Kidron Arts Community

New Web Site!

2011-01-31T22:34:00.001-08:00

I've opened up a web site at http://www.amish-art.com to sell amish themed art, photography and gourds.

On Amish Time

2010-05-03T06:02:00.000-07:00

One of the things I enjoy most about living in an Amish community is the slower pace. My Amish neighbor often stops by to use my phone. He always is very chatty. The last time he was by I was just going out the door so I had to wait for him before I could leave. Not sure that I would ahve time for our usual long chat after his phone call I told him I had a busy day and needed to get going. We walked outside. He said he also had a busy day just as our dog interrupted him by dropping a tennis ball at his feet. We both laughed and he picked up the ball to play fetch with Toby for several minutes. We still ended up chatting... just this time about 'our busy day' as he played fetch with the dog!

Our conversations often are about horses since I am a horse owner too. He talked about a trip into town he was making that day and in my head I tried to estimate how long it would take by horse and buggy vs car. My crude estimations put it at an hour and a half vs my 8 minutes by car. So I thought about 'time', English time vs Amish time. The 8 minutes we spent in my drive chatting and playing fetch with the dog equalled to me the time I might of needed to arrive at my destination. The 8 minutes to him was the time it would take him to walk back to his house, down the lane.

I have some new Amish themed art in the works that I will be posting soon. I also have invited another artist who has Amish Art to join me here on this blog. She will be writing soon and sharing with you her beautiful art.

Sue Steiner
artist

Springtime ~

2010-04-07T12:14:00.000-07:00

We have had some glorious weather for early April! The grass is greening up and the trees are starting to give the horizon a green haze. The daffodils are in bloom. I saw a Magnolia tree in bloom this morning. We got to open all the windows in the house and enjoy a beautiful, refreshing breeze.

I've been spending as much time as possible outsideand in my barn . I was riding my horse the other day and could feel he was a little distracted. As it turned out he had his attention on my neighbor's field. I look over in that direction and could see a small herd of goats and sheep running along the ridge of an open field! My amish neighbor has sheep and goats that get out of the fence (surprise, surprise). They will graze and roam a bit and then head back home. Its was funny to see this flock loose and wandering. Even my horse was surprised at this sight!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sue Steiner

artist

HIt and Skip

2010-02-13T06:26:00.000-08:00

My neighbor stopped by the other day to use the phone. He was arranging the delivery of queen bees for this spring. He is known as the honey bee person in this area. He has quite a following with people coming from quite a distance to get bee supplies in the spring.

As we were talking he mentioned his daughter had a buggy/car accident the other day. As our area gets more populated and built up the traffic on the roads increase which makes it difficult to share the roads with the buggies. At least for some people. I always give a wide berth to the buggies. This day though a car bumped my neighbor's buggy. The horse became starled and began to run off... still attached of course to the buggy. My neighbor's daughter is a young woman in her early twenties alone in the buggy on her way from her job as a school teacher. The horse bolted across a ditch and then began galloping across some farm fields heading in the direction of a major highway. Before they got to that point fortunately Mary was able to pull the horse up and get it to stopped. Once stopped they both stood in the field. The horses sides heaving as the driver tried to get both of their nerves calmed down. After they caught their breathe the young woman turned her horse back to the scene of the accident. In her absense a near by farmer saw the accident and had come to help. The the farmer and car owner were discussing whether or not the Amish woman was a 'hit or skip'. The driver of the car apparently thought the Amish woman took off to get away from the accident. The farmer didn't think that was the case. Once Mary arrived back at the accident site the police were called so a report could be filed. As I understand they were both sited.

I have horses so I have an understanding of what a horse will do under stress. I am always so impressed that for the most part Amish buggy horses are very tolerant. It had never dawned on me that someone would think a run away horse and buggy would be a 'hit and skip' on an accident scene!

I have seen drivers wanting to react to a horse and buggy like you would a car. For instance I saw an Amish man struggling with a horse not wanting to stop at an intersection. The horse was prancing in place but you could tell by its expression that it was anxious. A truck drove by and blasted his horn at the horse. Fortunately day the horse didn't bolt.

As I write this I think of the conflict that sometimes happens as our fast paced cultured flies by the Amish way of life.

I am an artist living in Ohio Amish Country. I occassionally have oil paintings for sale depicting Amish life. To see mroe of my work go to http://www.suesteiner.com/

Snow Day!

2010-02-08T11:03:00.000-08:00

We got a heavy snow a couple days ago. The sun is out bright and crisp and it is truly beautiful! Just when I was thinking Ohio winters were not for me any longer! :)

My Amish neighbor got out his team and plowed our shared lane. He used what he called a 'boat' which is just a wooden frame pulled by the horses. it actually did quite a good job but from what he said there's not much 'control'. Especially when the horses were feelin' their oats and wanted to pick up a gallop! I saw the 'boat' and it only had a seat .. or more like a step but no sides or anything to brace against. My neighbor first stood but then did the other swipes down the lane sitting down. I discreetly took these photos, taking care not to photograph his face so you can see the snow flying!

To see equine art I welcome you to visit my new blog at http://www.suesteinerpetportraits.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/suesteiner/sets/72157623242674677/

Farm Animal Murals- twin lambs

2009-10-19T17:36:00.000-07:00

I was at Lehamn's this past week adding to the farm animal murals I've been doing there the last few years. Above you can see the beginning of a couple young lambs with the ewe and a friendly rooster.

Please visit the store or my web site to see more finished murals that I have done. I can be commissioned to paint life sized horse or farm animal murals either an existing wall, canvas or on a specially treated board that is suitable to he installed outside.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sue Steiner

equine and animal artist

2009-09-08T08:34:00.000-07:00

Ohio Amish Country

2009-08-21T05:46:00.000-07:00

Lehman's Local Artisan Festival July 2009

I love living in Kidron, in Ohio Amish Country. It is like no place else. I enjoy my Amish neighbors. I share a lane with an Amish family so have lots of buggy and foot traffic on our little lane. Since I am a horse person I often have conversations about horses with my neighbors. Just the other day I got to chit chat with Sam about horses. I have an offspring of one of his horses so I was telling him how well my colt is doing. Ricco is growing into a beautiful horse. He is at that leggy, long necked stage and growing so fast its almost visible. Thankfully he has the sweetest tempernment of any horse I've owned.

We got on the subject of horse training and Sam was telling me he trained some half siblings to my colt but won't be taking green horses out on the road any longer after a scary near miss. The roads are getting too busy and he commented that the people on the road honk their horns at frightened horses. I think the downside to living in a community with lots of Amish is seeing horses on the road are common so its easy to assume the horses are very well conditioned to the traffic. I could sympathize with Sam though knowing you have to start somewhere with a young horse. I am always amazed at how well the horses do for the most part but I also keep in mind that a frightened horse is not thinking but reacting so a loud noise would heightened his fear.

Sam told me now instead of training young horses he is making halters as a sideline so if I ever need some to stop by. I like to shop at these little Amish cottage businesses. You get a glimpse into their lifestyle which is often fascinating to me. I admit I envy their way of life in some respects. I am not sure though how an artist would fit in! :) Thankfully we can live side by side quite well. I do know I have shown several Amish themed paintings to my neighbors and have enjoyed hearing their perspective and hearing the stories that come about from the scenes depicted in the paintings. They seem to appreciate that what I do is 'freehand' (thats a term that often comes up meaning what I do is not traced or made by a machine) and that I do not make the painting specifically of them as an individual. I paint it in an impressionistic style so the faces are not detailed and they become just part of the landscape-- just like the painting of the work horses on the banner of this page.

I will be working on more of this type of artwork in preparation for a couple more art events at Lehman's in Kidron. It was decided the other day that we would do a couple more this fall and winter and have come up with the dates of Nov 7 and Dec 5th. If you like more information you can e-mail me at artbysue@hotmail.com or visit http://www.lehmans.com/ to see their events calendar. I have an ongoing project at Lehman's painting farm animal murals as painting demos and also help schedule other artists and crafters to do demos as well. We've got a very nice selection of potters, fiber artists, wood carvers, wool rug hookers, oil painters to mention a few who come on a regular basis to do these demos. So if you are planning a trip to Ohio Amish Country please check out the events calendar and mark your calendars! We are heading into the most beautiful time of the year!

thanks for stopping by!
Sue Steiner
Kidron Artist

Back in the Buggy Barn...

2009-08-15T17:32:00.000-07:00

I had a pretty productive day mural painting at Lehman's on Friday. I am almost finished with the rooster. The ewe was completed a few weeks ago. Now on the the barn cat and twin lambs.

If you are not familar with my murals this photo above is just one small section of a room full of life sized farm animals and horses! Its been an ongoing project and a complete joy to do. I love meeting the people who visit Kidron and enjoy chit chatting with them as I paint. The day I took the photo above I got to talk with some delightful kids and their parents about their farm animals, chickens and art projects. They told me about Elvis the duck who had some interesting mannerisms which got him his name.

Next time you are in Ohio Amish Country stop by Lehman's and see my farm animal murals. :)

to see more art by me visit http://www.suesteiner.com/ or stop by my studio at Second April Art Galerie in the arts district of Canton.

Farm Animal Murals

2009-08-11T05:01:00.001-07:00

I specialize in painting life sized animals, in particular horses. I am beginning a couple projects of new outdoor murals that I will share here as 'work in progress' pics.

In the photos above I have some chicken oil paintings on my easle that I did recently. These will be in an art exhibit at Gallery 6000 in Canton, Ohio in a show titled 'Animal Instincts'. I plan on having some equine, dog and cat paintings represented there as well.

I also posted a photo taken in the Buggy Barn at Lehman's while I was setting up for the 2009 Lehman's Local Artisan Festival. I help schedule Ohio Arts and Crafts Guild members demos on an ongoing basis in the store thru out the year. We all get together for the art festival usually the second Sat. in July. Its been a great success and lots of fun for all involved.

If you are planning a trip to Ohio Amish Country please stop by Lehman's to check out the events calendar to see my murals and other arts and craft demos.

At this stage of the game my new murals are not much to look at. I am making one an adaptation of the donkey mural at Lehman's. Another will be a much loved family horse and the third is a strikingly beautiful black mustang! So I have my hands full for the time being. Stop back by to see the progress!

If you are in the Canton area stop by my studio White Horse Studio at 324 Cleveland Ave. NW in the downtown arts district.

Sue Steiner

equine an animal artist

pet portraits

life sized animal art

Lehman's Art Festival

2009-07-08T19:02:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy couple of weeks but looking forward to this Saturday because it is the second annual Local Artisan's Festival at Lehman's. We will have a fiber artist, blacksmith, a landscape painter, me painting murals and a woman who makes wonderful painted gourd birdhouses. The festival is from 10:00- 2:00 July 11th. You can find me in the buggy barn working on my murals!

I got word today that the painting above (Belgians Working in the Field, oils) in the title of this blog will be published in the Ohio Magazine Aug issue. They are writing a story about First Fridays in the arts district of Canton. That is the area of my art studio and I participate in these events so it will be fun to see what they write up.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sue Steiner

Fiber Art my way

2009-06-24T14:15:00.000-07:00

White Horse Studio, Sue Steiner

I am back at Lehman's this week to add to the ewe and twin lambs I am painting on the walls of the Buggy Barn. I will be in the store from 10-2:00 pm. I suspect I will finish the momma sheep and be ready to rough in the babies. As always this is a fun project. I get to combine my interest art/animals and my experience farming. Plus I get to meet some very nice people in the process. I'll post an update after my mural painting session on Friday. :)

For those of you in the area I am also adding new work to my art studio in Canton (pictured above on my first day). I participate in the Canton First Fridays every month. My studio is open 6 days a week during the regular gallery hours of Second April Art Gallerie. If you are in the Canton area stop by! I stock nottecards, prints and original artwork featuring farm/animal themes as well as florals and pet portraits. Lots of horses too of course!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sue Steiner

equine and animal artist
custom pet portraits in oils

Inspiration on the Farm

2009-06-04T07:39:00.000-07:00

It is said that artists get their inspiration from what is around them. To be able to see the world thru an artist's eyes is one of my greatest pleasures. Since I live on a small hobby farm in a small rural community I gather my inspiration from the farm fields, the animals, the changing of the seasons.

Yesterday I took a walk and saw my Amish neighbor's family milk cow resting comfortably in a patch of shade. I scolded my dogs for trying to rouse her but she wisely turned them a blind eye. She knew she had a good spot!

I've painted many farm animals over the last few years. I will share a few with you here today. I would not be surprised if my neighbor's cow becomes a painting in the future- minus flies since I can have artistic license!

I will have some farm animal art for sale at Lehman's Local Artisan Festival Sat. July 11th. Stay tuned for more details or you are welcome to e-mail me at artbysue@hotmail.com or visit my web site at http://www.suesteiner.com/ to see photos from last years event.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sue Steiner

equine and animal artist

pet portraits

Farm Machinery as Art

2009-05-29T06:33:00.000-07:00

This is rusty farm machinery as seen thru an artists eyes!

Every year in my little town of Kidron, Ohio there is a farm machinery sale. I know to some of you that may not seem like a big deal but it IS in Kidron. People come from all over for this early spring sale to have the chance to either sell or bid on used farm machinery. The whole little town is in gridlock and all a buzz as people line up to load and unload the machinery. Some come by buggy and some come by truck, car or on foot.

A couple years ago I went with my camera to just look. When we had our big farm my husband would participate in this sale every year, either buying or selling. I was never really much interested. With my camera though it became a completely different experience. I began by enjoying the shadows. Then I looked for color-- oxidizing painted metal comes in amazing colors as I quickly found out. The gears, the geometric shapes, the colors, the textures, the light and shadows... oh what a feast for the eyes!!!

I did get some puzzled looks from the amish farmers looking at me as I stooped and contorted myself to get the right angles... they are used to us English doing odd things though! :)

To see more rural themed art go to http://www.suesteiner.com

thanks for stopping by!

Hobby Farms Home Magazine

2009-05-27T20:18:00.001-07:00

Hobby Farms has been a favorite magazine for me for a number of years. They introduced an off shoot Hobby Farms Home a couple years ago that is just as nicely done.

I was thrilled when I got asked to be interviewed for Hobby Farms Home magazine back in January. I did a phone interview and a photographer came out and spent the day with me on my farm, in my studio and down at the murals at Lehman's. It was very nice and a lot of fun for me. I got to talk about my horses, our old farm, my art and what brought me to painting. I honestly would of never guessed I could paint even 7 years ago. I like to tell people when they see my work and tell me 'I could never do that'. I let them know I didn't think I could either until I tried!

Yesterday when I got my mail from the mailbox the issue that my story appears in was in the mail box. It took me a little bit before I could read the article or look at the photos. I was so excited to see the article was so nicely done and the photos came out well. My dogs and horses made it into the magazine too! :) It is on the newstands now. Here is a link to the web site. It is titled 'The Horse Painter' which of course made me happy too-- my very favorite subject to paint!

I am finalizing some plans for the Local Artisan Art Festival at Lehman's for the second Saturday in July. Stay tuned for some more info. You can see pics from last years events here:

thanks for stopping by!

Sue Steiner

equine and animal artist

My Version of 'Fiber Art'

2009-05-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

This colt mural in the Buggy Barn at Lehman's was finished a couple weeks ago..... now on to the sheep and lambs.

Work in Progress Farm Animal Mural

I got to play today....uhhhh... I mean work in the Buggy Barn. The best thing about being an artist is that the work feels like play! In fact painting the wool on this sheep was a whole lot like scribbling... gosh.. this sounds like I am regressing! LOL! Maybe that is why the murals and art in general have an appeal to all ages. Art has a way of bringing people together.

I've been in the Buggy Barn now off and on for 2 years. My favorite part of doing the demos is meeting the people that pop into Lehman's. I met someone today named Bob who is also an artist. Such a kind man! He even gave me a hug! It is always touching when someone enjoys what I am doing. Thank you Bob! I left our meeting feeling inspired and I think Bob did too.
I often meet people while doing the in store demos who like to draw or paint. I love hearing about what they do. Its natural that artists inspire each other. Not everyone in the buggy barn hugs me though. :) Bob lives in an assisted living community and was spending the day at Lehman's along with a tour group. He talked about how his artwork helped him thru a difficult time when he lost his wife. I agreed that art has wonderful healing properties. We talked a little about technique and I enjoyed being able to share with him my process.

This is a busy time for me. Many of you know I live in the Kidron area just minutes from Lehman's. I have a home studio and on June 5th I will be having a Grand Opening of my new art studio in Canton named White Horse Studio. You can read about how I came up with that name here. White Horse Studio is located in Second April, a beautiful gallery in the arts district of Canton. My studio is open during the regular business hours of the gallery so stop in some time, or better yet come by the Grand Opening from 6-10:00 pm on June 5th. I'm offering a special incentive on commissioned pet portraits for those who stop in. I am calling it an 'upgrade' coupon. If you commission me for a horse or pet portrait you can use this coupon to bump up to the next larger size portrait at no extra charge. If you are out of town the offer still applies to my interent commissions. During the months of May and June just mention the coupon and it will apply for you too.

The Grand Opening will coincide with Canton's First Friday. I am thrilled with the timing of all of this also because the Budweiser Clydesdales will be at this First Friday. As an animal and equine artist I could not be happier. I love those horses!! They are beautiful. I am planning on doing a painting of them to during that First Friday. Lots to do but, oh its fun.

Thanks for stopping by!
Sue Steiner
equine and animal artist
pet portraits

Mural Painting Update - Sheep

2009-05-08T12:16:00.000-07:00

I had fun in the buggy barn at Lehman's today meeting people from all over the United States. I even got to meet some people visiting from Germany. I will be posting an entry on Lehman's blog a photo of them as they used the murals for a backdrop to their photos. Its fun when I see people really enjoying what I am doing. I am beginning to see some of the same people over again too since I've been in there now off and on for the past two years.

Today I got started on the sheep. My plan is to paint a ewe with her twin lambs. I added a barn kitty in an open spot and will likely add another. I don't think you can have just one barn cat! :) What you see here is the rough sketch and blocking in stage.

If you will be coming to the Kidron area I have a calendar on this blog that lets you know when I will be painting the murals. I am spending my time between my home studio in the Kidron/Dalton area, my new studio in Canton and many Fridays painting at the murals.

To see more of my art please visit http://www.suesteiner.com or stop by my art studio at Second April Art Gallerie, Suite #207

White Horse Studio

324 Cleveland Ave. NW

Canton, Ohio 44702

Life Sized Colt Mural and Beyond!

2009-04-25T06:12:00.000-07:00

This is where I left off with my horse painting after yesterdays time at Lehman's. This colt is a life sized weanling peeking his nose up above the stall to say hi! He is joined by a wall of roosting chickens, a team of Belgian Draft horses at a hitching post, a pair of buggy horses, and a family milk cow.

During a break from the colt I started on the next farm animal addition. You can see the rough sketch in chalk. I start all my murals off this way- even the large hitching post mural. If you look at the side bar on this page you can click on a sideshow that will take you thru the painting of the hitching post mural from blank wall to finished mural.

I plan on adding the ewe and a pair of twin lambs next. If you'd like to subscribe to this blog and get updates on the murals in addition to my other animal and Amish themed art you can do that on the side bar as well.

Yesterday I saw a ewe out in a pasture that has just given birth to the second of 2 lambs, still wet on the spring grass! We raised sheep on our working farm-- on my hobby farm I just have my horses but I do hold fond memories of the baby lambs and kid goats! I remember one early spring day I was hosting a lunch for a woman's bible study. Many of the woman did not live on farms. My kitchen and family room windows overlooked the pasture in which the sheep lived. We had a couple dozen ewes and their babies. As the woman were visiting and chatting the lambs decided to put on a show for the ladies! As lambs like to do, they took off on cue to leap and bound, twist and spring all at once around the pasture. It is one of the funniest things to watch because their feet look like they are on springs and somehow the lambs all know when to do this at the same time! The ewes continue to graze, no longer cued into this internal energy combustion but the babies run in spurts as a group to put on an 'airs above the ground' show. The lambs take turns doing these spectacular leaps and twists high above the ground. Well the woman loved it! They talked about those lambs for the longest time! So it seems fitting that the next addition to the farm animal murals would be sheep.

Thanks for stopping by! My mural painting schedule is posted above. If you are in Canton I have a studio there as well. Stop by and say hi! I am at Second April Art Gallerie .

Sue Steiner

equine and animal artist

Amish Wedding!

2009-04-23T07:11:00.001-07:00

My neighbor mentioned a wedding going on today. I didn't think much of it until I took my kids to school and passed caravans of buggies coming from all directions! Of course-- they are all on their way to the wedding ... even though it was not even 8:00 AM yet! :) I am glad for them the sun came out and it will be warm today.

The artwork above is of a Belgian horse which is a breed commonly used by the Amish for their field work or to pull the heavier wagons.

Tomorrow I will be in the Buggy Barn at Lehman's adding to my farm animal mural. If you are in Ohio Amish Country stop by!

Belgians in the Field, completed

2009-04-21T06:11:00.001-07:00

Belgians in the Field, 12 x 24 oils on hardboard

By Sue Steiner

My daily painting from the weekend, drier and photographing better! I painted this with thick paint, bold brush strokes, lively color hoping to convey the beauty of this scene. This is a farmer in Kidron, right by my home, working up his field preparing for spring planting. Love the work horses but you may of picked up on that already!

To see more art got to my web site at http://www.suesteiner.com or stop by my studio in Canton at 324 Cleveland Ave. NW #207, Canton, Ohio above Second April Art Gallerie. This will be at my studio in time for May's First Friday. It also can be purchased online at

my Etsy Shop along with other horse and amish themed art.

Thanks for stopping by! I will be in the Buggy Barn this Friday painting more murals at Lehman's so if you are in Ohio Amish Country stop by! My schedule is posted on the calendar above.

Belgian Draft Horses Plowing a Field

2009-04-20T06:22:00.000-07:00

12 x 24 oils on hardboard

Belgians Working the Fields
by Sue Steiner

We had a beautiful day on Saturday. Typical of this time of year my Amish neighbors had their work horses in the field taking advantage of the nice weather to work up their fields. I painted this painting yesterday in response to seeing the horses in the fields again. This is by far one of my favorite sights in Ohio Amish Country.

'Buggy Ride' 11 x 14 on canvas board in oils

By Sue Steiner

I will have these paintings for sale at my art studio in Canton as well as online at my Etsy shop. The top painting is 12 x 24, oils on hardboard panel, framed and signed. I will let this layer dry and add more highlights and minor touches. The final image will be posted in a few days when the paint dries and the painting photographs well.

The second painting is one from a few days ago, dry, and ready to go. It is 11 x 14 on canvas board,in oils. I am calling it 'Buggy Ride'. I can be reached by e-mail at artbysue@hotmail.com or 330-957-0204 if you have any questions about this piece of art or any other artwork of mine.

If you've enjoyed what you see here consider getting regular updates on this blog by following me. See the side bar for details. You can also sign up for notifications of new artwork posted on my web site here: E-mails submitted are used only for notifications of new artwork and never given to spam lists etc.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sue Steiner

equine and animal artist

Mural Painting Resumes

2009-04-15T07:15:00.000-07:00

Common Scenes from Kidron, Ohio

photography by Sue Steiner

On Friday of this week I will be back in the Buggy Barn at Lehman's adding to my series of life sized farm animals. I left off last winter about halfway done with Ricco, my young colt peaking his nose out of a stall. My job in the Buggy Barn has been to add character and interest with my animal paintings. To date at the store in Kidron, you will see pigs, cows, sheep, a goat, donkey, a pair of buggy horses, a wall of roosting hens and a hitching post with a team of life sized Amish Work horses that I painted over the last couple of years. My demo schedule is posted on this blog and at Lehman's web site on the events calendar. If you are planning a trip to Ohio Amish Country please stop in and say hi! If I am not on the schedule to do a demo and you are interested in my art and meeting me please drop me a line by e-mail at artbysue@hotmail.com I live 5 minutes away and would love to meet you if my schedule permits!

To see my online gallery go to http://www.suesteiner.com/ I also have a studio at 324 Cleveland Ave. NW #207 Canton, Ohio. My art studio is open the regular business hours of Second April Art Gallerie which is located in the arts district of downtown Canton. I particpate in many of the Arts In Stark art events and First Fridays. Stop in my studio during those events.

I consider myself fortunate to be able to live in such a unique community as Kidron, to have a venue at Lehman's that fits so well with what I like to paint and to have an active, thriving art community in Canton- the best of both worlds!

'The Mane Event'

2009-04-14T12:18:00.000-07:00

I found this today on MSNBC.com Enjoy!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Horse and Buggy

2009-04-10T08:32:00.000-07:00

I painted this today as part of my 'Daily Paintings.' A sure sign of nice weather is when the buggy 'convertibles' come out! Hopefully we'll see some soon!

This is 11 x 14 on canvas in oils. My artwork is available for sale thru my art studio or by pay pal by contacting me at artbysue@hotmail.com.

thank you!

Sue Steiner

Favorite Sights in Amish Country

2009-04-09T13:04:00.000-07:00

Field Work by Sue Steiner, watercolor

I love living in an Amish and farming community. Today I got to see my all time favorite sight - a team of draft work horses out in the field. The big draft horses are impressive just by themselves but when they are hitched and in action it is somethig to behold! To my artist eye it is no longer beast and man toiling for food. Rather they become part of the landscape. The warm earthy tones of their coat blend with the grain or dirt in the field until it is just this beautiful partnership.

Okay, I am be romanticizing it just a bit but during my farming days I had to choose between machine and manual labor while tending my large market garden. My husband wanted to teach me how to use some of our machinery to keep up with the garden, save time and work more efficiently. I choose not to when I could. Why? Maybe as an artist efficiency is not always on the forefront of my mind! As I recollect I choose not to because when I worked without the machinery I could hear the birds sing and hear my kids playing in the shallow creek beside the garden catching frogs. I specifically remember a time when planting 100's and 100's of onion bulbs one early spring day. I was stooped down on my knees digging in the warm, damp dirt by hand, feeling the sun on my back listening to the sounds of nature and children at play. For that moment I could not of thought of a better thing to be doing. I felt connected to all the people before me who had dug in the dirt to feed their families. The promise of what the earth would yeild was whispering in my ear and it felt good to just wait.

Either that or I was intent on fulfilling the role of a 'starving artist'! :) Practicality, efficiency, romanticizing and daydreaming butting heads in the garden!

To see more animal and rural themed art go to http://www.suesteiner.com

thanks for stopping by!