Vicki Wood, JD

My Best Friend

2012-01-21T12:15:00.001-06:00

Naptime

2012-01-15T16:09:00.000-06:00

Nothing like a day off...

2011-12-24T12:04:00.001-06:00

My Uncle's Turn Road - Mississippi Delta

2011-11-25T07:36:00.003-06:00

Clear Bottles

2011-11-25T07:33:00.001-06:00

Rollin' into Christmas - ornaments

2011-11-24T16:57:00.003-06:00

This was an afterthought. I had a scrap piece of Arches and some left-over paint on my palette so I quickly created the above fun piece. It has a heavy coat of varnish so very difficult to get a good photo (too many reflections on the shiny surface).

Happy Christmas Tree

2011-11-17T12:46:00.004-06:00

Christmas tree

2011-11-16T17:14:00.000-06:00

Christmas tree

2011-11-16T17:10:00.002-06:00

Falling into winter

2011-11-12T13:20:00.001-06:00

Mississippi Delta

2011-11-11T16:35:00.001-06:00

A Friend's Old Cat

2011-11-08T11:11:00.001-06:00

Flowers from scratch

2011-11-07T07:41:00.002-06:00

Landscape Painting - Mississippi Delta

2011-11-04T14:45:00.004-05:00

There is no ignoring the magnificent sunsets in the Mississippi Delta. I enjoy them daily and have always felt compelled to paint them. These paintings are an easy afternoon and relaxing. They also loosen up my other work. They allow me to work on new colors and color combinations without fear! Making the switch from oils to the acrylics has been a nice change for me.

Landscape Oil Painting - Mississippi Delta

2011-11-04T14:43:00.002-05:00

Landscape Painting - Mississippi Delta

2011-11-04T14:38:00.003-05:00

Prelude to a Ditch-water dive!

2011-10-30T11:53:00.004-05:00

Ezra belongs to a friend of my son's. He is full of energy and this shot was taken just before he decided to dive for a ball that was at the bottom of a ditch with about half a foot of water pooled at the muddy bottom. The water did not stop the diving effort! I am happy to report that the quest to get the ball was a success!

German Shorthaired Pointer

2011-10-23T16:22:00.001-05:00

This is a German Shorthaired Pointer that was waiting to get the next move from his trainer at Wildrose Kennels. These dogs seem to have such graceful lines.

More Dogs!

2011-10-23T16:18:00.004-05:00

Meet Buddy! This is a birthday surprise going to Texas.

New work...Dogs, of course...

2011-10-18T20:05:00.003-05:00

Making time for painting again... Went back through some of my animal photos and selected a few that I found interesting. I'm getting ready for a show so the next ones will be a series of dogs on a smaller format. The photos were ones that I had passed over in the past for watercolors but upon a second look I think they will work wonderfully with the open acrylics.

Untitled

2011-09-01T21:22:00.002-05:00

This is another piece with a limited amount of needleweaving. I did carefully select the colors used and all the beads are glass. I have been surprised with the amount color selection involved. I select the beads I am going to use first. Then I place them on various colors and combinations of thread. It seems that the colors that I initially think will work in threads are not the ones that I end up selecting.

something new

2011-09-01T21:10:00.003-05:00

With limited time, I found that my watercolors were not very forgiving. I would have to stop painting and then start again maybe a day or week later. This really interrupted the flow of the painting. I had serendipitously came across a book called Threads and Beads and found the pieces very interesting. It has been fun to go from a 2-dimensional surface to a 3-dimensional piece. I did underestimate the time these would take to complete. I am also going to have to figure out a way to get a better photograph! The colors are not well represented here.

Too Often Orphaned

2011-05-22T22:01:00.004-05:00

Too Often Orphaned....Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society annual donation piece for fundraiser Paws for Art! Each dog (and cat) painted is of one that was a resident at OLHS or was dropped off around my small farm on the highway. For the ones dropped off, I might keep one or two or a kitten or puppy of a litter and then take the Mom and litter-mates to OLHS. From left to right: the first pup was an OLHS resident, the Pit-bull was a drop-off that I was keeping but died from heartworm treatment, the third was an OLHS resident and was adopted by a family in Oxford, the yellow lab mix with rope toy was a drop-off that I kept, the kitten (appropriately called "Dammit Kitty") was a drop-off with mom and litter-mates and I kept DK and took the rest to OLHS, the dog in the center was dropped off with 7 very young pups and all were taken to OLHS, the cutie sitting sideways on her leg was an OLHS resident adopted by yours truly (her name is Izzy), the next pup was an OLHS resident, and lastly Wylie who was mangy for so long that the vet advice was to put him down but he finally pulled out of it and adopted by me.

Mallards- Ducks on Ice

2011-05-11T16:48:00.005-05:00

This is off one of those gravel roads in my county of no red lights. These ducks were walking on ice with others flying overhead. I took the photo of this frozen scene in December in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi.

Cat Photo

2011-05-11T16:41:00.002-05:00

I get no respect from my self-appointed assistant.

What's not to love?

2011-05-01T08:26:00.001-05:00

Color Study Abstract

2011-05-01T08:17:00.002-05:00

The Grass is Greener

2011-04-07T22:23:00.002-05:00

Spring is here!

2011-04-07T22:15:00.002-05:00

My mom's tulips.

My Friend's Horse

2011-03-24T18:33:00.001-05:00

Again, using Golden Opens on watercolor paper with lots of water.

Calico Cat Painting

2011-03-16T08:08:00.003-05:00

Abstracts about Color

2011-03-07T17:12:00.002-06:00

These small color studies are fun and relaxing!

Landscape Painting - Mississippi Delta

2011-03-05T19:50:00.003-06:00

Just testing the limits of the acrylics and watercolor paper.

Horse Painting - New Work

2011-02-27T11:57:00.003-06:00

Some things take a long time and a lot of patience. Finally, after much contemplation and deliberation, I have arrived at a method that I can relax with and create something that I really enjoy looking at. It is a good balance of cool and warm colors, positive and negative and basically push and pull. I have spent this new year not painting as much as thinking about where I wanted to be with my art. This came about because my time is more limited and I was becoming frustrated with my final pieces. I realized that I was not having much luck painting on canvas. The surface seemed to make my work flat. I did like the Golden Open Acrylics but again thought they went flat on the canvas. After much thought, I decided that it was the surface and also that I needed some transparency or white space to allow the painting to breathe. I was missing some of the wonderful characteristics of the watercolors but was determined to make the Opens work. I switched my surface to a very heavy watercolor paper that can take abuse and hold lots of water and stuck with the Opens as I really like the saturation of color. This is the result. Sometimes you just need to take a break and relax to get past the frustration and blocks.

Mud Island, Memphis, TN

2011-02-17T14:39:00.005-06:00

I find landscapes really difficult. I have about 5 pounds of paint on this small painting and many, many hours spent moving the paint around. I also find trees extremely difficult. There were many times that I felt that I would be better off if I would toss this one and start on another (non-landscape). I opted to just have some fun with color and try to learn more about using acrylic paint. This painting went through so many (awful) stages that I am not sure if I actually like it. I do like the colors and I did learn a lot about painting trees. This is from a photo I took while living on Mud Island, Memphis, TN and shows some of the park and the Mississippi River Bridge.

Gonzeaux - Yorkie Terrier

2011-02-17T14:34:00.003-06:00

Meet Gonzeaux (Gonzo) a/k/a spoiled rotten. This is my sister-in-law's little cutie and I think he's a 4 pounder. I used a snapshot to work from and am trying my hand at the Golden Open Acrylics.

2011-02-12T22:15:00.007-06:00

Everyone was ready for the snow to go away! Izzy was sure that the best place to be was inside!

White Christmas - Bad Doggy in Snow

2010-12-29T10:20:00.011-06:00

This is what Christmas morning looked like! While I took some gorgeous landscape photos, I decided to post the ones that made me laugh. This is Izzy. And, as you can see, it's never a dull moment with her around! She is my latest acquisition from the local shelter (Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society - the one I donate to each year for their art auction fundraiser). Izzy is the pup that I brought home when I went to OLHS to photograph some of their residents for the donation portrait. Today, when going through the many snow photos, the bad doggy common theme running through these snapshots caught my eye. It is very typical of Izzy's personality and noticeable lack of training on my part! Maybe I will get to that next year. In the meantime, I am enjoying her spontaneity and total lack of discipline. If you can get past laughing at the dog, the scenery is beautiful! Generally, when taking photos of doggies running and playing you get just a few ears-up shots. Not true with Izzy, they are more common than not. In the last shot, she is looking at me like: what are you laughing at?

Dog & Horse Group Portrait - Collection of Animals

2010-12-27T20:56:00.006-06:00

I love painting these group portraits. They are a collection of animals that belong or have belonged to one person or family. The finished size is 20 x 8 1/2. I tend to prefer non-standard sizes. Anyway, Merriam-Webster defines group as 1) two or more figures forming a complete unit in a composition or 2) a number of individuals assembled to together having some unifying relationship. Both definitions fit the way I feel about this piece. Interestingly, the 2 horses are the ones that I rescued a while back. [They have since been adopted into a forever home (YAY)]. When I first rescued them, I needed a place to park them for a while to have a vet determine whether they had any communicable disease before putting them with my horses. So, I found a "foster" home just up the road from me, as they say. This "foster" family thoroughly enjoyed them and ended up keeping them until they were adopted. I was honored to paint this group belonging to the family that so generously provided a home for these horses in such desperate need.

Saint Bernard Watercolor Painting

2010-12-22T23:43:00.002-06:00

Have you ever met such an adorable face? This is Beau (Beauregard) (July 29, 1996-July 27, 2010). When I was asked to paint Beau, I was given an entire photo album filled with loving memories. The most evident fact was that Beau was truly a member of this family. Seems he was loved by all including a big white spotted flop-eared rabbit. This is another Christmas present.

My Early Morning Gang

2010-12-19T22:16:00.004-06:00

This is the view from my front porch. These guys watch until they see me walk outside. They are waiting for their morning feed. They are beautiful to watch and make every day more interesting. They will be in this exact spot every morning and also every evening.

End of the Day in December (Mississippi Sunset)

2010-12-19T22:07:00.003-06:00

Dog Watercolor Painting Labrador Retriever

2010-12-19T00:01:00.002-06:00

One more holiday commission finished! I have two more to do for a total of 5 in about 2 weeks. I have learned never underestimate the time it takes to paint a black dog (or cat). I find that black is the hardest color to work with. I generally do an underpainting of blue then followed by a dark sepia. I use very little black and then only in the darkest areas. If you look hard, you can see some blue and the sepia.

2010-12-16T17:40:00.003-06:00

Meet Tigger. This is a commission for a friend of mine who said, "There is something magical about Tigger. No matter what's going on, a few minutes talking to him makes everything better." Indeed, my friend doesn't know that this painting has been commissioned as a Christmas gift for her.

Some of us get into Christmas...

2010-12-12T10:36:00.005-06:00

This is my niece's dog. I'm quite sure it wasn't the pooch's idea to don the hat. Guess it runs in the family!

...and some don't

2010-12-12T10:25:00.004-06:00

I have many Christmas commissions! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I so enjoy painting these canine family members during the holiday season. Above is Archie (another Wildrose Kennel pup). He was totally more interested in the imminent afternoon hunt. However, I did manage to get a good photo or two.

In the top photo, he is watching the hunters get their gear ready. In the bottom photo, Archie, realizing he is stuck with the girls for a minute, patiently watches the preparations for the afternoon hunt. I just love his pensive expression here.

Landscape Painting

2010-11-14T18:47:00.002-06:00

Just playing with color (again). Trying out the properties of the Golden Open Acrylics on canvas. Love the color!

Rescued horses - photos

2010-11-14T18:32:00.004-06:00

These are a pair (mother & son) of horses that I rescued back in August of this year. Their progress is remarkable. And, even more amazing is their amicable attitudes. They are very loving and trusting! They were starving and had been staked out on short ropes through the summer sun. They are of a very forgiving nature. I hope I can find them a home where they will be showered with the kindness they deserve and have earned. If you are reading this and know of such a home please contact me.

Another Court Square Tulip

2010-11-09T22:28:00.002-06:00

Court Square Tulips Watercolor Painting

2010-11-04T14:51:00.002-05:00

More tulips!

Watercolor painting - Court Square Tulips

2010-10-31T18:20:00.005-05:00

This is watercolor on aquaboard. It took many, many layers to get the depth of color I wanted. Anyway, I don't usually paint flowers but I will be part of a show in a building on our Court Square next week. Each year the square is planted with beautiful tulips. So, I decided to paint a few of these for the upcoming show.

Photography Labrador Retriever

2010-10-30T20:15:00.005-05:00

What a handsome boy! This is another lab out of Wildrose Kennels in Oxford, MS. These are a few photos I took for a commission watercolor. I just love the colors in the backgrounds especially in the top photo and it doesn't hurt to have such a lovely subject! I can paint a portrait from any photo (non-flash) or if you are close enough I take the photos and give them to you! If you are interested in a commission of your pet, please just comment below and it will come to my email inbox.

Sweet Potato Farming - Acrylic on Panel - Painting

2010-10-29T19:21:00.005-05:00

Still playing with the new paints... acrylics. This was about a mile up the road from my place. They were harvesting a sweet potato crop.

Dog Painting - Acrylic - Labrador Retriever

2010-10-23T16:13:00.003-05:00

Again, trying something new. This is an acrylic on unprimed canvas. It was a little more difficult than I thought as I had never seriously painted with acrylics. Also, I usually have such colorful subjects that I leave the backgrounds very plain. Here, I toned down the color a little in the dogs face and put some color in the background. I liked the way these acrylics (Golden Open) handled but did take some getting used to. I also used brushes (I only had 2) instead of painting knives.

Watercolor painting horse MAGGIE

2010-10-15T12:24:00.004-05:00

Maggie, again. What an intelligent expression. She is actually a liver chestnut Thoroughbred and a pleasure to be around. She is one of my rescues that decided that this would be a great forever home. I had painted this in a much smaller version (below) to work out some of the expanded range of color that I am attempting. This one is quite large on a fairly smooth surface (new product of watercolor paper laminated to a lightweight board). I bounce between watercolors and oils. I find that I really like the movement of the paint and the water on the surface that you don't get with oils. The water allows some really nice unexpected results. The hard part is to learn to just leave it alone.

Billy is a Bad Bad Doggie

2010-10-07T10:44:00.006-05:00

The title says it all. Billy is a LabraPit or Pitador (not sure which... neither is he). He became very sneaky when he realized that my bed was far better than his. He knew he was treading on thin ice but I guess he felt it was worth the risk. (I tried something new and painted this on a different brand of paper and learned that each brand accepts the paint and water very differently).

Watercolor painting horse MOSE

2010-10-03T20:48:00.004-05:00

This is Mose. He's everyone's favorite. He is larger than any of my other horses and seems to know it. He does just kinda mosey around (which is what he is doing here) and at his own pace. Webster says that mosey means to move in a leisurely or aimless manner. I'm surprised that his pic wasn't next to the definition.

Dog Watercolor Painting American Pit Bull Terrier YOGI

2010-10-01T15:49:00.003-05:00

There are some subjects that I am drawn to paint. This is Yogi and he is one of my favorite subjects. His face seems to tell his frightening story and I have painted it many times. I have never been disappointed. This particular one did not reproduce well here. The colors are much more striking and a bit warmer in the original.

Watercolor painting horse

2010-09-23T00:28:00.002-05:00

I am working with color. This is Maggie and I find that I paint her more than any of my other horses. Maggie is a Thoroughbred and her lines are so silently graceful. Her movements are quiet and I watch and admire the fluid grace from her head through her tail. It is impossible to capture. But, I continue to try.

Watercolor painting horse

2010-09-23T00:24:00.001-05:00

Mississippi Cow - Animal Landscape Oil Painting

2010-09-10T16:43:00.004-05:00

This scene is in Paynes, Mississippi with a slight population. I have no doubt that there are more cows than folks living there.

Landscape Oil Painting - Mississippi Delta

2010-09-09T22:46:00.004-05:00

This is just up the road (as they say) from my place. It is a field next to my uncle's house and is indeed part of his farm. It is just off the paved highway and there is actually a gravel road that runs alongside the treeline.

Landscpe Oil Painting

2010-09-08T13:39:00.004-05:00

Its hard to reproduce here the rich deep colors created by oil paint. This is a typical scene where the hills meet the delta in my hometown.

Dog Oil Painting

2010-09-05T13:40:00.004-05:00

This is a commission piece and will be shipped out of state. I really enjoy painting the small oil pieces. I do, however, find it difficult to go from watercolor to oils and then back again.

Polar Bear in Snow Storm - Oil Painting

2010-07-25T14:16:00.001-05:00

Polar Bear in Snow Storm

Just trying something new. I generally paint smaller oil figures because I use just a painting knife (and no brushes). I was unsure about using a painting knife to cover a larger canvas. It took a little more time, obviously; but went okay. My painting surface for oils is unprimed canvas mounted onto a wooden panel with 3/4 inch cradled sides. I find this gives significant tooth for the paint and excellent support for the pressure of the knife. I then tack down the back and edges of the left-over canvas with the old fashioned copper tacks, my favorite part. As a last touch, I usually brush on a coat of varnish. These can be framed or left bare.

Labrador Oil Painting - Ezra

2010-07-11T11:03:00.002-05:00

Ezra

Labrador Oil Painting

2010-07-05T21:05:00.006-05:00

Ezra

My son and a friend came by this weekend. Ezra, above, belongs to his friend and was making himself right at home in my yard. He scavenged all the toys and treasures (other people's belongings) that Wylie had worked so hard to bury. This is an oil on unprimed canvas. I finish the edges with copper tacks and varnish the image. I really enjoy painting with intense color. And, they do not need a frame.

Catahoula Cur - "Rufus" - Watercolor

2010-07-03T11:05:00.004-05:00

Catahoulas are one of my favorite dogs and I have been wanting to paint this guy for a while. I tend to find that the collars worn sometimes tells a bit about the personality of the dog. Rufus, above, wears a heart for his vaccination tag and has some tattered area at the top of his cloth collar.

In the Box...

2010-06-26T22:30:00.001-05:00

I call this one "In the Box" for obvious reasons. This is Gumbo at the end of the day. He's ready to go home.

2010-06-26T22:15:00.002-05:00

I never get tired of taking photos of animals (even if it is hot, sweaty and buggy). Pictured here are Gumbo, Gator, and Heather. Below is the portrait of Heather. I have her story completed and am waiting for final approval from her owner before I post it.

Lady Heather -Labrador Watercolor Painting

2010-05-07T16:03:00.006-05:00

This is a commission piece. I will be adding the story and hand-print it on a mat prior to framing. This is another lovely dog from Wildrose Kennels, Oxford, MS owned by Sandra Summers and Franz Schneider. Here is Heather's story:

Heather

Wildrose Lady Heather Bracken of Oxford is the name scribed on her AKC registration papers. Born on April 2, 2006, she is the last female in lineage from one of the most well-known dogs in the UK, Pocklea Remus, and the only female in the last litter of her mother, Astraglen Sprint. She was a prize pup of Wildrose Kennel and its owner Mike Stewart.

Sandra Summers had been explaining how she came to have this small lab in her home. Heather is one of three black labs belonging to Sandra and her husband, Franz, and Sandra’s obvious favorite. “I first saw Heather when she was about 6 weeks old. Franz and I had returned to Wildrose to bring our male lab, Gumbo, for training. Gumbo was about a year old and we were regularly traveling from our home in Santa Fe to Oxford, Mississippi for visits during his training.”

“On one of those visits, I started walking Heather on a puppy lead. Everyone at Wildrose had been calling her Bracken but it just didn’t seem to fit and I started calling her Heather. I knew that heather is one of Scotland's most beautiful plants and that she is of Scottish ancestry. It didn’t take long before everyone was calling her by her new name.”

“When she was about 5 months old, we had really been missing Gumbo. So, with Mike’s permission, I rented a car and took Heather back to New Mexico with us.”

“We kept Heather for a while and I started her training ‘the Wildrose way’. I worked her every day in empty lots, in scrub, on roads, and in ditches. We worked with hand signals and on socialization skills. I took her on a ski-lift up Santa Fe Mountain and we walked all the way down in the first snow of the season.”

“In October, we went back to Wildrose and I noticed that Heather did not seem to be feeling well. She was taken to the vet and unfortunately diagnosed with hip dsyplasia. She was not able to be bred and was spayed at two years old. After that she was really my dog,” Sandra said with a little bit of a sad smile.

“We moved to Oxford in December and decided to adopt Heather. I got her papers on my birthday that February. That was indeed a special day.”

“Heather is very intelligent and intuitive. She is always making unusual faces and funny expressions with her mouth. We now have three labs from Wildrose. The others, the boys, Gumbo and Gator, are very laid back. Mike Stewart selects the dog he thinks will fit you and your family best. Heather would not have been a match for us. She is a bit hyper and intense —different from the other two. Still, she is the best behaved. She is the fearless one and she stands her ground with the boys. She is a seasoned hunter and has won several hunting awards. However, she does sometimes move too fast for her nose and gets ahead of herself.”

We had been sitting in the kitchen as the three labs dozed on their cozy round beds in the next room. Each separate from the other but the lofty beds tied them together into a single unit. I noticed that only one had eyes resting intently on Sandra. The other two slept soundly.

“Its weird. I named her, trained her, and most of her ‘firsts’ were with me and even though she wouldn’t have been a perfect match I think she has always been my dog.”

Some days Heather can be seen walking along side Sandra on the court square or waiting patiently just outside the local ice cream shop. Sometimes a small crowd of children gathers, even the ones that smile and say, “I’m afraid of dogs,” as they proudly pat her head. Heather just sits and watches Sandra waiting for that familiar signal for them to take their next step together.

Vicki Wood, JD 6/10 ©

Pound Puppies and Road Dogs - Watercolor

2010-05-02T19:48:00.003-05:00

This makes me sad. These are dogs and pups that have passed through my life at different times. Several are Hurricane Katrina victims and most were just put out on the side of the road. I still have some and others I took to Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society. Some had the mange and some were freezing and starving. One came with a litter of seven. And the last, little Izzy, came from OLHS (I had a weak moment while there taking photos). More about Izzy and that weak moment is posted below.

11th Annual Paws for Art Auction

2010-04-09T20:29:00.004-05:00

Wow, another year has gone by! A better image of this donation piece is below but I wanted to post some pics of the actual auction. This piece sold for $1,000. It is a great feeling to help the unwanted critters. I appreciate all that Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society does and I especially appreciate the purchasers of this piece and the bidding audience.

"...don't leave without me."

2010-04-01T21:07:00.012-05:00

Izzy

Every year I paint a portrait of an Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society "resident" and donate it for their annual fundraiser, "Paws for Art". I also write an accompanying story (which rises to the level of being compelled to do so). I usually leave home with one particular idea in mind but, after time at the shelter, always end up with something different. Here is my story about "Izzy":

I had heard that Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society was housing about 30 Chinese Cresteds they had recently rescued. I had not yet taken this year’s photo for OLHS’s “Paws for Art” fundraiser and decided that these hairless dogs might be good candidates for my annual donation portrait.

When I arrived I learned that the Cresteds were shy due to their past living conditions and I would need to wait while they retrieved a few of the more social ones. I had made up my mind prior to arriving that I would go through this as if I had on blinders in an effort to lessen the hurtfulness produced by the scene of any animal shelter. So, I planted myself on what I thought was fairly neutral ground. As I waited, I couldn’t help but notice an 8 x 8 portable pen full of puppies. They were the non-descript dogs —medium height, medium weight, medium black hair, with a long tail— the ones that are so often seen on the side of the road eating anything and looking worse than half-starved.

A kennel worker passed and saw me. “They have been here a while,” he said and I knew that meant their time was short. I stood watching and noticed that some looked to be about 3 months old while others were just babies. Lost in my troubling thoughts, I saw that the smallest one had pushed her tiny head through one of the squares of the chain-link fence. With her head lowered and chin resting on the wet concrete she rolled her eyes up and was looking directly at me. Trying to pass the time and shift my thoughts to thinking that this was cute, unsuccessfully veneering over the true sadness, I snapped a few photos. She sat very still by herself, close to me, body in the pen and head out with her pen-mates piled up in the far corner. She watched as I moved trying to break her gaze in a thickened time that seemed like hours. “Today will be their last day here,” said the kennel attendant nodding toward the pups bringing me quickly forth to the harsh reality of the situation. I lowered my camera, “Look at that little one with her head sticking out …what a shame.” *

I was shown to an area where I could photograph the Cresteds. For a moment, I was completely absorbed in the darting movements of these nervous creatures of only skin and a few puffs of hair. I knew that, unlike the pups, their uniqueness would find them in adoptive homes.

The afternoon was hot. I began to feel uneasy and wanted to leave. I finished the last photo of the Cresteds and walked toward the office. I again passed the pen of puppies. Only now it was different. It was empty except for the little one who had moved to the far corner where her buddies had been. “After you noticed her, we decided she might get adopted and, really, were hoping that you might take her,” the attendant said half smiling.

My mental image of blinders and hope for numbness suddenly dissolved. I thought of my too many animals at home and then of this tiny one with a remarkable ability to vividly express herself. I knew that in spite of her infancy, her plea was clear,

“…don’t leave without me.”

I didn’t.

* I have worked with OLHS for years. I know they do all they can and it is inevitable that, as a single organization, they become overwhelmed at times by the shear numbers with which they are forced to deal. OLHS has taken approximately 30 animals from me over the years and most were the non-descript ones mentioned above that were abandoned on the roadside. Many have been so badly treated that they can’t be caught and wander the roadside and ditches for months and, unfortunately, produce litters forcing them into eventual captivity. OLHS knows all too well the prolonged starvation, freezing temperatures, and disease that these animals endure.

Pound Puppies and Road Dogs - Watercolor

2010-03-27T15:04:00.007-05:00

These are dogs and pups that have at different times walked in and out of my life. Most are "walk-up" dogs that have been abandoned on the road by my home or shelter animals. Some are even hurricane victims. Its a watercolor on paper and has been put on hold while I finish a commission and also my donation piece for the Oxford-Lafayette Human Society's annual fundraiser "Paws for Art".

Landscape - Oil Painting - Mississippi Delta

2010-02-20T14:29:00.006-06:00

Detail

Finally, back to painting! I have been asked to try some oil landscapes. So, here's my attempt. These are oil on wood panel with 1" cradle. I will be working on creating larger pieces so these are works to get the color and scale comfortable. These are done with a palette knife only which keeps me from getting too much detail and not so "tight" as my watercolor animal portraits.

Landscape - Oil Painting - Delta Sun

2010-02-20T14:13:00.006-06:00

Detail

This is a typical scene directly across from my farm. Sometimes when I paint these sunsets I think that no one will believe the colors that are delivered on a daily basis. They simply amaze me and I look forward to the view every evening.

Horse - Postcard - Watercolor entitled "Everyone Should Be So Lucky"

2009-11-12T10:40:00.004-06:00

I call this one "Everyone Should Be So Lucky"... and, isn't it true. Its another postcard for my friend stationed overseas. This study captures a serene and trusting relationship. Its simplicity reveals so much. It shows that neither horse nor owner is in a hurry which seems to permeate all aspects of the friendship and seems to run deeply. I hope this card's calm emotion accompanies it in its travels.

Cell Phone Fiasco

2009-11-02T21:43:00.006-06:00

I could tell that when I was telling this tale to my friends they were like "yea, right". So, I decided to lay the phone by the hole and photo the situation. Of course, Wylie could not resist the temptation to complete his mischievousness and pawed the phone into the hole. Then Tiger Lily got involved and tried to fish the phone out. Wylie was just watching with his head tilted (like me) wondering what the cat was doing. When Tiger Lily finally gave up, Wylie merely inspected to ensure that the phone was still in the hole and stood by as I retrieved it (never to leave it alone again). I have noticed that Wylie has an odd collection of interesting items in a scattered pile in the yard: a baby bottle, a dolls head (with pig-tails), and several unmatched socks. I have come to realize that my fairly new and pricey wire-rim glasses probably lie somewhere just below the surface of my 40 acre yard and found the fate intended for the cell phone.

Photos of a Lazy Fall Day

2009-10-25T22:35:00.008-05:00

Wylie was a bad doggie today! First, he tore up his bed with no concern about the cool night ahead. He then lounged under the banana trees and watched Tiger Lily as she snoozed. Once he was sure that I was not looking, he decided to steal my cell phone and attempted to bury it. Apparently, he was distracted after he had expertly dug a deep narrow hole (about two paws wide) and had left the phone at its edge. It was so packed in mud that I could barely hear it ring. It took me the better part of an hour to find it. It seems he snatched it while I was focused on riding my horse. He probably left his deviousness incomplete to catch up with me as I rode. He loves to frolic along side and make sure that everyone is aggravated. Anyway, it would have been near impossible (although he came close) for him to spoil this perfect fall day.

I will be posting more paintings soon. I have recently been appointed Interim Director of the County Libraries and find that my time is absorbed by the new position. I did take a day to enjoy my farm and wonderful animals. They keep things interesting!

Photography - Horses

2009-10-25T22:23:00.002-05:00

These guys have a lot to do!

Landscape - Watercolor - Yocona Cotton Gin

2009-10-03T21:30:00.003-05:00

This is an operating cotton gin sitting off Mississippi Hwy 35 North about six miles from my house. I took the photograph early one foggy morning.

Landscape - Watercolor - Delta Autumn

2009-09-30T17:00:00.001-05:00

Cutting Horse Watercolor

2009-09-28T00:23:00.001-05:00

Elephant - Watercolor Postcard

2009-09-20T18:29:00.005-05:00

This is my second postcard to go to my friend stationed in Iraq.

Cutting Horse Watercolor

2009-09-19T11:58:00.002-05:00

Landscape - Watercolor

2009-09-17T15:34:00.006-05:00

A friend of mine is in the Navy and presently serving in Iraq. I will be doing a series of postcards to send to her. These are 4 x 6 watercolor cards that I hope don't become too tattered and torn as they find their way overseas. I am applying several coats of varnish to help protect them.

The Curious Tiger Lily - Watercolor

2009-09-14T09:18:00.006-05:00

Closer to finished, finally! I have learned that cat fur is indeed harder to paint than dog hair. I will let this sit for a few days and take one last look before varnishing.

A Day Off - Dirt Bike Racing

2009-09-13T17:34:00.007-05:00

Took a day and watched my son motocross race (that's him catching the most air). He has been a Hare Scrambler for many years and is now racing at a motocross track that is about an hour away. He insists that he needs a motocross bike as his "woods" bike is not suitable for the track. In spite of this "fact" he came in a respectable 2d.

Mirage Two

2009-09-08T00:28:00.008-05:00

Mirage Two

Detail

Okay, this is not a dog, horse or cat. These are a break from the detail work of the animal portraits. They are many, many layers of paint, gold leaf, and dry pigment heavily varnished. The result is an appearance of three sparkling dimensions under crystal clear water. I call them Mirage (which has two definitions... 1) an optical illusion of a sheet of water caused by light being distorted and 2) something illusory, something that appears to be real but is merely imagined). It just seemed to fit. They were extremely hard to photograph due to all the reflections. The photos are not nearly as attractive as the originals.

Mirage One

2009-09-07T23:44:00.005-05:00

Mirage One

Detail

The Curious Tiger Lily - Watercolor

2009-08-27T16:54:00.003-05:00

Getting closer to finished! Hopefully, I will be finished tomorrow!

The Curious Tiger Lily - Watercolor

2009-08-23T17:35:00.004-05:00

Here is my very brave cat. Obviously, this is in progress. I am not quite finished with the snake and am anxious to finish but wanted to post for anyone interested in the process. It is watercolor on board. I will post the finished piece next week. I hope to concentrate on a series of animals and their relationships with others.

Road Trip - Wildrose Kennels - Oxford MS

2009-08-15T22:20:00.003-05:00

I had the pleasure to again visit Wildrose Kennels, home of the Ducks Unlimited mascot, Drake. The kennel is about an hour away so I had to leave early Friday morning. This scene is along Mississippi Highway 35 just a few miles from my home. I stood in the center of a bridge to get this shot. Our days have been hot and nights cool which creates an early morning mist and on this day it was reflecting a pink glare from the rising sun. I will never grow tired of the surroundings near my home.

This is the north bank of the above river with its ever-creeping kudzu cover.

Meet Drake the Ducks Unlimited mascot. He is at home at Wildrose Kennels. Wildrose was the cover story in the April, 2009 issue of Forbes magazine.

This is Drake showing the other dogs how to do it right.

Wildrose Kennels - Oxford MS

2009-08-15T21:50:00.007-05:00

The three dogs below are owned by friends and were bred and trained by Wildrose Kennels. Their names are Gumbo, Gator, and Heather, but I am not able to tell them apart in the water.

I found the reflections, colors, and patterns of the ripples in the following shots striking and noticed that they share a powerful mood created by the light.

I learned that the only thing harder than getting the exposure right to photo one black dog is getting it right for three. Not an easy shot but I do like how these three just seem to float in spite of their dark color.

At the end of the day, everyone is tired.

German Short-haired Pointer Watercolor

2009-08-13T15:40:00.005-05:00

This is my cousin's dog. He lives just up the road and was very gracious in getting some of his gang out for me to see them work. This particular dog was extremely intense and serious about her job.

Little Izzy - Pound Puppy

2009-08-13T15:29:00.002-05:00

Last week I went over to the Oxford Shelter to take some photos of possible candidates for my annual donation painting for next year's auction. This little girl was scheduled to be put down that day as she had been there a month. Of course, I could not let that happen so she now has a permanent home with my group of mutts. She fits right in!

CrackerJack & Friend - Watercolor on Aquabord

2009-07-27T18:53:00.004-05:00

Crackerjack & Friend

This was one of those quiet summer afternoons. It was fairly late and I decided to walk to the far corner of my place to check on my horses. As I walked down a path lined with tall pine trees and entered the lush open pasture, I came upon what must be one of the most peaceful scenes on this earth.

My small herd of five was lazily grazing in the warm sun with their backs to a slight southern breeze. In the corner, by the creek, stood Crackerjack, my oldest and wisest by far, being about 25. The rest of the herd was only a few feet away and I noticed that they were followed by a small flock of what I guessed to be starlings. When I looked back at Crackerjack, I saw that he had only one feathered friend and it seemed to be fearlessly hoping along beside what must have seemed to be a mammoth size nose.

Undisturbed by my presence, I quietly watched as these two moved slowly along, side by side. I could only guess that as Crackerjack pulled at the grass, cropping it close to the ground, sometimes pulling it up by the roots, that his little pasture buddy would pick at the bugs and grubs that had been unearthed by the pulls.

Everyone seemed very content so I turned to make my way back to the house. As I walked away I was left with the feeling that I had been viewing a long-term relationship which probably occurred every day. And that for Crackerjack to be so tolerant, I guessed that he too was benefiting. His small friend must have been keeping the pesky bugs from lighting on his nose and face as he grazed.

Abstract - Study in Ink

2009-07-25T12:32:00.002-05:00

Dex in Jeep

2009-07-17T15:57:00.004-05:00

I have been in court the past few weeks so decided to do something fun for a minute. This is Dex, a dog pounder. He belongs to my son, Mike, and has grown to have many of the same personality traits so I usually call him Mini-Mike. He goes everywhere with Mike and is often seen in his jeep while attending duties around the duck hunting lodge. My kitty-cam came in the mail today so I let Dex wear it on his rounds. Below are a few of the photos he took.