Grandkids – Family Portrait

Posted on January 25, 2015 by foresterartist

Our grandkids are awesome little artists. Yes, I’m biased.

I love doing art projects with our grandchildren. I especially enjoy adorning mugs with their masterpieces for our morning coffee enjoyment.

This year, they each drew a full body self-portrait along with the rest of their household. This little beauty became a wrap around mug with each of our little ones contributing their part.

Tim and I enjoy our morning coffee time…and having their art as a part of our morning ritual is bliss indeed.

Family Portrait by our grandkids.

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Forestry Friday … Steam Donkey WIP

Posted on January 23, 2015 by foresterartist

This huge steam engine has waited silently for years. Seasons passed, leaves turned, and its only visitors were the wild creatures paying it no attention.

steam donkey, Willamette steam donkey,Willamette Iron Works, logging, logging history

The Willamette Steam Donkey. Photo courtesy of Mark Lathrop.

Steam donkeys were the cutting edge technology for powering logging operations a hundred years ago. Serving as yarders, they brought logs to the landing. They were the loaders, too. These huge machines provided any heavy lifting that needed to be done. Steam donkeys replaced horses and oxen for moving logs.

Steam Donkey, pen and ink, drawing, pen, pen & ink, watercolor, watercolour, logging

Steam Donkey work in progress.

I’m doing a mixed media watercolor painting of this steam donkey for a forestry education fund-raising auction. The auction will be held at the Sierra Cascade Logging Conference coming up in February. You can follow the progress on this piece in my future blog posts. I’m using a Canson Bright White 90 lb hot press cotton paper. I sketched out my pencil guide and am inking. I’m inking with a brand new Lamy All-Star extra fine point pen.

Mark at the historic site.

The pictures were taken by my friend, Mark, who has graciously given me permission to use them for this project. He had the awesome duty of leading a team of historians to the donkeys to record the site. Keep following for more on the story behind this steam donkey.

Ducks Ahoy

Posted on January 19, 2015 by foresterartist

A new painting from Mary. This is our Sailor!

Sneaking Bliss

Saturday Night RedTail Ducks Ahoy – Sailor

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So Which Will It Bee?

Posted on December 3, 2014 by foresterartist

Here’s one I pulled from the archives of forgotten favorites.

I finally pulled the trigger. I’ve been thinking for some time about marketing prints of my art work, as many of you do. I checked out what was available and checked in with some of you, special thanks to Russel Ray, an excellent photographer in San Diego. After examining many of the sites available I went with Fine Art America. Their business model seems to be a good fit for me.

Click here to see the gallery!

I’ve been slowly posting pieces, about two a day. I can already see how difficult it is to stand out on the site, but you can’t sell it if you don’t put it out there. Clearly, promotion is the key. There is so much great art, I am curious to see how this works out. Any advice, comments or experiences are welcome.

The Golden Moment

Posted on April 22, 2014 by foresterartist

golden retriever, Blitz, pheasant, ringnecks, pheasant hunting, watercolor, watercolour, pen and ink, painting

Blitz, a contented retriever doing what she loves. In watercolor, pen and ink.

Natural Born Retriever

Posted on February 18, 2014 by foresterartist

watercolor, watercolour, pen and ink, golden retriever, pheasant, hunting

Blitz follows her nose to the prize.

Blitz took me pheasant hunting last week. I think she would drive herself if she had thumbs. Luckily, she needs a gunner tagging along. It’s my joy to watch this girl living her bliss. I captured this hunting moment in watercolor, and pen and ink.

Blitz, pheasants, hunting, pheasant hunting

Blitz with her bag.

Let’s Call It A Wrap

Posted on February 13, 2014 by foresterartist

Buddy, The Wayward Wolverine, Buddy and the Magic Chicken Tree, watercolor, watercolour, wolverine

Illustrating Buddy wore me out, and Buddy too.

I’m done illustrating Buddy. Now we wait for the official release. I think I’m going to take a nap too.

Forestry Friday … The Real Buddy

Posted on January 17, 2014 by foresterartist

Buddy and the Magic Chicken Tree is the second installment about Buddy the wolverine. Here is a sample from the upcoming story. It is written by author illustrator MaryA Livingston and wildlife biologist Amanda Shufelberger. It is illustrated by me, Tim Livingston.

Buddy and the Magic Chicken Tree, Buddy the Wayward Wolverine, watercolor, watercolour, children's picture book, wolverine, gulo gulo

Buddy loves his chicken! Image courtesy of Red Tail Publishing.

Buddy, the Wayward Wolverine, published by Red Tail Publishing in 2013, is a fantastical story of a real wolverine.

Buddy is the subject of Forestry Friday, because he was original discovered during forestry research projects. One carnivore study run by wildlife biologist Amanda Shufelberger inventories carnivores on private forestland. The data is used to ensure that proper forest management techniques are implemented to protect and enhance carnivore habitat.

Buddy presence was first discovered in 2008. His DNA places his roots in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. We can only imagine how Buddy got to California – Buddy, the Wayward Wolverine. These are some of the videos from the wildlife camera taken as part of the carnivore study.

Whimsday Bliss – Noriko

Posted on January 15, 2014 by foresterartist

I love this post by Mary about our dear friend Noriko, who visited for too short a time. I sat at my painting table while she sat next to me at Mary’s. Watching her explore watercolors for the first time was humbling and inspiring. She is so gifted as an artist and a friend.

Sneaking Bliss

The highlight of my week was sharing art with my friend, Noriko. She arrived last week to meet her puppy, Kinta. The puppy is living with us while he waits for his health clearance to go home to Japan. (See Puppy Bliss)

You may recall from Puppies, Friends and Bliss, that Noriko is an artist. She has worked mostly in oils, and more recently in pencil and pastel.

She was curious about watercolor and we invited her to give it a try. We introduced her to the brushes and tools. In no time she was bringing life to a stunning image.

I think you’ll agree, sharing the art experience with friends is bliss.

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