Art musings: Lonesome Dove and "Father Onion"

Hello friends!   So, Thanksgiving was just last week, right?

Yes... Christmas, New Year's, the Epiphany have all passed without a peep or a painting from the blog here.  And I have no idea where all of that time went.

My husband and I went to his sister's house in western Montana and we had an awesome Christmas.  There were six kids and eight adults and, at times, three dogs.  I had a great time making our gifts that finally came together after large amounts of machine sewing, hand sewing, and old fashioned love.  (And for my craft-minded friends and those who wonder why they haven't seen more paintings here, I have some pictures of these sewing projects at the end of this post.)

So, up first....  what I'm working on now in the calm after the holidays:  It's a series of paintings that is bringing me a little closer to my familial culinary origins.  My mom's side of the family is from southern Louisiana and are Cajun through and through.  Onion, celery, and green bell peppers are called the "Holy Trinity" of Cajun cooking and a staple for almost all Cajun dishes.  So, here's the start to the three painting series:

"Father Onion"  (watercolor 5"x5")

       

I'm going to do two others to complete the "trinity" AND add to my kitchen's stock of vegetables.  Next up, "Celery Son" and "Bell Pepper Spirit" ;-) Anyone up for stuffed bell peppers for dinner?


I also had the awesome opportunity to do some sketches for a friend here in Montana as a part of a Christmas present for her husband.  Her husband is a fan of the '70s western miniseries Lonesome Dove and she commissioned me to do a few pencil sketches from different scenes in the movie.  These are not the greatest photos, but they went out of the house rather quickly after they were finished.  The Christmas Rush!!  I am working on one more for them that I will post when it's finished.

One of the early scenes in the movie, where they are crossing the river into Mexico.

The last scene in the movie where Augustus McCrae is returning to Lonesome Dove, Texas.

I have a couple of other things and projects brewing that I'm really excited about, but my New Year's goals are to:

          1.  Paint more

          2.  Get in Shape

          3.  Do a monthly update for the blog 

                    (I'd love to do them more often, but it takes me surprisingly long to write a blog post and upload photos.)

          4.  Volunteer and learn more about our area

                    (I've just started volunteering at the Mondak Heritage Center, so more on that in a future post! It's an awesome mix of preservation and art!)

And I hope that you will all enjoy keeping up with the arts portion of that.  I have big plans and hopes for this year!  Happy New Year everyone!

And for any of those who were interested in my crafting projects that I have had a ton of fun with...  here's a selection:

Top:  A pullover shirt made from 100% wool flannel that I sewed for my brother-in-law with a personalized coat hook loop!  Mountain Man Work Shirt from Missouri River Patterns  Bottom left:   To my Aunt Mary Lynn --  Those pecans you sent made the MOST delicious pecan pie for Christmas.  Love you!  Bottom right:  I have succeeded as a wife.  My husband loves his vintage 1947 Lionel Train set.  Even the light and the horn work!  

Clockwise from top left:  Two of my super cute nieces modeling they're new waterproof aprons;  my nephew's new sketchbook with cover and pencil holders (I will make these for sale if anybody's interested!  They fit the moleskine notebooks and button close on the front);  The winner as far as the nieces were concerned - The Wee Mouse in a Tin House;  and my nephew's work apron made from my husband's repurposed denim, scrap leather, and leather buckle and straps from a horse bridle.