Try it anyways!

Hard to Handle 20 x 16 Oil
$400 plus S/H

It has been a long and hectic week and I am now just returning to the studio. While I throughly enjoyed the past week I am extremely glad it is done!! The kids showed their animals and lifeskills projects, brought home ribbons and crashed in bed for some well deserved rest.

I helped out at the wool booth and really enjoyed talking to the people who dropped by to watch me spin or needle felt. I was amazed at the number of folks who were intrigued by the spinning wheel and I actually snagged a few into trying out this old art form.

As a society we have become so cut off from our history and we specialize in one thing. If technology were to end, quite shortly the people of Earth would be running around naked. Trust me, as a society, we should make sure that never happens! LOL My daughter walked her lamb around and many people were able to touch a sheep for the first time. It was quite interesting to see the faces of people as they touched and felt not only a living creature but one capable of clothing them and I swear you could see the loss in their eyes. They understood how little they knew about the value of history and the ability to create.

Creation is not something that should be left in museums to be viewed by tours of school children but should be something that is interactive and valued. My son learned this week how to spin wool. All it took was a few hours and he created his own skein of wool. The amount of teenagers that stopped by to watch amazed and thrilled me. Kids that could normally encourage a respectable individual to cross the street in order to avoid breathing the same air were asking politely how, what and why. They left with many offerings of "Thanks dude/mam".

People want to learn. We are all capable yet there are barriers. Why are there barriers to learning? Why does everyone have to learn the exact same thing in the exact same way during the exact same time period? Why is the different scorned and ridiculed while the average and mundane is crammed down our throats?

The painting today made me think about these things. It was a difficult piece to work on. It is a very extreme in your face sort of piece that makes you wonder "who's" Hard to Handle? There is so much gear on this horse. All he wants to do is race. It is what he is bred for but it appears that he is at a different level than those around him. Maybe he is a World Champion in his heart but he is being "molded" into a racehorse. Sounds like one and the same goal doesn't it?

I beg to differ. I think we are all capable of being great at something but the restraints placed on society is counter productive. Someone created a formula that says it should be done one way. Any deviation is wrong and must be punished. I think that is why this piece was so hard to do. I had to take a close look at how one achieves greatness/creation and I didn't like the formula.

Several women dropped by the booth and one actually sat down to spin. All three mentioned they had a spinning wheel at home and had always wanted to learn. Now they felt like they could try. That is all people want, they want permission to try.

Why is it that so many people say no? I think they must be the formula makers. I think they should be fired. What about you?

Green Pepper Oil 6x6

The pepper is finally done. The original is in a somewhat sad state, wrinkled beyond description and looking for a use in a hot frying pan! I am not sure what drives still life painters. I personally think they must be slightly off kilter if you know what I mean. Anyone who would take beautiful flowers, fresh veggies and arrange them in a setting and paint them long after their beauty has gone must be weird. Me, I'd rather smell the flowers and eat the food. Use my imagination (which was in full force here!) to recreate the present and hopefully have it last for ever.

I guess I am an "in the moment " sort of character.

The re visit to the studio was long over due and felt like a glass of water after a journey through the desert. I think I will not deny myself the next time the urge to paint comes on!

Brewster - White Whyandott Bantam Rooster

Brewster The Rooster

The world is a wacky place. You run a photography business in one part of Canada, come home and tell people about it and no one beleives you. Fine, I can't control your thoughts, if I could we would have a different government but I digress....

The last several days I have been on a photography spree trying to increase my inventory on sheep. My son, who read yesterday's blog, was rather put out that his sister's lamb featured so prominently and so demanded that his special rooster, Brewster should be immortalized as well.

As you can see, my talents extend beyond horses and sheep. The reason I am blogging this is that several people have seen the previous posts and have commented on how "wonderful " "Beautiful" and "fabulous" the photos are.

First of, thank you for your praise. It makes my world go round. Keep it up!
Second, to the nay sayers: Wow, why did you ever doubt me?

While I may have decided that my days as a professional photographer are over, I love the whole experience of it. I teach 4-H photography and give workshops on how to photograph horses. Just because I don't want to do the business anymore doesn't mean I've lost the knowledge. Actually, I like to pass it on to others so I don't have to look at bad quality photos. It is easy to take good pictures with a few pointers so anyone can do it. Let's be positive folks. It is contagious!

So the next few days of posts may be few and far between. The above mentioned Rooster and previously discussed lamb will be making their showring debut this week. The animals are clean, the kids are excited and I am in need of a good night's sleep. LOL

Bella - Clun Forest Ewe Lamb

Bella- Purebred -Clun Forest Ewe Lamb

Yes, I am still on the Photography kick. My still life pepper is starting to wilt and the canvas is finally dry enough to work on today so with all luck there will be an assortment of art work for your perusal in the future!

I had to show off my daughters 4H lamb. Bella is a Purebred Clun Forest Ewe. That is a relatively rare breed in these parts and truth be told there are less than a dozen breeders in the country as a whole. I presently own 2 part bred Cluns and love how tough they are and resistant to any sort of bug or gunk that comes their way. No hot house flowers here so when Anna wanted to do the sheep project in 4H I figured lets get a purebred.

When she started training Bella it did not look good and I seriously second guessed my judgement in regards to a "showable " animal. Bella pulled moves WWF wrestlers would have been proud of! So when Anna announces she wants to walk her lamb in the exhibition parade I, as a mother immediately began to stress out. A long walk, a hot day and lots of scary things to help fuel a sheep's flight into orbit. Yikes.

To Anna's credit she never gave up. She walked that lamb everywhere and mauled her like a child would a kitten.

Parade day arrives and so do we to the many varied and speculative eyes. One well known shepherd who's grandkids are in the sheep program (and are really good) looked at Bella and said, "She's a Clun." As if that was enough to find her guilty of some unknown sheep law, Anna smiled , hugged her and then proudly trudged of to 4-H float.

It took about 2 seconds for throngs of folks to mob Anna and Bella. I needn't have worried. Anna beamed with pride as her pristine lamb stood still to be rubbed, petted and gushed over. Another sheep member who is from a dairy family decided to walk with Anna during the parade and by the end of it he was in love with Bella saying he thought sheep were "cool".

Anna and Bella and escort stopped many times along the parade route and lots of people both young and old got to touch a sheep. For many of them it was the first time.

I walked along behind with another shepherd and we were both blown away by how well behaved and forward moving Bella was. As we neared the end of the parade route my friend laughed disbelievingly, "I would never have picked a Clun for a 4-H project but wow, she is a bomb proof lamb." No greater praise was given and I didn't have to tell Anna. She was so proud of her little lamb as she announced.

"I knew she could do it Mom."

I now know she can to. As a parent it was one of those new steps in life where you realize your kids are growing up and they don't need your assistance quite as much as you think. It is actually a great feeling.

I would me remiss if I did not include my son here also. He is a big chicken lover. He has been in the poultry project for many years and he was quite pleased to be in the parade (on the float and NOT walking) and showing off his bantam White Whyandott Rooster, Brewster. I was focused on Bella and the catastrophe that didn't happen but I was told that Brewster sat on the edge of the float watching the world go by and occassionally clucked at the crowd.

So all in all it was a great day. All the Fullerton farm animals came- went- saw and returned home in great shape. Lets hope all future journeys fare the same!

Whats up? Angora yearling

Big Bear- Romney Ram

This fellow I had seen last year at the sale where Delia had bought him and WOW did he ever grow in the last 12 months! I saw alot of black babies in the flock all due to his new genetics.

Shetland Romney Ewe

This little critter was as wild as the day is long and she paused long enough for my camera to catch her, but thats all! Even the sunlight never touched her!

Catch me if you can!

Does this hair make me look fat? Angora Goat

Backlit Ewes with Vista

Still no new works but plenty of inspiration and reference photos happening in this neck of the woods.

I spent several hours last evening traipsing throught the back hills of Pictou County with an old friend capturing a flock of elusive sheep on film. While there were no bugs to contend with the sun was stingy in its appearance and it was hard to get those great shots I knew were there.

As usual my photos lean more towards the portrait type as I love the individual aspects as opposed to the "total landscape" because it is the individuals that shape our lives in the end, not the lone tree on the lonely hillock.

I usually dislike goats. ALOT. I haven't forgiven the species since a herd (literally...there were 7) used my brand new, only 24 hours old car to play on. They scampered up the trunk, danced on the roof and skidded down the windsheild and hood. Try explaining why the family pride and joy has road rash and skid marks on it to your flabbergasted hubby.

Anyways, Delia, being a breeder of fleece sheep, also raises Angora goats which produce the luxurious product known as cashmere. I am not talking about the toilet paper. These goats were a hoot and they left my car alone so for that reason alon I am giving these fellows a second chance! I loved the extreme amount of fleece they grew. Did you know that they need to be shorn 2 x a year?? The one yearling I swear had to be blind, there was no way he could see through that mass of curls he was sporting. I am going to use him as an example to my son who is in that "long wool" stage and tell him "Yes dear, I LOVE your long hair...you remind me of that goat at Delias!"

I'll let you know if it has the impact I am hoping for. You know the one, the one where he agrees he needs to be "shorn" twice a year to!!!!

Border Collie

North Country Cheviot ewe

The past couple of days have been crazy around here to say the least and I don't have any new finished works to display. I started a still life of a pepper with a vivid red background and the rotter refuses to dry!! Ugghh. I hate when that happens!

I have a keen interest in sheep and so tonight I ran out to a friends farm to hopefully catch a few shots of her ewes in the failing light. It is supposed to rain for the next three days so I took a chance. Even though the light is not perfect in this shot there was something soft and peaceful about the whole thing that appeals to me. I also took one of the resident Border Collie who decided I wasn't worth the effort and refused to spare me a backward glance. I still think it is a cool shot.

Who knows, maybe they will make a great winters night painting!!

Busch Garden Flamingo 5x7 Oil
$175 +S/H

This little fellow caused me all sorts of consternation when I first decided to attempt to paint him. The photo my husband had taken while we were visiting Busch Gardens in Florida had captivated me, I longed to capture him in oils (the bird not my husband!!).

The issue was my somewhat justified fear of the colour. For someone who specializes in horses and cows and dogs this super cool coloured bird caused me to doubt my abilities more then once.

Then I decided to be like a teenager on a hot summer day and take a great big running leap into that lake. You know the one...the one that instantly freezes your reproductive organs and limits your ability to procreate for what seems like an eternity!

I must say that when I surfaced for air I felt refreshed and glad I took that plunge. Pushing wild coloured paint around the canvas had me smiling from ear to ear and the result is one that I am pleased to call my own.

Now back to the task of painting harness. Yes I am still bumbling with the miles and miles of Standardbred harness that my newest venture seems to be wrapped up in. Just like those racehorses I know the finish line is just around the next bend..it is you know a circular track!!

Hard to Handle #2 Work in progress

How do you dry out your contacts and cross your eyes permanently? Spend hours painting Standardbred harness!!

After my rant a few days back about hating this painting I am now feeling excitment when I work on it. I don't know if it was the vanquishing of inner demons or the feeling of accomplishment that has brought on this feeling of euphoria but I am glad there is a positive change!

I have several new paintings started as well and if I am not careful the studio will be polluted with half finished pieces and nothing to show for all the effort!

Today I have to make the sad journey to a gallery that has been handling my work. They are shutting down that portion of their operation and moving to a new location where she can focus purely on the framing aspect of her business. So I will be picking up my paintings and bringing them home.

Poor Dave, here he thought that once they were out of the house they would be gone for good! It is a good job he doesn't enter the studio often or else he'd really see the stockpile. OMG...I'm a hoarder!!! LOL

No Waiting 16x20 Oil

I love this painting. The light, colour and passion that the horse exudes is so empowering to me. I think that is why I am presently so drawn to the race horse series I am doing. Regardless of the interference/assistance (you choose) from man the horse knows what his purpose is. To win races!

There are people out there like that who want to excell and give their all, not because there is some big prize or monetary gain awaiting them but because it is what they do.

I was reading the Jersey Canada blog today and saw that Russell was proclaiming that he and the other believers in Jersey Canada "Can't stop thinking BIG". This Rush anthem motivated this group of people to stand even prouder and after reading Russell's missive I find myself humming that tune.

It's great to know that when one is reaching for the stars, you're not alone in your quest. For all my fellow positive overacheivers, keep singing. See you at the top!!

Work in Progress - Hard to Handle

The photo that inspired this painting (still a work in progress) is one I took at the Truro Racetrack during last years Atlantic Grand Circuit week. I have several pieces all based on that days shooting. The photo is one of extremes. Everything about it is VERY extreme. The lighting and shadows are in no way subtle and the whole feel of the photo is of tension, expression and conflict. The extreme amount of tack and lack of natural freedoms jars our desire for everything to appear happy and joyful.

It has been sitting on the floor of my studio for several months now.

I hated it. I hated looking at it in its blocked in form. I hated the idea of it. I hated the colour, cold grey and unnatural. I just hated it, no exceptions. Black and white, all lines drawn, total disgust in your face raw emotion.

Last night I tackled it refusing to stop until I wrestled with its demons. I never got to bed until well into the early morning hours. I battled with this piece shoving paint around the canvas, filling in emotionally wronged spots and creating a life force in a piece full of strife and potential combat.

I took advantage of my late night activities to watch the Persiad Asteroid Meteor shower and fancifully wished upon a falling star. I also bought a Lotto Max ticket with hopes that maybe August 13th, Friday the 13th, will yield something positive for even a moment.

I like this painting now that it is starting to appear in a "recognizable" form. I think it was just the initial look that was so close to my personal feelings of aggravation and longing to do something I am good at rather than having to bite my tongue while the well heeled response of "NO" curtailed my ability to do something positive.

I can relate to this horse. I understand its desire to be the best at what it was bred to be but having to deal with societies restraints to control and predetermine thier version of a perfect outcome. Any of my close friends will understand where most of this rant is coming from. The last couple of years have been complete dreck with a few shining moments and this painting feels like a bit of a "Eureka" thing.

A close friend who has bailed me out of more than a few messes laughed at me today and told me to "Stopping fighting it. You can't win and just relax." Normally I would have told her to stuff it in a very physically inappropriate area and she, being one of the very few people I trust enough to actually express myself openly with, would respond in an equally appropriate manner!

You gotta love honest people. You know where they stand and your place by them. I think that is why I love working with animals so much. If they do not like you they let you know instanteously. You get kicked, bitten or run down. Humans need to learn a few barnyard lessons.

I have been in the wrong barnyard!

All I know is I have decided that I refuse to play in that sandbox anymore. I am leaving emotionally retarded individuals behind heading for the open plains and rather like the subject of this painting pretty soon I am going to be running my own race and leaving the rest behind.

You can only hold back a good horse so long. They are too hard to handle if you fight them and when you leave an individual alone to do what nature intended them to do you usually get a thing of beauty.

I will keep you all posted to see if this painting, like my life becomes a thing of beauty.

Chloe in the Fog 5x3 oil SOLD

This is my Appaloosa mare Chloe browsing in her pasture one early foggy morning. Living close to the Bay of Fundy we have a tendency to get a few of those! Right now the tides are in and the banks are close to overflowing, a by product of the season and a few days of rain.

My kids are looking forward to this falls running of the rapids and while I personally am not looking forward to being covered in the silty brown water other friends have told me it is a highly entertaining way to ruin a white shirt!

I started working on a couple of larger pieces today and although I have put it off, not liking the undercoat I find the paint is flowing freely and I am able to cover up the beginning brushstrokes of ugliness. I have to admit I like how it is going. Maybe in the next post I will show you the painting in progress.

Spring Lamb 5x7 Oil SOLD

A little painting of a lamb for you folks today. I hope to have a pasture full of these little gems next spring. I like sheep, they don't bite, you can still walk if kicked by one and they taste soooonummy!

I am slowly getting back into the swing of things in the studio. I am trying to focus on some of the larger pieces that I have been avoiding lately. The smaller dailies are great in that they keep you going when your energy level is low and they also allow to you be a little bit more wild and free in your creative endeavors than you'd normally be.

But I have a series of horses that must be done, and they are irritating me, mainly because I hate anything that is not completed! So hopefully I will make some real progress tonight!

Fortress Louisbourg Turret 4x4 Oil
($65 CDN plus shipping)

If you ever have the good fortune to visit Fortress Loisbourg in Cape Breton Nova Scotia please do so. It is the re creation of a french fort in the 1700's where all the re en-actors wear period correct clothing and stay true to maintaining their character. Unless you have a really ignorant tourist in your group.

David and I decided the kids needed to experience the Fort and so we excitedly told them about everything we could remember from our last trip which had happened over 20 years earlier. One of the highlights for David was the inquisition all visitors to the Fortress had to endure prior to entrance into the fort. They had to be careful NOT to allow any English spies in!

David had been racking his brain trying to think of a good response for this questions all the way up and had finally decided on the response,

"We are Jacobites. I am a descendant of the Stuarts of Bute. And my wife is of french Heugonot blood." All true but still we all agreed this was a great response to the "Are ye English Spys?" question.

The kids giggled as we marched up to the group and just as it became our turn, Dave took a deep breath and at that same instance a rather large rude bleached blonde 21st century tourist bellowed out,
"What are you doing? We are going to miss the Kings Bastion cannon firing. You people don't time this very well. I don't want to miss that event. Is there a bus to get me up there?"

Dave and the kids deflated, the poor entrance guard looked mortified and quickly said "please continue and have a good day" as the party pooper stomped on grumbling about people ruining "HER" vacation.

Dave waited 22 years to make this response. So much for modern civilization.

Other than that unfortunate event the whole day was great. We took lots of photos and of course Connor and I found lots of heritage chickens. Anna and I found some Cotswald Sheep and were inspired to try a long wool breed. Watch out for future paintings on these wondrous beasts. We had some authentic food and this time I didn't get food poisoning from the Spruce beer!

The weather was fantastic which was a bit unusual as there can be great mountains of fog that envelop the area or you could experience the joys of natural rainfall...or deluge depending on your mood!

The trip took the whole day and we were very pleased with how it all turned out. The only major bump in an other wise great day was of the previously mentioned "Death of a Car"!

The above painting is of the small turret on the edge of the front entrance of the Fortress. It is accessible by people and is a neat little novelty item to take kids to! The turret is quite high up but my interest was in the lines of this out cropping and the rough natural facade of the surrounding walls of the fortress.

Watching the Judge 4x6 Oil

This is another picture based on my daughter and her lamb. I loved the soft contemplation of this piece especially considering what a kangaroo Bella had been prior to the show.

So I am finally back on my computer and like a love affair gone bad I am glad to say Adios to my husbands computer! It was a servicable piece of equipment but I felt like I lost my buddy when I couldn't go rummaging through my files on a whim! It is amazing how attached we get to the routine we create for ourselves. Several hundred dollars later I am in familar territory typing away about my painting and life fiascoes.

These past two weeks have been extremely busy as the whole family is home and of course everyone wants to spend "quality" time together.

One instance of quality time was spent stranded on a highway just outside of Antigonish. My trusty little car with its "frog pond green" metallic colour was scooting along beautifully returning us home from Cape Breton when I sensed a cessation of energy. David tapped then stomped on the gas pedal to no avail. Our Sunfire just quit, doing 120 km down a dusky highway 2 hours from home. There was no sputter, gaggle, burp or fart to warn us there was an issue. Just the instantaneous absence of engine.

Just like that we were close to $1000 poorer.

Thank God for cell phones, sisters in law and paid off credit cards.

Turns out my little car had a terminal fuel pump disease. Turns out it is normal for your car to die with a flick of a switch. Turns out people will take your money to repair such disasters.

I think my computer and car had this planned.

The Sheep Showman 4x5 Oil

This little painting is based on my daughter and her ewe lamb Bella who made their showing debut at the local 4H achievement Day this past week. Bella is a purebred Clun Forest, a rather rare breed in Canada who performed admirably at the show. So much so that she was even used in the Grand Champion Showmanship class. This is remarkable because the days leading up to the show, training Bella was akin to roping a mustang while standing on an ice rink. Not easy and certainly not enjoyable.

I must give kudos to my daughter because she never gave up and she thought the sun rose and set on her ewe lamb. Two better ambassadors for the sheep industry you could not find as Anna and Bella worked the crowd. Everyone from 90 year women to 1 year old toddlers were in love with Bella as she allowed multitudes of people to pet her downy wool.

I could continue on about how proud I was of my kids and what they accomplished but in truth all the 4H kids there really impressed me. I watched as other members who qualified for the Grand Champion Showman class handled animals for the first time. One girl, who qualified with her dog, admitted to me that this was the first time she had even touched a horse let alone show it. She did remarkably well.

In fact all the kids did and I got to thinking about how we coddle our kids to much. Keep them safe...yes, but don't deny them the chance to try something new. I watched with fascination as parents clutched the fence railing when their child handled a chicken for the first time and I watched as the 4H members laughed at their own ineptness. I watched as new members asked more experienced members for help and I had to smile as it was given freely and happily.

When was the last time you were expected to perform a new task with a public audience and you proudly did it without hesitation? When was the last time you asked for help without fear of ridicule? Or offered help because someone asked you?

I think the next generation is going to be a good one!

Catch Up!

Blarney Castle Tower 4x4 Oil
($65 CDN plus shipping)

Wow, it has been a few days since I have posted something on the blog. I was going to apologize but then I thought, "I am living life!" I will not diminish that or the joy I feel at having a family to enjoy that with. I am sure that you yourself have times when reading my blog is not paramount in your life!! ;)

Needless to say I have been run ragged and done so many things and had a few misadventures along the way that I think I will stretch them out for a few days. Otherwise you would be stuck reading page ofter page of Fullerton Chronicles!!!

I had a good friend from Alberta drop in to see me a few days ago who was visiting her family and we reminisced about mutual hobbies and things we loved. When we moved to Nova Scotia from Alberta I knew there were facets of my life I would never revisit again. The main one being my involvement in the horse industry. Talking to this friend made me realize how much I missed that segment of my life. There is something about sharing a common bond with like minded people that allows you to feel accepted and connected to the community. While in Alberta I had that and I still, over a decade later , maintain friendships from that part of my life but I do find it lonely here. Anything I say in comparison of the two provinces sounds like extreme arrogance but unless you have had the chance to experience the thrill of riding a World Champion, training with an Internationally respected and accredited trainer one can never understand why I do not pursue the equine industry like I did in Alberta. I left not only a way of life but a business behind.

Seeing my friend reminded me of how much I gave up by moving back home.

I am not boo -whoo- ing my life choices. Just acknowledging why I made them. While I would dearly love to have some of the life style I had in Alberta I have to admit that watching my children emerge in their own light has been a wonderful thing. My days of showing are over but theirs have just begun seeing them compete with my horse at the local 4H show this past week have helped me realize that although others may resent my "come from away" experience, my children certainly benefit. And if you can not help your children benefit from your experiences then what are you on this earth for?