A quick update! I know I've been MIA from this blog quite a bit now, truthfully, I've been a tad distracted by sewing and crocheting instead of drawing as of late and took a break from my pencils, lol. When Men Were Men was juried into The Colored Pencil Society of America's International Show!!! (see below posts for pic) It was quite an honor to be selected as one of the 117 entries world wide for the largest show for my medium of choice. Also, since it was held in Dallas this yr. my sister, hubby, and I were able to attend - WOOT! :D While there we were finally able to meet many artist I've come to know over the years online in person and a couple of Longhorn breeders as well. :) After we left the show we dropped by Fort Worth for a quick "impromptu photo shoot"... it was fun running around taking pictures and pretending to know nothing about western or Longhorns, lol! We tried on hats and sat on real live moo cows...Ooooooo

In My Element

I know I've been silent on my blog this past year - as you all may have guessed, I've used this site mainly for my cattle pictures. I haven't worked on much this last year and I rarely post commisions.

The one "non-cow" piece I will post on here is my Colored Pencil Society of America 2011 International Competion entry. It was the product of an amusing conversation I'd had about the proverbial "hear no, see no, speak no evil monkies" and what really goes on in peoples heads when they hear rumors. Since I don't really know anyone willing to set for me I had fun making it a "triple self portrait" in the process.

Cheers.

How time flies

Wow, has it really been that long!?!? I still feel like it's Feb. - just really really hot - wasn't there a freak ice/snow storm just last week??? I must have hit some kind of weird time warp... were have I been?

Well... I've been here and there. Dancing, museum openings, rose gardens, horse rides, cow shows, movies, shopping, ect, ect... most of those (of course) translate as photo shoots to me, hehe. :)

My local gallery has closed, I haven't really looked for another - I really haven't done too much actual artwork. I have gathered more ideas and pictures than ever... For now I'v only been working on little things that keep me in slight practice and are fun:

These are a few slates as an example... I haven't gotten around to finding any possible interested parties for things like this - if you know someone feel free to let me know :) (They are nice as small separate pieces, can be framed in floating window boxes, or possibly even set into tables as original accent pieces... lots of possibilities)

Keller, TX Show

Time to update again! :D

Nothing really "new" to post as far as artwork goes, I was able to finish some in time for a show in the Fort Worth area though. A friend of mine has been prompting me to make the leap and enter a show for quite a while and so I'm proud to say - I FINALLY ENTERED ONE! lol ;)

The awards show was last Thursday and I'm sooo very excited and tickled to announce that I placed well - esp. when concidering the extremely stiff competition! I knew that there were some colored pencil artist in Tx, but... we have some real heavy weights around here I never even thought about living this close!!

I'm guessing that it is ok to list the rest of the winners here... if anyone would like me to remove a name I'd be more than happy to - I jut like to give credit to good art where it is due, a big congrats to all listed here and those in the show!:

Best of ShowLinda Lucas Hardy - Hang on Tightly; Let Go Lightly

1st PlaceLeslie Evans - Reverie

2nd PlaceLori Garner - Head Rush

3rd PlaceMary Jo Jung - Butterfly Sighting

Honorable Mention:

Helen Bailey - Ready to Win

Brandy Perez - When Men Were Men

Kudos Awards:

Mike Aiken - Old Pickup

Barbara Caravella - Big Horn Sheep

Leslie Evans - Matriarchal

Linda Lucas Hardy - Dawn's Early Light Donna Monroe - Sweet Magnolia

Toni Wengler - Pumpkin Harvest

I didn't get to make it there since it is around a ten hr round trip there and back. With the show from 7-9pm driving that late with all the animals by myself wasn't an optimal choice. I'm planning on going later while everything is still hanging to look at the work.

I entered:

When Men Where Men

Untamed Wilderness

The Escape Artist

Through The Dust - SOLD

Fools Gold

When Men Were Men

This one is another old ref. I took back in 06 at DeWitt Meshell's Ranch... I really hate that I'm finally starting to run out of new ones from his place since he passed, his cattle have always held a certain appeal that I don't see often these days.

Don't get me wrong, there are alot of wonderful cattle out there that I'd love to take pictures of and draw but his is kind of like a "first love" thing with me, lol. (And I'm a sucker for traditional Butler traits)

His name was Impeachment and he was a Coach son for Anderson Ranch if memory servers (it's touch and go these days and nothing is written down)

I haven't put Photoshop on this computer yet so this is the closest I could get the details and colors - my other computer has become unreliable in that department...

all prisma color on colorfix paper - framed out at 30x40 and is approx 18x27

ATC's

I've been keeping this blog with only cattle related work so up til now I haven't had any reason to post an ATC. An atc is an original piece of artwork measuring 2.5"x3.5" (same size as a trading card) ATC stands for Artist Trading Card and they are typically traded between artists... you can also look up the term ACEO which stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals - they can be small reproductions or originals and are sold not traded. This is one I did for a trade which happened to have some cattle in it:

Back to Work

Ah, another that I've missed posting, this one is a 4x6 and is an amusing piece I've grown a little attached to :) It's one of my more colorful and odd crops. Can't wait to get back to work on my large current project, hope to be able to post the finished work soon... really!

Dare Cont...

As always, I've been meaning to update and since I'm stuck here with a fever I guess nows as good a time as any!

This is one I meant to add that I did shortly after the little "zemoo". It's fashioned after a Dama Gazelle although it does look a little like a herford, lol 8"x10"

The colors may be a little off on here but it's the best I have right now.

Me Oh My Style

A rare double update - just got the email in on my last commission... so I figured I'd go ahead and post the "final" (or near final, if there is a small touch-up anywhere it will be too small to see on the computer)

The cows name is Me Oh My Style and is one of my personal favorites at the Star Creek Ranch - I'm a sucker for the horns, although I will have to say that she has a very unique color that I'd never had the chance to tackle before and was quite the challenge!

Dare to be Different

It's been an odd week for me and it seems that a lack of sleep can be a dangerous thing for me!

This one is yet another joke that turned into a project, I've had alot of fun doing it... and it's grown into a couple dozen various outlandish ideas now! So you can probably expect to see more of these little mutants running around in my blog...

... I call it "my little zemoo", hehe.

currently I'm working on a playmate for him but had to update while I was on break and remembered.