Here are a few shots of the gardens as they turn into jungles around the cottage.

Today we have sun…so I am headed out to muck stalls and walk dogs.
Then back to work…I have to paint!

©Copyright 2009 by Kathi Peters. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

18 x 24 inches
Oil on Canvas

Commissioned SOLD

Contact me for your very own painted pony: Laurie

© Laurie Justus Pace Graphics One Design 2009

“O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you.” 1 Chronicles 29:18

The Painting: It is for Miss Emma! Miss Emma is a young budding artist that lives many states north of Texas. She has a new room with new colors and her mom is a fabulous decorator, Gretchen Martini. I am honored Miss Emma will have one of my painted ponies in her room…and in return I get some of her art work, which I will hang and treasure. This is an oil painting that emerged spiritually onto a prepared canvas. The canvas had two layers of blue and Indian yellow paint on it. I began sketching and painting several days ago… and my prayers were centered in Emma and painting for her room.

The Thought: Are you living a “no excuse” life? or “the devil made me do it” life? The Greek Philosopher Epictetus once said, “God has entrusted me with myself.” In fact I was intrigued by quite a few of his quotations when I was researching. Click here to read some of the four pages.

Is it fair to state we are responsible for ourselves and our lives? Some things I studied as I wrote this message today implied a full alone-ness for self- responsibility. I believe I am responsible for my actions and I will have to suffer all consequences for them both here on earth and before God. I do believe we are all empowered to take charge of our life (under HIS guidance), and it is our thinking, words and actions that mold our character. This ‘molded character’ becomes our destiny.

None of us has the power to control or change the world around us. None of us can change the people we love…our family and friends. True wisdom is the acceptance that we alone are responsible for our thoughts, our words, our actions, and our habits. There are no excuses and if you are not where you want to be right now, it is time to seek guidance from God and begin your life anew today, this moment. It is time to get where you want to be.

You will have to remind yourself almost every waking moment of your new direction and begin to convince yourself to believe that you can change. Own up for your actions and reactoins.

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” Epictetus

I leave you with this prayer of protection for this week:

Prayer for Protection:

The light of God surrounds you,
The love of God enfolds you,
And the presence of God watches over you;
Wherever you are, God is.
Amen.

Laurie

“In that day you will say: “Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done, and proclaim that His name is exalted.” Isaiah 12:4

Website, Laurie Justus Pace
Website, The Painted Pony
Blog, A Texas Contemporary Artist
Blog, Wonders of the Heart

Galleries:
Jackson, Wyoming – The Rare Gallery
Penn Yan, New York—Earthworks Art Gallery
The Village of Granville, Ohio—The Gillian Jones Gallery
Marble Falls, Texas – Patina of Marble Falls
Dallas, Texas—The Dutch Art Gallery
Atascadero, California – The Red Tree Gallery
El Dorado Hills, California—Our House Gallery
Hong Kong – SR Gallery
Erie, Colorado – The Daily Painters
Dallas,Texas – The Daily Painters of Texas
Centennial, Colorado—The Daily Painters Abstract

Organizations:
WAOW, Associate Member Women Artist Out West
OPA, Associate Member Oil Painters of America
AWS, American Watercolor Society
The Five Graces, 5Graces
Ask Art, Blue Book of Artists

©Copyright 2009 by Laurie Justus Pace. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

“You know, when you get your first asparagus, or your first acorn squash, or your first really good tomato of the season, those are the moments that define the cook’s year. I get more excited by that than anything else.” -
Mario Batali

When I came home from vacation I was totally surprised at how much my veggie garden had grown. I had several huge cucumbers, one gigantic zucchini, a couple of peppers and about 9 baby cantaloupes that are fist size. My husband is eagerly awaiting the ripening of these bad boys. Last year I went with all heirloom tomatoes, this year I chose a mix. These are Jetsetter which the tag said are disease resistant. The plant is taller than my husband who is 6″ 3″! Any day now right?

Back to the studio for me after over a week off. Of course I had the Headless Horseman on the brain again:) He’s currently on Ebay.
The EHAG challenge for July is The Brother’s Grimm. Hmmm… I’m thinking Hansel and Gretel maybe???

©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

While we were there we went to the Snowmass Rodeo, which is held every week during the summer. I haven’t gone to a rodeo in quite some time and I hoped to get some cowboy shots. But being an avid horse photographer I am happy to say I did manage to get some liberty shots. Nothing makes me happier than watching a beautiful horse run around without any tack.

Meet Hannah Montana, a beautiful bay mare. They let Hannah run loose in the arena while they told the crowd a little bit about the bucking horses. You see, Hannah is a bucking bronc and while it may appear so - I was not in the arena with her!

I don’t believe she ever came out of the chutes that night which I was grateful for. I want to remember her like this and not with the whites of her eyes showing and her mouth wide open. I read in Monty Robert’s book that broncs are prize animals that are well cared for and actually love their jobs but you could have fooled me.

Susan

©Copyright 2009 by Susan Williams. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

Two wonderful trips in one summer!  How fantastic!  I flew off from Dulles Airport to Heathrow airport in London, on the evening of June 1.  I arrived bright and early at 7:00 am in London on June 2, 2009.  My English friends, Rosemary and Antony picked me up, and off we drove, on the left side as is the rule in the UK.  About an hour and a half later we arrived at their wonderful home, and vision of an English garden and house.  There is a 5 hour difference in time between here in Virginia, USA, and Tiptoe, England, where Rosemary and Antony live.  I love how the homes have names, instead of numbers.  It is so much more personal!

Rosemary and I had planned to paint out a good bit.  So we painted with some of her friends in the New Forest.  How fun to not do the touristy things and rather go and do things that as “the locals”.  Painting in the New Forest, painting with a class that Rosemary taught, a week long trip, with painting to Cornwall, and sketching all over.

Our trip to Cornwall was wonderful!  Full of hills.  No matter where you go, there is a hill, so in addition to seeing so many things, we got in shape!  We stayed in Polruan, and went across the River Fowey (pronounced Foy), to the village of Fowey.  We could look out the window and see the house where the famous author, Daphne DeMauerier lived.  Cream Teas, pasties, Irish Coffee, tea time, happy hour, eating supper in the pubs, ording a pint of Guinness (I found a half pint is less filling!), listening to the wonderful Cornish accent.

So many memories….staying with great friends, meeting lots of people, never seeing another American the whole two + weeks, pubs, pasties, a day trip to Cherbourg, France, via ferry, wine in the sun in Cherbourg, castles, the wonderful New Forest, the wonderful New Forest ponies, Izzy, the New Forest pony, people riding all over the place!!!  So much more!!!

There are so many photos that are wonderful.  I have only included a few here.  Mostly painting, and being in the New Forest.  I will be doing paintings from so many, and working on many of the paintings I did there.  I took my oil paints, which was a whole new experience to travel by plane with painting supplies.  I got things paired down as much as possible, creating a painting box which my husband made to attach to a photo tripod.  It wasn’t totally weightless, but less than taking my French easel.  I hope to put up the paintings and sketches I did over there.  No horse paintings, but lots of reference photos to work from!

©Copyright 2008 by Elaine Hurst. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Elaine Hurst’s website.

Doug and I went out to Missoula, Montana, to visit our daughter, Erin.  She was graduating from the University of MT, in the Forestry and Resource Conservation Department.  We also go to have wonderful hikes in the area, meet wonderful new people, and have fantastic time with Erin!  The weather was great, and we loved Missoula!  I really like the bumper stickers that say: “Keep Missoula weird, do your part”.  Perfect!

We hiked in various places, the Rattlesnake area, the Bitterroot Valley, around Missoula itself, and lots more.  Licorice ice cream from “The Dipper”.  Dollar sushi night, staying at wonderful Judy and Dwayne Wright’s house, and meeting all the super friends of Erin.

©Copyright 2008 by Elaine Hurst. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Elaine Hurst’s website.

Little Spiderman (who is no longer little, and no longer Spiderman, actually) stood up for himself pretty well out there. Helps that he’s almost as big as Leo, though two months younger! He’s a real sweetheart, with none of big brother Billy’s reservations. It looks like he’s going to be a dark bay. He’s changed so much from the last time I posted a photo of him! That super fuzzy coat isn’t doing him any favours now that the weather is warmer, though! And it just doesn’t come out like a winter coat does!

Gracie watched kind of like me - with trepidation! Hard to believe a year ago that was her and Billy out there. She is getting to be quite a big girl, and is actually taller than Billy.

And the photo of Billy is from yesterday, before I broke it to him that he had to give up his big grassy paddock for the moms and babies.

The other three mares are turned out in the front paddock - Gladys, Jubie, and my girl Monster. They haven’t changed, at least on the outside! Maybe a year from now it will be Gladys’ and Jubie’s foals I’m showing off!

©Copyright 2009 by Linda Shantz. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

Lone horse plodding toward the horizon where you can vaguely see a city? a refinery? something man-made, for sure. Horse is resigned, it appears, to where it’s heading. I am becoming that way myself.

Luke 9:53
but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.

Media: oil
Size: 8 in X 6 in (20.3 cm X 15.2 cm)
Price: $60 USD

How to Purchase:

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $60 USD
Or, send me an email

©Copyright 2009 by Debbie Grayson Lincoln. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

Contact me to Purchase: Laurie

©Laurie Justus Pace Graphics One Design 2009

“Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” 1 Peter 3:8

The Painting: Different strokes for different folks. It was a laid back two day period working on this light impressionistic piece. This is a 24 x 24 inch canvas and I used Holbein Duo Oils in multiple layers. Most of the area is in wide brush, but parts are in a 1/4 inch brush.

The Thought: I was reading in 1 Peter when I came across this verse. Peter is sharing what is important for us in our lives, but taking it a step further is to realize what God has for us. This verse is a gentle verse speaking of open love. Our God is this and more. Our God is an awesome God.

God is tough and tender. Brings back thoughts of that child rearing book from the seventies “Tough Love”. Our Father demands pretty high standards and has strict commandments on the book. When we do not follow through in His way and we go our way, which normally is not the right way, He shows us His tender mercy. He comforts us and He forgives us.

He wants us to toe the line…but when we don’t, and we fall, He picks us up. He restores us in His love. This is the same mercy we should show those around us. Peter has pointed that out… to be unified in God’s spirit and reflect to others our open heart and acceptance despite what wrongs others might do to us.

There is a time to be tough and a balance of mercy to be tender. God convicts and cleanses us. God corrects and comforts us. God forgives our failures and picks us up right. His mercy extends to all of us.

Today when you get grumpy and tough on folks, remember Peter’s advice and God’s teachings, and let the Holy Spirit shine out in you…

Laurie

“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:1-6

Website, Laurie Justus Pace
Website, The Painted Pony
Blog, A Texas Contemporary Artist
Blog, Wonders of the Heart

Galleries:
Jackson, Wyoming – The Rare Gallery
Penn Yan, New York—Earthworks Art Gallery
The Village of Granville, Ohio—The Gillian Jones Gallery
Marble Falls, Texas – Patina of Marble Falls
Dallas, Texas—The Dutch Art Gallery
Atascadero, California – The Red Tree Gallery
El Dorado Hills, California—Our House Gallery
Hong Kong – SR Gallery
Erie, Colorado – The Daily Painters
Dallas,Texas – The Daily Painters of Texas
Centennial, Colorado—The Daily Painters Abstract

Organizations:
WAOW, Associate Member Women Artist Out West
OPA, Associate Member Oil Painters of America
AWS, American Watercolor Society
The Five Graces, 5Graces
Ask Art, Blue Book of Artists

©Copyright 2009 by Laurie Justus Pace. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

I guess I am still on a flower kick. These fast alla prima florals are a fun way to get my painting kick in between a family reunion, a holiday and First Friday. Someone brought a vase of pretty sweet peas to put on the table for the family reunion so tonight I painted them.

happy 4th of July!

Sue Steiner
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©Copyright 2009 by Sue Steiner. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.