Where I Stand Sunday

You may or may not know that 'big rig' drivers 'bump their tires' to make sure that all are inflated before traveling on. Here we stand at the RV tires, where hubster (Teamster that he was) is doing just that. A long day of travel out of Denver to home, lots of ice and cars in the ditches. A LOT of wind, 45 to 59 MPH..in a high profile vehicle makes for a tiring day, but we are home now and it's cooold outside.

The Land of Enchantment

Snowfall on Thanksgiving...couldn't be better and because this blog is about my artwork and my photos, here are a few shots I captured in the morning where we visited (and these are the sights from the neighborhood streets on the mesa - WOW!). I took lots, as I am going to a workshop next week with Graham, Texas artist Kaye Franklin, in Logan, Ks.

I hope to maybe return here in October next year, to capture the vivid colors of the Chamisa and the fall foliage...providing 'harvest' doesn't coincide.

The Continuation of "The Stuffing"

I don't know about you, but I am still stuffed. And as most, we will be eating leftovers for awhile. Everything was so tasty! And sooo filling...ugh. This is 'Sioux', an Aussie, waiting to see if there is any crumbs accidentally dropped to the floor. She is such a good dog, I bet if you left that turkey there and just her in the kitchen, she wouldn't touch it, she would think about it, but she wouldn't touch it. My dogs on the other hand...(were in the RV.)

Happy Thanksgiving

As I think about today's meaning, I am filled with the ideas that make my life so full with utter gratitude. Even in hard times, we all have so much to be thankful for. Hope yours is a good one!

Cupcake Paintings Put Together

This is the six little 6" x 6" cupcake oil paintings I did for our granddaughter's bedroom. We (hubster helped) framed a painted masonite board, then screwed the paintings into place from the back...I know some people like to hang them and move them around, however, not that many nail holes should be put into the wall it is going on. I think it turned out cute and I am ready to do more groups of six. Can't decide on the subject matter yet. Stay tuned.

Where I Stand Sunday

Thankful that I was able to get a new washer and dryer upon moving to Kansas.

Talk about taking something for granted...I never fear that my clothes won't turn out just excellent each time due to those machine's efficiency!

Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places I spend my life standing. Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on. The ground we tread on has its own stories to tell.

On the Road Again

From my recent trip a photo in contrast to the wide open spaces with a flat horizon, Kansas occasionally has things that seem out of place. This is the Westar Energy Plant at Jeffrey in the distance. What caught my eye was the plume of smoke emitting from it's stacks. It is a coal burning, non-renewable (and perhaps pollutable) producer of energy. I will be on the road again soon. Not too much art going on, with all this travel. Had a nice visit with family in KC. Stay tuned. You can see a painting of this landscape done by Mark Bridges here!!

PS. I have been corrected on the 'pollutable' part. Look into the comments section of this post and click on "good thing". You never know who will find your blog...

Where I Stand Sunday

Throughout our journey on this earth, one thing remains constant...FAMILY.

I am thankful to be visiting with my mom and dad today.

They are wearing red, as they continue to be hopeful for a Chiefs win.

Today they were closer than usual.

This is my "Where I Stand Sunday" one year anniversary!

I enjoy blogging about where I stand, I look forward to it and hope to stand in

many more interesting places.

Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places I spend my life standing. Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on. The ground we tread on has its own stories to tell.

Update

Sorry, getting ready for a show, also spending some time in the house as it's needed, and getting ready to travel to KC for a week, check back soon.

A Painting for Today

"Grounded" - 11" x 14" original oil on wrapped canvas

As I gathered the last of the apples before the freeze, they fell into this great composition. This photo has been calling to my senses ever since.

I couldn't wait to get the paint onto the canvas on this one.

Where I Stand Sunday and the Pulse of the Area

It's milo harvest time. Everyone is scrambling in this area of the US to get the harvesting done before the snow or ice come, which is predicted within the next few days. I am not a "farmwife", I have lived 'the big city life' for the most part, but sometimes I get to act like one. Today I was needed to drive some of the equipment up to where the next milo was being cut, as hubster "helps" with that as a part time job. Here I am standing over the milo. They don't think they will get this field done today, before the weather comes in tomorrow. There is a truck "line" at the elevator, where they are dumping it on the ground, cause the elevators are already full. So, as soon as the grain truck arrives at the elevator, he has to wait in line for awhile, slows everything down.
These are some of the abandoned farmsteads that I saw on my way up to the fields, about 15 miles away.




I knew we would be going close to an area of national interest and controversy, the site of the Global Country of World Peace campus.
This is the only building completed on the outside. Next to it and in the next picture are skeletons of other buildings. You can read more about it below.
I do not subscribe to any of the statements or beliefs made by the citizens of the area I live in with respect to this operation. It is just damned interesting to view it as an 'observer of human nature'!! You can form your own opinions. As an outsider...I'll keep mine to myself. (Perhaps that says it.)

http://www.arkcity.net/stories/091808/com_0005.shtml

Click on the above to read about the current situation with respect to the Global Country of World Peace palaces in my photos.

For art sake, check this out by Nov. 11 as there is a "Treasury" created by another artist on Etsy that you should see. It features art that compliments one another. My "Old Elm" is featured there. I like the look Donna created! See it here, http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=19861

Crossing Over and Out

"Crossing" 9" x 12" oil on clayboard

This is the my answer for the challenge on

Karin Jurick's "Different Strokes from Different Folks" blog.

The board was black, I drew my sketch in with

an off-white paint, and went from there.

This one was fun! No faces, no tiny details,

just figures and shadows and a street crossing.

I can feel that intense sun shining

straight at these figures

on a crisp, chilly afternoon.

For Sale $95.00. If interested, please email me.

Longboats

"Longboat Twins" 16" x 20" oil on stretched canvas

Finished today. This one will be going to hang in a show for the next month. I thought I would change their trim color, but I didn't remember that until I had the water reflection done. Began working on this week's DSFDF challenge.

Work in Progress and Turnips

SOLD 
Work in Progress - side by side longboats on Mystic Harbor, 16" x 20" oil on stretched canvas

I am trying not to "noodle" this one. Have worked on it for two days now. There is a little shine from the wet paint. It is the same boats as last week, different photo perspective. I think I am done just below the boats in the water...there is lots of 'stuff' in the boats, and I am taking some of it out, too much detail and I don't want to clutter it. I am not a photo-realist painter. I think making the ropes work is important. It was in the last one. They aren't happenin' yet and I am leaving them in, there are a lot of twists and curls around the bows.

A man who lives near by and is the brother of the woman who owned this farmstead, brings us turnips every fall. They grow them in the big fields. I don't know if you can tell, but these are HUGE! He says he likes them by grating them and putting dressing on them. I like to just slice off a chunk and eat it. For sure, these will be a subject of a future painting or pastel. Love the purple color!

YES

WE

CAN!

U. S. Capitol - DSFDF Challenge

"U.S. Capitol" - watermedia on matboard - 8" x 10"

This one literally threw me for a loop. I used watercolor pencil. I had lots of ideas for what to put in the skyspace, 'W' waving goodbye? (I couldn't do his face, no matter how much I tried today, I guess cause I am not a fan of his, and besides, to me, it would have been a little too cheesy looking!), put a little of "we the people"in the sky? (not enough room), a face of one of the candidates - or both? (had to be cloudlike, nah...) so I just finished it this way.

Looks like DC on fire! No pun intended.

You can see a little of my failed ideas underneath the sky...ha.

That's as good as it gets some days.

That is why I try to paint EVERY day, to take the good with the crappy! I DO like the way the architecture/structure came out. It's good to do these challenges. I would never do a painting of this subject on my own, so it takes me way out of my 'zone'!

See the resource photo here.

Don't forget to VOTE!!!!

Where I Stand Sunday

Oh, to be a sporting dog!

Every scent on the wind - a thrill

every sound on the horizon - an alert

every move in the grass - a warning.

I spend my days - wondering..

Is it worthy of my attention?

Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places I spend my life standing. Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on. The ground we tread on has its own stories to tell.

A Painting for Today

"Longboats in Mystic Harbor" - 16" x 20" oil on stretched canvas

Finished this one (see the 'process' on previous post). I really like it!

I think I will try some more photos of boats and water,

after I try Karin Jurick's challenge for this week.

(Thanks for the photo, JW!)

For Sale - $250.00. Interested? Email me.