The Horse
Under the guidance and encouragement of Professor Stephanie Newman at Montana State University in 2002, I delved into the uncharted territory of mixed media collage. Inspired by illustrious illustrators like Eric Carle of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” her teachings ignited a creative flame within me. Tasked with also infusing text with our image, I serendipitously discovered discarded treasures - scraps of my cattlemarker painting scribbles, a discarded oil painting, some wheat stalks and a quote from the book of Job, “The Horse” galloped into existence.
Little did I know, this modest beginning would lead to the spotlight of a solo art show, marking a significant milestone in my artistic journey.
“I can only go forward from where I am.”
~ Professor Stephanie Newman
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THE HORSE
Have you given the horse strength?
Have you clothed his neck with thunder?
Can you frighten him like a locust?
His majestic snorting strikes terror.
He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength;
He gallops into the clash of arms.
He mocks at fear, and is not frightened;
Nor does he turn back from the sword.
The quiver rattles against him,
The glittering spear and javelin.
He devours the distance with fierceness and rage;
Nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet has sounded.
At the blast of the trumpet he says, ‘Aha!’
He smells the battle from afar,
The thunder of captains and shouting.
~ Job 39:19-25
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Recycled scraps of cattlemarker paintings, recyled oil painting, grass, raffia and wheat.
Artist’s Collection
2002
The Horse
GRAY GHOST
“Gray Ghost” was a Confederate cavalry battalion commander in the American Civil War. His command, the 43rd Battalion, 1st Virginia Cavalry, known as Mosby’s Raiders, was noted for its lightning quick raids, partisan or ranger-like tactics and its ability to successfully elude Union Army pursuers and disappear, blending in with local farmers and townspeople. John Singleton Mosby lived from December 6, 1883 until May 30, 1916.
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Cattlemarkers, mountain ash and dogwood leaves, brass washers, porcupine quills, wild montana grasses, and montana sharp-tail grouse & pheasant feathers.
Art Lover's Purhcase
2010
Running Bear
In 2011, I created “Running Bear,” a piece born from the depths of childhood fear. Its creation mirrored the haunting memory of a grizzly nightmare from my childhood, urging me to confront my deepest anxieties. Despite the daunting shadows, I persevered, using art as my weapon against fear.
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Cattlemarkers, coffee, wheat & maple tree seeds, aspen and chokecherry leaves, leather ribbon, porcupine hair and quills, dogwood buds, brass washers and pheasant, grouse, duck & goose feathers.
HONORABLE MENTION AWARD
Annual Montana Institute of Arts
Invitational Art Show, Bozeman MT, 2011
Artist’s Collection
2011
Running Bear
Riding Destiny
In 2016, five years after my creation of “Running Bear, a new piece emerged. “Riding Destiny” is a testament of seizing control of my own path. Adorned with a fragile paper chain, it symbolized my unwavering authority over destiny. Even if it broke, I remained the master of my destiny. Each piece of my art tells a story of resilience, echoing my personal journey through struggles and triumphs. Through my art, I found solace, strength, and the power to conquer.
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Cattlemarkers, watercolor, cotoneaster leaf, porcupine quills, horse hair, wild grasses, construction paper, and duck, pheasant & chucker feathers.
Gift to My Granddaughter
2016
Riding Destiny
Reach for the Stars
In the depths of my inspiration, I envisioned a girl leaping on a horse, reaching into the night sky and catching stars, encapsulating it in “Reach for the Stars” for the February 6, 2016 Reach fundraiser. Despite adoring it, I resolved to donate it. A few days before the auction, I received a call to visit my mother one last time. I traveled to Colorado to spend time with her. She passed on February 6.
At the auction, my husband secretly bought it, knowing its profound significance. Now, it remains a cherished keepsake, a symbol of love, loss, and the enduring bond between a mother and her daughter.
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Cattlemarkers, watercolor, porcupine quills, horse hair, Montana Pryor Mountain soil and Montana sharp-tail grouse & parakeet feathers.
Previous Donation to Reach
Artist’s Collection
2015
Reach for the Stars
THE JOURNEY
A young man sets out on his adventurous vision quest, accompanied by his loyal friends. Their journey unfolds as a poignant allegory for life’s myriad paths. As we follow their journey, we recognize reflections of our own path, with its array of challenges, triumphs, and discoveries awaiting us on our own journey.
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Cattlemarkers, watercolors, porcupine quills, mountain ash tree seeds, deer hair, horse hair and Montana sharp-tail grouse, parakeet, peacock, chucker & emu feathers.
Gift to My Grandson
2016
The Journey
I am a Tree and when the Storms come my Roots go Deep
Every piece of my artwork holds a significant place in my heart, as each carries a fragment of my soul within its creation. However, there are rare occasions when I produce something that resonates deeply within the very core of my being, and this piece is one of those rare gems.
The inception of this small tree sketch dates back to February 2018, a month that has always carried a weight of sorrow for me. It was during this month, only two years earlier that I lost my mother, and mere days before, a dear friend departed. Alongside these losses, I grappled with my own health challenges. It became a period of introspection, a time where my roots sought to anchor themselves deeply.
Within a few short months during Easter weekend my physical pain became unbearable, leading to my hospitalization. Without delving into specifics, I was informed the following day that had I remained at home, I might not have survived. From my hospital bed, I gained a newfound perspective of Easter. Viewing it as yet another brush with mortality, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Someone was watching over me.
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Cattlemarkers, watercolors and paper birch tree bark. Hidden in the tree are a few small robins and tiny chickadees.
Artist’s Collection
2018
I am a Tree and When the Storms Come My Roots Go Deep
Remember My Love
This piece stands as a testament to my daughter's enduring passion for elephants, a fondness likely inherited from her great-grandmother’s vast collection of elephant figurines from across the globe (none of which were real, of course).
As I created this piece for Melissa, I was sifting through my parents’ possessions and unearthed a precious little book with sentimental significance. A Christmas gift from my father to my mother in 1998, the book titled “I Will Love You” overflowed with tender and heartfelt poems. Within its pages, I discovered a beautiful poem penned by Roger Pinches, with words that resonated deeply with me. Inspired by its sentiment, I lovingly christened this creation “Remember My Love,” a title that embodies the depth of my affection for my daughter, Melissa.
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Cattlemarkers, watercolors, gold acrylic, coconut milk latte, pressed scarlet galia flowers, flower petals & grasses from Melissa’s bouquets, hair clippings from me & my mother, alfalfa blossoms & grasses from the Colorado family farm and grass from the banks of the Colorado Gunnison River, near where Melissa was born.
Gift to My Daughter
2020
Remember My Love
COOL COWS
In a field where the sun always shines, cool cows strut with style, sporting sunglasses that shimmer in the daylight. Their laid-back moo’s harmonize with the breeze, as they graze in utter coolness. These shades-wearing bovines redefine “moo-tivation” under the sun, making every pasture a fashionable runway.
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Cattlemarkers, watercolors, golden acrylics, clippings from a black plastic lid of a peanut can and a little bit of coffee and blueberry juice.
Art Lover Purchase
2023
Cool Cows
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