Equine Art Horses White Arabian Horse at Sunset

"With the Sun and the Wind in My Mane"

This painting is now SOLD. Please see my website or Art Helping Animals blog for more great art.

One of my favorite subjects, well known to those who are familiar with my work. White horses speak to me of freedom and strength, and I find myself returning to them as painting subjects again and again. Whenever life seems overwhelming, hopeless or just plain dull, painting white horses is good therapy. Whenever I am exceptionally happy or excited, I paint white horses to celebrate. The loose, free style used in this painting matched my mood as well as the horse's - playful, joyful and spontaneous.

My prayer for you today is that you find something you love to do, and do it with all your might. That is passion, and it is the happiest way to live your life!

Oil on Stretched, Wrapped Canvas
14 x 18 x .75
All edges painted, no staples showing.
Display with or without a frame

Canine Art Dogs Shih-Tzu Dog Painting

Pure Elegance

by Della Burgus
Acrylic on Stretched, Wrapped Canvas
9 x 12

Sold

You know how it is, you see someone across a crowded room, your eyes meet, and the joybells begin to ring in your heart. This delightful creature was at the AKC dog show in Des Moines recently. I first saw him in a show ring with other Shih-Tzu dogs - they were wonderful, but there was something about him, I knew he had to be a painting. His beautiful coloring, his royal bearing, the understated adornment - somehow more elegant in its simplicity and absence of "frou-frou." I "happened' to be standing outside the ring after he had shown, and his person graciously allowed me to take a photo. In fact, she brushed him again and arranged his fur so that he would look just right.

Dog shows are fun, and most of the people I meet there are fun also, because they are almost all dog lovers just like me. They love talking dogs, don't care that I am a total stranger, they love sharing about their wonderful friends. And the dogs seem to have a good time also. To me it seems the Golden Retrievers are having the best time of anybody, but then, they do have a knack for enjoyment that is somewhat beyond most of us on this planet.

Everybody seems to have a favorite breed but I have never met a dog I didn't like, and the more I see of them the more I like them. What is that old saying, "The more I see of men, the more I like my dog."? Well, I won't go that far, but there are a few people who might learn some manners from them, as well as compassion, patience and faithfulness.

Pictured below are two sweeties who might have felt a little overwhelmed about the whole competition thing, but they did find a safe place to be, with someone who loved them. That is the best thing that could happen to any of us. And that is my prayer for all of us today.

Sweet Spaniel finds protection between the tennies.

"I feel safe being on Daddy's lap with my toy duck."

Boats in the Harbor, Maine Scene

I traveled to Maine last month for my son's wedding and saw some spectacular scenery. The light there is unlike any I have encountered in my other travels. It is hard to describe in words, so I will just have to paint it! There was no time for plein-air painting, so I took lots of photos. When I saw these boats tied to a floating dock, I knew it would be my first Maine painting. You can't imagine the impact the scene made upon this formerly land-locked Midwesterner. The reflections on the water, the way the light hits the boat - everything about it - said we aren't in Iowa any more.

Watch for this painting on EBay and next week on Art Helping Animals and Daily Painters. 20% of the sale will be donated to Old Dog Haven. Click to see EBay listing. Or email me for more information

Split Rock Lighthouse, Lake Superior

Going "Home"
Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
11 x 14

Split Rock Lighthouse on the Shores of Lake Superior. A bold, intense lake in a wild, untamed area. Superior can be boisterous, even to the point of violence. It can also be serene and somewhat introspective. But it is never, ever timid or soft spoken, never dull or colorless. It always makes its presence known. And it is timeless in its beauty and power.

My husband and I used to spend at least a part of every summer along the North Shore of Lake Superior, seeing the sights and painting the scenery. We would travel up Highway 61 (think I have that number right) all the way to Canada, sometimes venturing over the border. It was bliss. We haven't been able to travel for the past few years, but this summer we took a short sentimental journey to Duluth, and made it up to Split Rock for one afternoon. Not enough time to paint, but we took lots of photos. Going back was like going home, a feeling that this is where we belonged. I had the same feeling when I did this painting from the photos. The first touch of paintbrush to canvas literally took my breath away.

Of course, I have never traveled there at any time except summer. Winter would probably cool my enthusiasm, forgive the pun, but memories of the North Shore have carried me through some difficult times in the past, and the more time I spend there, the more I fall in love with it.

This is an acrylic on stretched canvas, 11 x 14. All edges have been painted and no staples show, so that it may be displayed either as is, or in the frame of your choice.

Click to view auction

Maine Wedding: The best laid plans...

The photo above is Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park on Friday night at Aaron and Keegan's wedding rehearsal: a spectacular sunset, cool but very pleasant breeze, lots of people.

The photo below was taken Saturday morning at the wedding. A tropical storm had blown up the coast and met something that had come down from Canada. But when you are young and in love, that is all that matters, who cares about the weather?



It had been such a romantic plan, to be married on Cadillac Mountain at the first light of day, the first place the sun rises anywhere in the United States. The bride had been out there early the day before to check out the timing so that it would be just perfect. And it was - some of us were certain we had seen just a glimmer of light at the very edge of the horizon. According to Aaron, Plan B was "slickers and umbrellas," so that is what we did. And, yes, it was a very beautiful wedding. Later that day I came across a plaque and couldn't resist buying it for Keegan. It said, "Even on a cloudy day, the sun still rises."

Below is a wedding picture taken along the shore when it finally stopped raining, and a photo of the breakfast muffin they shared, courtesy of the hotel that served us breakfast. We love them and wish them a wonderful, happy life together.

Thanks for my husband for the use of these photos!

Lesson I learned from this day: In the midst of even the most terrible storms of life, when everything is going wrong and there seems no way out, God, like the sun, still rises. I may not be able to see Him through the clouds, or understand what He is doing, but I have lived long enough to realize that He is still there and He will always take care of me.