Recharging



Relics oil 9 x 12

A while back I wrote about cabin fever--the urge to be outside during the long winter months. April has arrived in the high country and the weather is chaotic and unpredictable.  The trees remain bare and the snowbanks are receding but dirty and the landscape is rather unappealing. Definitely not the stuff for hanging on your wall.

When I need some inspiration for upcoming shows, I have found the best thing to do is get in the car and drive to points south to recharge.  Taking in a different landscape, warmer weather, and unmuddied roads allows me to sit at my desk the next day with a clearer head and new ideas. We drove to Salida over the weekend and though there is just a tinge of green, the snow has melted and the ranches are filled with new babies and it was just good to get out and see the promise of Spring. I have been busy the past few days painting from that trip with a renewed energy.

Rhythms of the Ranch

Rhythms of the Ranch oil 14 x 11

I will have a new piece in the Random Works of Beauty show that opens this weekend in Estes Park.  This show is part of the 24th annual Women's Art Celebration.  My piece is painted just down the road from where I live.  There is a ranch that can be seen from the road and the Gore Range rises above it.  The ranch always has several horses grazing and this winter they have added some fuzzy cows that gather at a hay rack near the side of the road.  I have have painted it in many seasons, but haven't caught the ranch in winter yet. If you are in the area, the show can be seen at the Cultural Arts Council gallery.