Starting out the New Year Right

I was recently reading an online article 10 easy things to start out your new year right.  A few of the items on the listed included (1) buy a plant, (2) buy a new pillow and (3) tell someone you love them.  Those ideas seem simple enough  and are probably excellent suggestions.   I think however that making a goal to smile more each day should be at the top of the list.  Smiling is good for the soul and I have just the thing to help you achieve that goal.



My first annual 2020 wall calendar, filled with my bright and humorous art, is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.  The calendar is sturdy, well constructed and is 8.5 x 11 inches in size.  Each month features my original artwork.

I'm no hand model but I believe in using the resources that you have so here I am showing off the beautiful layout for the month of December.  It's a year of bunnies, mice and assorted farm animals.  You are going to love seeing this calendar hanging on your wall for the year and you will want to even matte and frame some of the pages.

You can order one of my calendars to give as a gift or to enjoy yourself simply by visiting my ETSY SHOP 2020 Calendar listing. 


SPOILER ALERT:  Here are a few of the artwork examples that you can expect to enjoy each month. 

Spreading Joy One Cowbell at a Time.

2 Custom Cowbells Completed and Sold

I have gotten where I write "Spreading Joy One Cowbell at a Time" on the outside of each shipping box as I send a bell off to it's new home.  This past week I have had the pleasure of designing 2 custom cowbell orders in time for Christmas gift giving.  I have a number of completed cowbells in my inventory but sometimes collectors have a strong idea on what they want on their bell.  So for just a small fee I do my best to create a bell they will love.  Here is the two from last week.  "A Fat Chef" bell and a "2 Calf Hereford" bell. 


I was a bit concerned because I've not tried to squeeze two calves onto one bell.  I was afraid that it would loose it's characteristic details of the sweet eyes and wet nose that I usually achieve on my cowbells.  Since adding 2 calves meant that I would have to paint them so much smaller.  I think it turned out really well and the collector was thrilled as it was a gift for her mother.  I just checked the USPS tracking on it and it is still in transit so now I've got fingers crossed it makes it to Beaumont, Alberta, Canada in time for Christmas.   It's got me thinking of the lyrics to the old song, "Please Mister Postman".  International mail just takes so much longer.

Also this past week I have been so pleased at how my paintings on slate have been received.  Each one has actually "SOLD" before I even had them finished. 

We love to spend some of our summer in Ely, Nevada and a couple of summers ago, while out exploring near the ghost town of Cherry Creek, Brad and I happened upon this large outcropping of slate .  The desert floor was covered with piles of colorful slate as you can see.  We picked out a small box of it and brought it home.  Here is a picture I took of the site, complete with the free range cattle welcoming committee checking us out.

To finish off each piece after I have painted it, I carefully select the distressed wood that we will use to mount the stone upon.  I try to keep visible as many unique flaws in the wood as possible to help with the whole rustic feel.  I must be doing something right, because I can't paint them fast enough.  I really like how I pieced together the buffalo out of two separate slate pieces.  Right now I have 4 pieces laying out together in my studio like a puzzle trying to decide exactly what I'm going to paint next.  Maybe another buffalo would be nice but those roosters are sure fun too.