White Horse "Devotion"

         Reference photo by Karen Broemmelsick

  Devotion

Joy Comes In the Morning

Portrait of a graceful horse saying her prayers in the early morning light. During times of chaos and uncertainty, I often find comfort in nature and animals.  They help me remember happier times and forget, if only for a moment, the present distress. Their joy is somehow contagious, and it gives me the faith to believe that the One who created all things can surely get us through this.

This is an acrylic painting created on stretched wrapped canvas. standard depth, about one half inch, and is shipped unframed.  All the edges have been finished and fastened on the back. It may be displayed with or without a frame. 

Assembly Required

No floor in the studio yet, but my drawing table arrived. Unassembled. The three most feared words in the English language are "Some Assembly Required." Sometimes it is even called "Easy Assembly."  That's when you know to run as fast as you can in the opposite direction.  Last week, besides the table we were also blessed by a chair and also a bench that needed some assembling.  The problem seems to be that most assembly instructions were written by aliens. And no, by that I don't mean people from other countries. These directions came from a galaxy far, far away - a planet where Part A connects to number 57, and the round peg actually does fit in a square hole, where triangles have four sides and left means right. Fortunately I am married to a man who is a genius at putting things together, so in each instance the end result bore a reasonable resemblance to the picture on the box. Not because of the clear, concise directions but because of Larry's great mind and perseverance.

At this point the drawing table is sitting by a big window in the living room.  Out of respect to the carpet and furniture,  I have to refrain from using any messy art materials, but I am grateful for a place to dream and to plan and to sketch. For now charcoal and graphite pencils will have to do, but it will be a thrill to unpack the pastels and paints when the studio floor is finally finished.  There are commissions to do, and paintings to paint - and they are waiting for me!

Waiting for the Sunshine

Waiting for the Sunshine

White Cat in the Window

Pastel 9 x 12

There are things to do,  people to see, money to spend and here we are stuck behind a window on a dreary, windy day. Lately it seems all we do is wait for the sun. Even indoor kitties like to have a little sunshine now and then.

We have been waiting for new flooring for the studio in our new home, and now it seems we must wait a little longer.  While removing the old carpet, the installers discovered a very soggy board in the sub flooring. They traced the problem to a leak between the siding and the window trim. Freaky, but fixable. Of course the new floor can't go in until everything is repaired, so a little more delay.  But I am grateful for this one - grateful we chose this larger room for our studio, grateful we decided that laminate hardwood flooring would be better for a studio than carpeting, grateful the heavy rain caused this problem to show up before things really deteriorated.  So there is a silver lining of sorts to these dark clouds, but I am still praying for sunshine.

Waiting for a floor

This and other paintings available through my online Gallery

The Creative Spirit Gallery Art by Della Burgus

Good-bye, Hello

A New Thing

Having a new home is an exciting and wonderful experience. Being able to live life on one level is a dream come true and I love our spacious, open floor plan. No more going upstairs to bed, or down stairs to do laundry. Yes, there is a finished, walk-out basement,  but I am not required to go there on  a daily basis. Only when I feel like it.  On the other hand, there are things I will miss about Woodward.  It is never easy to say good-bye to long time friends and good neighbors, but it is not as if we are moving to the other side of the world - or even the other side of the state. When the dust settles a little, I hope I will still be getting together with my painting partner Avis now and then.  No matter how tough or chaotic life becomes, painting and good fellowship always makes it better

I will miss my studio squirrel friend. He lives in the large tree outside my window and has become the subject of many drawings and paintings. He is also very good company and something of a comedian, often providing a much needed break from very intense work.

"Tiger Cat on A Red Chair," Pastel

Another furry friend,  the neighborhood cat, Maow.  I am sure he goes by other names aw well, but when I asked him "What is your name?" he said, "Maow,"  so that is how I always address him, and he always answers. He has become quite adept at squeezing through the door whenever it is opened, even just a crack.  I will miss him, but he has a home of his own, so he is OK. Not homeless, just sociable.

It hasn't been easy to leave our studio - so many good memories! But, I am also excited about setting up new creative spaces in our new home.  For our studio/office we chose the largest of the two guest bedrooms on the main floor. I felt a little guilty about this at first until we compared the number of days we expect to have overnight guests to the amount of time I will spend in the studio. No contest. If we ever decide to open a bed and breakfast (NOT on my bucket list. BTW) that might change, but for now this is the new Creative Spirit Studios. Of course it will require a few alterations. The carpet must go. Pencil and colored pencil artists and some who work in collage or acrylic may be trusted to work in a carpeted room, but I don't even want to try, especially not with pastel.  It has a mind of its own and a life of its own. Sometimes all I can do is get out of its way and watch it fly. Right now this does not look like much of a studio,  but imagine it with hardwood laminate flooring,  drawing tables, easels and special lighting.  It will take a while - two weeks just to have the flooring installed; the rest will follow in its own good time. I am learning a lot of patience with this move, especially with myself.  More photos will come.

Portrait of a Woman, A Thankful Heart

A Thankful Heart

Is a Heart at Peace

It is no secret that peace is a by-product of gratitude. It is also true that often the most thankful people are those who do not exhibit an abundance of material possessions. It may not make any sense to the rest of us, but it is true, nevertheless. They tend to treasure the simple things in life, the things we all take for granted - love, friendship, beauty, and the joy of living.

That is why, at this time of year, we all can take time out from making and spending money, running here and there, and trying to have a good time, just to say, "Thank you."  I wish I had said thank you more often to my parents, but I can still say it to my husband, my children, my friends and neighbors, my pastors, the UPS man, rhe Schwan man, the guy who reads my gas meter! Thank you for being in my life. Thank you for all the threads you have sewn into my tapestry of living.  Thank you that the world is a better, more interesting place because of you.

A thankful heart is a heart at peace. For that reason, I thank God, for the peace that passes all understanding, for His unfailing love, for the abundant life He has given me.  A teacher of mine used to say, "God's prosperity is when all your needs are met and there is still enough left over to meet the needs of others."
Have a blessed and prosperous Thanksgiving!

A Not So Gentle Reminder

 Ten years ago today on November 12, 2005 a tornado destroyed several houses here and left the rest of our town looking like a combat zone. It had come as a surprise attack, arriving as it did in November when we are used to thinking more about blizzards than summer storms.  So it took a little time to convince the entire household that a trip to the basement might be in order.  I remember my father, who was living with us at the time, seemed quite content to stand and watch from the window in his bedroom. Barney, our big dog, hid not only because of the storm but because he didn't like stairs and wanted nothing to do with basements. Little Button was ready for me to carry him anywhere. To me it seemed that everyone was moving in slow motion, even my husband, whom I suspected was just humoring me. Then John McLaughlin, the weatherman on KCCI said, "Woodward, you have two minutes to get to the basement" and things did begin to happen.  Somehow we all made it to the basement before the freight train hit. And yes, it did sound like a freight train. There were no serious injuries in Woodward and the town did manage to rebuild and recover from all the damage. But the Woodward tornado will never be forgotten.

Lest we forget...
Yesterday once again we found ourselves in the path of a fierce storm, with almost the same point of origin, traveling nearly the same path as the Great Tornado of 2005. This time it was called a "radar identified rotation,"  and as far as I know, was never observed touching the ground. The winds that hit Woodward were also very strong and very loud, but the damage was far less intense.  Yet it seemed to me an eerie reminder.

I have a personal, more comforting reminder of that day. I call it my "Ebenezer Stone," and hardly a day passes that I don't look at it and remember.

The day before the big storm I had been reading in my morning devotions about a battle between the Israelites and the Philistines. When the Israelites cried to God for help, He sent a clap of thunder to the camp of the enemy, causing them to panic and run away in fear. Then Samuel, the judge and priest of Israel set up a special stone which he named "Ebenezer" because the Lord has brought us this far. For some reason,  I couldn't get this stone out of my mind. It kept invading my thoughts all day long.

Finally I decided to make one for myself.  Done in a hurry, not exactly a work of art.  But from the basement as the freight train was headed our way, I remembered the stone and all the trials God had brought us through before. We would be all right. If the house was destroyed and we lost everything, we would start over and we would be all right. If it all caved in on us, we would be together in Heaven and we would be all right. So we all just huddled together and prayed. And trusted. Now, whenever I see my stone I think of the day of the big tornado and I thank God that all three adults, plus two dogs and a cat, made it through safely. And, no matter what happens, we will be OK.

The Way of An Eagle in the Sky

The Way of An Eagle in the Sky

It seems eagles have become like pop stars lately. Nearly every area of the country has its own eagle cam, and very few people can resist taking a peek once in a while at least. We are fascinated  by their strength and beauty; we love to watch their family life, their fierce protectiveness and tender care of their offspring. We love to watch the babies hatch and grow, their funny antics, and their first flights. But we aren't the first admirers. Way back in biblical days, one of the writers of Proverbs observed:

There are three things which are too wonderful for me,
Four which I do not understand:
¹⁹ The way of an eagle in the sky,
The way of a serpent on a rock,
The way of a ship in the middle of the sea,
And the way of a man with a maid.
Prov. 30:18-19

The world is filled with wonderful, awesome things that none of us can really understand.  We may observe, study, form hypotheses, and draw conclusions,  but we will never fully know.  Eventually, even the greatest minds come to the end of themselves and admit that there is Someone in the universe who planned and created it all.  That is the "WOW" factor.  That is also the God factor. 

Albert Einstein said:

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

Think I will go for the "WOW" factor.

Calla Lilies Part 2

Calla Lily

The Light of the World

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas, Deep

12 x 16 x 1.5 inches

Sometimes the stories of the people who buy paintings are as interesting to me as the paintings themselves. In a previous post I shared the first in this series, titled "Faith, Hope and Love." To a lovely lady in New Zealand, the painting symbolized herself and her two friends. She commissioned a companion piece featuring a single large flower to remind her of the Lord, who was always with them on their journey through life.  Creating a composition to harmonize with another painting which was already halfway around the world was both inspiring and challenging. I wanted it to be similar in feeling, but with just enough difference to make it special and unique.   When the second painting was finally  shipped, I felt a touch of sadness. First, because the experience had been so rewarding, a part of me didn't want it to end, and second because I would never see the two paintings hanging together as they had been intended.  Fortunately Gabrielle took care of the second problem by taking a photo of the paintings as they were arranged.  

I love it!!!

These paintings have been sold, but there are many other paintings of flowers, animals and other subjects available through my Creative Spirit Gallery.  New work is added periodically. http://dellartistgallery.blogspot.com/

Lavender Blue and White Iris

Lavender Blue

The spring flowers bloomed a little later this year because of the very wet spring and an unexpected snowstorm in May. And I have been busy with commissioned portraits so my spring flower paintings are even later. But the greatest thing about flower paintings is that they never wilt, they just keep on blooming and we can relive the early days of spring all day long.

The iris is a most welcome early sign of spring to me. After a long, hard winter - and any winter in Iowa is long and hard, no matter how short and gentle may seem - anything with green foliage and bright color is a welcome sight. Of course we have the really early harbingers of the new season -  the hyacinth, tulips and daffodils -  but there is something mind blowing about seeing this gorgeous, exotic plant coming up out of the ground. They are regal and majestic and every bit as beautiful to me as orchids. They take me back to some of the happier times of my childhood. My mother loved iris. they were easy to care for and quite prolific, so there were always plenty around. Of course back then all we had were the purple and yellow varieties, and sometimes those that were a strange sort of mixture of the two. Most of them were small, some were downright tiny, but they produced a lot of joy for very little money. Usually they came from friends or were traded with others so no money changed hands at all.  Now they are available in every color imaginable - well, they may have been available then, but not affordable, at least not for us.  Every year I gaze with astonishment at the glorious array of pink, maroon, peach, blue, purple, white and yes, even black ones that suddenly appear in the garden. I think of Mom again and hope that there are flowers in heaven for her to enjoy along the way.  If there hadn't been, I imagine she has planted more than a few gardens by now.

This painting is acrylic on canvas, 8 x 10 and is available through my gallery, The Creative Spirit Gallery.

Beautiful Brittany Acrylic Painting

Brittany

Acrylic on stretched, wrapped canvas

Beautiful Brittany, sometimes known as a Brittany Spaniel, but its features more closely resemble a setter or a pointer. I love the alert, intelligent expression and those wonderful eyes. This painting is part of my series titled, "When I Look In Your Eyes," inspired by the song of the same name from the musical Dr. Doolittle.  This one has a job to do and he is ready to get started.  Besides being a hard worker he is a devoted companion and a loving friend. 

In general dogs tend to be emotional and expressive people which is probably why we like them so much. You never have to wonder what they really think of you because it usually becomes fairly obvious within the first few minutes. And you don't have to worry about them criticizing you or talking behind your back. They would never do anything to hurt your feelings or even make fun of you. They are loyal and forgiving to a fault. All things considered they make better friends than we do.  

When it comes to loving perfectly and unconditionally, dogs have it down pat. But I still need a little work...

 Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,  Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,  Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.  Love never dies.  1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, The Message Bible

Look for the Brittany on Art Helping Animals and The Chisholm Trail blogs. To purchase or view that and other recent paintings ( a good idea!) visit my online gallery, The Creative Spirit Gallery

Family Portrait Graphite Drawing Commission

"Family isn't the most important thing. Family is everything."  Michael J. Fox

This is one of my favorite family group commissions. The photos, taken during the 1940's, fascinated me not only because of the era they portrayed, but also because of the beauty and vibrancy of the four young sisters. There is one sister still living who commissioned the portraits.  She asked me to copy a special poem titled "Sisters" in the center of the drawing.  It always blesses me to be able to create something that touches the heart and brings comfort to someone.  The two framed drawings are the parents, and the drawing of the four sisters had not yet been framed when this photo was taken. This is an informal snapshot and you can probably make out some of our framing tools in the background.

Webster defines family as "a group of people related to one another by blood or marriage,"or "a group consisting of parents and children living together in the same household." Although those words may attempt to define it, they do not begin to describe the magnificent, astonishing, and oftentimes volatile experience of living in a family group.  It is God's gift to humankind, and, like many of God's gifts, "family" is a growing experience.  As families are imperfect and, as they are made up of imperfect people, they are the perfect training ground for living in an imperfect world. There are times when we are the best of friends, other times we wonder what God was thinking when He put us all together.  We eventually grow up and some of us marry and begin the process all over again with families of our own.  Family ties are not static; they shift around to make room for more bonds - spouses, children, grandchildren but, whether we like it or not, they never completely disappear.  And that is the just the way God planned it. Because, as everyone who watches retro television knows, Father Knows Best - Our Heavenly Father, that is.
And Michael J. Fox is probably right!

Little Girl in a White Dress

Little Lady in a White Dress

Watercolor, 10 x 14

Once upon a time, little girls dressed in pastel dresses and white shoes and pulled their hair up and they said "yes, ma'am and no, ma'am" and they played with baby dolls and were taught to speak only when they were spoken to.  In those days they were all expected to be good girls and never climb trees or get their clothes or faces dirty. They were supposed to do well in school and be ladylike at all times, and never argue or complain. They idolized people like Florence Nightingale or Eleanor Roosevelt or Jackie Kennedy and they hoped someday to marry a nice man and raise a houseful of kids. Other career options were somewhat limited, although eventually it was considered acceptable  to become a secretary, teacher or nurse. All the restrictions they experienced made them look and act pretty much alike.

Or so it seemed.  Those days were at the same time the good old days and the bad old days but they have disappeared forever.

Today little girls wear tee shirts and blue jeans or, for "dress up," brightly colored tops with tights or leggings, depending on the current trend. They have their own brands of lipstick and eyeshadow and  their ears and sometimes other body parts are pierced at a very early age.  They text and twitter continually, but can't write or speak a sentence that makes sense. Their hair can be any color of the rainbow and they don't have to comb it if they don't want to. They still don't climb trees much, but they do wrestle and play football and they don't particularly care if they get their clothes dirty because they want a new outfit anyway.  They speak pretty much whenever and whatever they want, and they don't have to listen to anybody. They have the opportunity to follow any dream they might have and become anything they want to be, but often don't set their sights much beyond Lady Gaga.  And, despite their freedom and individuality, they all still seem to look and act pretty much alike.

We've come a long way, Baby. But we still have a long way to go.

Funny, this isn't at all the blog I intended to write for this painting. Chalk it up to "mid-winter madness" and please accept my apologies.  It was intended to be a lovely, nostalgic piece about white dresses and summer and I planned on also reposting another painting, a pastel with a similar theme.  Think I will post it anyway, because it is one of my favorites.  By the way, Little Girl in a White Dress is a watercolor, 10 x 14. It is matted and ready to frame. It will be listed on Art Helping Animals, Daily Painters, Chisholm Trail Art and will be for sale in my Zibbet Shop.

Summertime

Rose Floral Oil Painting by Della Burgus

Song of Praise

Rose

Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

12 x 12 x 1.5

One of my favorite roses from the garden. The center is a a deep orangish red which quickly pales to a light pink salmon and then to cream colored outer petals.  I have no idea of the name of this particular variety but it is beautiful and the fragrance is out of this world. When I see a rose, or any other flower for that matter, I want to bury my nose in the blossom and fill my lungs with the fragrance. I did this painting with that point of view in mind. Did  you know that some of the modern varieties of roses, and many of those found in floral shops, have very little fragrance or even none at all? A number of the newer varieties have been bred for their size, color and long lasting blooms.  In order to gain all that, the fragrance has been lost. There is a lesson in there somewhere. Could it be that in our desire to create something bigger and tougher, we have lost its very essence? Is big and long lasting really better  than delicate and sweet smelling? Maybe, just maybe, God had the best idea in the first place.
And as I was thinking this morning, that goes for people too. We seem to waste a lot of time trying to remake each other into our own image, when we could be enjoying and appreciating all the wonderful, beautiful creations that God made. While it is true that we all could use a little work, it is really God's job to fix things not ours and, believe it or not, He can handle it. After all hasn't He  managed quite beautifully all these millennia without anyone's help? And the really great thing is, He knows our flaws and somehow manages to love us anyway. Maybe if we would try to do the same, it would be a happier world.

This painting is on gallery wrapped canvas, 1.5 inches thick. All edges have been painted, no fasteners show. It is intended to be displayed without a frame. It has been listed on Chisholm Trail Art, Daily Painters Gallery, Art Helping Animals and is available from my Zibbet Shop, Art by Della Burgus.

Simple Pleasures Cat on a Red Cushion

Simple Pleasures

My Favorite Chair

Pastel, 8 x 9

We can learn a lot from our pets, things like unconditional love, living in the moment, and refusing to let anything keep you from enjoying life.  One of the most important lessons they can teach us is the value of simple pleasures.  A favorite chair, snoozing in the sun, food when they are hungry, a spool of thread or a ball of yarn to bat around. I have seen cats entertain themselves for hours with nothing but their own shadows to chase.  In the overall scheme of things what really adds to the quality of life. Newer toys, more impressive cars, designer clothes,  a bigger house?  Is that what is meant by quality of life?  Sometimes those things only distract us from the real business of living and add even more stress to our lives.  Our pets have it figured out - as long as they have someone who loves and needs them, something to to with their lives, enough to eat and a favorite place to hang out, life is good.  This week I saw some photos of our grown son going sledding.  His dogs were also in the pictures and it was really hard to tell who was having more fun. I don't think they did any actual sledding themselves, though they might have, but really mattered to them was that they were outside enjoying the fresh air,  running in the snow and spending time with people they loved.  Now that is really living!

This pastel is matted to a standard 12 x 16 inch size for easier framing. It has been listed on Daily Painters, The Chisholm Trail Art, and Art Helping Animals and is available through my shop Art By Della Burgus in the Zibbet  Online Art Gallery

A Pug Named Lily Commissioned Dog Portrait

Lily

Commissioned Pastel Portrait

8 x 10

Some faces are just irresistible.  I have done several pug portraits and, while they are individuals with their own special characteristics, they all seem to have this same soulful expression that makes you want to pick them up and cuddle them.  I love everything about her, especially her name.  Doesn't she look just like a "Lily?"  This portrait was commissioned by a special lady who had both her grandpuppies' portraits done for Christmas.  The other is the Yorkshire Terrier which appears in a previous post.  We also have grandpuppies.  Even though they live very far away, we enjoy lots of photos and this year even received a calendar filled with their pictures, What fun!

Painting portraits of different breeds and mixes of dogs is a great way for me to get to know them. Their eyes speak volumes to me and they teach me a lot, not only about dogs but about life and love.  They seem to know things intuitively that would take us several lifetimes to learn. They are a tremendous source of love and affection, they teach you trust and forgiveness and they make you laugh, even when there is little to laugh about.  Of course, I would love to have one of each breed, but for me this is the next best thing.

I hope your new year is filled with love and laughter - and if there is not enough of that in your life,  find yourself a canine friend.   If you can't adopt one yourself right now, make friends with a grandpuppy or a  friend's dog.  Your life will take on new meaning.   I know mine has.

Happy Birthday, Jesus and May God Bless All, Everyone...

Today many Christians worldwide celebrate the birth of Jesus.  Though we may ignore and dishonor Him,  He is still the reason for the holiday that bears His name, even though the phrase "Happy Holidays," is currently more acceptable.

No matter what it is called, the day still belongs to Him.  Commercialism won't destroy it, paganism can't sully it -  ignore it if you want, but it won't go away. Whether we have been naughty or nice, whether we do random acts of kindness or pointed acts of selfishness, the fact is that God sent His Son to earth to seek and save that which was lost.  And that includes you and me as well as everybody else who has ever lived.  During the Christmas Eve service at our church the pastor made a somewhat startling statement: "On July 30, 1969 man walked on the moon for the first time and that was a big deal. Over two thousand years ago God came to live on this earth and that was a very big deal.  Because he came not to intimidate us but to set us free."  

Yes, let us celebrate this "very big deal."

The message of Christmas is love,  the love God has for us and the love He desires us to have for Him and for each other.  We will never understand the price He paid to set us free.  So, when someone wishes you Merry Christmas,  what he or she is really saying is "God loves you, and so do I."

Merry Christmas!

Three Dogs of Christmas

Brown

Thought I would share with you some of the things that have been keeping me busy the past few weeks.  This handsome fellow is named Brown.  His family celebrated Christmas early this year so I am able to share this portrait now.  I fell in love with this guy while doing the painting.  He looks like a sweet, gentle soul and I love his expression.

The reason for the early celebration is a young man who belongs to this pretty lady. Her name is Blaze. She has two portraits, this first one  I call "Hunter Blaze," because the picture came from a photo of her on a hunting trip with her young man.  He is currently serving our country in the military and was able to come home for Christmas in November.  Isn't that great?  I once heard the Golden Retriever described as a dog who thinks that  "Every day is a party and that he/she is the guest of honor." Don't you just love Golden Retrievers?  So full of life and spirit - and they just ooze joy. 

Hunter Blaze

The second portrait of Blaze shows her other side,  the feminine, flirty girl, the one who likes to chase tennis balls and tug on toys.  I call this painting "Glamor Blaze,"  because it looks like one of those celebrity photos or "glamor shots" that were popular a few years ago.  She seems to be saying, "Aren't I just the prettiest girl you ever saw?"

Glamor Blaze

It is now by my count twelve days until Christmas and I have lots left to do.  So many dogs, so little time.  When the portraits are finished, I still have shopping and wrapping to do, trees to decorate and a pie or two to bake. Love this time of year,  it is always touch and go, but somehow I do get it all done. I hope...

White Cat in the Window

White Kitty in the Window

When Will the Sun Shine?

Pastel, 8 x 10

Gloomy day, nothing to do but stare forlornly out the window and wish for the rain to stop.   For some, autumn is the favorite time of the year, but to many of us it is the beginning of a long, cold season of gray.  After the leaves have fallen, after Indian Summer has come and gone, the flowers are spent and all the lawn furniture put away,  this is what remains.  When the summer season was not the most pleasant, either filled with rainy days or as it was this year, hot and dry, there is something about the onset of winter that seems even more dismal than usual.   Even those who consider themselves indoor people - like this white kitty - feel happier when the sky is blue, the trees and grass are green and the flowers bloom profusely.  A gray day makes you feel - well, gray.  Happily, the mood will not last long for this cat. He will find something to entertain himself, or if you are very fortunate, he will curl up on your lap while you read a good book. And that will bring comfort, perhaps even a little cheer into your life.

It has been a long time since I have actually wiled away the hours curled up with a book, just for the fun of it.  If I were to choose a good one, it would be a mystery.  Agatha Christi is my favorite, but of course I have already read all of hers.  Don't tell anybody, though, sometimes it is comforting to reread an old favorite just to enjoy all the words.  (Smile)  Right now I would have to be curling up with a dog rather than a cat and it does sound inviting, but there are deadlines to meet, commissions to paint, people to please. "And miles to go before I sleep, miles to go before I sleep..."

I have always believed that animals really know how to live.  They are completely themselves, never pretend to be anything or anyone else, they live life in the moment and for the most part make the best of whatever is going on.  If they don't want to be involved they take a nap.  I like that. It sounds like a good plan for anyone on any day.

Today it is expected to reach 81 degrees here in Iowa, hot and humid.  Tomorrow reality will hit again, the temperature will struggle to get up to 57 and after that it will go downhill all the way.  One last reprieve before disaster hits.

I saw a sign on Facebook today that I loved.  It said,  "Do more of whatever makes you happy! That's my advice for today.

This pastel painting is on Canson paper, 8 x 10 and comes with a 12 x 16 inch mat, ready to frame. It is listed on Daily Painters, Art Helping Animals and Chisholm Trail Art.  It will be on my website as soon as I finish reading that book.

Click below to visit my Zibbet shop
Art by Della Burgus

Equine Art White Horse in the Moonlight

White Arabian Horse

Dancing in the Moonlight

Oil on cavas

16 x 20

I apologize that recently my posts have been few and far between.  Commissioned works, both human and animal,  have been keeping me busy and distracting me a bit from my normal routine.  Painting the loved ones of others is hard work and time consuming but also rewarding.   Sometimes the paintings bring smiles, but just as often there are tears.  That used to make me feel uncomfortable, but over the years I have learned to appreciate those tears. because they mean the work has touched someone's heart.

So, every now and then it helps to take a break from all that seriousness.  White horses have always been one of my favorite subjects.  I love their beauty and energy and the freedom I feel while painting them. This one was done in a more Impressionistic style than much of my work,  especially those commissions where an exact likeness is so important.  Painting this moonlight dance was like painting a lovely dream,  still challenging, but an expression from my own spirit.   Now, I must get back to the commissions. Always a joy, but more difficult and tiring.

Dancing in the Moonlight was done on studio wrapped canvas, 16 x 20,  standard depth - about .75 inch deep.  All the edges have been painted and no staples show, so that it may be hung without a frame or in the frame of your choice.

This and other artwork may be purchased through my Zibbet Shop,  Art By Della Burgus.  You might want to bookmark my shop as more work will be added periodically.

Click on the link below to view my shop:

Art By Della Burgus

Have a good day, and I would encourage you to find some time to play or at least dream today, especially if you work very hard, or are dealing with some serious "stuff" in  your life.  It always helps me.

Until We Meet Again...

Best Friends

We said good-bye to our sweet and lovely kitty this week.  Her official name was "Yellow Kitty," from some movie we had seen way back when, but I always called her "Sweetie Peach" and when I did, she always answered with a soft meow or a loud purr.  Like most cats, she would also come running when we called "Kitty." She was something of a picky eater, but eventually we learned to please her.  And we discovered that sprinkling kitty treats on top made her regular food much more palatable.  She took ownership of Button when we brought him home.  She would sit and watch him run in circles, reaching out and patting him occasionally as he went by. She said that was the best toy we ever gave her.  She was with us for nearly 18 year and for the most part she had a happy life, though occasionally would find herself stuck up a tree or on the roof of the house.  That usually produced more trauma for her people than for herself.   In her later years she would spend hours lying on the porch, watching the world go by.  When the weather didn't allow that she learned to be content to watch from the bathroom window.   Button adored her and Barney learned to treat her with respect.  She left us with quietness and dignity,  in her sleep.  She was affectionate and peaceful, a great companion and I miss her so much. I won't say good-bye because a love like that can never die.  Until we meet again, my friend, in a place where there is no more separation or tears, or pain or sorrow. And no more growing old...

"Goodness with contentment is great gain." 1Tim. 6:6 (Della's Paraphrase)