Back in the Studio!

(Wind River Canyon, WY-small watercolor study)

What joy!  The time has come to create new art work now that I'm back from all my travels.  And I've got 4 on the list right now all begging me to develop them first!  My travels to the West, the Pacific Northwest, and most recently to Arkansas have nourished my artist soul.  I am full to the brim of what I have seen and felt all along the way.  Life itself is inspiring.

  One drawing is already started on my easel.  I'm thinking about titling it "Barnyard Buddies".  It will explore friendship and trust.  The second drawing to sketch the dimensions on for today really excites me.  The title says a lot..."Mr. Majesty".  Any guesses as to what it might be?  Hint:  I saw him in Yellowstone National Park.  Two oil paintings are in the works. One will be of the Wind River Canyon in Wyoming and the other is a of a cowboy hanging on for every second while his bronco bucks.  I'll keep you updated with their progress over the next weeks.

The little wildlife herd in my studio has recovered from our travels and have determined territory rights here once again.  Some are preparing for hibernation as the temps begin to chill.  My Bighorn rams are still dealing with rut issues, but I think they are working through to more amicable behavior once again.

My art manikin Michelangelo was caught on camera taking a snooze with the hog from this year's 2014 Art Calendar.  Michelangelo wanted me to let you know that he has been working furiously the last 2 days on the NEW 2015 Bonnie Patterson Fine Art Calendar.  It is now at the printers and we are waiting for the call to check the proof.  Probably by the next blog all the information you need to order your 2015 Art Calendar will be here.  Be thinking about how many you would like to order as these make nice unique Christmas gifts that can be enjoyed every day of the year.  

Time to say goodbye to another piece of artwork that has gone out the door.  This painting titled "Winter Water" is now hanging in a lawyer's office in downtown Omaha.  And I think it has found a good home there.  The lawyer's connection with this painting was from boyhood memories of spending summers on his grandparents' ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills.  But when he found out the meaning behind this artwork for me, he was even more drawn to it. The cattle in this picture are waiting patiently for the farmer's water truck to come and fill the stock tank.  The conditions are not normal as there is no well, stream, or pond for the cattle to drink from naturally when they wish.  Conditions are more adverse with the onset of winter.  The water can freeze in these tanks and must be chipped out.  But the cattle wait patiently.  They are not running through the electric fence in search of other sources.  As I drove by this scene weekly on my way to work in a little school in Sedgwick, Colorado, it challenged me to have the same quiet, patient attitude as I waited on God to work in my life and circumstances.

I hope you are somewhere where you can get out and enjoy the beautiful artistry of God as the trees turn their fabulous colors this fall!

Be brave and courageous!