The Creative Spirit

New Painting New Series Elegance White Iris OIl

2012-02-08T11:43:00.000-08:00

White Iris

Elegance

Oil on stretched, wrapped canvas

12 x 16 x 1.5

Every year about this time, no matter how mild or how harsh the weather has been, I begin to long for signs of spring. The days become longer and more pleasant - more sunshine, warmer days, bluer skies - and to me the most enjoyable - flowers seem to appear out of nowhere. Crocus and Hyacinth, daffodils and tulips - even the dandy lions and violets can be a welcome sight, depending on the kind of winter it's been. Among my favorites are the beautiful iris - there are so many varieties, so many colors and color combinations. And of course, the iris was a favorite of my mom's so there is a sentimental connection for me there as well. This painting was done from a photograph taken in my garden during the late spring when flowers are at their most beautiful. Each year I take hundreds of them, keeping in mind the long, dreary winter days ahead. If I happen to miss a bloom or bud, I can always count on my photographer husband to share one of his.

Most of my floral paintings are close ups of single or perhaps two or three blooms, rather than than panoramic paintings of gardens. Don't know why, it is just the way I am wired, probably. Looking closely at things may simply be a result of nearsightedness, but the idea of exploring the intricate beauty of a flower petal has always appealed to me. I admire the work of Georgia O'Keefe, and even though my style is nothing at all like hers, we do seem to look at things in the same way. The result for me is a painting that is realistic in style, yet somewhat abstract in composition.

"Elegance" is one of a new series of floral paintings. I love the 12 x 16 inch format and especially the deep canvas. It is a dramatic statement, as the painting is extended to the sides, top and bottom of the canvas and it is displayed without a frame.

This painting has now been sold, but watch this space for others available soon. And remember, spring always comes, eventually...

Sheltie, Shih Tzu and Schnauzer

2012-01-19T13:22:00.000-08:00

Shetland Sheepdog

"Gentle Guardian"

Pastel, 9 x 11

Shelties are among the sweetest, most empathetic of dogs. Perhaps it is their herding instinct that also makes them highly intuitive, I don't know for sure, but they sense when someone is hurting and needs comforting, they are protective and very tender toward children. At least that is true of those whom I have met. Most herding dogs may have similar traits. I know that our dog Barnabas, a Border Collie mix, though a "wild child" in many ways absolutely loves children and seems to be able to read my mind.

At Christmas time, I am always busy with commissioned work - portraits of both humans and animals. Here are a couple of doggie portraits I did for the holidays. A cute little Shih tzu and a handsome Schnauzer. I love doing portraits of people's pets, it is heartwarming to see how much they are loved and give love in return. Even after they are gone, the love goes on forever...

Have a great day and don't forget to hug your pet. If you don't have one, hug the pet of some kind soul who doesn't mind sharing the love.

Shih Tzu

Schnauzer

Giant Panda Wildlife Art Print

2011-12-14T10:23:00.000-08:00

Giant Panda

Art Print 10 x 10

I love his happy face, his roly-poly body, his soft black and white outfit, his cute little ears. I really can't think of anything about him not to like. For the most part he is what you would call laid back, not aggressive, noncompetitive and non demanding. All he asks is a nice quiet rain forest and some bamboo to munch. Admittedly he isn't much of a "go-getter." He has not invented the wheel, high speed computers or a cure for the common cold, though in his defense, he has no need for any of those things. On the other hand, neither did he invent the atomic bomb, network TV or high heel shoes. So at least his lack of ambition has done no harm. It is true, I have read that pandas have been known to attack humans, but only when they are irritated by them. Yes, well, I don't hold that against them, as I myself have had similar feelings. All in all, this is one I would like to claim as a friend.

To introduce you to my new print shop page, I am offering "Giant Panda" and other requested reproductions at a special price. These reproductions are printed on fine, acid free art paper and are subjected to scrupulous inspection by the artist herself - (that would be me!) During this difficult economy, it is a perfect opportunity to own artwork, without paying the price of an original. And they make great gifts.

Visit Della's Print Shop page.

If you don't find what you want, more prints will be added often. Or email me with special requests.

Email Della

Wildlife Art African Lion Print

2011-12-07T06:04:00.001-08:00

The King
Wimoweh

8 x 10

art print from my original pastel painting

I love cats - those who live in houses and those who live in the jungle or forest. Even with all their differences, it is obvious that they belong to the same family. If you look closely, you can see the lion in the kitten, and the kitten in the lion. They purr, they pounce, they play, they stalk. I read somewhere that God created the cat so that man might enjoy the pleasure of petting a lion. But of all the majestic cats, large and small, there is only one called "King."

Despite its ferocity, the lion seems to be a favorite character in stories and songs. Usually he is softened a bit in order to help us cope with him. I loved the Narnia series, the books and the movies, in which the lion Aslan was a character both loved and feared, who many believe was meant to represent Jesus. It was a wonderful adventure as well as a sort of parable. Near the end of the movie, as Aslan walks off into the sunset, Tumnus the faun tells young Lucy, "He isn't a tame lion, you know." May that be said of all of us...

My favorite lion song is of course, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, also known as Wimoweh. This particular version from the movie, the Lion King is just for fun, although that story could also be called a parable about coming of age and accepting responsibility...

To introduce you to my new print shop page, I am offering "The King," and other requested reproductions at a special price. These reproductions are printed on fine, acid free art paper and are subjected to scrupulous instruction - the artist herself (that would be me!) During this difficult economy, it is a perfect opportunity to own artwork, without paying the price of an original. And they make great gifts.

Visit Della's Print Shop page.

If you don't find what you want, more prints will be added often. Or email me with special requests.

Email Della

Kitty Cat Sleeping Kitten Art Print

2011-12-03T07:03:00.001-08:00

Sweet Dreams

Art Print

7 x 9

Anyone who has ever shared their life with a cat will attest to the notion that kittens are a study in extremes. During any ten-minute period, they can be seen racing through the house with paws barely touching the floor, climbing the walls and curtains, stalking some dangerous but completely invisible prey, purring quietly on a lap and sleeping like an angel on whatever bedding may be available. Then the cycle begins all over again. And they are alternately described as "angelic" and "little devils," sometimes in the same breath. Life with a kitten is never boring. They can be great companions but they are not dogs, (who by the way I also love) they do not think the way dogs think and they will never behave as dogs. Their unpredictability is part of their charm, and one of the reasons that we cat-lovers find them so absolutely irresistible. And, like all of God's creatures, they are beautiful and our respect and care as they fill their own special place in creation.

To introduce you to my new print shop page, I am offering this, and other requested reproductions at a special price. These reproductions are printed on fine, acid free art paper and are subjected to scrupulous instruction - the artist herself (that would be me!) During this difficult economy, it is a perfect opportunity to own artwork, without paying the price of an original. And they make great gifts.

Visit Della's Print Shop page.

If you don't find what you want, more prints will be added often. Or email me with special requests.

Email Della

Equine Art Black Friesian Horse Art Print

2011-12-01T08:21:00.001-08:00

Freedom

Friesian Horse Print

I have renamed this painting Freedom in its print form because that is the emotion it expresses. If you have ever watched horses galloping across the distant hills, you know what I mean. For just a moment, you know the wild and free and free feeling of the freedom of running, stirring up the wind, filling your heart with the joy of life, of movement, of being.

To introduce you to my new print shop page, I am offering this, and other requested reproductions at a special price. These reproductions are printed on fine, acid free art paper and are subjected to scrupulous instruction - the artist herself (that would be me!) During this difficult economy, it is a perfect opportunity to own artwork, without paying the price of an original. And they make great gifts.

Visit Della's Print Shop page.

If you don't find what you want, more prints will be added daily. Or email me.

Email Della

Art on the Prairie

2011-11-16T06:49:00.001-08:00

A big thanks to everyone who supported the artists at the Art on the Prairie show this weekend, and a special thank you to those who made the effort to find Larry and me on the second floor of Town Craft. You went the extra mile, hunting us up, climbing stairs or waiting for a very slow elevator and I really do appreciate it. We had a great time, met some lovely new friends and became reacquainted with others we haven't seen for a long time.

Here are a some shots of our exhibit. It was a great but exhausting experience.

We are thinking that perhaps this may be the beginning of a new phase of our lives, as family and work obligations begin to dwindle, we would like to do more of this kind of show. It was our dream when we were younger to travel the country in an RV and paint, but things that sound good to you when you are young, don't always work out when you "mature." The Internet has changed the art world considerably, as has the economy. So, while we don't really know what the future holds, we know that we will always keep painting.

Art on the Prairie Preview

2011-11-09T07:20:00.000-08:00

Art on the Prairie 2011
November 12th 10am-6pm
November 13th 10am-4pm

Art on the Prairie 2011 will showcase artists' work of a variety of media in 5 buildings in Perry: Hotel Pattee, Town Craft, Carnegie Library Museum, Security Bank Building and the new DMACC at Perry VanKirk Career Academy.

We will also be having student exhibits, storytelling and children's art activities at the Perry Public Library. As in 2010, music will fill each building both days. This year musicians will be invited to jam at Hiawatha Station when not scheduled during the day. A new addition this year is our Poets Corner. It will be an exciting year.

Anyone from the Central Iowa area, or if you happen to find yourself here for whatever reason. please visit Larry and me at our booth at the Town Craft Center. We will be on the second floor.
Here is a small sampling of the work we will be bringing.

We will have original artwork for sale as well as prints. note cards and some Christmas cards. Set up is on Thursday night, so I will try to have more photos to share on Friday.

Dog Art Shih Tzu in a Cap

2011-10-17T13:11:00.000-07:00

"Ready?"

Pastel, 9 x 11

There are times when words are unnecessary, one might even say superfluous. Actually, that is true more often than not. It is also said that a picture is worth a thousand words and of course, being an artist, I have no quarrel with that notion. In fact, I believe that price may be a little low. You don't need to be told what is going on here - as is often the case, the dog speaks for himself. Have you ever noticed how they can say volumes without uttering a word? They speak intuitively, directly to your soul, bypassing the ears, even the brain. Because, regardless of what scientists, or even theologians may think, dogs are creatures of the heart and emotion. And, dare I say it, the soul? OK, OK, I know all the arguments against it, but I know what I know. And it is the love of my dog, not his brain that brings me joy. Recently I heard someone, a relative of a relative, say that Border Collies are considered the smartest of all dogs. That may be so, I do share my life with a Border Collie, but I don't keep him around for his intelligence. We don't share an interest in books or movies and I haven't been able to ask him for help with the bookkeeping for our business. Honestly, I don't look to either of my dogs for stimulating conversation. But Barnabas the Border Collie and Button the Toy Poodle seem to have an uncanny ability to understand me, how I am feeling, and what I need even when I don't tell them. Neither of them are rocket scientists, but what they do, they do very well indeed.

This painting is pastel on Wallis Professional Pastel Paper, it is mounted on foam core and matted to a a standard size for framing. It will be listed on Chisholm Trail Art, Daily Painters and Art Helping Animals and will be available through my Etsy Shop.

A Flower Called "Glad"

2011-10-07T14:47:00.000-07:00

Glads

Acrylic on gesso board

11 x 14

My mom called them "Glads," and they were one of her favorite flowers. Their scientific name is gladiolus, from the Latin, gladius, "a sword," and it is sometimes known as a "sword-lily." Somewhere back in history, someone must have decided those long, slender stalks look like swords, but I sure don't see it. They do make me feel happy, however, so the nickname "Glads" seems much more appropriate. Flowers may not seem important but think how much they enhance our lives. They cheer us when we are sad, add to our joy when we celebrate. They are an expression of love, of sympathy, of friendship and their language is universal. They are the art from the hand of God Himself and I can do nothing except stand and applaud. "Bravissimo!" (that is for the flower, not the painting)
This painting has been listed on Daily Painters, Art Helping Animals, and Chisholm Trail Art, and is available through my Etsy Shop.

Monarch Butterflies - the Road Not Taken

2011-09-30T08:30:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful sight, but not exactly the one I had hoped to see. A handful of Monarchs made their way to the Zinnia patch in the garden on September 19. They were late, and much fewer in numbers than last year, when they covered all the trees and bushes in our yard and gardens. I waited for the others to follow but they never appeared. Their times and routes do vary from year to year and as the temperatures began to lower, it became obvious we would not see the same spectacular show as last year. I read on one of the Monarch websites (yes, they have several) that some people in Nebraska had seen the roosts as early as September 8, while others in northern states thought they were later than usual. Frost and cold can affect their migration patterns, as can drought and flooding.

Glad to know they are still alive and well, though we won't see them in such great numbers as last summer when it looked like this:

"Butterfly Tree" photo taken on Sept. 6, 2010

Still, we enjoyed a quiet beauty, and that can be the best kind...

Photo taken on Sept. 19, 2011

Sometimes I can be so focused on finding the spectacular that I miss the beautiful.....

Have a great week end. Hope to see you next week with a new painting. Hot air balloons - a completely new direction for me! If it turns out, you will see it here, and if not we will quietly move on and forget I ever mentioned it...

Ebenezer, a Tornado, Philistines, and a Badly Painted Rock

2011-09-27T08:36:00.000-07:00

This is not one of my more artistic efforts, and it wasn't designed to impress. As a matter of fact I did it in a hurry with no intention of ever showing to anyone. I remember the day very well, even though it was spent in the same way as so many that came before and after - in the studio and frame shop. I don't even remember what I was working on, but I do remember the date: November 11, 2005. That morning I had been reading in 1 Samuel about the Israelites and the Philistines. The Israelites had gathered in a place called Mizpah for a time of repentance and worship and when their enemies, the Philistines, heard of it they gathered their forces to attack. The people cried out to the Lord and He answered them, thundering from Heaven and throwing the enemy into confusion so that they were defeated by Israel. Then Samuel, Israel's priest, set up a stone at Mizpah and called its name "Ebenezer," because he said "the Lord has brought us this far."

For some reason, I could not get that story out of my mind. Though I hadn't battled any actual Philistines at that time, there were some formidable enemies that threatened me - things like health concerns, family worries, financial problems. And I realized that, yes, "God had brought us this far," and that I needed a tangible reminder of that, something I could see every day. Of course! I needed an Ebenezer stone of my own. At the end of the day, when I finally decided it was no longer possible to put off this nagging feeling, I found a rock in the garden, brought it in, and painted on it the words from the book of 1Samuel. I set it on the filing cabinet in our studio where I could see it every day, but didn't dream how soon I would need its message.

The following day, a rare November tornado hit our town. Usually here in Iowa they reserve their terror for the summer months. Because of modern technology, we were given just enough warning to get everyone into the basement, although it had been difficult to convince my then 95 year-old father that he couldn't stay and watch it through the big picture window in his room. Larry had gone back to get Barney the border collie who refused to go down the stairs by himself, so he had heard the "freight train" sound before I did. He looked at me and said, "We are going to lose the house." It was at that moment that I remembered the rock sitting in our studio. and a feeling of peace came over me. I thought, well we would have to start over. People do, Or if the house came crashing in on us, as they sometimes do, well, then we would be in Heaven and none of this would matter. Of, course. God had brought us this far, we could trust Him with the rest.

The storm had come up our street but then veered off into a nearby field, wrecking havoc where it traveled, and causing devastation in a couple of different areas of town. But there were no deaths and, as far as I knew, no really serious injuries. We ended up with lots of debris and the loss of a couple of pine trees at our place. Some people lost so much more, and their lives were changed forever, but at least they still had their lives, In the light of recent events in many parts of the country, it was not that significant, but at the time it was the end of the world.

Ebenezer Stone still sits on the filing cabinet but over the years it has become one of those things that is there, but I just don't actually see it, like background music or a seldom used piece of furniture. Until one day last week when suddenly its message jumped up at me and I remembered. Once again, in the middle of different kind of "storm," I am reminded that God has brought us this far and he will not let us down now. If you haven't already discovered this, there will always be storms of one kind or another, debris to dodge or Philistines to defeat. If you aren't "going through" something right now, you will be soon. It is a fact of life But for me at least, there is comfort in knowing that He is right there with me and He will always bring me through. Til the next storm.

I once read something that was attributed to Mother Theresa. She said, "I know that God promises not to give you any more than you can handle. I just wish sometimes He wouldn't trust me so much."
Be of good cheer, He will always bring us through.

Wildlife Art Arctic White Wolf

2011-09-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

White Wolf

Pastel, 9 x 12

Of course, I did not make a trip to the North Pole to see this guy. Well, yes, I know they don't actually live at the North Pole but in Canada and Alaska and whatever other country is up there. This one was in a zoo, and I imagined the snow as a fitting background for him. Somehow a white wolf surrounded by trees and green grass just doesn't do it for me. I hope this hasn't taken away from the mystery of the piece. He does look at home in a snowbank, doesn't he? Actually there was a dog living next door to us for a while whose people called him a wolf but I was never quite sure. He might have been a mixture. But, oh my, what an amazing howl he had! And he was gorgeous! Anyway, though at this point I wouldn't be prepared to encounter one in the wild, I appreciate their beauty and enjoy them from afar. Very far.

This is a pastel painting on board. The image size is 9 x 12 and it is matted to a standard frame size.
It is available through Art Helping Animals and Daily Painters. And it will also be listed on Chisholm Trail Art, though I am almost certain none of the cowboys saw one of them while driving their cattle along the trail.

Floral Art Dinner Plate Hibiscus

2011-09-01T08:48:00.000-07:00

Exotic Beauty

"Dinner Plate" Hibiscus

Acrylic, 12 x 12

The huge, lush blooms of the hibiscus plants would seem to belong in a lush tropical setting rather than an ordinary Iowa garden, yet this beauty is growing right outside my door. A few years ago we discovered that a hardy variety was available that could withstand the harsh Iowa winters. It is one of those bushes that catch you by surprise. The first year we planted it - nothing. The second year there were a few small blooms. leading us to decide we must have been mistaken about it being of the "dinner plate" variety. Then, this summer, we were blessed with this unbelievable sight. The flowers are a good 10 to 12 inches in diameter and we have been treated to a new one every day for several days now. I am thinking that "dinner plate" may be an understatement, this may be the size of a frying pan, or maybe even a hub cap. But the idea of eating off a giant flower is a rather romantic one, so I won't mess with the name.

This flower just had to be painted and I had a wonderful time with it. The contrast in colors, the crepe paper texture and the abstract patterns all appealed to me. Think of it as reminder to look closely at things, everything - or you will miss something wonderful and unexpected! To me it is also a tribute to the Master Artist, the only original creator - all the rest of us either copy or respond to what He has done. Every day I thank Him for His inspiration.
"...they toil not, neither do they spin, yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

This acrylic painting has been listed online on Daily Painters, Art Helping Animals and Chisholm Trail Art. For more information contact me:

dellartist@yahoo.com

Portrait of a Baseball Fan

2011-08-18T14:43:00.000-07:00

My latest commission, a portrait of a young fan, in pastel from photographs. At this point I have not had the pleasure of meeting this handsome young man. I have painted all three grandchildren in this particular family, each of them wearing a St. Louis Cardinal's shirt. The red color is eye catching, a little tough to do in pastel. Cardinal fans are very, very loyal, and they start quite young.

Painting this picture brought back memories and a little nostalgia for me. My Dad was also Cardinal's fan and spent many happy hours watching the games on television. He lived with us for the last seven years of his life, and we knew when the Cardinals were playing because he would start to sing, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." What a great day for him, when his beloved team won the World Series! He won the bragging rights over his sister who lives in Chicago. Funny how it is the little things that you miss...

My roots are in portraiture, and for many years I considered myself a portrait artist. Capturing faces on canvas or paper is still a great adventure for me. It is a little more challenging than other types of art, but what a great feeling when you know that you finally "got 'em!"

Landscape Meadow Oil Painting by Della Burgus

2011-08-16T10:36:00.000-07:00

In Green Pastures

Oil on Canvas

18 x 24

A large oil painting of the peaceful meadow Larry and I see when we drive to his parents' home in southern Iowa. We have been working on the house for more than three years now and we are hoping to sell it soon. I will miss the lovely scenery but not the long trips, the hard work, nor the drain on our bank account that results from paying two sets of utility bills and property taxes. We like to think that our "burden" will someday become another person's blessing.

The title is, of course, from Psalm 23:2, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures." At least that is the way I learned it as a child. The passage has always had a special meaning for me, because there was a pasture on the farm where I grew up. I spent hours there "alone," dreaming, imagining, and talking with Jesus. That is how I learned to pray. These days it seems there are many times when He has to "maketh me to lie down in green pastures." When deadlines, disappointments and demands overwhelm me, He says, "Come away for a while, rest your mind and spirit." Then I reluctantly put down my work and my worries to spend time with Him in a quiet place. Soon the troubles of the world begin to melt away and all those things that seemed terribly important just don't matter so much any more. But there are other times when He doesn't have to "maketh" me to lie down- when I am so weary of the world and its harshness, when even those closest to me don't understand or seem to care. That's when I run to the green pasture in search of Him and His peace, and He wraps His arms around me and assures me that everything is in His hands.

This is the first new painting I have posted in a while and the first landscape in a long, long time. It was painted on a large stretched canvas and will need a frame. I am offering it both framed and unframed. It will be posted on Art Helping Animals and Daily Painters as well as Chisholm Trail Art.
For more info, email me. dellartist@yahoo.com

Now, go find yourself some green pastures and lie down!

A Pink Iris and an Episode of the Twighlight Zone

2011-07-22T14:40:00.000-07:00

Prissy Miss

Pink Iris

Pastel, 9 x 12

The days of blooming iris have come and gone here in Iowa, but the painting lives on. I used a dark background for this because it really makes the flower and buds"pop" and shows off the stately leaves of the plant. I can never get enough of iris and love painting them from every different angle - close ups like this one, even closer-ups after the style of Georgia O'Keefe, and fields of them like Van Gogh. They are a fascinating study and I can't imagine that I will ever tire of them. There is always a new way of looking at them.

Speaking of a new way of looking at things, the other evening I walked into the dining room and found this creature leaning against my buffet...

Maybe I have been watching too much science fiction on TV - I am a closet Stargate fan - and it does look different in daylight, but this gave me a bit of a start. For just a micro-second, I thought that some other-worldly creature had come in and unpacked his bag. OK, I knew better, I didn't call 911 or anything, but that was the thought that entered my mind. It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that I have been "blessed" or perhaps "cursed" with a vivid imagination ever since childhood - depending on your point of view. Maybe I was struck by a stray meteorite or something. While it merely caused people to shake their heads in amazement when I was growing up, these days it would probably land me in therapy...

Dog Art Cavalier King Charles Spaniel PLUS A Work in Progress!

2011-07-11T18:46:00.000-07:00

All Played Out

Pastel on Sennelier Pastel Card

Image size 7 x 9

Animals have the most expressive faces. While they don't express themselves with words as we humans do, it is not often difficult to know what they are thinking or what they want to tell you. This little pup, like most babies, had played very, very hard, and suddenly realized he was past due for a nap. When they are puppies, they simply drop wherever they are and take a snooze. Later on, they have their own special blanket, pillow, or space on the couch, and they absolutely must turn around three times before they lie down. I have read that is a throwback to when they lived in the wild and had to make sure the area was secure before they slept. Don't know if I buy that, but it does make an interesting story. This little one, though tired out, looked very content and happy. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels always look happy to me. They are one of my favorite breeds to paint, and if I had room for one more dog in my house, I would like one of these.

For more information on this or any other painting, email me

dellartist@yahoo.com

WIP*

WOMEN**

*WIP = WORK IN PROGRESS

**WOMEN= WHAT'S ON MY EASEL NOW

It isn't often that I share anything on this blog except finished works, and there is good reason for that. My process is not the usual step by step kind that is taught in art schools, work shops and DVD's, with each step following the previous one in perfect succession, beautiful harmony, the end evident in the beginning well diagrammed layout. I work intuitively, though some have unkindly referred to my process as "convoluted." Some days I make great strides forward - step one, step two, etc. - but there are times when it all falls apart. I see a passage that maybe needs just a little adjustment, a tweak. Three hours later I am still "tweaking" and somehow I know that it will take three more days of work just to bring it back to where it was before. And don't let anybody fool you - you can't pick up a house painting brush and expect to create a masterpiece in twenty minutes. It only works that way on TV.

Having said all that, I would like to share with you the painting that is currently on my easel, a landscape of the rolling hills of southern Iowa, my husband's home base. It has been a while since I have tried a landscape of this size, because so much of my time is taken up with commissioned portraits and my work with Art Helping Animals - plus various family obligations - so it is really exciting for me. For me painting a landscape is like meeting an old friend that I haven't seen for a while. It will take us a while to get re-acquainted, but eventually it will be just like old times again. In anticipation of a show we will be doing this fall, Art of the Prairie, I will title this one Prairie Song.

I know that many artists periodically show works in progress on their blogs - many even include videos of themselves actually doing the painting. I applaud them for their organizational skills and their courage but have no fear, you will not see anything like that here. This may be a work in progress or it may be a work in regress, I am not sure. If it is ever finished, I will share the completed painting with you, but there is no guarantee that you will recognize it. It is early days yet, so all that remains to be seen. Or not.

Bernese Mountain Dog and a Favorite Author, T.L. Higley

2011-07-01T21:34:00.000-07:00

Art: Bernese Mountain Dog in Pastel

The Look of Love
Bernese Mountain Dog

Pastel on Sennelier Pastel Card

I saw this fellow at a dog show and took a photo. This breed of dog is often described as a "gentle giant," and his person told me that description fit him perfectly. I love his quiet, honest gaze, his soft fur, his joyful spirit.

Sometimes paintings have to be worked and re-worked. Sometimes there are problems in composition or color. Usually I struggle over the background at least. But every now and then I come across a subject who is so simple and direct that there is no other way to paint it. This one more or less painted itself. I just held the pastel sticks. Paintings like this are a joy to do. And dogs are always a joy.

Email me for more information about this painting. dellartist@yahoo.com

The Artist's Journey: T. L. Higley, a Favorite Author

As most of my blogging friends know, reading is one of my favorite pastimes and there are times when life gets so crazy and the people in my life become unreasonable and demanding and I must escape. Fiction is the best way for me to get away. My favorite authors are those whose stories take me to exotic places and provide me with adventures beyond my craziest dreams. T.L. Higley is my newest "discovery." Nothing she writes is ordinary and as an added bonus, every story is a learning experience. Her books are filled with mystery, intrigue, and romance, and even an extra dimension or two - like the supernatural or sometimes even time travel. Her extensive research results in a tale that is so authentic it gives me the feeling of "being there," and keeps me reading long into the night. The beginning of my addiction was a book entitled Fallen From Babel, the story of a professor of religious studies who does not believe in God. One evening he handles a blue glazed terra-cotta Neo-Babylonian vase and is transported 3,000 years back in time to Old Testament Babylon. Now that is a real escape! I felt as if I had been transported also, as I have with every one of her books.

Check out her site:
T.L. Higley

Equine Art Horses Friesian Black Horse by Della Burgus

2011-06-03T15:03:00.000-07:00

Freedom Run

Pastel, 11 x 14 inches

Something about running horses has always said "freedom" to me. Just looking at them running on a hill or across a meadow awakens a sense of joy and freedom within my spirit. They are doing what they were born to do, what God created them to do. They aren't rocket scientists or chemists, they will never bring about world peace or discover a cure for any of the terrible diseases that befall mankind. They aren't meant to. They are meant to run, to feel the freedom of the wind blowing their manes and the joy of the moment. If any human being is blessed with the friendship of one of these magnificent creatures, he may share in the joy and taste the freedom. A person may reach an understanding with a horse, they may come to a relationship that is mutually beneficial, the human may even think he or she has "trained," the horse, but that is as far as it goes. Inside, where it really counts, the horse is still a horse, its spirit is its own. That is as it was meant to be.

A lovely horse from a horse show. I liked the back lighting, and imagined him running across a meadow with his mane flying. To me, black horses are the most difficult to paint, especially in pastel, but this one just had to be painted. I loved his gentle eyes.

This is an 11 x 14 pastel on Richeson Pastel Board, and is matted, ready to frame. It was listed on Daily Painters and Art Helping Animals on Tuesday. Sorry it has taken me so long to get it on the blog. What can I say? It has been a busy week.

Floral Flowers Red Tulip

2011-05-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

An Unexpected Joy

Pastel

Image size: 7.5 x 9.5

Matted, ready to frame

Somewhere, nestled deep inside our most difficult struggles, when problems have piled up so high that they become mountains of stress, despair, and hopelessness, God plants a surprise, a little gift that says,"Cheer up, I'm here, I love you and I am still in charge." No big, mountain moving miracle, just a little gem of reassurance that God is still in His Heaven - and His earth - and that everything is under control. Not my control, of course, but when I really analyze it, things are better off with God doing His thing than with me doing mine.

Last week, I was "enjoying" a solitary lunch of canned chicken soup - Healthy Choice Chicken with Rice, if it matters - because I had developed a rather nasty spring cold had no appetite for real food. Besides the cold, I was facing a mountain of worries, responsibilities and forks in the road that seemed too much for me to handle. In the middle of my "meal," though, I looked up and found myself staring at a bouquet of tulips that my husband had brought in from the garden earlier in the week. Most of them were pretty well spent, but there was this one lovely bloom, beautifully colored, perfectly shaped, smiling gently at me. Of course, I did what any red-blooded American artist would do when faced with a subject like that. I planned a painting, a series of paintings, a lifetime of paintings! It would be my Red Tulip Period. Of course, I could not expect one little flower to last through so many paintings, so I did what every red blooded American artist of the 21st century would do - I reached for my digital camera! Don't you just love digitals? I shot close-ups, closer-ups, macro close-ups, not-so-close-ups, in this light and that. Some were good, some awful, but that is the beauty of modern technology. Take as many shots as you like and throw away the duds. No money wasted on the film.

Of course this one had to be in pastel, nothing else could have captured the joy of that moment. The joy I had in creating this painting is drawing me back to pastel, which has always been my first love, even though other mediums may be more impressive and easier to ship. Oils and acrylics are fun and have their own special qualities, but I had been really missing the expressiveness and directness of pastel. It is time to return to my first love in art, at least for a while. It is amazing how a chance encounter with one humble little flower has restored my vision, my passion and my joy. Of course, that mountain of worry still looms, but I can trust the Creator of my red tulip to take care of that too.

This pastel has been painted on Wallis Professional Pastel Paper, it comes mounted on foam core board and matted to a standard size so that it can be framed easily, but the frame is not included. It will be listed on Art Helping Animals and Daily Painters, and Chisholm Trail Art next week, Contact me for more information: dellartist@yahoo.com

Mother's Day

2011-05-07T20:29:00.000-07:00

Love in Any Language

Oil on canvas, 12" x 12" x 1.5"

The following has been "reposted" from Mother's Day last year. I received many lovely comments and personal emails in response to this message, and I would like to share it again.

For many years now, Mother's Day has been a day of mixed feelings for me. My mom passed away when I was 26 - that was a long time ago. I still miss her. I missed her when I married, and when I was raising a family. She loved kids and would have enjoyed being a grandmother. And I would have appreciated her encouragement and advice. But God had other plans, and His plans are always for the best, even when we don't understand them. Mom had a firm, sometimes even fierce faith in God, and I don't remember her ever arguing with Him about anything. And we all know that Heaven is a much better place than earth.

I inherited a love of children from my mother and always planned, or at least hoped, to have a large family. But God had other ideas about that, also. A few years after Mom died, He brought a young widower into my life and I became the instant mother of his two little boys. I loved them as if they were my own, even though there were plenty of people on all sides reminding me that they were not really mine, and that it wasn't really "the same." But I plugged on, and though my mother was no longer with me, God had given me a best friend, named Shary who I could always depend on for moral support. I hadn't been married long when we went out for lunch together and she asked me how I was doing. I chatted on and on about the kids, their activities, the house, Larry's work, and she said, "Della, how are you?" It made me tear up then, as it does now. She never let me forget that, yes, I was a wife, a mother, a housekeeper, but I was also still her friend, a person, an individual. She once told me that I should stop thinking of myself as a second string replacement, a substitute for someone else, but to always remember that I am the one and only "me" and I wasn't a second-best anything. Thank you, Shary, for being there. Best friends are a wonderful gift from God. Right next to mothers.

So, the question is who is the real mother - is it the person who carried the children for nine months and spent hours in labor bringing them into the world, or the one who spent years feeding them, doing mountains of laundry and cleaning, spending sleepless nights worrying and praying, praying, praying that someday when they went out into the world, they would be safe and happy, and that the world would become a better place because of them? The answer can only be BOTH of them! It takes all those things, and more to make a "real" mother. And for some reason, God in His wisdom decided that my boys needed two different women to share this responsibility, instead of just one. That was His decision. Twice as much love, two times the prayers. And, like my mom, I don't have the audacity to argue with God about anything.

I painted this rose last summer. The bush was a Mother's Day gift from my wonderful husband, who never stops reminding me that I am the mother of his children. A husband is also a wonderful gift from God! And I am blessed...

So to all you ladies, those of you who are or have been mothers or daughters and those who have been nurturing, caring people who perhaps don't fit the traditional "mother" mold, to all my friends and mentors, and especially to you, Mom - Happy Mother's Day!!

The Art Show

2011-05-06T07:13:00.000-07:00

High Trestle Trail Artists

Last Saturday we were invited to participate as guests in an art show celebrating the opening of the new bike bridge in this area. It was a lot of fun, we sold some paintings and prints, met some wonderful fun people and reconnected with some long time friends.

Hmmm, first the Chisholm Trail and now the High Trestle Trail, wonder if there is a pattern here. I am not that much of a trail person myself, but maybe all this is a sign. If it happens I find myself on a trail at all, though, it will be for walking, not biking. Or maybe just to follow the yellow brick road.

Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas any more....

As you can see from the photos, the patrons were not dressed in the standard art show attire. Most of them had ridden in on their bicycles, some had taken a shuttle bus from the town nearby. In any event, "biking" was the theme of the day. It was beautiful, though somewhat windy and we had a great time.

We hadn't done a show for years and learned a lot this time out. We learned we should have brought more cards and prints, we learned that cat people love cat art, even when it doesn't look like their own cat, but dog people want the spots to match their pets exactly. We learned that the corner spot has both advantages and disadvantages. You don't have to worry about your panels falling over if they are standing against a wall, but people sometimes walk right by without seeing your booth if it is tucked away in a corner. And always leave room for a chair so you can sit down and rest your feet!!! It was fun and a whole lot less stressful than I expected it to be. My thanks to the High Trestle Trail Artists for making us feel so welcome. Hope we can do it again some time.

Floral Flowers Deep Purple Black Iris Superstition by Della Burgus

2011-04-11T07:25:00.000-07:00

Deep Purple

All winter long I look forward to the first signs of life - crocus, daffodils, tulips - and I rush outside to snap the photos that will take me through the next unbearable winter. This lovely lady appears a bit later in the season, toward mid-May, at least, and she is the absolute proof to me that spring has sprung at last. She has the unlikely name of "Superstition," not what I would chose for such a beauty, but then, since she lives in my garden I can call her anything I like. Her color is described as "black," and when she is in shadow, she does appear black, but when the sun shines on her directly you can see all sorts of wonderful hues - deep purples, reds, blues, even a little rose pink. She is a showy one and she sings all those sultry summer melodies. So I will call her "Deep Purple," like the song.

Just as there are different seasons in the year, there are seasons in our lives: spring seasons when everything seems new and exciting, warm seasons of long, lazy summer days, autumn seasons when things are changing much too fast, and even those frigid winters when the winds are bitter and the world seems lifeless and cold. In times like those, it helps to remember that even on the coldest day, when the snow is measured in feet instead of inches, when the sun has been hidden so long that we have forgotten how it feels, when everything has turned the dullest shade of gray, SPRING ALWAYS COMES. Somewhere, buried in that hard, frozen ground, new life is sleeping. It isn't dead, it is just asleep and if you wait long enough and have enough faith, you will begin to watch it grow and bloom and you will once again enjoy its fragrance.

King Solomon said it this way:

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

Some seasons are more pleasant than others, but all are a part of life, a part of the human experience, what makes us who we are.

This is a pastel on Richeson Pastel Board, 9 x 12. It comes matted and ready to frame. Look for it on Daily Painters, Art Helping Animals and the Chisholm Trail this week. At this time I am working on incorporating a new "page" on this blog dedicated to selling original artwork and prints, so I will no longer be cluttering up my weekly blog with buttons. In the meantime, if you would like more information on this or any artwork, please email me at dellartist@yahoo.com.

Cat Art Kitten with Computer Mouse by Della Burgus

2011-03-22T16:21:00.000-07:00

The Name of the Game...

is, of course, Cat and Mouse. A cliche, perhaps, but a harmless one.

Wikipedia defines "Cat and Mouse" as

an English-language idiom dating back to 1675 that means "a contrived action involving constant pursuit, near captures, and repeated escapes." The "cat" is unable to secure a definitive victory over the "mouse", who despite not being able to defeat the cat, is able to avoid capture. In extreme cases, the idiom may imply that the contest is never-ending.

In colloquial usage it has often been generalized (or corrupted) to mean simply that the advantage constantly shifts between the contestants, leading to an impasse or de facto stalemate.

I have heard the term applied to various wars (as recently as the current "involvement" in Libya), as well as athletic events, relationships and office politics. I am a person who prefers my encounters to be straightforward and transparent without the added stress of game playing.

This little kitten, however, is just having some innocent fun with something that looks like a toy to her. And, for the moment, it is.

This painting is acrylic on stretched, wrapped canvas, standard depth, All the edges are free of staples or fasteners and they are all painted, so that the canvas may be displayed without a frame.

Cat and Mouse
Acrylic on stretched, wrapped canvas, 8 x 10
$85 plus $8 shipping within the United States
Please email me with any questions or info on International shipping
dellartist@yahoo.com

Please join me in praying for the people of New Zealand and Japan. I can not even begin to image what they are going through.

Feline Art Cats Cute Calico Kitten by Della Burgus

2011-03-15T16:17:00.000-07:00

Cute Calico Kitten

Pastel on Canson Pastel Paper

7 x 9.5

What is a kitten? A innocently wicked, curiously playful, quietly hyperactive, cuddly little fireball that purrs... All that and more. I can't imagine a world without kitties, I surely wouldn't want to live in one.

This pastel is mounted on foam core board, matted to a standard frame size, and ready to frame. The frame is not included. It has been listed on Daily Painters and Art Helping Animals

Chisholm Trail Exhibit in Duncan, Oklahoma Part 2

2011-03-14T14:25:00.000-07:00

The above photo and article below by Vernita Bridges Hoyt have been published in the Chisholm Trail Art Blog. There is a link to this blog on the sidebar or just click here.

Iowa Artist Della Burgus at The Chisholm Trail Heritage Center

Della Burgus' beautiful white stallion painting was selected to be published with the exhibition announcement news story in the local Duncan newspaper. I will scan the newspaper article and post it here for download. The above image shows Della's four paintings on exhibit at The Chisholm Trail Heritage Center. My camera didn't pick up the painting on the right, but if you click on the above image for greater detail you may be able to see it better.

A big "THANK YOU!" Vernita !!!

Chisholm Trail Exhibit in Duncan, Oklahoma

2011-03-09T17:12:00.000-08:00

I want to invite all of you in the Duncan, Oklahoma area to visit the "Artists on the Chisholm Trail" exhibit, March 7 through April 30, featuring the work of seven artists living in states along or bordering the Old Chisholm Trail. As the Trail went through both Kansas and Missouri, Iowa is considered a border state. If you haven't visited the "Chisholm Trail Art" site, there is a link on the sidebar of this blog, or simply click here: Chisholm Trail Art

I have four paintings in the exhibit. You may have seen them before, as all were posted previously, but two have been reworked and all were rephotographed, so I thought I would share them again.

*****

Kicking Up Dust

Acrylic, 14 x 18

This is a painting of a spirited horse kicking up a little dust along the trail. According to the Urban Dictionary, the definition of “kicking up dust,” is “to be, or to be about to be, causing chaos and/or trouble.” I have known horses like that and a few people,as well. They tend to be those of an independent spirit, who don’t willingly comply, and don’t always run with the crowd. They tend to color outside the lines and they are the ones who make life interesting.

*****

Eye of the Beholder

Acrylic, 10 x 8

A close up portrait of a horse. Look into his eyes and you will see the faithfulness of his spirit, his joy, pain, fear, and perhaps a just touch of resignation. This painting is meant as a tribute to horses, in gratitude for all their contributions. Throughout history the human race has depended upon their strength, loyalty, intelligence and spirit. Our country and our world would not be the same without them. This painting was originally named Into the Light.

*****

Morning Has Broken

Oil, 11 x 14

Snow is a challenging subject for an artist, but it can also be one of the most rewarding. Though it is white, it is never really just white, rather it reflects the colors of a changing sky and atmosphere . In this painting, I wanted to capture the stillness, serenity and sanctity of the gentle dawn. The painting was inspired by the words of the song.

*****

Who Has Seen the Wind?

Oil, 12 x 16

Life along the Chisholm Trail was not easy for the horses; days were long, the work hard and the weather could be extreme. Yet, within even the best trained, hardest working horse is a wild, free spirit that can not be tamed by man. This painting is about the spirit and movement that is so typical of horses, and a tribute to their contribution to our lives.

Who Has Seen the Wind?
By Christina Rossetti

Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you:
But when the leaves hang trembling,
The wind is passing through.

Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I:
But when the trees bow down their heads,
The wind is passing by.

White Bunnies and Kitties

2011-03-06T20:10:00.000-08:00

This cute little bunny is a snowshoe hare, a wild rabbit that turns white to match the snow in the winter and brown so it can hide in the bushes in the summer. Isn't that amazing? A very dear friend told me last week that she was so overwhelmed to discover the number of animal species there are in the world that she went around asking everyone how many animals they could name. Most of us know only a few hundred, but the actual number is somewhere in the millions, I think. I can't remember the exact number, but it is mind blowing. It makes me a little sad to realize that I will never know most of them, will probably see only a few in my lifetime. God put all these wonders on the earth for us to enjoy and we completely fail to appreciate so much of His wonderful work.

This painting is in pastel, 6 x 8.5 inches, and may be purchased through Art Helping Animals.

This acrylic painting of a white Persian Cat has already found a new home. I love painting cats, and Persians are an especially fascinating and popular breed. I love their soft, silky fur, sweet gentle dispositions and elegant grace.

Floral Flowers Lavender Iris by Della Burgus

2011-02-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

Spring Fever

Acrylic, 8 x 10

The snow is beautiful when it first begins falling in November or December. I love its fluffy softness, the quiet that it brings to the earth. I can't imagine going through an entire Christmas season without at least one snow fall, it adds to the excitement and mystery of it all, even for the child within this aging body. But by February it gets a little old and not so magical. It means slippery roads and cold, cold temperatures and boots and heavy coats, and feeling chilled all the way through to your bones. It means the dogs don't even like playing outside so they just give me that reproachful look all day, as if I should do something, ANYTHING, to make it all go away. On days like that, I am thankful that God gave someone the inspiration to invent the digital camera. I spend days at a time sifting through old memories on my iPhoto reliving better days and looking for spots of color. And suddenly there they are, in all their glory - tulips, iris, day lilies and even roses, just as fresh and perfect as they were last summer! Today, I am sharing one of my favorites, a lavender-blue iris in full bloom. After all, it is February, can spring be far behind?

This painting is no longer available. It was listed on Daily Painters and Art Helping Animals this week and snatched up almost immediately by one of my collectors in Los Angeles. I can't imagine that she is having the same sort of winter that I am, but perhaps it brings back memories of another sort. Most likely there will be more of these, as this one gave me great satisfaction and not just a little comfort to paint.

I have been falling down on the job here in "blogland," not keeping up either with posting my own or commenting on my blog friend's posts. I am sorry, and I will try to catch up with it all very soon. Sometimes things just pile up and there just aren't enough hours in the day. I can relate to the white queen- or was it the king? - in Alice and the Looking Glass. "Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that! " Have a great week!!!

Equine Art Close Up Black Horse by Della Burgus

2011-02-15T11:24:00.000-08:00

Contemplation

A beautiful black horse in close-close up. Like many of my paintings, this was done from a photo I took at a horse show, but for this one the horse created the composition himself. I took a regular, basic portrait shot, and planned to use it to paint a standard horse portrait, showing the fine head and neck, his beautiful mane and the elegant way he presented himself. But when playing with the composition, I found something incredible in his eyes - an expression that I couldn't quite identify, but absolutely had to capture, or at least try to capture. Everything else became extraneous, maybe even distracting, all that mattered was the eyes - those beautiful, deep, expressive, eyes, full of wonder and mystery, compassion, and perhaps a bit of resignation, as if he would rather be someplace else. And yes, I have done similar close up portraits before, but they were all planned, part of a series called, "When I Look In Your Eyes." This one was not planned, it just happened and I went along for the ride.

We are having a brief reprieve from winter here, but I am not holding my breath. Spring may be around the corner, but that corner is still a mile or two away. Still, I am enjoying the warm temperatures and lack of snow for as long as they last.

To quote James Whitcomb Riley:

It ain't no use to grumble and complain;

It's jest as cheap and easy to rejoice;

When God sorts out the weather and sends rain,

Why, rain's my choice.

For "rain" read "snow" and that kind of describes my advice for this winter. But anyway, if you are having the weather I am here right now, enjoy and be thankful because there is no indication it will last. This is only February.

And by the way, if you missed last week's post, it is because I forgot to publish it. Actually, I even forgot to finish it. I just discovered the draft in my "edit posts" file. So you have that to look forward to later this week - or whenever I get it finished.

Which reminds me of another saying, the lament the aging:

Of all the things I've lost - I miss my mind the most.

Have a great day.

Dog Art Siberian Husky by Della Burgus

2011-02-01T10:34:00.000-08:00

Ol' Blue Eyes

Pastel, 7.5 x 10

As I write this a major blizzard is raging across the United States. It sounds as if it will hit much of the West, Midwest, and Eastern parts of the country, as well as some of southern states. Most of us complain about winter storms, but Huskies and Malamutes seem to thrive in them. For that matter, so does my Border Collie, but only up to a point. We were blessed to live across the street from a family with a Husky a few years ago. She had learned her boundaries well and was trained not to step outside her own yard. And that was without a fence of any kind, not even one of those invisible ones. She loved the snow and was so much fun to watch. The summer months were not so much fun for her, but she did make an amazing discovery about her neighbors across the street - we had a garden pond in our back yard. It was just too much of a temptation, even for such a self disciplined dog as this. This was during a time when we had no dogs of our own, so there were no fences to keep her from splashing around now and then. Her family was a little embarrassed, and the fish were probably a little annoyed, but we didn't mind. The coat that kept her so warm during an Iowa winter was probably very uncomfortable in the 80 to 90 degree temperatures we face here in the summertime. She was a beautiful, sweet tempered dog and we missed her when her family moved.

This pastel has been listed on Daily Painters and Art Helping Animals. As with all my pastels, it is matted, mounted and ready to frame. The frame is not included.

It is becoming a busy winter for me, as I have been getting ready for two shows, one in March, another at the end of April. One has to do with cattle drives, the other with bike rides. More information on them as the dates approach. I have also been doing research on dinosaurs for some illustrations for a children' s book, so if you know any experts on that subject you might let me know. It is turning out to be a little more complicated than I originally thought...And my work has been selected for another art book to be published this year. More about that as more information becomes available.

Wherever you are today, I hope you are keeping warm, that you don't have to go out in the storm, and that you are able to spend time with someone you love.

Maine Coon Cat Pastel by Della Burgus

2011-01-27T17:01:00.000-08:00

Tiger Paws
Pastel on Wallis Paper
8.5 x 11

A Main Coon cat lounges on his favorite footstool. I receive a lot of requests for this breed of cat, and the tiger pattern in shades of brown/black/beige is among the most popular. It is a delightful breed, the kind you would call "all cat" - full of life and energy, independent, and extremely intelligent. They display the typical catlike disdain for anyone who attempts to exercise authority over them, while at the same time showing a sensitivity and tenderness when needed. I have already told you the story of the cat named Tiger who came to live with my husband's parents, so I have experienced this all first hand.

I decided to paint this in pastels because they lend themselves so well to depicting the soft fur of a kitty like this one. Actually, if I had to chose, I would say pastels are my favorite medium, even though they are messy-messy to use and difficult to ship. But they are so direct and somehow very satisfying to use. I don't believe I will ever limit myself to one medium, though, as they all have their own special feeling and character. At the completion of each painting I almost always find myself wondering what it would have looked like in some other medium.

Recently I purchased a book by Richard McKinley, a plein-air pastel artist whose work I admire immensely. The book, Pastel Pointers, begins as do most books of this kind with a chapter on materials. I knew I was out of my league when I saw his pastel set up. It was not purchased as a set - he actually took all his pastels and arranged them by tone and color. But first he tore off all the labels, so he had no way to identify the color by name. Oh, my. That would take me days, perhaps weeks. Then it would require me to put each piece back in its place each time it was used. It boggles my mind. But it is beautiful to look at...

Richard McKinley's Pastel palette

and the pastel could almost paint itself. For right now, at least, I will not subject you to a photo of my own pastel set up - it is worse than you could possibly imagine. However all this has inspired me to organize my own pastels. It would be lovely to open a box and find something like this. But why just pastels? Why not my whole life? If I could get my life in this kind of order, I will have really accomplished something!

Animal Wildlife Red Fox in the Snow by Della Burgus

2011-01-18T19:29:00.000-08:00

A red fox stops for a drink of icy cold water. This is one of my favorite wild animals to paint. They are incredibly beautiful, especially in winter landscapes. There is something about that gorgeous red fur that just stands out against the pure white snow. Of course I know that they are not universally loved. We have all heard the phrase, "a fox in the henhouse," and I am certain they deserve that somewhat less than stellar reputation, but when they are in the wild, where they were meant to be, they are amazingly wonderful creatures. Like all of us, they tend to get into trouble when they wander too far from home and go places that they aren't supposed to go.

This painting is an acrylic on stretched, wrapped canvas 12 x 16, all edges have been painted and no staples show, so that it may be displayed with or without a frame. It is available on Art Helping Animals and has been shown on the Daily Painters website.

Equine Art Running Horse by Della Burgus

2011-01-10T15:16:00.000-08:00

Who Has Seen the Wind?
Oil on Canvas
12 x 16

The title of this piece was inspired by a poem by Christina Rossetti, "Who Has Seen the Wind?"

Who Has Seen the Wind?

Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you:
But when the leaves hang trembling,
The wind is passing through.

Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I:
But when the trees bow down their heads,
The wind is passing by.

There are so many layers to this poem and that is one of the reasons I love it. I will leave it to you to decide what it means to you.

This painting was done in a looser, freer style than you may be used to seeing in my other work. I decided the Impressionistic style would be more appropriate for its subject matter and feeling and found I wanted to loosen up a little after the commissioned portraits and paintings that were done last month. It was a lot of fun to do, not a lot of stress and worry and made me feel as free as the wind. It was a good feeling and one I hope to have again, so you may be seeing more paintings like this in the coming year.

"Who Has Seen the Wind?" is available through Art Helping Animals and is also listed on Daily Painters. and will be posted on Chisholm Trail Art.

I hope that your new year is getting off to a good start, and that all your most wonderful dreams are coming true. Or, at least, you are taking steps to make them come true.

Cardinal in Winter and Jack Sparrow Breaks Out

2011-01-05T15:53:00.000-08:00

A cardinal sits on the branch of a birch tree and fluffs up his feathers against a winter wind. One of my favorite outside birds, the cardinal sings lovely songs and adds a touch of color to the winter landscape. Cardinals are fascinating to watch at the bird feeder. Despite their delicate voices and lovely appearance, they can be aggressive and in the spring when they are raising young, they are fiercely protective. We realized just how fierce they could be last winter. It was long before any birds were even thinking about starting a family when a male cardinal began hovering around the porch, dive bombing whoever came to the door. Evening visitors began to feel unwelcome, and coming home seemed downright dangerous to us. Eventually we realized that the target was not us, but the wreath hanging on our door. We had left it up after Christmas, thinking it was more of a winter than a holiday wreath. Two small red birds adorned the greenery and, though they did not look real to us, they fooled the cardinal, at least when the porch light was on. He did his best to drive them away from his territory. The wreath was taken down immediately, though we hang it again this year. As of this writing, it has not yet been attacked.

Jack Sparrow Goes AWOL

Speaking of birds, we have several inside the house also. Last week during an ice storm, Jack Sparrow, one of our cockatiel birds decided he had enough of his cage and walked out. He is a very clever bird and breaks out occasionally, but he really loves his home and his wife, Canola, so he never ventures very far. Usually we find him hanging on his cage and screaming to get back in, because it is much easier to break out than to break back in. On this day we found him among the houseplants, staring out the iced window as if to ask, "What happened to my beautiful view?" He always makes us chase him a little - it is a fun game - until he decides it is time to go home. Then he just stands still and lets someone catch him. If he is home, Larry does the catching.

Cardinal in Winter is an 8 x 10 acrylic on stretched, wrapped canvas. It has been listed on Art Helping Animals and Daily Painters. It will also be on Chisholm Trail Art.

Frosty Morning

2010-12-28T16:57:00.000-08:00

Garden gate in winter

Most of the snow came on Christmas Eve, and some the next day, but on Monday morning we were greeted by the sight of this - do I dare say it? - winter wonderland. Frost covered every tree and bush and almost every building. Winter is my least favorite season, but I have to admit there is a sort of rough beauty to it, especially on a frosty morning.

The other morning I woke up with a song going through my head and knew it was about time to put away the Christmas CD's. Does that ever happen to you? It wouldn't have been quite so annoying if it had been one of my favorites: "What Child is This?" which my mother loved because it is set to the tune of her beloved "Greensleeves," or the "Carol of the Bells" which was performed so beautifully by the church choir on Christmas Eve. No, it was none of these heavenly sounds which awakened me, but rather, the raucous strains of:

"Just hear those sleigh bells jingling
Ring ting tingling too.
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you."

Now I hope you don't think of me as some kind of Grinch. I really have nothing against this song, it is a lovely sentiment and sleigh rides can be cozy and romantic - a great activity in winter. But it isn't one of my favorites, and not something I really associate with Christmas carols, and certainly not something I want running through my mind at six o'clock in the morning. I don't even remember it specifically being on any of our Christmas CD's, though it probably is, as it does appear in 9 out of 10 Christmas collections. Whenever I had heard it this year, it seems to have planted itself firmly in my brain and I will have to work very hard to get it out of there. Eventually it will be replaced by something equally annoying. Maybe I will just hibernate the rest of the winter and hope for an early spring.

I hope that wherever you are, you can find some beauty in this day and that your heart is filled with joyful music.

The Last Tree of Christmas

2010-12-26T17:48:00.000-08:00

And the best one of all...

This tree was given to us by the Pastor in charge of Asian Ministries in our church and his lovely family. Today, on the day after Christmas, we celebrated with a potluck dinner in the church basement. So many delicious, exotic foods, so many joyful people, it was a wonderful day! But it was not your usual church potluck, certainly not like those in the Lutheran Church where I grew up. I can not tell you the name of most of the dishes. No salads made with Jello or mayonnaise, no ham balls or chicken noodle casseroles. not even any pies for dessert. There was one cake, brought by Larry and me, just in case the younger children might like it. At least it sounds like a good excuse. Actually I wouldn't have had the courage to try to do anything else. Although I do love doing an occasional stir-fry, I know it is very American, not at all authentic, and would not stand up next to anything created by our Cambodian friends. But of course, if I did, they would all be very polite and encouraging, because that is the kind of people they are.

Before the meal, the people sang a song that brought tears to my eyes. Both words and music were completely unfamiliar to me but it was beautiful. This is the song they sang, written in Khmer, the language of Cambodia.

Wish I could translate it for you, but I don't speak Khmer. My husband and I teach the children in Sunday School, they are third and fourth generation Americans, so we get by with just speaking English. Being together with the large group. adults and children, always reminds me of the lines of a song sung by Sandi Patti a few years ago. This one will probably be familiar to you. It is called "Love in Any Language,"

We had a pretty quiet Christmas this year, not much family around, but today we got together with the Family of God. What a blessing and an honor that was!

Two more trees of Christmas...

2010-12-22T18:38:00.000-08:00

This is the tree that sits in the bay window of our living room. It has no particular color scheme or even a theme, except it says "family." There are tiny red stockings. baseball bats, and musical instruments, all bearing the names of our children - a trumpet for Andy and a saxophone for Aaron. There are handmade ornaments given as gifts from students and Sunday School students. There are the special ornaments that Larry and I purchased on our anniversary trips to Kansas City. And there are some that take each of us back to the Christmases of our childhood. Though somewhat eclectic, they all fit together to tell the story of our family.

Then there is the Teddy Bear Tree. I am not so sure how this one began. Probably it was my love of all things furry and cute that caused people to give me stuffed toys. Teddy Bears seemed like the perfect theme for a Christmas tree. although technically there are other creatures hiding in the branches - a couple of poodles and other puppies. a velveteen rabbit or two, a polar bear and a reindeer - but I call it a Teddy Bear Tree anyway.

This tree always makes me want to sing the old song, "Teddy Bear Picnic." If you remember that one, then you are probably almost as old as I am. I love the sentiment on this little guy's foot...

"Love Bears All Things." That says it all...

Have a Merry Christmas!

Family Collage

2010-12-17T11:06:00.000-08:00

What an odd looking bunch! Not my latest work, but I will share it anyway.

I have been writing about my Christmas commissions a lot lately. This is not one of them.

I can't show you my completed portrait commissions. My clients want them as Christmas gifts and each one is meant to be a surprise for someone. While I am fairly certain that none of the recipients ever read my blog, it is best not to take chances at this time of year. Instead, I am posting a drawing of my family I did several years ago. (You are viewing the drawing through glass, as it is framed, even though the frame was cropped out of the photo.) As I remember, this was something of an experiment. Most of my commissioned work is much more formal - parents in the center, children arranged around them according to age - but I wanted more of a "collage" look for this one of my own family. I rummaged through some old photos, candid shots taken when we were children. My husband found a photo of my two older sisters standing in front of a picket fence and wanted me to paint it. I had always loved the photo of my brother with his pet pigeon and I was really into dolls and teddy bears as a child. The drawing was more about how they all fit together in a composition than about our birth order. In the ten or eleven years that have passed since the drawing was finished, I have grown as an artist, I hope my skills have improved, though my style is still pretty much the same. I would crop it differently now, of course, less background and more attention to the faces. It would probably be a whole new picture. As a matter of fact, I think I will do another one soon - start from scratch and see what happens this time. That will be one of my goals for 2011.

Now that my last Christmas commission drawing is finished, and all that must be done is printing copies and framing them, it is time to get ready for Christmas in earnest. Not much time left, but that is the way it usually happens in the Burgus household. We are sometimes wrapping presents right up until midnight on December 24.

Still have some decorating to do and hope to share photos with you. Hope it is a lovely season for you. I love Christmas!!!!!

Shiny Brites and Bubble Lights

2010-12-16T14:13:00.000-08:00

The Second Tree of Christmas

This year Larry's tree sits on our dining room table. No plans to have guests this year, so that seems like the perfect spot. My husband loves all things antique and developed a special interest in blown glass ornaments, often called Radko or Shiny Brites. They tend to be rather expensive, especially the antiques, but there are many replicas out there so we can enjoy them guilt free. Even better, new ones are always purchased after Christmas during the "75% Off Sale."

The old fashioned ornaments remind us of days gone by. Christmas trees were actually that - TREES - and they were chosen with special care and for a few weeks became part of the family. We bought ours from grocery stores or special lots run by groups like the YMCA or Knights of Columbus. Actually the"Y's Men's X-Mas Trees" lot is still in operation. (I am not responsible for the bad pun, or the contraction of the word Christmas.) To us, the tree was Christmas, and we would not have been content with anything artificial. Well, actually, I was fascinated by those aluminum trees with different colored spotlights shining on them, but of course my family would never have thought of having one. We used the same ornaments and lights year in and year out, replacing them only when they were broken beyond repair, and occasionally those that had been given to us as gifts. That was before the era of those tiny disposable lights that you see everywhere these days. Ours were bigger and the bulbs were replaceable. I don't really know when or where they were purchased, as far as I can remember, they were in the household before I was. There were even one or two "bubble lights" in the set, which I assume had been purchased as replacements.

Christmas is a good time to remember and a good time to look forward, but the best thing to do is celebrate the "now" of our lives. To spend time with those we love, remembering that life is fleeting and that we have not been promised anything beyond this moment.

The Angel Choir Tree

2010-12-09T20:38:00.000-08:00

The First Tree of Christmas

We are very, very late with our decorations this year. Too many responsibilities, too many people demanding our time. By the time we finish, it will be time to take them all down, but we remain undaunted. This is the tree in our gallery, the "Angel Tree." All white, all angels and doves. I love this one because it reminds me of the time a few years ago when I was in the hospital with congestive heart failure brought on by a virus, It was not long after Christmas. I called a dear friend and mentor, asking her to pray for me and she took the request very seriously. She told me that angels had been sent to watch over me, I have never forgotten that prayer.

A bit of a disclaimer here. I am well aware that most scholars believe that these decorations do not resemble angels in any way. Of course they don't, because angels are spirit beings and don't resemble anything we can see or even imagine. But to me, these are symbols of God's loving care, of the joy that is in heaven and of the wonderful gift of Christmas. I don't worship them, pray to them or expect things from them, but when I look at them I remember and thank God for his blessings.

There are a few other "angels" and a nativity scene that are usually under this tree, but they haven't been brought up from the basement yet. When I find them, I may take another photo. The painting above the tree is my pastel of Christ on the Cross, and may be more appropriate for the Easter season, but it is also a good way to remember the reason for the season. Besides the painting is really heavy and I didn't want to move it:)

Close up of my "Angel Tree."

On a much sadder note, we had to say good-bye today to a very special man and a good friend. We came to know John and his wife Christine through the Asian Ministry at our church, where we all taught Sunday School. He was only 54, and died after a three month battle with cancer. He had three beautiful grown children and two grandchildren. The memorial service was a tribute to this kind and gentle man, and a testimony of his great faith. We all miss him. But as the Bible says, we "do not grieve as others do who have no hope," And for that hope, we can rejoice, even through our tears.

Kitten in a Christmas Stocking

2010-11-30T15:18:00.000-08:00

Naughty or Nice?

Don't you just love all that cute innocence? They are full of energy, into everything, and life is just one long playtime to them. If there is nothing going on, they start something and they can make toys out of the most common objects. And nothing is off limits, at least they don't think so. Christmas seems to have been made for them and they enjoy it to the fullest - from the bright shiny ornaments to all the smells of dinner being cooked. But it is the trees that especially attract them. "A tree in the house! How exciting. This is here for me to climb, right? Why else would it be here? I can go way, way up, clear to the top! ....OOOOPS!!! This is a very unsturdy tree!!!" That was several years ago, when I decided that there are things more important than tradition and that artificial trees are not so bad after all.

This is a busy time of year for everyone. There is shopping to do, there are people to see, there are meals to plan and decorations to be hung. But I pray that somehow this year I can experience some of playfulness of a kitten or a puppy and just ENJOY. I would have added "a child" to that list, but I don't think that children exhibit that pure joy so much any more. Everything is somehow attached to an electronic device - TVs, cell phones, computer games. iPods and the like. No, this isn't a criticism of modern technology, or of the younger generation. I use some of these devices myself and they do make my life easier. It is the brave new world, and no one really wants to stop progress. But it does make me sad, because something has been lost...

So whenever things get too hectic, when there is just too much to do, too many people to please and no time to breathe, think of this little kitten and make yourself some joy - the pure, simple kind. Remember, this was meant to be a Birthday celebration! I hope that you have a wonderful, fun, merry Christmas Season!

This painting is an acrylic on stretched, wrapped canvas, 10 x 8, standard depth. It is available through Art Helping Animals, and can be seen on Daily Painters as well. 10% of the sale will be donated to Tabby's Place, to help the cats and kittens who don't have a home this Christmas.

Naughty or Nice

Acrylic on Canvas

10 x 8, standard depth

$85

includes shipping within the United States

Equine Art White Horse by the Sea and Why I Don't Like Politicians

2010-11-23T14:58:00.000-08:00

Dancing with the Sea

Pastel, 16 x 22

Three of my favorite things: white horses. the sea, and lighthouses. Maybe all this is a bit too much for one painting - sort of like a dessert of double-double chocolate torte with whipped cream and a scoop of ice cream on the side. I am not sure if there are limits for things like that, but I have always heard that you should paint what you love.

Speaking of which, I may have told you this story before, but I know you will forgive me because you always do, no matter how often I repeat myself. Several years ago Larry and I illustrated a book of poetry written by our friend Kathy. After it was published, she asked us to go with her to a book fair in a neighboring town. She set up a lovely display and lots of people stopped to chat, including a local politician, a county supervisor, I think. He was a bit insulted that we hadn't recognized his name right away, as he wrote a column for the local newspaper. He gave us this song and dance about wanting to buy a book for his mother but didn't have any money with him. (Uh-huh, I thought, if he was a politician, most likely he had some of OUR money. But I was very polite and tried to be impressed by his importance.) Honestly, he would have made a much better impression if he had just said something like "very nice" and moved on. Instead he picked up the mini portfolio of my work, glanced at one of the pictures and said, "Oh, you paint horses.' Now there are many ways of saying something like this. You might say, "Oh! YOU paint HORSES!" or "Oh, you paint horses?" It all depends on the inflection. It could be complimentary, as if horses were nice and he liked them, or it could be condescending and insulting. Let's just say his tone made it clear that he didn't consider horses to be appropriate subjects for painting. Not all the paintings were of horses, of course, but evidently he had a strong prejudice against them, and I lost all credibility with him when he saw the one horse painting. I took a deep breath and, with all the dignity I could muster, I answered, "I paint a LOT of different things, and if you are really interested, you can log onto my website." I handed him a business card. He looked at it as if it would bite him and, after a moment's hesitation, stuffed it into his pocket. You can bet, he lost a lot of credibility with me. And I definitely looked for his name on the ballot in the next general election so that I could vote AGAINST him.

When I began today's blog, as it often happens, I have no idea where things will end up, but there is a point to all this. In art, as in life, we can't please everyone, nor are we supposed to. God has gifted each of us uniquely, to bring healing to a hurting world. If I don't do what I have been called to do, it won't be done, and a piece of the puzzle will be missing. If I let the opinion of someone else influence my work, it won't be my work at all and a piece of the puzzle will be missing. If I try to fulfill the calling of another, I lose on so many levels, and someone who might have found a little joy or perhaps comfort through my work will also lose.

All this from a horse, the sea, and a lighthouse! I do tend to get carried away. Be kind to yourself today, and thank God for YOU, just as you are!

This painting is available through Art Helping Animals.

Equine Western Art Horses White Arabian Horse by Della Burgus

2010-11-02T15:37:00.000-07:00

Show Stopper

Pastel
Image size 13 x 18
Matted to a standard frame size
frame not included

Every breed of horse has its unique characteristics, and all of them are beautiful. Arabians display a regal bearing and seem to have been created for the the show ring. This graceful little half-bow, with neck arched and ears flat was a common pose in the show I saw this summer, and it seemed to be a very natural one for them. To me, horses of every kind are the "stuff that dreams are made of" and they are among my favorite subjects. The painting has been listed today (Tuesday, Nov. 2) on Daily Painters and is also available through Art Helping Animals.

I recently joined a group called International Equine Artists, a collective group of artisans that share the love of creating works of art using the horse as their subject. Many of the artists are also very proficient at creating other subject matter and hail from all over the globe with many different skill levels. Be sure to check out their website to see some great equine art. http://www.internationalequineartists.com/gallery.html

It looks as if the "Osceola Project" - remodeling my husband's parents' home - may be coming to a close at last. We have painted, hammered, drilled, and refurbished our hearts out over the past two years and we are down to the porch. When the last nail has been pounded in and the last coat of paint has been left to dry. we can finish emptying and cleaning the house, put up a "For Sale" sign and wait for people to tie up the phone lines begging us to sell it to them. Hah! In this economy? Well, I have always believed in miracles. You know recently I read that God isn't moved by need, but by faith. Well, we have both. So we will await our miracle.

I am looking forward to more time in my studio: more time to work on commissions, more time to meet deadlines and more time to just play. I used to have a sign on my refrigerator door that reminded me to "Go into your studio and make things!" That is the bottom line - just make things - have some fun! All too often that playful spirit becomes buried by the demands of both life and art. Art is hard work, but without that element of play the result is flat, boring, predicable - three adjectives that spell death to any creative spirit.

I hope you have a joyful, productive and play-filled day!!!!

Pomeranian

2010-10-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

Cute Little Pom

Acrylic, 11 x 14

Stretched, Wrapped Canvas

Every now and then I run into a face that I just can't resist. Pomeranian dogs remind me either of Teddy Bears or little foxes. They look like foxes but cuddle like Teddy Bears. I lived next door to one named "Teddy" who used to bark at me through the fence all the time. But it was only an act - he was really sweet and friendly. This painting was listed on both Art Helping Animals and Daily Painters last week. I still haven't decided if I will list it on Ebay or Etsy.

I haven't been around as much lately and must apologise to all my friends for neglecting you. Not only have I failed to blog, but I haven't been reading or leaving comments on your blogs. Even that takes energy, and brain power, neither of which have been in great supply.
Responsibilities with a capital R have been rearing their ugly heads. Still working on remodeling the house that belonged to Hubby's parents. The house was in worse shape that we had thought when we started, so it is taking a long time. Not to mention the hour plus drive down and back whenever we go. I am not much of a carpenter, but I am pretty much all the help he has at this point. Poor guy. Yesterday I spilled some paint on the nice concrete patio floor. We cleaned it up before it stained, but he seemed to be fine with my staying home today. Hopefully I will work on a painting. Since I am obligated to list one painting a week on Daily Painters for the Art Helping Animals group, I hope to get something finished soon. It didn't help that I caught a nasty cold last week. To which most people would say "Oh, a cold," translates to "So what?" And normally I would agree with that assessment but I must have been run down already because this one hit me pretty hard. All I could do - and all I wanted to do - was curl up on the couch and sniffle. But I did get a lot of reading done. And watched some TV. I learned so much about cooking and crafting, and of course building and I traveled all over Europe with Rick Steves - just by watching the PBS television, "Create" channel. Amazing what you can do without leaving your living room. I am feeling better now, but even after the physical strength returns it takes a while to get going artistically. Things are really bad when I don't even want to go into the studio and play. But I forced myself to work a little this morning, and though my "muse" has not yet completely recovered, she did at least show up and I am hoping to coax her to stick with me at least for a while.

So you may or may not see the latest attempt next week, but I will try to drop in and say hello at least. Have a good week and stay healthy!

Little Burro Donkey Oil Painting by Della Burgus

2010-10-06T18:23:00.000-07:00

This sweet little donkey was in a children's petting zoo and I just fell in love. Such a sweet and unassuming creature! Donkeys are among my favorite animals and God must like them, too, because they appear often in Scriptures. Don't you just love the irony of Balaam and his donkey - how the animal spoke the words of the Lord, while the rebellious prophet tried to do things his own way? And the equally ironic sight of the King of Kings riding into Jerusalem on a "beast of burden" rather than a mighty war horse. It is a reminder that God can use even the most unlikely creature if its heart is humble and willing to serve.

This is an oil painting on 9 x 12 stretched canvas. All the edges are painted and no staples are showing. It is available through Daily Painters, Art Helping Animals and the Chisholm Trail. I will also list it on Etsy. 10% of the sale will be donated to True Blue Animal Rescue and 10% to Children's Cup International Relief. This painting is SOLD,

Looky Looky What I Got!

For years I have been trying to find a way to safely store my finished work, especially my pastels. so they won't get smudged, smeared or torn. I have been keeping them in folders stacked against the wall in my studio, and so far so good, but it isn't an idea situation. I found this lovely display case at The Art Store, my local art supply shop, for only $5!!!! It is laminate-covered pressed board and the shelves are removable and adjustable. Many, many shelves, probably more than I will ever be able to fill, Perhaps I could build something else with the leftovers???? The store sold off some of its display furniture in order to fit into a smaller space. I was sorry to hear they have to downsize, but glad they intend to stay in business, and very glad to be able to take this off their hands. My husband agreed that he couldn't build anything like this for the price. Probably it would cost more than that for just one shelf. I am thrilled!

My husband and I have been trying to find ways to use our studio space more efficiently now that we decided to close the frame shop. It was good for us for a while, brought people into our gallery who otherwise would never have come - and so we sold paintings to people who otherwise would never have purchased original art. But now its time has passed and we need to move on. Supplies and materials have just become too difficult to find and too expensive to purchase. We put up a "Frame Shop Closed" sign in effect Oct. 1, and though we are still finishing some projects, we will not take in any more orders. The frame shop will at last become the studio/gallery we originally planned so many years ago. Which means more time for creativity and also a smaller counter, less storage place for mats and glass and more room for us to work. And my new paper storage fits perfectly with our new artistic lifestyle....

God and Dog

2010-10-01T16:45:00.000-07:00

I read this wonderful book by Wendy Fransisco, wife of singer-songwriter Don Fransisco, and wondered how I was going to share it in a blog. Then I discovered that before it was a book, it had been a video on U-Tube. So, enjoy!

By the way, I also see God's imprint on cats, horses, birds, bunnies, and wildlife, but so far I haven't seen a book or video like this about any of them. When I do, you will see it here.

Thanks to my two buddies, and to all the dogs who have loved me unconditionally, as well as those that I have painted that loved their people just as much.

Button, our toy poodle who loves to pose for pictures.

Barnabas, our shelter Golden Border Collie, who has never liked my camera. Is that dog sticking his tongue out at me?

Have a great day and don't forget to hug your furry friend.

Equine Western Art Horses Arabian Horse by Della Burgus

2010-09-27T13:55:00.000-07:00

Strength and Gentleness

Arabian Horse

Horse shows are always exciting. There is something about seeing one of these gorgeous animals, groomed and polished, strolling around an arena that takes my breath away. To me they are like great sculptures created by the Master - not just clay or wood, but living, breathing works of art. I can only stare in wonder and awe. This Arabian was one of my favorites in the Society Horse Show at the state fair this summer. His grace and dignity made him stand out in the crowd, and that was no ordinary crowd.

This is a pastel on Sennelier Pastel Card. It will be listed on Art Helping Animals, the Chisholm Trail and Daily Painters this week. 10% of the sale will be donated to True Blue Animal Rescue and 10% to Children's Cup International Relief.

Hope you have a good day. And find some of the Master's artwork to appreciate this week.

Resurrection Sunday Dance 2010, Budapest, Hungary -- Electronic Gospel R...

2010-09-25T09:18:00.000-07:00

This is a feel-good video. I hope it brightens your day as it has mine. On April 4, 2010, over 1,300 young people, all of them members of Faith Church celebrated Resurrection Sunday in Budapest, Hungary.

Music: Ferenc Balogh Jr.
Lyrics: Shelly Matos, based on the Hungarian text by Tamas Pajor (Tompage)
Producer: Ákos Nemes
Art Producer: Tamás Pajor (Tompage)

While we are banning prayer in the public schools and taking God out of everything our forefathers fought for, take a look at what happened in the streets of Budapest on Resurrection Sunday! Here in America, we call it Easter, but I like their name better!

My thanks to John Stuart for passing along this video.

Feline Art Cats White Cat Acrylic by Della Burgus

2010-09-21T16:58:00.000-07:00

Ivory

I love painting white fur - white horses, white cats, dogs, rabbits - they fascinate me because of all the unexpected colors that lurk in the shadows as well as those that come out to play in the light. Colors are to me what amusement park rides are to other people, or maybe a week end in Vegas if you are so inclined. Like unearthing a hidden treasure. As a young art student, one of my most exciting discoveries was that white is not really white, neither is black really black nor is red red. Not totally. It still blows me away. In all the years I taught art, there was one student who reacted in the same way. I had given her an apple and asked her to "paint" with her colored pencils what she actually saw, NOT what she thought was there. She was amazed and excited to see so many colors in the "red" fruit. I mean really excited - to the point where she was beginning to annoy some of the other kids who just couldn't see the value of it all. I was thrilled. It does warm a teacher's heart when a student, even just one student, "gets it," I wish I could tell you she went on to a career in art or at least design, but I don't think so. At least, perhaps, she does look at the world a little differently.

This painting is called "Ivory" and is a sort of companion piece to the black cat from last week's blog. I like the contrast of the black and white, and also of the personality of the animal. The white cat is very much like one I had as a child. She was loving and nurturing, especially to a little girl who was often lonely and frightened. I think she thought I was one of her kittens.

This painting is acrylic on stretched canvas, 6 x 8. All the edges have been painted and no staples show. It may be displayed with or without a frame. As with the black cat, 10% of the sale will be donated to Tabby's Place, A Cat Sanctuary. 10% to Children's Cup International Relief.

Black Cat "Ebony"

2010-09-14T13:52:00.000-07:00

Ebony

Cats fascinate me. They are a completely contradictory creature. Warm and affectionate, yet cool and disinterested, shy and timid yet ferocious, dependent yet absolutely superior, the their only consistent characteristic is their inconsistency. The same animal can display all the grace of a ballet dancer and the delicacy of a bull. A cat's purr can calm even the most troubled heart. They are, above all else, unpredictable, an endearing yet irritating quality. If you have a cat as your friend, you will never be bored. Annoyed, disgusted, entertained, enchanted and most of the time bewildered, but never bored. Unfortunately I don't think a cat can say the same about us. We do bore them sometimes. With some pets, such as dogs, I wonder who it is that owns whom, but with cats there is no question...

Cats relate differently to us than dogs do. A dog's person can do no wrong. Even when we make idiots of ourselves, to our dogs we are superior in every way. the most wonderful people in the world. They will never admit to our imperfections, But cats have no illusions. They know we are inferior in so many ways, yet somehow they seem to love us anyway. But they never let us forget who or what we are.

This painting is part of a series entitled, "When I Look In Your Eyes," inspired by a song from the Dr. Doolittle musical. I love the look in the eyes of this one, serene, yet watchful. You never know what they are thinking but you know their thoughts are deep. The painting is in acrylic on stretched, wrapped canvas, all edges painted and no staples show so that it may be displayed with or without a frame. It is available through Daily Painters and Art Helping Animals.

By the way, I am working on a companion piece to this painting. It will be called "Ivory." I will let you figure it out.

Sleeping Kitten and A Tree Full of Butterflies

2010-09-06T19:39:00.000-07:00

Sleeping Kitten

Pastel, Image Size, 9 x 12

Matted, Ready to Frame

Sold

A kitten finds a nice, soft, unmade human bed for a nap. There is nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby and this sweet kitten has found a quiet place to sleep. It is amazing the way kittens can tear around destroying everything one minute and the next they look so sweet and innocent. Which of course, they are - even when they are creating chaos. A lot like all children - and grownups, too. We all have our moments, and it is lovely when people remember us when we are at our best instead of our most chaotic.

This is a pastel on Wallis Professional Sanded Pastel Paper. It will be mounted and matted, ready to frame. It is listed on Art Helping Animals and Daily Painters.

The Butterflies of Autumn
A sign of fall: the Monarch migration. They rest in the trees and bushes on their way to Mexico. There must be hundreds of them in our apple tree this evening.

Whenever I see a butterfly, I marvel at its Master Designer, but in the autumn when they fill the trees and cover the bushes, I can only shake my head in silent wonder. What an absolutely incredible sight!

Long-haired Dachshund and More Maine Musings

2010-09-04T17:03:00.000-07:00

SOLD

Here it is Saturday already and I am just now blogging my artwork for the week. How many days can you blame it on jet lag? Anyway, I want to share this little sweetie with you. My brother had a dachshund for many years, a little guy named Oscar, although he was the short-haired variety. I got to know Oscar pretty well and through him discovered that Dachshunds are very special people - good-natured and friendly, though intensely loyal, highly intelligent, just a little stubborn and with a well developed sense of humor. This painting was listed Tuesday on Daily Painters and Art Helping Animals and has already been purchased because it looks exactly like a sweet little dog named "Curry." I always love it when that happens. Curry's person even sent me a photo to show me how much he looked like the painting.

Speaking of dogs, that is another reason I loved Bar Harbor. I saw nearly as many dogs there as at the dog shows I have visited. Many shops were "dog friendly" and some even set bowls of water in front of the store because it was a warm day. My kind of people.

Since this was only my second time seeing the Atlantic Ocean, I am sure you will allow me to "oooh" and "ahhh" once again. I shot this picture the first day we arrived at the coast. All it took was one look at this to convince me I wasn't in Iowa any more.

Even as we speak, I am composing paintings in my head. This year the colors were so clear, so strong, I just can't wait to get out my oils! But there are commissions to do and promises to keep, and miles to go before I paint...

There and Back Again - The Maine Adventure

2010-08-31T14:55:00.000-07:00

I took this photo in Acadia National Park last week. My handsome son and his beautiful bride celebrated their first wedding anniversary last week end in Maine. The wedding last year had been very small, just immediate families - which of course included dogs. This year they invited all of their family and friends to a reception/anniversary party, complete with a Maine lobster feast, dancing and a whole lot of fun. So we made a return trip. As you can see, the weather was perfect. I just love the turquoisey blue of the water and sky. All my pictures from last year were lovely pearly grays, just as beautiful, but a completely different color scheme. I can't wait to try to capture these amazing blues in oil or pastel!!! I had originally planned to take along watercolors and get in some Plein-air painting, but decided to take lots of photos instead. Cameras take up less room in a suitcase. And a whole lot less time. You will probably see more photos in later blogs. Plus a painting or two...

Our kids live in Lamoine, Maine, which is not far from the famous Bar Harbor, a very fun, picturesque place to visit, a quaint little tourist town with surprises around every corner. We enjoyed all the galleries. souvenir shops and stores for pets and lots of unique restaurants whose main bill of fare is - you guessed it - lobster!

I left my camera behind when we visited the shops as I was serious about shopping which, as every serious shopper knows, includes but is not limited to buying things. As a serious shopper, I am committed to looking at everything. These photos were taken by my husband who is a serious photographer.

Hull's Cove School

The reception was held in a 1906 school building, a fascinating bit of history in the area. I didn't bring my camera to that event either, because I thought one photographer per family should do it. But my husband is always willing to share his genius. Above is an exterior view of the school. Below is an interior shot, with Aaron, Keegan, and her uncle in the distance.

As much as I love Maine is about as much as I dislike flying. But it is a fact of life, if you want to go somewhere far away, you must take a plane, you must go through security and you must change planes and endure layovers. I feel I spent more time in airports this vacation than at my destination. But even looking out the window is an experience.


The obligatory airplane window photo

Have a great day. Hope you have had the chance to see something new this summer.

End of Summer Madness

2010-08-19T17:57:00.000-07:00

If I were to say "Butter Cow" what would you think of?

Or, "A Butter Tribute to Dr. Suess?"

Green Eggs and Ham, anyone?

How about "Star Boars?"

Jabba the Hutt

Artist at work.

Corn dog on a stick? Chicken on a stick? Octodog (hotdog in the shape of an octopus)? Chocolate-dipped cake on-a-stick? Pork chop on-a-stick? Fried pickle on-a-stick? Chicken lips on-a-stick (breaded chicken breast smothered with hot sauce, served with blue cheese dressing)? Deep fried Twinkie on-a-stick? Chocolate-covered tiramisu on-a-stick? That is just a small sampling. I didn't eat any of those things, but I did have a foot-long hot dog. Please don't tell my doctor!

If you guessed, the Iowa State Fair, you must be from my part of the country. Of course it wasn't all craziness.

I did see some gorgeous horses... And some beautiful artwork...

Not to mention the baby lambs and goats: the chickens, the ducks and giant pumpkins.

I was sorry to see that the Old Goose Herder and his gaggle were missing this year...

I had loved them so much last year. Wonder what happened to them? Well, they still might make a good painting. ..

And I did make a new friend. She doesn't talk much but she seemed very friendly and listened to everything I said...

She is the one on the right....

It was a long day and I am still exhausted.

Equine Western Art Horses Running Chestnut Horse by Della Burgus

2010-08-16T18:13:00.000-07:00

The Dust Flies

Sometimes they run to avoid capture when they know they are being pursued. Maybe they run out of fear or distress, or because they have been left behind. But they are at their most exciting and beautiful when they run for the sheer joy of running - because they love to listen to the thundering of their own hooves, to feel the wind blowing their manes, or to experience the power flowing through their legs. They run because they were created to run. The idea a simple one, yet far beyond the understanding of most human beings. Animals hardly ever suffer from identity crises or image problems. They never have to take a year off to "find themselves," and they never waste time or energy trying to pretend to be something they are not. They are what God made them to be. That is all He asks of any of us.

I once heard that if you pursue your passion you will bump into your purpose, but it you look for purpose without passion you will lose them both. I like that. Hmm, maybe the horse isn't running away from anything at all. Maybe he, too, is pursuing his passion...

So, keep on running - and let the dust fly!!!

This is an acrylic on canvas, 18 x 14. standard depth. All the edges have been painted and no staples show. It has been listed on the Chisolm Trail Art blog and will also be available through Daily Painters and Art Helping Animals. 10% will be donated to True Blue Animal Rescue.

Churning Waves

2010-08-09T18:54:00.000-07:00

Last year I took a trip to Maine and saw the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. Like much of the English language, the word "awesome" has become so over- and, to my mind, misused, that it has nearly lost its meaning, yet it most nearly describes my feelings. The original meaning of the word, inspiring great admiration, apprehension, or fear, rather than the current, watered down version which could apply to anything from a rock band to a new flavor of coffee. When nature, in its raw power, causes the jaw to drop, the heart to beat rapidly and the mind to turn to God, now that's awesome!

I created this painting recently in anticipation for a return trip this fall. I hope to have more time to walk along the rocky shore and listen to the amazing, powerful sounds of the breakers crashing the shore. Perhaps this time I will bring my watercolors as well as my camera and do some painting on site. That would be awesome!

Sometimes I have to admit that my life feels just like these churning waves. I do not know which way I am going, where to turn, what is going to happen when the next big wave hits. During times like these it is good to remember that, though I have no control over the storms in my life, I know the One who does. He holds my hand and will never let me go.

Rocky Coast is an oil painting on wrapped canvas, 11 x 14, standard depth. All the edges have been painted and no staples are showing, no frame is needed. It is scheduled to be listed on Daily Painters tomorrow and on Art Helping Animals. 10%of the sale will be donated to Old Dog Haven, 10% to Children's Cup International Relief.

Maine Coon Cat

2010-08-04T17:46:00.000-07:00

Tiger Stalks

Maine Coon Cats are a very popular breed, and I receive many requests to paint them. This one of Tiger, a cat belonging to my mother-in-law, shows him stalking his prey. He loves to play tiger and stalks all kinds of things - his toys, my poodle, bugs, his imaginary friends, anything that moves, and if nothing moves he will make it move. He does resemble a raccoon in a way, but he really is a tiger, and don't you forget it! Whenever I run across another photo of him I am inspired to paint him again.

As I wrote before in an earlier blog, my husband's parents gave a home to this helpless little stray kitten and took care of him. But later on, when my mother-in-law was widowed, Tiger took care of her - he was her friend and companion, he kept track of her and, when she didn't feel like doing anything else, she would sit in her rocking chair and hold him. All that sounds to me like the hand of God. He knows what we need before we do, and He makes provision for us ahead of time.

This painting is available for sale on eBay. Click here to view the fixed price listing.

By the way, according to a note written on the back of one of his photos, Tiger began life as "Marie." For some reason everyone thought he was a "she," even the veterinarian. When Marie was taken in to be spayed, the vet shaved off her fur before realizing it would require another kind of operation altogether. Tiger was more than just a little indignant about the entire ordeal, but animals do not hold grudges as humans do.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

1Cor. 13:4-7

The Rose

2010-07-26T14:14:00.000-07:00

Love in Any Language

Oil on canvas, 12" x 12" x 1.5"

My interpretation of one of God's most beautiful creations. Personally I can't imagine how anyone can look at one of these and not believe in a Creator, but then at various times I have also said that about horses, dogs, cats, sunsets, rainbows, oceans, mountains - well, you know. Psalm 19:1 says it all: "The Heavens declare the glory of God and the earth shows forth His handiwork."

Lately I have been drawn to looking at things close up. I even began a series of animal paintings called "When I Look in Your Eye." While roses don't have eyes, they seem to me to be more beautiful the closer you get. It may have something to do with being nearsighted. Georgia O'Keefe developed a similar attitude toward flowers. I remember seeing a film in which she described her fascination with a Jack-in-the-pulpit. She did a series of paintings from a closer and closer point of view until she was almost inside the flower. She was a fascinating artist, and though I don't share her style or philosophy, I really admire her talent and her "toughness," especially when she grew older. One of the things in my "bucket" is visiting her museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep...

The rose is in oils on a wrapped, canvas, stretched over 1.5 inch thick stretcher bars. The painting is extended over the edges. No frame is necessary. It will be listed on Art Helping Animals and Daily Painters.

10% of the sale will be donated to Old Dog Haven.
And 10% of the sale will be donated to Children's Cup Relief

Isn't it Romantic?

2010-07-22T09:56:00.000-07:00

...by any other name...

What is it about roses? While they may not be everyone's favorite flower, I don't know of anyone who actually dislikes them. One of the world's greatest honors, (to my mind better than the Oscar, the Emmy and the Tony combined, better than being elected to high office or even the Nobel Peace prize) is having a rose named after you. They are as loved and cherished as their namesakes - the famous: Queen Elizabeth, Elizabeth Taylor, Dolly Parton, Shaharazade; the less than famous: Alister Stella Gray, Francis Debreil, Mrs. Dudley Cross, Mrs. B.R. Cant; the noblest of ideas: Peace, Fellowship, Joyfulness. Love; or someone's homeland: Dublin, Suffolk, Shreveport, or Arizona. For obvious reasons, Elvis Presley's rose was named Graceland, Somehow that sounds more "roselike" than his own name.

It seems to me that when God made roses, He put within them the very essence of love. Their intoxicating fragrance, velvety petals and vast array of colors all speak of something more of heaven than of earth. And they have their own language. A white rose is the symbol of purity and devotion, while a yellow rose suggests faithful friendship and pink roses bring to mind young romance. But when a woman receives a bouquet of red roses, it carries with it the promise of enduring love and unbridled passion. Indeed there is something wild and almost dangerous about red roses. Of course, not all promises are kept, and sometimes people can be disappointing, but that is not the fault of the rose.

My husband photographed this rose in our backyard, and shared it with me because he knew I love painting them. Now that is true love! Deciding that only oils could capture its subtlety and delicacy, I used the photo as the inspiration for a softer, more Impressionistic version of this rose. Unfortunately, we don't remember its name, though I am fairly certain it doesn't have anything to do with Elvis. The painting was finished yesterday and is still too wet to handle, even to photograph, but you will see it here Monday or Tuesday of next week.

The Muralists, Conclusion

2010-07-14T15:45:00.000-07:00

Trolley, Waiting

72" x 72"

Acrylic

At last, we have reached the end of our journey. The trolley mural is finally finished. Many hours of research and work went into the painting of this trolley, which began operation in 1906. I wrote more about the history of the depot and Inter-Urban trolley in The Muralists. Even after the painting was finished, it took a while for us to declare an end to all the picky details and get it out of the house and into its new home. With the help of Russ and his pickup, Larry and I installed the mural in the Old Depot this morning. Russ, who came up with the brilliant idea in the first place, said the mural needed a name and came up with Trolley, Waiting.

New home of Trolley, Waiting, painting by Larry and Della Burgus

We chose the hottest day of the year to install the painting - in a hundred year old building without air conditioning. That's planning, huh? The actual temperature was in the nineties, but all the television weather forecasters continually warned us that "heat indexes would be in the 100 degrees" By elven o'clock that heat index had reached 111. And everybody was saying what they always say, "It isn't the heat, it is the humidity."

Installation

We made the mural a tad too large, on the theory that boards can be cut down, but they can't be stretched, so some alterations were necessary. Fortunately Larry belongs to the school of "measure twice, cut once," so things went rather smoothly. Actually, he measured everything three or four times, just to be sure. There would be no reattaching it once we cut it down.

Measure the wall

The mural would be mounted here, on the door where passengers left the depot to board the trolley. A second door will slide in front of the mural to protect it when not in use.

Measure the mural

Trim it "just a hair."

Can we get it to fit?

This takes concentration

Larry installed the painting with small screws and nails. He was so creative about incorporating them into the machinery hardware. After he finished, I covered them with small dots of paint.

Tah-Dah!

Dixie, Russ's wife, shot some pictures of Larry and me standing in front of the finished product and said it would be in the bulletin. Oh, goodie! I hope they don't put it in the newspaper! I don't have a copy of any of the photos and probably wouldn't share them here if I did. Me, with my baggy shorts, paint shirt and frizzy hair from the 90 plus temperatures. Since I took most of the photos for the blog, you won't find me in any of them.

Russ closes the door.

I am happy it is over, relieved to get it out of my house and my studio. But it was a good experience and I am glad we did it. We always enjoy doing projects together and we each like to add our own special little touches. The painting will serve as a reminder to some and an introduction to many others of a time long gone, before superhighways and airplanes.

The Muralists

2010-07-02T20:08:00.000-07:00

A photo of the Inter-Urban Depot, now a shelter house at McColl Park in Woodward

Back in 1898, before most of us were even born, the Des Moines City Railway incorporated and became the Inter-Urban Railway. It was tied in to the Des Moines street railway system and connected some of the smaller rural communities to the city. The Inter-Urban Trolley provided service to Woodward beginning in 1906 - also before we were born. The Inter-Urban was the major form of transportation to the smaller rural communities in the area for several decades. Service continued through the depression but ended in 1941 when improved roads and automobiles made it no longer necessary.
In 1951, five acres of land surrounding was given to the city for a park and the old depot, lovingly restored, serves as the shelter house.

If any of you are still with me after all that, you might be interested to know that my husband and I were commissioned to paint a mural of the trolley for the depot. Not large as murals go, only 72 inches square, and we are able to do the work at home in our air conditioned studio. Instead of painting directly on the depot wall, we are painting on a smooth wood panel which will be attached to the wall when we are finished. After looking at dozens of old photos of trolleys my husband drew a sketch which we enlarged and projected onto the panel. We had a couple of "false starts," designing and redesigning the thing as we went along but finally came up with something that looks good - at least to us - and is as accurate as we could make it. Discovering all sorts of things as we go along. Like using blue painting tape to help us paint straight lines. Solves the endless cycle of painting - touching up - repainting... Larry sits and studies train wheels until he sees them in his sleep. As far as the trolley itself goes, I know nothing and have no desire to know. With the help of the blue tape, I can paint within the lines that Larry draws. But the background - landscape, skies, bushes, etc. are mine. We like working together, although we do have somewhat different styles. It really bugs me, though, that when I work, the paint goes everywhere - on my clothes, on the floor, in my hair, on my face, on the dog - while he could paint all day wearing his best clothes and they would still be clean enough to go out to dinner. Is that fair???

Today I began painting the train conductor, loosely based on a very old black and white photo. Loved the handlebar mustache, but did run into trouble with the hat. The poor man looked more like a member of the French Foreign Legion than he did an agent for the Des Moines Railway System. Back to the drawing board!

I will not show you the whole thing until it is finished. Right now it is at its "ugly stage." In fact it has been pretty much at that stage all along, but I am confident it will look like something someday. Soon, I hope. My husband likes to sneak up on me and take pictures of me working. It is a horrible thing to do to a poor, unsuspecting artist, but I am unable to defend myself against the relentless camera stalker.

I did find one relatively harmless photo. My hand only. working on the sky.

Hope you all have a happy Fourth of July holiday week end! And please say a prayer for those brave men and women who serve to protect us and our freedoms.

Gray Persian Cat

2010-06-28T19:02:00.000-07:00

Smokey Blue

Acrylic on wrapped canvas

6 x 8

All edges painted, no staples show.

Display with or without a frame.

Sold

I have met many passionate animal lovers online through my work with the Art Helping Animals Blog. (Click on link for purchase information.) Many people have their favorites and do request to see paintings of certain breeds. One of the most popular is the Persian Cat, an absolutely unique and beautiful animal. These are definitely indoor cats, not the type you might see walking around in someone's yard, or even curled up on a porch, so about the only place to see one is in a cat show unless you have your own. Those that I have been privileged to meet are as delightful as they are beautiful. Despite their regal bearing and the somewhat austere expressions on their faces, they are affectionate and devoted and they make wonderful pets. This painting will be listed both on Art Helping Animals and Daily Painters.

Today's blog is on the short side because my energy level is at the low end of the chart. I fought a serious battle with a sinus infection toward the end of last week, then had a very busy week end. My husband and I worked all day today on the Inter-Urban Trolley mural and the result is complete exhaustion. Did I tell you about the mural? Probably not. Well, I will catch you up later this week. And tomorrow I will try to catch up with all of those wonderful blogs of yours that I haven't yet been able to comment on.

Bless you all.

Close up Arabian

2010-06-21T19:02:00.000-07:00

Into the Marvelous Light

Acrylic on Canvas

10 x 8, standard depth

Wrapped canvas, all edges painted, no staples show

Display with or without a frame

that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1Peter 2:9

Sometimes we go through dark days when it is hard to see the light. We grieve and we may have very good, valid reasons to grieve, or maybe we aren't even sure why but we feel overcome with sadness and hopelessness. Sometimes it seems that each day is darker than the one before, and we wonder if we will ever see the light again. And then we begin to wonder if there really is a light at all, or if we have just been fooling ourselves. I have faced more than a few days like that, and I wouldn't be surprised if there have been some in your life also. But eventually there comes a time when I have to make a decision between the darkness and the light. It is not an easy decision, not as easy as it should be. "Let's see, darkness or light? Now that is a no-brainer." Or is it? Sometimes I believe it is easier for me to stay in my comfort zone of misery, even when it is no longer so comfortable. When I am wallowing in self-pity, overwhelmed with sadness and despair, paralyzed with the inertia of indecision, it is so much easier for me just to stay there. But all it takes is one move, one very small move - just to turn my face to the Light. That's all, just turn. I don't have to run or walk, don't even have to lift my feet out of the miry mud. All I have to do is turn. And when that first tiny ray of Light hits me, I turn again, Then I move closer. I walk. I run. I dance. I am free.

This painting has been listed on Art Helping Animals and will appear on Daily Painters on Tuesday, June 22. 10% of the sale will be donated to True Blue Animal Rescue and 10% to Children's Cup International Relief.

26 Years Ago Yesterday

2010-06-17T18:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Larry and I celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary. We have often taken a trip to mark the occasion, but this year we settled for a lovely dinner out at our favorite restaurant. Well, my favorite, anyway.

Everyone said it was a beautiful wedding, but then everyone always says that, don't they? It is all a blur now, but there are still a few memories. I remember that the original cake baker had to cancel at the last minute because of back problems and I ended up ordering the cake from the grocery store. And my aunt said it was pretty good and "not too crumby." My uncle had come all the way from Arizona for my wedding but missed the ceremony because he had the time wrong. I was touched by his tears. Our wedding was the first for the photographer and she did a great job, but the battery on her camera died shortly after the ceremony. We relied on our friends with cameras for more photos, and they were more than happy to share them. I remember also that my husband stumbled over the words "plight thee my troth," which is hard to say on a good day. In spite of the less than stellar beginning, it has been a beautiful life, through both good times and bad and that is what really counts isn't it? Some of our dreams came true, others didn't, and God had a few surprises along the way that we hadn't even thought about. Anyway, if I had it to do all over again, I would. Still, I am glad that, even though the Lord knows the end from the beginning, He doesn't share that knowledge with us. We couldn't handle it.

Wild Thing

2010-06-14T13:20:00.000-07:00

Tiger's Eyes

Pastel, 8 x 10

Another in my the series inspired by the song When I Look in Your Eyes, from the original Dr. Doolittle musical. I have always been fascinated by eyes, both human and animal. They speak volumes, more than I can ever explain with words. The eyes of a dog are loving and loyal, the eyes of a cat are somewhat mysterious, a horse's eyes have a certain dignity and nobility. But the eyes of a tiger are simply amazing. They are fierce and watchful, sometimes described as "amber colored," sometimes "topaz," they seem to reflect the colors of the sky and the landscape - a little orange, some yellow, some brown and just a touch of green. Always a challenge. The sight of a tiger always causes my jaw to drop in awe of this magnificent creature. How did God think to do that? I would never have thought of that!

In the book Wild Goose Chase, Mark Batterson briefly describes a trip to the Galapagos and relates it to Adam in the Garden.

Scripture tells us that one of the first jobs God gave Adam was naming the animals. And we read right past it. But it must have taken years of research and exploration to complete the project. I don't think God paraded the animals past Adam to a single-file line. I'm guessing God let Adam discover them in their natural habitat. Imagine how thrilling it must have been for Adam to catch his first glimpse of wildebeests stampeding, mountain goats climbing, or rhinos charging...Few things compare to the thrill of seeing a wild animal in its natural habitat. There is something so inspiring about a wild animal doing what it was created to do. Uncivilized. Untamed, Uncaged.

He goes on to describe a subsequent visit to the zoo. It was disappointing to him, it was just not the same to see a caged animal. "It is too safe. It is too tame. It is too predictable." He makes the case that in many ways we are like the caged animals, content to live "safe" lives rather than doing what we were intended to do. Unlike the animals, many of our cages are of our own making.

While I have always dreamed of going on one of those photographic safaris to see wildlife in their natural habitat, most of my models have been in zoos. Except for the occasional deer, bunny, or red fox. Many modern zoos no longer display animals in cages and do make an effort to simulate a "natural habitat" for them. I am not certain if that is for the benefit of the animals or the people who come to see them, but zoos have done research in protecting wildlife, especially those considered endangered. Zoos have helped me as an artist because at this point I do not have the resources for a trip to Africa or India to visit wildlife. I don't know what I would do without digital cameras and Photoshop although, according to Batterson, I am missing out on the best part of life. So that one will go into my bucket to await a time of fewer responsibilities. Or should I say, "cages."

This painting will be listed on Daily Painters and Art Helping Animals on Tuesday. It is matted and ready to frame. Image size is 8 x 10.
10% of the sale will be donated to Tabby's Place because inside every kitty is the heart of a tiger.
An additional 10% of the sale will be donated to Children's Cup International.

White Iris

2010-06-08T08:32:00.000-07:00

Block Buster -artist's block, that is...

The White Iris is the beginning of the end (I hope) of my current artist's block - which I envision as a huge boulder sitting right smack dab in the middle of my road. From the moment I saw the beautiful white flower growing in the neighbor's yard, I knew I HAD to paint it. That feeling is what has been missing from my journey the past couple of weeks. Thomas Edison said "genius is one percent inspiration and ninety nine percent perspiration," and as a genius he would know about things like that. On the other hand, as an artist I know that the tiny little one percent is the most crucial of the whole equation. Without inspiration, there is no real art, no matter how much perspiration is generated. And, like it or not, real inspiration comes from God, not from me. In Bible college I learned that the word inspiration actually means "God-breathed." Wow! So, when I become dry and weary from trying to crank out artwork because I am supposed to, because people expect it, because I have to list something by Tuesday, or because if I don't produce something, I am no longer an artist - well, it is time to step back and let God "breathe" into me again.

It seems fitting that the last painting I did before my block was a white Persian cat, and the first painting afterward is a white flower. I love painting "white," because it never really is just white. There are always soft subtle colors in the shadows and bright highlights that are just a step away from white. I get lost in them.

This painting is acrylic on gessoed board, framed with a black wooden frame. It has been listed on Daily Painters and Art Helping Animals. 10% will be donated to Old Dog Haven and 10% to Children's Cup International Relief.

Guest Artist, Sharyn A. Rose

2010-06-01T14:05:00.000-07:00

Since my muse decided to take an unscheduled vacation without me, I am sharing the work of an artist friend of mine, one of the most creative people I know.

"Pansies," Watercolor print by Sharyn A. Rose

Sharyn has been a friend for a very long time and I have always admired her work, especially her collages and puppets. But a few weeks ago she blessed me with a watercolor print that completely blew me away. Watercolor? I didn't know she was also a watercolorist! She doesn't have a blog or website of her own yet, so I asked her to be a guest artist on my blog and she graciously agreed. The interview was conducted by email, since she does live in another state.

This is a lovely watercolor. What was the inspiration for it?

The watercolor that is shown was accidental. I was just experimenting with colors when (voila) a pansy revealed itself. Most of my art is that way.

What types of art do you like creating?

I like drawing, watercolor, fabric sculpture, writing, scrap crafting. I like to draw faces, hand sew fabric animals, and scrap craft jewelry.

My crafting is not predetermined but reveals itself as I go along. We no longer have craft shows here at the senior "home" - but at the last one two years ago I sold: button magnets; papier mache boxes with button covered lids; bead and button stretch bracelets; bookmarks using old photos and quotes; fabric flower pins (some went on a hat which the Director bought for her cruise); plastic eggs with mini-sewing kits inside (these went for .25 each and the social worker here said it was the best bargain she ever had...she used the kit about 3 times).

I seem to be a "generalist" in art...liking all mediums. I do not feel "expert" in one and wish, in a way, I could settle down and grow in just one area.

When did you first discover you were an artist, and what is your background?
I have a BA degree in education with art emphasis. I taught Jr. High art for about 2 years; after that I was a puppeteer for many years and had my own traveling puppet theatre. I did birthday parties and also worked in a children's theatre part-time.

What was your most rewarding experience with art?

My most interesting art experience was when the MA Dept. of Education hired me to give a seminar to midwives from Afghanistan. I taught them how to make felt hand puppets and they did beautiful embrodered faces. I also taught them how to give a presentation with puppets and we video-taped their presentation. In Afghanistan a Dr. or nurse cannot tell a pregnant patient what to do, nor does the patient undress. The midwives thought puppet shows might educate the women about health care and nutrition and baby care. I now wonder if they are doing shows.

Which work do you consider your "Masterpiece?"

My best piece of "artwork" was probably my "4 and 20 blackbirds baked in a pie." This was part of my hand-sewn puppet troupe. The pie was built so that it would open and the 24 blackbirds bounced out...they were sewn on a mesh...the pie was beige felt as were the blackbirds. I used this "puppet" in my "Mother Goose Rhyme" series. I eventually sold it. I love fabric sculpture.....especially multiples encased in one container. I no longer do fabric sculptures but may go back to it one day. I also loved doing fabric faces... again, I have no preconceived pattern...and just let the material give me direction.

I know that you are also a gifted writer. Please share a little about that.

Currently I am taking a writing course...my latest essay was on the moods of the sea. On my own I am creating an altered book featuring everything I want to be and do and have. This summer I want to type up and print off most of my writings...Right now I feel I am more writer than artist...but...maybe I'm both.

What is something about you that no one knows.?
On a test I was diagnosed high creative and high in organizing. In my office work I organized a President's loose papers and brochures in a series of notebooks. At a meeting he showed these to the employees and said: "this is the product of an organized mind." I've always liked that comment.

I've also had comments about my decorations for parties. At a church "Picnic in the Park" I created life-size cardboard cows for a farm theme (the udder was in the middle instead of the back; was told by a Dr. at thepicnic he would have to give an "udderectomy.") Also at this picnic I had bales of hay and a large farmer puppet stuffed into a real pair of overalls.

If you could have lunch with anyone in history, who would it be?
If I could have a lunch with anyone it would be Jesus Christ, of course. I would have a long, long list of questions and would like to know what He is doing now? Are there other worlds? When is He coming back? What should I be doing now? Should I combine art and writing? Should I try to publish? Should I take courses and which ones? What is my supreme purpose? How am I gonna' lose weight and still eat ice cream? What is my mom doing? etc. etc.

If I had a second choice I'd like to interview Denys Fitch Hatton (of Out of Africa fame - and Karen Blixen's lover)....what happened to his plane that it mysteriously went down just at take-off? Was it sabotage? Was he sick?.... What happened between he and Karen...they were such strong friends...then the big separation.

What are some of the things in your "bucket" - what you would like to do but haven't done yet?
I'd like to travel to Denmark to see Karen Blixen's family home; also Kenya to see her home in the Ngong Hills outside of Nairobi. Other places on my "wish list" are: Niagara Falls, Mackinac Island, Williamsburg (again), Ocean City, NJ (again), Paris, Sicily.

Thanks for reading, and thanks to Sharyn for helping me out. My muse arrived home again late last week when I became captivated by a flower in the neighbor's garden. A painting is in the works, but I am taking it easy - painting when I feel like it, refusing to set a deadline for myself, not pushing. The result has been a joyful painting experience and an artwork that will be finished in a few days. Or not. It may even be good. Or not. At this point I am just happy to be painting again.

How Della Lost Her Groove

2010-05-24T09:34:00.000-07:00

If you have been following this blog any time at all you may have noticed that a new artwork goes up every week, usually on Monday or Tuesday at the latest. But I had nothing last week and this week there is nothing again. This morning I was playing with my camera and took a photo of my desktop, These are photos that I took in the garden last week. That is about as creative as I am going to get for a while. But don't give up on me altogether. Stick around and you may see a painting of this iris, called Superstition and described as "black." It is really a deep, deep purple, though it does look black when the sun is not shining directly on it.

As to why there is no artwork, it is due to a malady that hits most creatives at one time or another. Some people, those who are very optimistic and confident - or perhaps unrealistic and delusional - refer to it as a" block," - artist's block, writer's block. This, however assumes that the disease is light and temporary, when in fact it is terminal and devastating. The closest thing I can come to describing the condition is what happened to my computer this morning. My new wireless mouse, my pride and joy, suddenly stopped working. It probably didn't help that I had dropped it on the floor earlier, but to me that seems like something of an overreaction. The little arrow sat lifelessly on the corner of my screen while I shoved the mouse this way and that, pushing buttons I hadn't known were there. Then my dear husband, the house genius, picked up the mouse, removed the battery and put it right back again. That doesn't make sense, does it? But then the little arrow began dancing across my screen again as if its life had been miraculously restored. So that is what it takes. Maybe my battery doesn't need to be recharged, just jiggled around a little. On the other hand, maybe I need a complete overhaul.

Wish I could tell you that I have decided to take a long vacation in some exotic, undisclosed location, but I am not a fiction writer. A change of scene would be good, but there are too many responsibilities keeping me here right now. And that may be the problem - my muse got tired of living responsibly and went off on vacation without me. Hope it isn't an extended one, I miss her...

A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever

2010-05-10T15:20:00.000-07:00

Persian

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One of the joys of cat, dog and horse shows is the opportunity to meet many different kinds of animals that you don't see on a daily basis. This is especially true of cats, as many of them are indoor animals, rarely if ever venturing out of doors. This beauty was one of the sweetest, friendliest cats I had ever met. and she reminded me of a childhood pet. Mine was pure white, unlike this one who looked as if someone had sketched on her lightly with charcoal dust. But my kitty did have the thick, silky white fur and the most affectionate nature. Every morning when I got up, she would sit in my lap on the rocking chair in out kitchen and put her arms around my neck. Since she had come from a shelter, it was unlikely she was pure Persian, as this one, but she had the same beautiful spirit.

I am not sure about the coloring of this cat. If her owner shared that with me I have forgotten. Her fur was pure white with just a dusting of the grayish-black marking. So beautiful and so very sweet. Whoever described cats as "aloof" never met this charmer.

This is a pastel on Sennelier Pastel Card, the image size is 7 x 8. It is mounted on foam core board. matted to a standard size and ready to frame. 20% of the sale will be donated to Tabby's Place, A Cat Sanctuary. It will be listed on Daily Painters and Art Helping Animals.

Mixed emotions on Mother's Day

2010-05-09T13:18:00.000-07:00

"Knock Out" Rosebush, a Mother's Day gift from my husband,
sits in the studio waiting for frost warnings to melt away.

For many years now, Mother's Day has brought mixed feelings. My mom passed away when I was 26 - that was a long time ago. I would have like to have had her around longer, would like for her to have been there for my wedding and when I raised a family. I was scared to death of making a mistake, doing things wrong, and it would have been good to hear an encouraging word from her. She loved kids and would have enjoyed being a grandmother. But God had other plans, and His plans are always for the best, even when we don't understand them. Mom had a firm, sometimes even fierce faith in God, and she would never have argued with Him about anything. And we all know that Heaven is better than earth.

I inherited a love of children from my mother, and always planned, or at least hoped, to have a large family. But God had other ideas about that, also. A few years after Mom died, He brought a young widower with two little boys into my life. I loved them as if they were my own, even though there were plenty of people on all sides reminding me that they were not, and that it wasn't really "the same." But I plugged on, and though my mother was no longer with me, God had given me a best friend, named Shary who I could always depend on for moral support. I hadn't been married long, when we went out for lunch together and she asked me how I was doing. I chatted on and on about the kids, their activities, the house, Larry's work, and she said, "Della, how are you?" It made me tear up then, as it does now. She never let me forget that, yes, I was a wife, a mother, a housekeeper, but I was also still her friend, a person, an individual. She once told me that I should stop thinking of myself as a second string replacement, a substitute for someone else, but to always remember that I am the one and only "me" and I wasn't a second-best anything. Thank you, Shary, for being there. Best friends are a wonderful gift from God.

So, the question is who is the real mother - is it the person who carried the children for nine months and spent hours in labor bringing them into the world, or the one who spent years feeding them, doing mountains of laundry and cleaning, spending sleepless nights worrying and praying, praying, praying that someday when they went out into the world, they would be safe and happy, and that the world would become a better place because of them? The answer can only be BOTH of them. It takes all those things, and more to make a "real" mother. And for some reason, God in His wisdom decided that my boys needed two different women to share this responsibility, instead of just one. It was His decision. Twice as much love, two times the prayers. And, like my mom, I don't have the audacity to argue with God about anything.

The beautiful rose bush pictured above is a gift from my wonderful husband, who never stops reminding me that I am the mother of his children. A husband is a wonderful gift from God.! So, despite the sadness, I am blessed

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

2010-05-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

The Cavalier

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There is something irresistible about the soulful eyes of a spaniel, and the Cavalier is one of the most soulful of all spaniels. Cavaliers are the kind of dog that make you say "awww," but they are also very brave, very loyal and have a wonderful sense of humor and a joyous nature. The kind of person you would want for your best friend. I always enjoy talking with Cavalier people because they are as friendly as the dogs they love. and they don't mind at all when I can't resist stroking that soft, silky fur.

This is an acrylic painting on stretched, wrapped canvas. No staples show on the sides, and all the edges have been painted so that it may be displayed with or without a frame. It has been listed on Daily Painters for Tuesday and also Art Helping Animals. You may view the listing on eBay by clicking here.

From time to time people write me to request more paintings of their favorite breeds. Cavalier King Charles are among the most requested. For cats, it is usually Persians or Maine Coons. I love reading about your favorite breeds, and am happy to paint them when I can. This week I am working on some Persians and hope to show them to you soon.

The Lion Does Not Sleep Tonight

2010-04-27T16:52:00.000-07:00

When I Look In Your Eyes

African Lion

Another in my series of paintings that focus on the eyes of one of God's most amazing creatures. The look in the lion's eyes says it all, much better than I ever could. He is beautiful, he is powerful, and he is not tame. Not really. Not in his heart, where it really counts. He knows who he is. No matter what man may think of his own importance, no matter how he tries to control his surroundings, the lion will always be The King of Beasts. And that is as it should be.

This painting is pastel on Ampersand Pastel Board. 8 x 10. It was listed on Art Helping Animals on Monday night and has already been purchased. 20% of the sale will be donated to Tabby's Place - A Cat Sanctuary, because inside every kitty beats the heart of a lion.

Things I Learned from Alice in Wonderland

2010-04-23T10:26:00.000-07:00

The original Alice books were my favorites as a child. I read and reread them hundreds of times until I had everything memorized - then I read them again. I never found the rabbit hole, but that didn't stop me from searching, and every time I saw a mirror, I touched it, just to see if this time it would lead me to an exciting adventure. All the greatest adventures were in the stories, at least until the newest film version was released. Last week my husband and I saw the 3-D version in a theater for the third, and probably, the last time. Fortunately for me, he is really into special effects and computer stuff, so I didn't even have to drag him. If the local I Max theater decides to run it, we will see it there, and of course we will buy the DVD, but it won't be the same. Nothing can compare the feeling of having a teacup thrown at you, dodging a sword, or reaching out to touch a butterfly. And I have learned so much, each time I have seen it there has been something new

Things I Learned from Alice in Wonderland

The 2010 Version

1. Until you know who you are, you can't fulfill your destiny

2. The Jabberwocky (dragon) must be slain, and only you can do it.

3. You must use the proper sword.

4. The sword knows what it wants to do, all you have to do is hold on. You are the insignificant bearer.

5. It is better to be loved than to be feared, but it is better to love than to be loved.

6. Don't ever lose your "muchness."

Now you can look at all of this anyway you want, but please don't jump to the conclusion that either Alice or I am a violent person. Alice kept telling everyone who would listen, "I DON'T slay, I just want to wake up." We all have our own personal dragons and for most of us, they are figurative, not literal. For Alice in this story, it had to do with the expectations of society and family, and the putting aside of her own dreams to please everyone else. I have read a biography of Alice Liddell, the real Alice who inspired the original Lewis Carroll stories, and I believe she may have encountered a similar Jabnerwocky in her life. She was a strong, accomplished woman who lived during a time when women were meant to know their place and stay there. I have learned a lot from her, and from this tale which was not part of Alice's original adventures, but it certainly follows the theme.

My dragons are different from yours, and certainly different from Alice's. We are all responsible for our own dragons, and I wish you well in your struggle, whatever it may be. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it.

Word Clouds

2010-04-20T18:26:00.000-07:00

Hey, have you tried this yet? It's a wonderful new online "toy" that you can use to create a work of art from your words and ideas. Describe how you are feeling today, write your own biography, make lists of favorite things or people. Or do as I did for this one, and just type in your blog address. They will lift the words for you and arrange it in a collage. You get to choose the basic layout, the colors and the font. Play with them until you like the look. Then, click - and all the work is done for you! It costs you NOTHING! Where else can you find a deal like that? It has already become one of my favorite sites. This could be a journal, a devotional, a scrapbook. The possibilities are endless! Try it once and you will become addicted. Just like me.

The link for this is http://www.wordle.net

By the way, I found this link on Angela Hunt's blog. She is a great writer, an animal lover, and I recommend her books and her blog: http://alifeinpages.blogspot.com/

I am NOT being paid for this testimonial. I just found something fun and want to pass it on.
Enjoy!!!!!!!!

Equine Art Close Up Chestnut Horse

2010-04-19T15:27:00.000-07:00

When I Look In Your Eyes

"A Gentle Spirit"

Another in the series inspired by the song, When I Look In Your Eyes, sung by Rex Harrison in the Dr. Doolittle musical. I love the expression of quiet contemplation on this horse, and the way his mane blows wildly in the wind. Horses are fascinating to paint - such a range of emotion and temperament, so much strength and tenderness, and so much grace all in one animal.

This is a pastel painting on Ampersand Pastel Board, my new best friend. It has a slightly sanded, very fine texture and is especially good for animal paintings. It will stand up under lots of layers, which is how I work, and sort of "grabs" the color so that it doesn't just sit on top of the paper, yet it isn't so rough that it prevents me from putting in the detail that I love. It should be good for people portraits, also, but I haven't tried it yet.

Pastel on Ampersand Pastel Board

Image size 9 x 12

Matted and ready to frame.

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

This painting will be listed on Daily Painters and will be available for purchase from Art Helping Animals on Tuesday, April 20

A Real Live Teddy Bear

2010-04-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

These little ones are so full of energy and excitement, I just love being around them. At the dog show recently I saw tables filled with them. Most were this lovely blond color, but there were also a couple of black as well as one white one. They are friendly and lovable, and if you are fortunate enough to be able to hold one, it will cuddle right into your arms, just like a teddy bear.

This is acrylic on stretched, wrapped canvas, 8 x 10. All the edges have been painted and no staples show so that it may be displayed with or without a frame. 20% of the sales will be donated to Old Dog Haven, one of the charities supported by Art Helping Animals, a fellowship of professional artists who donate a portion of their sales to animal charities, This painting will be listed on Daily Painters and Art Helping Animals on Tuesday, April 13.

Pomeranian

Acrylic, 8 x 10

20% of the sale to

Old Dog Haven

Don't forget to hug your pet today!

Website Woes

2010-04-10T05:46:00.000-07:00

If you have looked for my website lately, www.dellaburgus.com, it is no longer available and I don't have a sweet clue why. Of course, I have considered all the obvious possibilities and, yes, I have paid my Mobile Me bill; yes, my domain name was renewed way last fall; and as far as I can see, (which I admit isn't far with me being a non-computer type) but everything appears to be configured as it was. Firefox (and Safari) just "can't find the server at www.dellaburgus.com." So, until I get a call put in to a computer geek - oops, I mean Expert, my website will be on hiatus. I can't say I am looking forward to spending hours online with someone whose computerese is so advanced that I won't understand a word he/she is saying. It is time consuming, frustrating, and not a little humiliating, and in the end I will discover something so simple that any fool could see it. Yes, well, I am not just any fool, I work hard at this. Sorry for the inconvenience, but you can still find me here on the blog.

Have a great weekend!

Sorry, Magic Bunny! I will get you back online someday!

Public Enemy Number One

2010-04-07T08:27:00.000-07:00

An Endangered Species

Here it is - the real problem. All the misery, troubles, illness, tragedy of this nation can be traced back to this innocent looking little can. It is filled with evil. It is what is making us fat. Terrorists? Crime? Unemployment? They don't matter. Soft drinks can make us fat. And fat is the root of all evil. Our new worst enemy. This week it is my Pepsi, but beware, next week it will be your candy bar or french fry. Eventually the government will be telling us not only what we can eat, but how it can be prepared. A massive tax on stir fried veggies!!!! And what about all those people who lose their jobs when the soft drink companies fold? Who will take care of them? Never mind, I already know the answer to that.

Yes, I know soft drinks are empty calories. Lots of sugar. They add no nourishment to my body. But they are nonfat, non alcoholic and they taste good. The bubbles make me happy, I can drink a Pepsi or a Coca Cola, a Sierra Mist or a Root Beer and then jump into my car knowing that I am still in control of my actions. No delayed reactions, no impaired jugement - at least not according to any tests I have heard of. If the government really wants to eliminate everything that doesn't nourish our lives, maybe they should begin with television.

Well, I for one am going to fight back. I am going to start hording this stuff now, buying cases of it at a time, storing it in the basement, the attic, under the bed, so that when it is no longer available in this country, I can still have my bliss. Who knows? Maybe I will be able to sell it on eBay and make a fortune.

Sorry for the rant. It was at least partially tongue in cheek. Have a good day!

Seascape Sea Gull on Rocky Maine Coast

2010-04-05T10:11:00.000-07:00

Maine Seascape

Oil on Canvas

10 x 20

Disturb Us, Lord...

"Disturb us, Lord,
When we are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore...

From a writing by Sir Francis Drake, in 1577

to read the complete piece click here

Last summer I took a trip to the East Coast and saw the rocky shore of Maine for the first time. Our younger son had interned in Maine at Acadia National Park and fell in love - with the place, and with a beautiful young woman named Keegan. I am not sure which came first, but either way, I am glad he had the good sense to fall in love in Maine. I fell in love once, a long time ago, and wound up in Woodward, Iowa. But that is another story. Anyway, the coastline is beautiful, filled with seascapes and landscapes that it would take a lifetime to paint and I had a great time there. I didn't do any painting while I was visiting as we didn't stay long enough, but I took lots of photos. This painting was done from a combination of several photos and my memories of standing on the rocks and looking at the ocean. It was amazing for this land-locked Iowan to see, but even more amazing to hear the roar of those waves. For a little while I felt like that tiny gull gazing out across the vast ocean. Then he flew away and I was still standing on the rock, so the feeling left.

This painting is an oil on canvas, wrapped and stretched. All the edges have been painted and no staples show, so that it may be displayed as is, without a frame. 20% of the sale price will be donated to Old Dog Haven. It will be listed on Daily Painters and Art Helping Animals tomorrow, April 5, and on Ebay later in the week.

How Did He Really Look and Does it Really Matter?

2010-04-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

Recently I saw a television program about a man who had used modern technology to create a "photo" of Jesus. He used the images from the Shroud of Turin, which many believe was used to cover the body of Christ before His burial. Regardless of your belief about this relic, it was a fascinating story. But given our tendency toward idol worship, I am not so sure we are supposed to have an exact likeness of Him. It might prove a distraction for those of us who call ourselves by His Name and spend our lives trying to focus on who He was and what He did. Still, it does help to remember that when He walked the earth, it was as a human being who probably looked like us. I have done several paintings of Jesus in my lifetime and have noticed that different paintings speak to different people. That is because we all know Him in different ways, at different times in our lives. One painting, one story, one song will never say everything there is to say about Him, but every artist who attempts to portray Jesus, does so with the idea of expressing his own feelings, experiences and understanding. None of us have the complete story.

This portrait was painted several years ago and only recently purchased. I may make prints available sometime in the future, with proceeds going to a children's charity. But those decisions are for another day.

For today, I want to wish you and yours a Blessed Easter, and hope that you spend some time thinking about the reason we celebrate. Be happy!

Thanks.

White Tiger Pastel

2010-03-29T16:25:00.000-07:00

When I look In Your Eyes

White Tiger

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One of my favorite places is the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska, and one of my favorite exhibits is the Big Cats complex. I love all the animals, but one of the most fascinating is the white tiger. I haven't been able to visit Omaha for a few years now, but I believe the beautiful, majestic cat still rules there. This painting was done from a photo taken on a previous visit.

I am amazed by those incredibly beautiful blue eyes, and so decided to make him the newest in my series of paintings inspired by the song "When I Look In Your Eyes" from the musical "Dr, Dolittle."

This is a different sort of technique, pastel on stretched canvas. The canvas is first prepared by applying a mixture of marble dust and Acrylic glaze medium. Pastel is applied in thin layers, then brushed with water, resulting in a watercolor-like underpainting. The picture was then refined by strokes of soft pastel. This was a new technique for me, seemed like a lot more work, but it did produce a nice effect, and it is always fun for me to try new things. I think I will use the technique again, but probably not all the time.

Pastel on stretched canvas, prepared with marble dust. It is 8 x 10. As with other pastels, it should be framed under glass. It will be available through Art Helping Animals and Daily Painters on Tuesday, listed on Ebay later in the week. 20% of the sale will be donated to Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center

A Yellow Hat, Chop Suey, Hawks, and Why I Am An Artist

2010-03-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

The Automat

by William Hopper

Last week I visited the Des Moines Art Center with my husband. We try to go at least three or four times a year, more if there is a special exhibit going on. They take pride in their extensive contemporary art collection, abstract and post modern, and they also have a nice little collection of artwork by 19th and 20th Century artists, which is my favorite. The exhibit that caught my attention this time was Edward Hopper: Images and Influences. It was small, only two Hopper paintings and a few drawings plus some other work by artists of his era, but I have loved Hopper's work ever since being taken to the Art Center as a child. I don't remember my exact age, but it must have been around ten or eleven and I probably tagged along on some occasion when my older sister wanted to go. Hopper's The Automat is part of the permanent collection and I remember being so excited about the "Lady With the Yellow Hat," which was my name for the painting, I couldn't stop talking about it. I loved the pretty lady, her beautiful clothes, the lights reflected in the window. I wondered what she was doing there alone at night, and of course had to know what an "automat" was. My mother explained it was a restaurant where the food was kept behind a sort of wall with a number of glass windows. A person would insert coins into a machine and then lift a window to remove the sandwich or piece of pie. Sort of a precursor of the vending machine, except that there was a kitchen behind the wall where the food was being prepared. I suppose it eliminated the need for waiters. Anyway it all sounded very romantic to me. But the reason I have never forgotten this painting is that it made me aware of the world of art. Drawing and re-drawing that picture drew me into a lifelong fascination with marks on paper, pictures that tell stories and colors that jump out and grab the viewer. Though my work today doesn't show much of Hopper's influence, he was the catalyst. He was the reason I wanted to be an artist.

Chop Suey

by William Hopper

This is the other Hopper painting in the exhibit. It is on loan from the Seattle Art Museum. Though there are many similarities, it has a different feeling from The Automat. I like it very much, but am not sure it would have had the same effect on me. What wold have happened if the Des Moines curator had bought the other painting?

As an adult, I discovered that Hopper's work reflected his perception of the isolation of modern life. This is evident in both paintings, though perhaps more obvious in The Automat. In Chop Suey, the figures while not entirely alone, are really not relating to each other, neither the two young ladies having tea, nor the couple in the background. The painting, Night Hawks, (not a part of the Des Moines exhibit) emphasizes even more the concept of being alone, even when you are not alone. If you are not familiar with this one, here is a copy of it.

Night Hawks

by William Hopper

Of course, none of this mattered to me. I saw a pretty girl in a yellow hat and I wanted to draw a picture of her. Who knows where things will lead?

Now, how I got from drawing ladies in yellow hats as a child to where I am now is another story for another time. So I guess this blog will end with "to be continued.."

Equine Art Black Friesian Horse Close Up by Della Burgus

2010-03-22T18:28:00.000-07:00

When I Look In Your Eyes

Friesian Horse
Sold

I love seeing the horses at the state fair. This year I was especially impressed with the "Heavy Horses" group: the draft horses, sometimes called work horses, originally bred more for labor than beauty. Yet they are all incredibly beautiful, and none more so than the Friesian Horses. With their black coats, thick, wavy manes and regal bearing they look like something out of a fairy tale. I have been told they generally have a gentle, dignified nature, but can also be playful and full of energy. They have even appeared in some of my favorite moves such as Zorro and the Narnia Chronicles. I have to confess to falling a little in love with this guy, as I always do with the animals I paint. There is something in the process of painting that brings me a little closer to their spirit. helps me to understand them better.

Painting this horse was a bit of a challenge for two reasons. How do you portray the size and strength of this wonderful creature on a small canvas? I considered many different approaches, finally deciding to focus on the expression of strength and spirit in the face. Taking it closer and closer until the eyes and the nose told the story. I would love to do a full portrait some time, but it will take a big canvas and a lot of time. The second problem was the color. As an artist I find that the dark colors are the most difficult to portray, and Friesians are very, very dark . For me, using black straight from the paint tube results in a painting that is flat, dull, lifeless. If you look very closely, you can usually find areas of color in the lights and in the shadows of even the darkest fur - a touch of blue here, a bit of orange or brown there. Black is not really black but a combination of colors opposite on the color wheel, light and shadow, warm and cool.

This is an acrylic on stretched, wrapped canvas, 8 x 10 x .75, standard depth. All the edges have been painted and no staples show so that it may be displayed with or without a frame. It is the newest in the series of paintings, "When I Look In Your Eyes," It will be available through Daily Painters and Art Helping Animals on Tuesday, March 23, and on Ebay later this week. 20% of the sale will be donated to True Blue Animal Rescue

Black Friesian Horse

Acrylic on Canvas

8 x 10, standard depth canvas

American Lop Eared Bunny, The Velveteen Rabbit

2010-03-15T13:07:00.000-07:00

Velveteen Rabbit

When I Look in Your Eyes

Another in the series "When I Look in Your Eyes," inspired by the song from the Dr. Doolittle musical. I saw this little guy at the Iowa State Fair last summer and thought him so sweet and friendly. He posed for several photos, and of course I found myself wishing I could take him home. But, alas, I must be content to love him from afar, because our menagerie has already gotten out of hand. Anyway, I loved his bright, inquisitive eyes and sweet expression. He reminded me of the hero in one of my favorite children's books, The Velveteen Rabbit. It is the story of Rabbit, the stuffed toy who wants with all his heart to become Real. In the end he discovers that the only way to be Real is to be loved. If you have never read the story, or if it has been a while, click on this link: The Velveteen Rabbit to read it. It is very short and very sweet, just like our little friend here. And it may bring tears to your eyes, just as painting this picture did to mine. But they are good tears.

This painting will be listed on Tuesday, March 16 on Daily Painters and on Art Helping Animals. 20% of the sale will be donated to Rimrock Humane Society. Perhaps you are feeling alone and unloved, and maybe you are wondering if you are Real. If so, you might consider adopting a pet. Taking care of another is a big commitment of time and energy, but it is also a good way to combat loneliness and find someone to love.

If you have any questions about this or other paintings, or just want to chat, send me an email
Email Della

Close Up of a Maine Coon Cat

2010-03-08T19:00:00.000-08:00

Tiger's Eyes

When I Look in your Eyes
SOLD

This is the fourth in the series inspired by the song of the same name from the Dr. Doolittle musical. There is something hypnotic and otherworldly about staring into the eyes of a cat. They are wise yet non-judgemental, Unlike the family dog, whose devotion borders on worship, cats have no illusions about us, yet they accept us for the bumbling idiots that we are, and they somehow manage an honest affection for us inferior beings. The love and respect of a cat are not easily won, but but it is a treasure worth seeking.

This is a pastel on Ampersand Pastel Board, 5 x 7. It will be listed on Daily Painters and Art Helping Animals on Tuesday of this week. All pastels come mounted on foam core, with a white mat and ready to be framed. 20% of this sale will be donated to Tabby's Place.

Canine Art Cavalier King Charles Painting

2010-03-01T14:33:00.000-08:00

A Merry Heart

SOLD

The title of this painting has been taken from one of my favorite Scriptures. Proverbs 17:22 tells us "A merry heart does good like medicine..."NKJV How true! Ever notice how just being around a happy person makes you feel better? Our society tends to underestimate the value of pure joy, favoring instead some of the more serious endeavors of life. Things like making money, making a mark, doing important things, changing the world. But God has different priorities. "He has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and the weak things to put to shame those who are mighty and the unimportant things to shine beyond the important." That is from 1Corinthians 1:26. Della's Paraphrase. Anyway, there is nothing in all the world with a merrier heart than the humble dog, and few dogs as merry as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. They smile when they look at you, they wag all over, not just the tail, but the whole dog, they would move heaven and earth just to make you happy, And yet, they have a certain gentle dignity about their bearing, not a fearful cowering but a joyful celebration of life and love.

As an artist, I consider it my highest calling to bring joy to someone's life. This joyful painting is an 8 x 10 Acrylic on stretched, wrapped canvas. It will be available through Art Helping Animals or Daily Painters beginning on Tuesday of this week.

Be happy, and spread some joy today. It will make you feel better!

Siamese Cat in the Window

2010-02-22T15:04:00.000-08:00

Favorite Perch

Every cat is unique and each one prefers to be treated as an individual. They seem to have an opinion on everything, and some of them can be very vocal about their likes and dislikes. But as different as they are, nearly all cats enjoy certain pastimes: soaking in the sun and looking out the window. The flights of birds mesmerize them, scurrying little creatures make them stand up and take notice, and dogs! Well, having dogs traipse down the sidewalk is just downright insulting! It is enough to make a cat turn her head in disdain - but not enough to make her leave her perch.

The Siamese can be among the most vocal and expressive of cats. As a child I became friends with two who belonged to my aunt. Although they were aloof when it came to most people, they considered me a rather odd looking kitten and treated me with condescending tolerance. When they tired of my childish antics, they simply disappeared. It was an amazing trick and they performed it often. But they never told me to go away and stop bothering them.

This is an 8 x 10 oil painting on stretched, wrapped canvas. It will be listed on Art Helping Animals and Daily Painters this week.

Equine Art Horses White Arabian Horse

2010-02-15T14:07:00.000-08:00

Contemplation

Click on image for large view

Usually I like to write a little about the "story behind the story" of my paintings, but I will let this one speak for itself. I hope it brings a feeling of peace in this chaotic, frenzied world.

This was painted in oil on canvas and will be listed on Daily Painters and Art Helping Animals on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Have a beautiful day!

Canine Art Dogs French Bulldog Pastel Dog Painting by Della Burgus

2010-02-08T17:04:00.000-08:00

French Bulldog

A Soulful Glance

I love to visit dog shows, also cat shows and horse shows. There is nothing like entering a huge building filled with beautiful animals, some exotic, some very familiar. The people who belong to these animals are very friendly and are usually happy to allow photographs. Sometimes they even pose them so I can get just the right angle. They also love to talk about their favorite breed. I learned that a French Bulldog is a loving, gentle creature, devoted to its family and friendly to others. I fell in love with the soulful eyes of this one.

I want to share with you a photo I snapped of Three French Bulldogs leaving the show. The photo is a bit blurry, partly because I didn't have the settings on my camera right, and partly because they were moving so fast. For such little ones, they sure could run. But I think it is kind of cute.

The Pastel Painting will be offered on Daily Painters and Art Helping Animals on Tuesday. It is matted and ready to frame. The image size without a mat is 9 x 11. Thanks for looking.

Floral Art Flowers Peach Peace Rose by Della Burgus

2010-02-01T14:17:00.000-08:00

A Rose Named "Peace"

It is not surprising that even after more than sixty years, "Peace" is still considered the most popular of all roses. We still live in a world filled with strife, violence, wars and rumors of war, and we desperately seek anything that speaks of peace. This beautiful flower was developed in France in 1935, but fame did not come overnight. In 1939, when war in Europe appeared eminent, the "eyes" for its grafting were shipped to Turkey, Italy, Germany, and the U.S. for safe keeping. The American grower planned to introduce the new rose after the war had ended. It was officially named "Peace" on August 29, 1945, the day that Berlin fell and peace was proclaimed. It has been beloved worldwide ever since.

I like to think of it as a tribute to not only to peace, but also to all of those who worked so hard to achieve it. People like my father-in-law who was drafted into the army and fought in the war, and my mother-in-law who stayed at home and waited for him to come home. And all the men and women who served but did not come home. Peace, whether it is world peace, individual peace or peace of mind, never comes without a price. Because nothing of value ever does.

This painting is oil on stretched, wrapped canvas, all edges are painted and no staples show, so that it may be displayed framed or unframed. It will be listed on Art Helping Animals and Daily Painters. My website is being redesigned to accept payments through PayPal online. Until it is finished, I will also offer my work for sale on this blog. Please email me with any questions.

A Rose Called Peace
10 x 10 x .75 inches
$100, shipping included
10% will be donated to
Old Dog Haven

To Purchase, click here.

Landscape Oil Morning Snow by Della Burgus

2010-01-25T16:19:00.000-08:00

Frosty Morning

In church a couple of weeks ago, our pastor asked us to greet one another by saying something good about the snow. I couldn't think of a thing at the time, but a little while later I had one of those V-8 moments, you know, like the commercial. Someone eats something really bad that tastes really, really good, then hits his head and says, I could have had a V-8. Suddenly I realized - hey, I am an artist! The snow is really beautiful to look at, as long as you don't have to be outside in it. Why is it so easy to forget who I am, and to fail to be thankful for all the gifts of God? He gives good gifts to men and women, but sometimes it takes a little digging for us to see their value.

He has made everything beautiful in its time, and has set Eternity in the hearts of men. Ecclesiastes 3:11

This painting is an oil on stretched, wrapped canvas, standard depth. All the edges are painted and no staples show, so that it may be displayed with or without a frame. It was painted in a loose, "painterly" style, a little more Impressionistic than some of my work. It will be listed on Daily Painters and Art Helping Animals on Tues, Jan 26. Or you may purchase it through Pay Pal on this blog by clicking on the Buy It Now button.

Frosty Morning

Oil on Canvas

11 x 14

$100

20% will be donated to Rimrock Humane Society

Best of America Pastel Artists Competition

2010-01-23T14:38:00.000-08:00

Panda, Pastel, 17 x 17 Palomino, Pastel, 9 x 13

The two pastel paintings above were selected to be included in the two volume book set, Best of America Pastel Artists which was published in December and features the work of 123 pastel artists from all over the country. According to the publisher, the works were chosen "based on numerous factors, with the most important being style, innovation and uniqueness..."

The books are 8.5 x 11, soft cover books and each artist has been provided with two full pages for artwork reproductions and contact information. It is a great honor for me to be included among such artists as Larry Blovits, Alan Flattman and Albert Handell. The contest sponsors are Kennedy Publishing Company, Dick Blick Art Materials, and Sennelier Pastels.

The original paintings are no longer available. Coincidentally, both were purchased earlier last year by Robin Edghill of "The Frame Up." in Richland Hills Texas.

Being published has been a lifelong dream of mine and an honor for any artist. Thank you for allowing me to share my joy with you.