Ranch Dressing, New Work & Groundhogs

I have been busy as a bee today. Since my little shadow was staying the night at her grandmother's house, I told my husband to take the computer keyboard with him to work so I wouldn't be tempted to surf the net all day (I have an addiction). Well, I guess I wasn't thinking becuase I was still able to surf the net sans typing. Next time he should take the mouse! I was able to complete to more Springtime welcome signs. One with a Miniature Horse and the other features a handsome Palomino Quarter Horse. I would rather be painting with oils on canvas but my signs bring home the bacon and the coffers are a bit low lately. My DH has off for Easter the next 5 days so I really hope to get a painting at least started.

I wanted to thank Angie of Free Rein Art for the super nice blog post about me yesterday. I was very flattered when she asked me over the weekend to send her some pictures of my signs and a bio. When you get the chance stop over to her new blog, Ranch Dressing, to learn a little more about me and also about decorating your house with a cowgirl flair!



Lastly, meet my new nemesis, Mr. Groundhog. He's taken up residence under my shed and is helping himself to the baby romaine lettuce growing in my garden. I am at my wits end with this guy. I have a humane trap set but he's not triggering it for some reason. I keep baitng it and setting it and testing it to see if it works but he eats the food bait and the trap doesn't close. I've tried a few other things, annoying him, ammonia soaked rags around my garden, pinwheels to spook him - nothing works. I think a rifle would work but that would be mean, wouldn't it?
Please let me know if you have any ideas!

New Foal WIP

I had started this cantering chesnut horse painting over the summer but wasn't really happy with it. So yesterday I worked a little more and now I am satisfied. He just needed his coat shined up a bit:)

Also started work on a painting of a foal. I raised this guy at the Thoroughbred farm I managed for 8 years. Unfortunately he was put down after he broke his leg in a race. How incredibly sad! Since Eight Belles was destroyed after the KY Derby last year, I've stopped watching horse races.






I was going to post a finished picture of my Tunis Sheep painting but it looks pretty much like it did in my post below. We have one nice little gallery here in East Petersburg and it is going to hang there next month. Haven't had a piece in a gallery in AGES so it will be fun to have it there!

Also snagged a new treasury this morning. Here's a screen shot. It's called "Palomino".

Tricks for Treats

I had SO much fun painting my newest Halloween piece.
Reminiscent of Roy Roger's Trigger, I've painted a lovely palomino horse and his black cat pal performing some tricks in hopes of receiving treats. He's already gotten an apple and some carrots in his jack o' lantern pail, perhaps he is looking for a bunch of fresh catnip for the kitty now. There is a witch flying in front of the blue moon and each animal is wearing a colorful collar for the holiday.

Just listed on ebay!