RODEO!

So - I managed to get some GREAT shots at the rodeo in Stony Plain, Alberta at Farmer's Day! Please enjoy!

23 Sleeps To Go.....

I am 23 sleeps away from my epic road trip!

I caved in and booked hotels/motels. I also booked a tour in the Pryor Mountains(http://www.pryormustangs.org/).... with the hopes of spotting Cloud!!

So I am spending the night of June 28th & 29th in Lovell.

Then to Deadwood I go for 3 nights at Deadwood Dicks (http://www.deadwooddicks.com/), right off of main street. I have a goal of having a drink in every notable saloon in the area. I am also planning to take a drive to Rushmore. I cannot be that close and NOT go see it.

Then, off to Cody on July 3rd for 3 nights, where I will bee staying at A Wyoming Inn (http://www.wyominginncody.com/). I have my stampede tickets paid for for the 3rd & 4th and I am hoping to catch thee night rodeo on the 5th.

I am only winging it on the nights of June 27th and July 7th. I am hoping to take a wander through Yellowstone as I make my way back home.

Anyways - here are a few photos from the last week! Enjoy!

Inspiration & Motivation: Where Are You?

When I wake up in the morning... I want to draw and paint.

By the time I get home from work, I am so drained and unmotivated that I cannot find the urge.

Art used to be one of my favorite things to do to unwind and distract myself. It is frustrating to not be able to have my ideas go from my brain to a piece of paper or canvas.

I have THOUSANDS of photos to work from. Anything you can imagine. I have unlimited access to horses and various other livestock. I take trips to places that have subjects that I WANT to turn into art. I flip through magazines that are dedicated to western art and culture trying to draw from them. I have wandered from gallery to gallery in Jackson Hole - like the Trailside Gallery. I have set eyes on some of the most amazing pieces of work that were going up for sale in Jackson Hole in their legendary auction. I have been to the National Museum of Wildlife Art, the Whitney Western Art Museum  But I cannot make it happen.

My ultimate goal is to find myself as a successful - and well known western artist.

It is a tough goal to achieve. I am fortunate to network through social media with many successful artists. They work hard. They make it look easy, but we all know it isn't. One - who I have watched over the last 6 or so years - has gone from painting children's portraits and "dabbling" has come so far and has been making a name for herself as a western artist. However she has encountered some criticism and ridicule for her style. She is fabulous! There are two types of people in the art world: People who want to see you succeed and help you and support you and people who re jealous and want to see you fail. The same can be said for the equine world as well from what I have seen so far.
I am lucky to have supportive art friends.

Something Different....

So - I bought a necklace on boxing day... it was regularly $15.... I waited to buy it on sale. I looked at it and thought to myself... 'I can do stuff like this!' So I did. Here are a few of the pieces I have made so far!

 

Winter Photos

Here are a few pics from the farm! Winter is pretty BUT.... Lol!

How I Spent My Birthday

Here - in no particular order - are a few photos I took while out on a birthday ride with a few girl friends. It looked like we weren't going to get the sunshine that the weatherman said we were going to get, but when we got to Chickakoo - the sky magically cleared up and it was a beautiful day! I like to think my mother had something to do with that... Reminded me of my 30th birthday 2 years ago. I was still living on Vancouver Island and I went to Tofino for my birthday. The whole day was rainy and cloudy. I had always wanted to see the sun set into the ocean and I never had. During dinner and a restaurant on the water, right around sunset time, the sky cleared up and I saw my sunset. I was full of wine and very emotional over the experience. I like to think that was my birthday gift from my mother.

So - back to last Sunday - I worked my poor horse hard. He was pretty slow going for the most part but I had him running a few times!

We also took a picnic lunch out with us and found a nice spot to sit down and enjoy it. It was the perfect way to spend a fall afternoon!