In the Misty Moonlight

I love painting horses, and I love creating a mood. White horses lend themselves well to mood-making because their beautiful white coats reflect the colors of the light. And light is what sets a mood. I think of this painting as a lyrical one, poetry in line and color, and I hope that it brings the viewer into a place of peace and harmony. When I need a sense of peace, I can find it in nature - animals, flowers, the sea - someplace untouched and unaffected by the stress and pressure of human existence. I learn from nature to be exactly what God created me to be, nothing more and nothing less, to cease from striving, competing, achieving, and simply to be, and to enjoy.

Misty Moonlight

Original Acrylic
On Stretched, wrapped canvas
14 x 11 x .75 inches
All edges painted, no staples showing. Can be displayed with or without a frame.

Sold

Sorry, this painting has been sold, but please visit my website for other work still available.

20% of the sale of this painting will be donated to True Blue Animal Rescue.

The North Shore - A Sentimental Journey

I have been away. Did you miss me? Larry, Button and I took a quick trip to Duluth. Barney stayed at Whimsy Park with Vicky and all the dogs, so he had his own vacation. She is a very nice lady and he likes her a lot.


We used to spend hours along the North Shore of Lake Superior, painting pictures and enjoying the peace and serenity of the place, but haven't been able to visit for a few years. This was a sort of sentimental journey for us, remembering those good times, taking pictures, and making plans to return and STAY LONGER! Next time we will make time to sit along the shore and paint, if only for an afternoon. There is a timelessness about the lake that takes me to a place of peace and tranquility. It was there long before I was born, and hopefully will still be here long after I am gone. It is easier for me to experience God's presence here, away from all the stress and busyness of everyday life.

Split Rock is one of my favorite places in the world. I love the birch trees, the wildlife, the flowers and, of course, the lighthouse. I have painted that lighthouse so many times, I could probably do it in my sleep. As a matter of fact, I did dream about it last night, but woke up before finishing the painting!

There is a lovely rose garden in Duluth that seems like a corner of Heaven. Lief Erickson Park, but I probably messed up the spelling. Anyway, it is close to the lakeshore and right on top of the freeway. If you get there at the right time of day, it is pretty quiet also.
All of these photos and more will probably be used to create paintings of my "Sentimental Journey," so look for them in future blogs.

Portrait of Lily by Della Burgus

This is a painting of a day lily from our garden. We have lots of them - we are always finding some new color or variety. This one has been around for so long I have forgotten her name, so I just call this Portrait of Lily. I am a portrait painter by nature. I think God made me that way. For years I painted and drew portraits of people, then I branched out into animals and flowers, but, as you see, it still has a portrait "feeling" to it. I tend to focus in on a subject, to capture its nature, its essence, the core of its being. (Well, that may be a little too deep, even for me.) I do enjoy painting landscapes and seascapes occasionally, but more often than not, I find myself focusing in on the one thing that captures my attention.

So here is Portrait of Lily. As with many of my paintings, a portion of this sale will be donated to an animal charity. I have chosen Tabby's Place, a Cat Sanctuary, in memory of my kitty Nala, who loved flowers. I miss her very much.


Portrait of Lily is available through eBay.
and Art Helping Animals.

Sketch, Dog Daze of Summer

Today I am sharing a page from my sketchbook, the preliminary drawing for a painting of a golden lab. I have decided to let you see this, with all its problems and rough edges, before I do a painting in pastel. For me a sketch is a plan, a map, of the finished artwork, so I can see what it will look like, and if it is really going to work. In my mind's eye (don't you love that phrase?) I see the finished painting, with color, value and line all working together to create a composition. Probably all anyone else can see is a rather weak, unfinished drawing that needs a lot of work! Sometimes I think my life is like this drawing: full of promise, but needing a lot of work. I am glad that God sees me as a beautiful painting, all the elements pulled together in a perfect composition. I still need a lot of work, but He is the Master Artist and I trust He can pull it all together.

Sad News

Like everyone, I was horrified by the story of the largest dog fighting ring in the history of the United States. Over 400 dogs were seized and rescued. Many others were not so fortunate. There are no words to express my anger at the monsters who abused and tortured these innocent creatures. I have friends with Pit Bulls. They are gentle, loving dogs with the same loyal dispositions that other dogs have. They have been raised with love and give love in return. Although the dogs are not to blame, as is often the case, they are the ones who have to pay the price. This has become a more personal sorrow for me, because some of the people involved come from central Iowa, one even from my small town. Thankfully, I do not know these people, nor do I want to, but I feel somehow our town has been diminished by their having lived here.
I hope and pray that many of the rescued dogs can be rehabilitated and find loving and understanding people to care for them.

You can read more about the raid and rescue on the Humane Society of Missouri. Currently these dedicated people are taking care of their physical needs. Please consider sending a donation for this good cause. Click on the link below for more information.

Humane Society of Missouri

“We are committed to giving dogs who have come from such horrible abuse the absolute best chance for a good life,” said Debbie Hill, vice president of Operations for the Humane Society of Missouri and director of the temporary shelter. “It is a tragedy that because of mistreatment by humans for financial gain and so-called sport, many dogs used in animal fighting may not ever be able to be placed in a home situation.”

Wildlife Art Elephant Walk by Della Burgus

I absolutely love elephants - love reading about them, watching them on TV, sketching and photographing them in zoos, and above all, I love to paint them. They are large, slow moving tough-looking animals, with tender spirits and hearts of gold. Well, most of them are, anyway. This painting was inspired by a CBS story by my favorite reporter, Steve Hartman. It is the story of a most unlikely friendship between an elephant named Tarra and a little dog named Bella who live in the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee. I won't try to retell the tale, because Steve does it so beautifully, but if you want to read it for yourself, just click on this link: Bella and Tarra.


Note: This painting is NOT a picture of Bella, though I was inspired by her story. As I mentioned earlier, I love elephants, love to paint them and I use my own photos and sketches for my work.


If you would like to visit the sanctuary website, click this link: The Elephant Sanctuary. You can read all about their work, see photos of the elephants, and even watch a video. It would be great if you would also donate to their work.


The painting is 10 x 10 inches, acrylic on stretched canvas, all edges are painting, so it may be displayed with or without a frame. It is available through Art Helping Animals, as well as through this blog.


10% of the sale will be donated to Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center, through Art Helping Animals.

I will donate an additional 10% to the Elephant Sanctuary.

Elephant Walk
Acrylic on stretched canvas
10 x 10 x .75 inches
$100

Quote from Steve Hartman: "Take good look at this couple, America. Take a good look world. If they can do it - what's our excuse?"