First Birthday Bliss!

Posted on March 6, 2016 by foresterartist

It’s her first birthday. For a while we didn’t think she’d make it to this one. We’re sure happy she did. Click on a picture to see the full-sized gallery. Sorry there are so many photos, but it’s hard not to take her picture.

golden retriever puppy, golden retriever, dog, puppy

Bliss when we first picked her up.

Here, Mary and I just picked up Bliss from the breeder Susan Liptak.

Just hanging out.

She took to the water right away.

Sailor shares his duck with young Bliss.

Sailor and Bliss became close buds.

Golden retriever, puppy. retriever, forester

This girl loves her sand! She plays on the banks of the Eel River.

golden retriever, retriever,forester, puupy

Bliss is a forester’s dog. That means it’s her job to go to the woods.

golden retriever, puppy, abstact, photography, abstract photography

Bliss the “Wild Woods Pup!”

We didn’t know it yet, but Bliss was one sick puppy. She had chewed a toxic mushroom in the morning. In the afternoon we knew something was wrong and headed for the vet.

She spent all week of vacation in the veterinary hospital. The doctor thought she wasn’t going to make it.

The Doctor Bob released her to come back to camp for our last night.

Headed for home and she seemed okay, but we knew she’d need more car because of the nature of the poisoning.

When we got home she had to go back into the hospital.

Once she was back home again she made the best of it.

After a few weeks she was able to return to work.

Bliss says this is more like it!

On the Upper Sacramento River.

On the Trinity River.

Bliss at Dog Creek.

Bliss and Tasha.

otters, golden retrievers, dogs, retrievers, log pond, sawmill

Bliss in the Sacramento River.

Bliss and Tasha in the Sierra.

Bliss loves to play and Tasha isn’t immune.

She loves playing with her buddy Sailor.

Bliss points a pheasant in the grass.

She puts a bird into the air.

Bringing home the bacon.

Bliss with her hunting partners.

Bliss, Sailor and Tasha the three amigos.

Bliss one year old.

If you missed her mushroom ordeal you can read about it here:

http://sneakingbliss.com/2015/09/10/saving-bliss/

https://wordpress.com/post/theforesterartist.com/4086

And the Winner Is

Posted on February 29, 2016 by foresterartist

If you were following our competition, here’s how it turned out.

Sneaking Bliss

Recap: Tim and I each donated an original framed piece of art for the Forestry Education Auction held at the Lumberjack Dinner, 2016 Sierra Cascade Logging Conference.http://sneakingbliss.com/2016/02/10/ready-to-rumble-bliss/

Going head to head. What married couple doesn’t thrive on a little friendly competition?

The auctioneer explained that bidders would bid, not knowing which piece other bidders were bidding on. The winner would have the option of buying both, each at the high bid price. If both weren’t taken, the second place bidder had the option of the “left-over” piece. If not taken then, the “left-over” would go back out on live auction.

The auctioneer brought us both to the front of the audience with our pieces and asked me to say something about my piece, but before I could answer, Tim said his piece was “…for the children.”

How do I top that? “For the children.” Really, Tim?

With that introduction, the…

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Happy Birthday Tasha

Posted on February 28, 2016 by foresterartist

Happy Birthday Tasha!

Sneaking Bliss

Today is Tasha’s third birthday. We celebrated with some retrieves and photos in buttercups with her buds.

Happy Birthday Tasha!

In our area, the first showing of wildflowers happens around Tasha’s birthday.

Redtail's Hotty Toddy Tasha - turns 3 years old today. Redtail’s Hotty Toddy Tasha – turns three years old today.

Tasha is joined by Sailor and Bliss. Bliss, Sailor, Tasha Sailor and Bliss join the birthday girl.
Bliss, Sailor, Tasha

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Ready to Rumble Bliss

Posted on February 11, 2016 by foresterartist

It’s on! The auction is Friday night!

Sneaking Bliss

All delivered and ready for the Education Auction on Friday!

Here are the finished pieces that Tim and I donated to Sierra Cascade Logging Conference Lumberjack Dinner and Education Auction supporting forestry education. We hope this head to head, friendly “Hers vs. His” competition raises the stakes and funds brought in. There’s a lot of talking smack taking place in our house! We’ll keep you posted.

Going head to head. What married couple doesn’t thrive on a little friendly competition?

"Uncle Sam" mixed media by Tim Livingston “Uncle Sam” mixed media by Tim Livingston

"Food Chain" watercolor by Mary A Livingston “Food Chain” watercolor by Mary A Livingston

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Head to Head Bliss II

Posted on February 8, 2016 by foresterartist

In Head to Head Bliss we saw Mary’s work in progress. It’s an original watercolor submission, “Food Chain”, for the Sierra Cascade Logging Conference Forestry Education Dinner/Auction. Now for her competition. This is my work in progress

This is a multi-media piece called “Uncle Sam.” Uncle Sam is the name of the little locomotive in the picture. I made a print of my original pen and ink onto 140 lbs watercolor paper. I expanded and enhanced the print with additional pen and ink.

Next I did a two-tone watercolor painting with sepia and raw umber. The goal is to create an original piece reminiscent of an old sepia tone photograph. Both pieces are being framed right now. Stay tuned for our final pieces!

Head to Head Bliss

Posted on February 5, 2016 by foresterartist

Great painting Mary! The gauntlet has been thrown down. I better get something ready. I think it’s time to panic now.

Sneaking Bliss

For the past several years, Tim has created a piece of art for the Education Auction at the Sierra Cascade Logging Conference Education Lumberjack Dinner.

This year we’re doing something different. We’re both creating art for the auction to go head to head raising funds for forestry education.

Here are a few images of “Food Chain” as a work in progress.

I’ll save the final piece for when it’s framed.

WIP - 1 "Food Chain" WIP – 1
“Food Chain”

Food Chain - WIP Getting some paint on paper. Food Chain – WIP
Getting some paint on paper.

Food Chain WIP

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Whimsy Bliss – Pups at Play

Posted on February 3, 2016 by foresterartist

For Wild Wednesday I’m sharing Mary’s post of our wild puppies! The sound of puppies in the house without the smell. Enjoy!

Sneaking Bliss

Thirty seconds to brighten your day.

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“Timber! The Home Stretch

Posted on February 1, 2016 by foresterartist

The view of the art table with one of the spreads in progress.

These were all that’s left to do. All have been started. Mary stretched and mounted them all for me, while I was painting. It’s good to have people! Working multiple illustrations at the same time is a very efficient way to get these done. By Sunday night I had completed two more spreads.

This is the view out my window at my painting table, while I work. Not bad.

Forestry Friday … “Timber!” in Color

Posted on January 29, 2016 by foresterartist

TimberChipper02

The inking is complete and I’ve been painting furiously. I taken some vacation time to complete this project. Today I was painting the chipper scene. I posted about that one before.

TimberChipper01