Amish Horse and Buggy

An acrylic painting on gessoed masonite board, 12 x 16. A few years ago while traveling through Missouri on "spring break," we didn't see much spring but we did see many of these familiar black buggies and gorgeous dark horses, waiting patiently for the return of their owners. The Amish are among my favorite subjects, and I hope to portray the strength of their faith and their simple devotion to God. This will be listed on Ebay on Monday evening.

Amish Boy

The Amish way of life is familiar to those of us in the Midwest and the Amish horse and buggy is not an uncommon sight on the roads in this region. I have great respect for those gentle people who choose the simplicty of this lifestyle; for their faith, their devotion, their love, and their industriousness. I hope this love and respect shows in my paintings. From them I have learned to focus on the things that are really important in this life: faith in God, the love of family and friends, and honest work. This painting is a mixed-media in watercolor with pen and ink and colored pencil. It has already sold, but I am hoping to finish an acrylic painting next week of an Amish horse and buggy in the snow. You will see it here first!

New White Horse

This is the newest in my White Horse series, an Arabian in an elegant pose. Most of the paintings in this series have been in pastel, but this is acrylic on stretched, wrapped canvas. It is a slightly different direction for the series, but I have tried to continue to explore the spirit of the horse and portray that magical "something" that makes it the special animal it is. This one was sold before it could be listed on eBay or posted on my website, but I will never stop painting white horses, so there will be another soon.

Three Little Dogs

This is a commissioned work, a 16 x 20 acrylic on stretched, wrapped canvas, and it is very special to me, because of the wonderful dogs and because of the story of Keeper, the poodle in the middle. She was rescued during Hurricane Andrew by a very compassionate woman who worked with an organization appropriately named "Noah's Ark." Keeper was in very bad condition, and the veterinarian didn't hold out much hope for her survival. But Kathi loved her back to health and one day was rewarded with a bark and a wag of the tail. I never had the pleasure of meeting Keeper, but I can sense her sweet, sweet spirit. Do something kind for an animal friend today, or find some people who are doing a good work and help them out. You will never regret it.

Summer going fast. I hope it is cool and pleasant wherever you are. Summer used to be the time for me to find inspiration in painting and traveling, but I have been staying home the past few years. So I have been busy with commissions, but not as much "free painting." Last week we cleared out our studio, (for the first time in a l-o-n-g time) in order to put in a different rug. Pastel dust has a way of settling in on things and the change was way overdue. But once the room was emptied, we realized a coat of paint was needed, and one thing led to another, and the hour and a half of work ended up taking a half day, plus another getting everything put back where it belonged. Fortunately a lot of organizing and "downsizing" takes place during times like this, so now I will have a new studio to work in, if I ever get there.