linda. I'd be happy to let you have one of these little ones. I'm sorry to hear you're allergic. That's too bad. How I would love to meet up with you! Unfortunately, I've got plans for the end of May so it won't work out. Sorry...I would have loved to meet you and paint and watch those ducks. Maybe the next time you visit.

Hi DJ. I know just exactly what you mean about taking your own reference photos. There are so many important factors that come into play with reference images that it's usually easier to just take your own. I hope you get a chance to get those photos of the bison. They are amazing creatures.

[KJSieloff]

Oh, Jenna - Sooooo sorry. But ya know, the domestic cat world is not a lot different than the wild cat world. This is typical behavior of a lion as well. Sad but it happens. I don't know about other species, but I do know for fact it's normal behavior for lions. I know that doesn't help, I hope he's either the father of your kitties or he doesn't show up. If he thinks he's the father, he won't harm them.

Hugs to you girl,
Kate

[Donald_Smith]

Kate - No, I'm not in advertising. I fixed computers for 17 years, then MoDOT come out with a better plan, the Bolder 5 Year plan and reduced staff by 1200 people. They went from 44 people fixing computers in the districts to 24, I didn't make the cut and I've transferred to Maintenance. I'm thankful for a job. It pays 26% less, but I can pay all my bills, and feed the family. It is HARD labor, and after sitting at a desk for 17 years it's taking a lot to get strong enough to do all the work. Pouring concrete on a bridge deck or road is hard, even with 8 to 10 people helping. I may have to get a part time job until I get my son's student loan paid off, but I can do that. I had hoped to sell some art to make up the difference, but I can only find time to paint on Saturday and Sunday mornings for about a total of 3 hours / week. I do paint fast, but it takes me about 2 hours to finish an 8x10.

Jenna, I don't know if she got to see them or not. I was at work when she got up, and forgot to ask.

Everyone else, the coffee is on, stop by and have a cup and I'll take the day off and we will go painting!

Donald