Free as a Bird

School is finally done and I am enjoying a return to normalcy. Spending more time in the studio than I have in years but still pushing to extend it! Several paintings that had been long neglected are now receiving attention. Plus it is tremendously fun!

Soaring Eagle 7x5 oil

Done done done done done done

"Life of Crime" oil portrait

I have finally finished school. Not just the semester but the program. Next Spring I will walk down the Graduation Stage, receive my BSc and dance a little jig across the stage!

 It has been a long number of years but I do not regret it. Having said that I have wasted no time returning to the Studio to paint. Many long neglected canvas, partially completed have been receiving copious amounts of attention. My creative spirit is singing loudly for it has been somewhat trod upon during my recent scholastic endeavors. Creative speech and thought is rather frowned upon in the scientific community. Even if it is correct, backed up by peer reviewed papers you are encouraged to avoid  using  phrases like "Shining star of Agriculture".  Excitement must be described in boring multi syllable words that hurt the melodic soul. I like science, enjoy the whole process but returning to the Studio was like a balm to my soul and I might not come out for a very long time!

This painting is one based ona photo I took a few years back at our local racetrack. I go to the track because I am a horse nut and I photograph interesting and beautiful equines. Occasionally I get the time to change them into a painting. I did not know it at the time but when I posted the photo on Facebook a friend told me it was her partners horse. Here it is a year later, a finished painting. Hope you enjoy it.

The Glorious Race

Number 8 5"x7" Oil portrait

 

I managed to sneak a little time from my studies to finish up this piece. Actually I was rewarding myself for not losing all my marbles during this final semester of University. I am not finished yet but the end is in sight and I feel just like my muse, going around the final turn and racing for that finish line.

 

 Of course once one crosses the line there is always another race to prepare for. If one more Proff asks me when/who/what graduate school I will be studying with I just may lose what tenuous grip I have on those pretty little marbles!  December 5th is this glorious date I have fixated on. It is the date of my last ever exam. I have been passing in papers early, completing tasks ahead of schedule and and literally tying up any loose end in sight.  

 

It has been a long 3 years but I do not regret it (excluding the financial disaster education creates). It has given me a unique insight to the educational system my children are presently in and what challenges they will face during and after post secondary schooling. Learning is a lifelong passion that leads to its own rewards and as Sean Connery stated "I got my biggest break when I was 5. That was when I learned to read."  

 

It all starts with your ABCs.

 

The painting is a portrait of Frostys Cavello who races at the local track here. I am like a racehorse paparazzi who likes to photograph all horses and the nice ones get painted. My friend Ben is a local driver and trainer who knows all the horses and now it is a game to see if he can identify the horses I paint. I figured I had him stumped on this one as this is only a head and neck shot, but he is batting 100%! Must try harder next time. December 6th sounds like a good day to start!!

Cowboys Barn - Oil portrait

The summer has cruised by so smoothly I was stunned to realize that classes actually start tomorrow. I had promised myself lots of studio time this summer and was always saying "I will later". Well later arrived and many canvas' remained in the same unfinished state pre summer as post summer. I was able to finish the above painting and feel semblance of satisfaction at completing a piece before summer officially ended.

I started to berate myself and then I realized what a foolish thing to do to oneself. I decided to spend the majority of the summer with my family. After spending almost 3 years working 3 jobs and going to school I was burnt out. Reconnecting with my family was wonderful and realizing that if I don't give my family attention (kids especially) someone else would. I never regretted it. A life lived with no regrets is a life well lived.

This became very poignant for me when one of my dearest friends announced she has breast cancer. She was anxious about sharing the news with anyone, fearing rumours or speculation. This friend is not the first of my companions to become victim to this disease.  Sadly many other woman have had to endure the pain and recovery of treatment but they were kind enough to share their stories and when this friend told me of the diagnosis I did not feel an urge to run and avoid her. I am not uncomfortable, just sad and concerned for my friend. I know this is a beatable illness and I know she will be among the survivors who will inspire others to live without regret.

Atlantic Grand Circuit Week at Truro Raceway

 Night Race

 Grey Ghost at night

 Racing in the Rain- Trotters

Trotters on Tuesday

Atlantic Grand Circuit week just wrapped up here at the track. With all the recent upheaval it was great to see the event take place. Unfortunately Mother Nature was having a "moment" and it rained so hard on Tuesday I am pretty sure it washed the L'Oreal right out of my hair!

There were large crowds each day I was there and it was good to hear the conversations of the new people who came to the track to watch the best of the best race.

On Tuesday Night  they had a live band singing and I was rather in favour of that until they started to sing "I love a rainy night." No longer a  fan of that particular little ditty!

Photographing racehorses in the rain is a bit challenging at the best of times but add to that the black looming rain clouds that occasionally burst upon the poor humans below and then you are left wondering just how water proof your camera seals are! I got some great shots and hopefully you will see something that inspires you to go to your local track.

The Last Race

 CTV came and experienced the thrill of being in the bike!

 Monster stride on this mare who is motoring those sexy bike wheels!

 The start of the race is always thrilling

I love photographing the horses from the infield

Yes this is at the track between races

My last post was quite somber. My heart was heavy with the fear that the local racetrack was closing. My daughter and I went on Sunday for what was to be the last race.

Then something wonderful happened. A group of local business men, people who are horsemen themselves, stepped up to the plate to help support, organize and manage the track. It is not a guaranteed success story but it lightens the load and the heart. They haven't asked for a government bailout, they are handling it themselves and it is actions such as this that give me hope for my home province. For too long we have allowed others to control our futures and whether it was intentional or not, left matters in complete disrepair. Here's hoping that more people will take a "hand up" vs the "hand out" approach to keeping our community vibrant and alive.

I hope you enjoy the photography from last weeks races. It is not the last day!

Truro Raceway Closure

It is with a heavy heart that I make this post. For years I have been visiting the local Truro Raceway. It has been a great place for me to immerse myself in all things horse. The smells, sounds and touch of these lovely animals allowed me to destress as I clicked away with my camera. The people who worked here humoured me in all sorts of weather and many of them became friends.

It has been announced that Sundays race will be the last one ever. 138 years of tradition gone due to finances and crippling debt. 300 horses will need new homes and 150 people will be out of work. I am glad that I had the chance to capture this glorious sport both with camera and paint brush.

The horsemen are trying to create some sort of workable solution that will save their track but it is still up in the air as to the future. I keep my fingers crossed that they are successful.

This is an unfinished painting, rather like the track.  Perhaps when it is finished there will be horsemen at the track to see it.

Round Pen Antics 6x12 Oil Portrait

A few months back I went to visit my friend Ben at the local Racetrack. It was a bitterly cold brutal day. The -30 temperature had everyone wondering what I was thinking but a few really nice shots were obtained including the photo that was the inspiration for this painting.

It was one of those days that made you realize that hard work has to be achieved before anything of worth can be created.

This painting was finished because I sprained my ankle, again. Usually once a year or every two years I mangle some appendage on my body. Since we as humans only have a finite amount of limbs it only stands to reason that some limbs are repeat recipients of injury. I won't tell you how I hurt myself, instead I will tell you I was fighting Dragons as that sounds so much better than the boring and mundane truth. The silver lining in the whole episode is that I am moving slower and my ever active brain is refocused on other hobbies I can complete. This painting had been in the beginning stages of completion since January and now, limited by my body's lack of mobility, I quite contently plunk myself in front of my easel and paint.

Hope your day yields great results regardless of its inspiration!

Anna's Cowboy

Anna's Cowboy Oil Portrait 6x4

This morning is surperb. Blue skies without the taint of clouds and the surrounding forest is filled with the songs of birds. These are the type of days that makes one happy to be alive!

Todays painting (yes a painting not a photo!!) was inspired by my daughter who wanted to learn about oil painting. She is actually quite an accomplished artist herself but works in mediums I do not. I am not sure if I helped or inspired her as she is now tackling acrylics! 

Regardless, it felt good to get into the studio and paint. Cowboy is a Standardbred who races at my friends stable and he is exceptionally photogenic. There are several canvas' with his figure sketched on it. With small snipets of time allotted to the studio I will eventually get them all done but I may be an old woman by the time the world sees them!!

Enjoy your day. 

Coopers Cows Oil Portrait Commission SOLD

Finally starting to live again. The stress of the school year is behind me and all the lambs are thriving. Bottle babies are still demanding that little bit of extra "lovin'" in terms of a pet or scratch behind the ears. I am enjoying the lushness of spring, I am NOT a winter person. My flower gardens are a common haunt now as I inspect the plants to see who survived the long winter.

I am starting to visit the studio with more regularity but my output is slower due to the size of the pieces I am working on. The above painting is based on a photo I took of a neighbors herd. I used to walk along the Bay and they would always come to the fence to visit me. Unlike my lambs they were never enamoured enough of me to let me pet them!

Mother's Day

LucyLoo and I

Goober and her triplets plus a few others!

It is 8:01 am and I have already done 1 load of laundry, fed the animals and made sure the bottle lambs have had breakfast. No one else is up yet.

Mothers Day is just an acknowledgment that you have a Mom. Without a Mom, human civilization would cease to exist. Mothers come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and species. Goober, one of my BFL x ewes, had triplets this year and although she rejected LucyLoo (above with me) she did not mind being the Couch Momma for all lambs. That maternal instinct is strong.

I have raised alot of lambs but LucyLoo is a special one. I leave all my orphans in with the regular flock. Not a practice most Shepard's agree with but generally the orphans learn to be a sheep by imitating their friends. I go in with the bottle and the hungry/orphans always come for supper/snack and then return to their friends to resume normal lamb activities. LucyLoo however is rather an odd personality. She sticks to me like a burdock and when I sit in the paddock, she will lay down beside me and go to sleep as I scratch her head and back. If I am walking around in the pasture she will stick to my side with a tenacity that most dog trainers would kill for. If I run, she runs, if I turn she turns. In all essence I am her momma. My friend calls me the Sheep Momma and I am not insulted by this.

On this day where Mothers are honoured I think back on the mothers I have known. You do not have to give birth to a being to "mother" it. I have a friend who is looking into adopting a second child. The difference she is making to that child is life altering. That child will know what it is to be loved and be part of a family, and in return that child will repeat the process. We hear stories everyday about the horrors of abuse and neglect but we forget that those are not as common place as the love a Mother (and family) gives her child. I think this is the real reason mankind has not become extinct.

Humans do not have the monopoly on this emotion either. The Internet is full of fascinating stories of moms accepting a child, not of their making, into their lives. Whether it is a human Mother, animal mother or a rescue person, compassion and caring combined with love help make this a better place. I think this is the true essence of Mothers day.

Happy Mothers Day!

First day of the Races

Perfect picture to describe the mood I am in. Finished what was probably the worst semester in my life and survived. The exams made me question my sanity and wonder if the effort was worth the reward but once one walks away from a  situation, the pros outweigh the cons.

The season opening for the Truro Raceway was a cold grey day but it did not lessen the passion of everyone involved. I love how every horse here is walking on air. Spring brings with it the promise of a brighter future. My classes are done, my ewes are lambing and summer jobs have begun. Here's hoping the excitement I feel now is still prevalent in the fall when I start the final 3 courses I need to graduate!

This is beginning to be a bad habit, grabbing my camera as I stroll of to my favorite haunt for a walk in the futile hope to clear my mind ....so I can cram it full of data that would be purged during the latest bout of exams.

My avoidance this time is the dreaded biochem. Photographing my "neighborhood" is infinitely more pleasing that trying to permanently recall the Citrus Cycle. Noticing that certain sections of my fav path resemble LOTR Middle earth is much more fascinating than B oxidation. Considering the last lambing factored heavily in a negative manner on my last midterm I should buckle down.


Maybe I should have gone to art school......

Well, in for a penny, in for a pound. Might well slog my way through the internal cyclic nature of biochemistry seeing as I already paid for the course and failing is such a reprehensible way to waste money. I promise to treat myself to some uninterrupted me time in the studio. In 26 hours I will be free!!

Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture Fine Art and Fine Craft Show

 Pottery and Wool Sculptures

 Clay Sculpture, oil portrait and wool rug hooking ( from Wales!)

 Handmade Bagpipes and Chanters

 Pottery

 Forge Iron Great Blue Heron and Oil Painting

 

One of the great joys of this year for me has to be the creation of the Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture's Fine Art and Fine Craft Show.

I dare you to say that 10x really fast!!

When I decided to return to school to get my BSc in Environmental Science alot of my friends were more than slightly confused. They had known my love for art and I had always said I would go to Art school if given the chance. Many felt that a creative mind could not coexist with a scientific mind. I began to meet fellow classmates and teachers and talk with them (I am a gabber!) I learned of the hidden depth of creative talent lurking within the schools population. I wanted to show off that talent to prove to my friends that scientific minds are very creative ones. I thought having an art show would be a really great idea and approached the head librarian almost 2 years ago.

It has taken that long to make this kernel of an idea sprout into a lovely show. 

It was set up for students, staff, alumni and faculty. I learned alot of things during an incredibly steep learning curve but I would do it all over again. I learned that the general public is scared to go to an art show. They fear that it will cost them money, that someone will judge them harshly and that they will not have the mental capability of understanding the emotional angst an artist felt during the creation of their piece.

Mental angst? Really? Is that what art has become? If so, then we as artists have a lot to answer for. Like it or love it our motto was "No drama, come enjoy and  participate". For many of the artists it was the first time they ever showed their work in a public forum. For many more it was a chance to come and enjoy an adult version of show and tell. Opening night was a wonderful experience full of excited participants and pleasantly surprised spectators. Whether they were admirers or artists, after our show closed up, the interest in repeating the event was piqued. Those who missed out on the first show are now interested in participating in the next show.

And that's what it really is all about isn't it? 

Feeling like you are part of something. Here is hoping the next one is even more successful.

 Muffin and her two ewe lambs only hours old

 Muffin and Wonder

  The Quads- Sweetie Belle, Jose, Jewel and Jack

Sometimes I wonder if I have bitten off more than I should chew. I do try to schedule things so that they should happen in a logical and orderly fashion, unfortunately the best laid plans are usually a figment of an over active imagination!

My daughter is in 4H and likes to show sheep, so I had my two best ewes "scheduled" to lamb out during my study break. Problem was the ewes had other plans. I had a flowchart posted in the barn showing the girls when it was convenient for me to have them lamb out. I learned the hard way that sheep are not trainable. I commanded, ordered, begged, pleaded and then admitted defeat. In my fantasy world, Wednesday was the great day. In sheep land, Monday, first day AFTER study break, was B day.

Muffin went first, was a sweetie in that she required no assistance from me other than fetching her errant ewe lamb who decided that wondering around the horse paddock was a grand plan for a new born. Chloe proved once again why Appaloosas rule. She stood silently as a white cotton ball of fluff zig zagged through her legs. Muffin was considerably less stressed than I was. The ewe lamb is now called "Wonder".

Precious, my Rideau ewe, decided that more is better. So on Monday morning at 5 am after I had a shower in preparation of a full school day, Prec began lambing. Lamb #1 arrived head first at 5:30 am. Shepard intervention helped realigne the birth and a beautiful ewe lamb hits the ground. My Jasmine bodywash has overtones of afterbirth and Prec makes it clear this is only the start. Lamb 2 arrives on her own, no problems so I set down beside her with my biochem text book and decide to try and cram some last minute info into my brain. I kinda want to pass my exam at noon. I figure Prec is passed the worst of it.

Wrong again. A sort of a foreshadowing for the exam later that day. Lamb 3 is a ram lamb who comes out upsidedown and backwards. Prec is pretty much toast by now. I can add sheep sweat to the increasing list of aromas I now exude.

My Shepard sense is tingling. I watch as momma licks the triplets and I just know there is a fourth in there. It soon becomes apparent that I am right. Damn. I give up all pretence of writing the dreaded biochem test but since it is Monday and I have 45 minutes to welcome the arrival of a new lamb, wash up and drive into school  I admit defeat. Lamb #4 is sideways.  After considerable effort on Prec and my part, Jack arrives. Quads. Great. A sheep only has two teats. Prec has four mouths to feed. My workload just doubled.

I did make it in to write the biochem exam. That weird smell..it was me. I learned I am a better Shepard than biochemist. I remind myself of that when I get the mark back and it is less than spectacular. Then I go out to the barn to bottle feed two lambs and I realize that my home run ratio is much more important to the quads than my GPA.

There is a rumour that there is life out there. I heard there is this body function called sleep. I am beginning it is an urban myth as I myself am not getting any excess amounts of the stuff. School break... study break whatever one calls it now adays had a morning reprieve as I played snookie from the computer and my now loathsome 4th year project to catch something fast and furious!
The last time I went to the track it was a bitter -30 and although I got some nice shots today's excursion was infinitely more enjoyable!
The horseman in me was mortified when I did not notice one particular animal. I loved him and took many shots but did not note anything more interesting than his magnificance. All I thought was "Man that horse has got legs going everywhere. LOVE IT". Later turned out it was the one trotter on the track. My friend Ben who trains there, caught it and lets see if you can see him too! My version of "Where's Waldo" just for you.
I am going back to bed to nourish my mind so I don't make another aux pas!!! Adios!

Oxen

 The Oxen 8x10 Oil Portrait Commission

I feel a real sense of accomplishment having finally completed a piece! Last weekends blizzard really helped as I was bound to the house with little to do other than homework and housework. Two very reprehensible activities to my line of thinking!

I have wanted to paint oxen for a while and was presented with a good photo to work from. A woman commissioned me to paint this for her boyfriend who owns them. These two have been on TV so technically I have just painted my first "Star"! LOL

They originally had harness/yoke on them and were working in the woods but as you can tell I was very inspired by the winter weather at the time and the effect worked out nicely.

Time to hit the books and dedicate some time to an art show I am organizing. This is  a first for our University next month and I am on a steep learning curve. I have a new found respect for people who volunteer their time to make events happen in Public forums. I have already had a few "interesting" things happen and the deadline is still a month away. So next time you partake in a show and event, offer constructive criticism because without the volunteers, nothing would happen.

The Blizzard

Well, we are into day two of our Blizzard. The wheelbarrow has now been buried since this photo was taken and Chloe refuses to leave her shed. Sheep are of a similar mindset. I can not say I blame them. I am hiding out in the studio working on a commission and avoiding my statistics homework.

Actually I am avoiding all things school related at the moment. A small gift to myself for remaining in school while my friends pay off their mortgages and go on luxury trips to locations that are deficient in snow. The evil green monster in me was wishing for a different life this week.

Sad thing is the economy is actually looking worse now than when I convinced myself to return to school several years ago. I have also been to several "Meet the Grads", Career Fairs and the Deans List Reception and hearing the "rah rah, it is a wonderful time to be a new grad". The experience has me wondering if I am looking at the same economy as the speakers. At least I have a few decades of previous work experience to call on to back up my resume but I wonder what will become of the young grads. Maybe things will look better by the time my kids graduate!

Hope springs eternal.

Summer Shells

We are still in the midst of the deep freeze here. It was so cold I actually put a winter blanket on Chloe and she didn't find an ingenious way to remove and destroy the usually offensive garment. While I was home hiding from the cold and nursing some sort of flu virus I spied this treasure from my summer trip to Black Point and could not resist sharing them. Hope it is warm where you are!!

Foggy Fullerton Farm

 The Shelter Belt

 Junior, the flock ram (3/4 BFL)

Muffin and Mylie (BFL cross ewes), full siblings with one years difference in age.

We had some bitterly cold weather here but one morning there was a brief break and the warm air currants created the most glorious fog. Most people run from fog, thinking beautiful pictures can only be achieved with light and shadow. They are wrong. My lovely sheep showed that fog can give you "BAA ewe tiful" photos!

Resolution Woes.

It is funny how everyone makes a New Years resolution with a goal in sight but lose sight of the fact that each step is in itself an achievement. Every horseman works his equine partner with the goal of being a champion but they must get up each day and train. Some days are harder than others. The day I took these photos it was a lovely -27 degrees. Some horses like the red bay were not as enamoured of the days task. So when I fall off the "eat less chocolate" wagon I just remind myself that some days are going to be less glamorous than others and then I don't feel like giving up yet.
At least when I do tumble, the chocolate will taste good!!