Just One Last Touch

I posted this painting last fall, but I thought I would show it again now, as it is going to be in the C.M. Russell Auction on Friday night, March 20. It will be Lot #122. (I will also be showing in Room 176 at the Heritage Inn during the show.)

I enjoyed this endeavor as the subject is my husband, Tom Gilleon - Mr. Tipi - who has been known to stroll in at the last minute with his auction pieces. I had fun with this as it's the only way I could get away with painting a Gilleon tipi! So tip your hat to the ol' codger. Today is his birthday!
24" x 28" oil www.cmrauction.com

Tribute to Joe Halko

Another sadness for the art community and beyond. How much more can we take? Sculptor Joe Halko died this Wednesday, March 11, at the age of 68, after suffering a series of debilitating strokes. Joe was a very kind and gentle man, loved by all who knew him.

We are lucky to have many examples of his fine work in the community which will serve as continuing comfort, inspiration and tribute to Joe.

I sent this "card" out with notification of Joe's funeral. The landscape is Joe's beloved wild country, Gibson Lake in the Sun Canyon area and near the Scapegoat Wilderness on the east slope of the Rocky Mountains in Montana.

The geese are Joe's and are escorting him away.

A Good Day

I decided I needed to put something tranquil up today, and so this painting. The subject is also Brown's Lake, as was my earlier lily pad painting. I loved going camping there with a pile of kids and a few Mom's who were and are good friends - my support team. I had done this painting last year, but just reworked it a little. This is an oil, 16" x 20"

The Bridger Range for Tara

Sadly, yesterday they found Tara Bowman's body in the wreckage of the gallery explosion. So many of us in the art community are devastated. Tara was our champion, and such a great person. Today was her birthday...

Tonight I did this computer sketch in honor of Tara. It will become a painting at some point. I will quote Kahil Gibran's words, hoping this to be true.

"For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?"

Tara, we will all miss you so.


You may see other tributes to Tara at these blog sites:
David Lemon - http://adayinthelifeofalemon.blogspot.com/
Debi Schmit - http://www.debschmit.blogspot.com

Montana Trails Gallery Explosion

This has been a tragic week. On Thursday, March 5th, an apparent gas leak in downtown Bozeman, MT. caused a horrific explosion. Three buildings were totally demolished, and many others damaged. Montana Trails Gallery was at the epicenter of this explosion. The gallery and everything in it was destroyed by the blast and subsequent fire. But much worse than that, Tara Bowman, our beloved gallery Director is feared to have been there and killed. There are no words to describe the loss and sadness so many of us feel this week.

Opportunitree

I've had a lot of fun with this painting. I really did see this car with the tree growing out of it, although I've exaggerated that a little. I've been doing so many people paintings lately for the upcoming Russell Show, and at times they can "beat me up". It was rewarding to paint this rusty bent up old car instead. The subject is much more forgiving! It's funny that the things we wouldn't want to have in our backyard or view shed are often things that do make good paintings! This piece is 16" x 20" and an oil.

Back from Settlers West Miniature Show

I just returned from Settlers West Miniature Show in the sunny southwest. (No, I wasn't in it) but I came away inspired, which is a good thing as I'm hustling now in the countdown phase before the Russell Art Show & Auction in March. It's only a month away. YIKES! My computer hub seems to be melting down and so I am not able to add images of new paintings now. Soon.

One Good Horse

While attending a high school rodeo with my daughter, I got some good pictures of the horses and kids in action. This was truly one good horse, and he was taking a well earned break. It was a cold, snowy day outside, and I liked the soft warm light in the arena that afternoon. This painting is an oil, 16" x 20"

Time of Yellow Leaves

In 2007 our Montana Painters Alliance paint out was in the Highwood Mountains, east of Great Falls. It was cold and rainy, but I still remember the smell of the downed leaves those crisp autumn days. The MPA is a group of Plein Air painters that get together twice a year for paint outs under the Big Sky. We then have gallery or museum shows every so often to show our work as a group. This painting hung in our show, "From Study to Studio" at the C.M. Russell Museum this last summer, 2008. www.mtpaintersalliance.com. I was also recently informed that with the submission of this painting, I am one of the 100 finalists in the 2008 "Paint America Competition" - open to artists from all over the world. This painting will travel around the country with the show for the next year, and will be for sale through www.paintamerica.org. I'm thrilled! "Time of Yellow Leaves" is an oil, 20" x 24".

Under a Painted Sky

I arrived at Crow Fair one summer just as the opening parade was starting. There was so much color and costume - beautiful! This painting is a compilation of images from that day. I loved this woman's expression and I hoped to convey what I felt to be her strength and pride. I am enjoying doing these tonal paintings as they seem more "emotional" to me. "Under a Painted Sky" is an oil, 30 x 30, and is for sale through Montana Trails Gallery in Bozeman, MT. tara@montanatrails.com