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Jun

2

2010

Wild West Wednesday – How To Get Buffalo-Billed

Author: Deb Trotter

Have you ever imagined yourself as a famous person from the Wild West?

I have … but I’ve always been a Cowgirl with a hat, boots, and a trusty steed. I’ve never thought of myself as the legendary Buffalo Bill.

I really, really dig Buffalo Bill

While Buffalo Bill Cody was a brave Indian Scout, handsome cowboy, and a brilliant Wild West Show manager – I’ll bet he never had a clue that a nation-wide ad campaign would someday employ his trademark mustache and goatee to promote Cody and Yellowstone Country … an ad that would invite you to “GET BUFFALO-BILLED.”

Just look at Cowgirl Bess, whom I “Buffalo-Billed” this morning …

The Park County Travel Council came up with such a great idea to promote our area. I have to hand it them … I’ve never never seen a promotion quite as clever as this.

They are calling the campaign, “Get BuffaloBilled.” I’ve seen their ads in my favorite Western Mags – True West Magazine and Cowboys and Indians, and I was so intrigued that I looked up the web address. And voila! What fun!

Before you Buffalo Bill yourself, take a quick gander at these two videos – only 32 seconds each – that were built on the campaign. Too Funny!

See how cool you could be with a mustache and goatee? Well, it’s Wild West Wednesday, pardner – you couldn’t pick a better day to transform yourself.

Now it’s time to visit this site, Buffalo Bill’s Yellowstone Country, and have some fun “Buffalo-Billing” yourself.

Oh … and I’d be happy to share a link or a picture of YOU as Buffalo Bill!

Happy Trails!

Deb Trotter ~ Cowboy’s Sweetheart Artist

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Posted in Blogs for Artists, Cody Wyoming, Cowboy's Sweetheart, Creative Blogs, Travel, Western Cowgirl Art, Wild West Wednesday | 7 Comments »

May

28

2010

My Cowgirl Artist Inspiration Video: Why I Love Wyoming

Author: Deb Trotter

In my last Wild West Wednesday post I mentioned a little video was in the works that would take my inspiration photos one step further.

So, here it is – in two versions.

  • Version #1 was created in a sepia-old film theme. Just because I like sepia … it reminds me of Wyoming … primitive and worn.
  • Version #2 was revised at the request of my husband. To quote John: “Why does it look like it has lines in it?  What happened to the color?  Why does it look sort of sad?” (Sometimes a gal just wants her man to be happy – even thought she ain’t really changing her ways)

Put on yer boots, don that Cowboy hat, grab some Cowgirl Attitude, and join me.  We’re heading down to the Southfork of the Shoshoni River – right past Castle Rock – and into the the land where the deer and the antelope (and horses and cows) play

(Note: Copyright-free music has been added to this video to give it that “Wild West – Down Home” flavor. So if music drives you batty -it does me, sometimes – scroll to the bottom of the You Tube screen and adjust the sound … or turn it off completely before you watch.)

I’d love any comments on which version you like best – or just talk to me, pardner.

Happy Trails!

Deb Trotter ~ Cowboy’s Sweetheart Artist

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Posted in Art and Life, Blogs for Artists, Cody Wyoming, Cowboy's Sweetheart, Creative Blogs, Photography, Travel, Wild West Wednesday, horses | 1 Comment »

May

26

2010

Wild West Wednesday – Saddle Up With Me For Inspiration

Author: Deb Trotter

I’ve heard other artists say that if you need inspiration you should get out and explore a bit. Find the beauty in the small things.

Yea … I can do that. I can search for tiny little miracles like the shape of a snowflake or the refleciton of a tree in a puddle. (Well, if I can find a puddle. Not very likely in high desert country.)

Or … I can ride out to the Southfork of the Shoshoni River. I don’t look for little things there.

I just let big Wyoming country swallow me up until I’m so inspired I can’t wait to get home. Armed with wonderful photos like this one, I can crank it out, pardner.

I also dig the animals out here. Allow me to introduce …

Scruffy

Balky

Jiggy Poo (I see you!)

Adhiambo (“a girl born in the late afternoon”)

I’ve got enough inspiration to last a whole year … and I’ve barely touched the surface.

This little glimpse of my world is actually a look into my soul. It’s why I love what I do – why I DO what I do.

A nice little video is in the works about my world. Stay tuned, pardner.

Now, get out of the house and find your own inspiration!

Happy Trails!

Deb Trotter ~ Cowboy’s Sweetheart Artist

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Posted in Art and Life, Blogs for Artists, Cody Wyoming, Cowboy's Sweetheart, Creative Blogs, Photography, Travel, Wild West Wednesday, horses | 5 Comments »

Mar

24

2010

Are You Willing To Walk One More Block?

Author: Deb Trotter

Life is a bit like taking photographs.

The days come and go. You fall into that same old routine. And you wonder – Where did the inspiration go?

It’s right around the corner. You just have to walk one more block. Turn one more corner. Take one more picture – either with your eyes or with your camera. And suddenly, inspiration is right in front of you.

I found this little treasure of vintage inspiration in Fromberg, Montana, on the same same day I discovered cowgirl boots on a mailbox – the day the shadows called.

Like most old, forgotten towns – much of Fromberg is like life. Each little block – or each little day – can seem the same. It doesn’t have to be that way. Turn a different corner, and there’s the answer.

My answer was this old Blacksmith Shop. Or Livery stable … or Dray and Feel Stable. Whatever it was – or is – it had to be captured.

Back home, studying this photo on my computer, I felt the same sense of wonder I had experienced when I discovered this old building. It reminded me of an old postcard, but it called for alteration – a dreamy quality I felt but couldn’t quite see.

Photoshop came to the rescue. Filters. Filters. And more filters. And then – magically – the picture conveyed what it was meant to be. A dream from some other time, soft and worn. Rusty and forgotten. And oh – the shadows!

Had I not ventured down one more street in Fromberg that afternoon, I would have missed it.

Sometimes I spend my days wandering – wondering – Where Is The Inspiration?

It’s right around the corner, pardner. Follow the shadows one more block – one more thought – and there it is.

Are you willing to walk one more block?

Deb Trotter – Cowboy’s Sweetheart Artist

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Posted in Art and Life, Blogs for Artists, Cowboy's Sweetheart, Creative Blogs, Digital Art, Photography, Photoshop, Travel, Western Cowgirl Art | 4 Comments »

Feb

2

2010

The Cowboy Code And The Good Samaritan

Author: Deb Trotter

“A Cowboy always helps someone in need – be they stranger or enemy.” This is one of the ‘Codes of the West.’

I’d like to think all Cowboys – or at least most of them – still abide by ‘the code.’

‘The Code’ is a sort of “Do Unto Others” creed. I see it as unspoken promise that a Cowboy is someone you can always rely on as the first one there to lend a helping hand.

Yesterday I had begun to think ‘The Code’ was a thing of the past.

I had driven up to Billings, Montana for a dental procedure (one of many these days). The city streets were still a soggy mess from a ’surprise’ snowfall the night before. A one-inch prediction had become a half-foot. The main roads weren’t fun, but the side roads were challenging to say the least … especially if you drive a Prius.

A Prius is aerodynamically designed as ‘low to the ground.’ Great for gas mileage and speed. Bad for snow.

After my round with yet another root canal I planned to stop by the hospital to pick up a prescription. Try finding a parking place in downtown Billings right after city snow equipment has plowed the streets. The roads are cleared, but the parking spots are about as heap high with snow as a country pasture is with … let’s just say, “manure.”

After fifteen minutes I discover a side street where ten or so cars and trucks were parked. I chose an empty spot, parked the Prius, picked up the prescription – and happily returned to my car, thinking how easy the whole thing had been.

WRONG. I was SO stuck.

The under-body of the car was smack dab against the snow. I was being held hostage by gunk. It would be at least an hour or two before Triple A could get to me, they had said. So – what’s a girl to do but wait? And, as it turns out – watch. Truck after truck – man after man – passed me by as I tried digging out of the snow (with a tiny, useless shovel from my ‘emergency kit.’)

I counted them. In forty-five minutes there were a total of twenty three guys who either pretended not to see me – or looked right at me as they slowly and deliberately drove on by. Ten of them (in big, honking trucks) were wearing Cowboy hats. Ten more guys parked next to me – three in Cowboy hats. Still no offers. Still stuck.

“So much for the Cowboy Code,” I thought. Right now I was just another number to Triple A. And that was that.

Then, out of the blue, a big ole rusty SUV pulled up by the Prius – and out stepped an old Cowboy. A Cowboy with a boot on one foot and a cast on the other. A crutch under one arm. And a smile as broad as the Wyoming sky.

In spite of the broken foot and crutch, he pushed the Prius out of the snow – then waved me on my way. I thanked him several times and offered to pay him for his time.

“No, Ma’am. A ‘Thank You’ is plenty.” With that, he tipped his hat and slowly made his way through the slush towards the hospital.

I thought about my Good Samaritan with the Cowboy hat all the way home – and when I crossed the state line into Wyoming, the sun suddenly broke out of the clouds as I saw that old familiar sign with the Cowboy on the Bucking Horse: WELCOME TO THE COWBOY STATE

And I knew ‘The Code of the West’ was still very much alive.

Thank you, Old Cowboy. Where ever you are.

Thanks for your help – thanks for your message – and thanks for the faith.

I still believe in Cowboys.

Deb Trotter ~ Cowboy’s Sweetheart Artist

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Posted in Cody Wyoming, Photography, The Code of The West, Travel | 2 Comments »

Oct

12

2009

Photoshop Liquify Tool To The Rescue: From An Average Gal To One “Hip” Mama

Author: Deb Trotter

All collage artists know this to be true. Sometimes, no matter how many photos you have in your collection, you just can't find the perfect picture.

I've been working on some beach-themed cards for a client. (Hard to believe, I know. What's up with a Wild West cowgirl going 'coastal'?) But the request was a chance to explore other sides of me – it's good to stretch a little. It also brought back memories of the sunny life in North Carolina. So why not?

Why not, indeed.

Except that I needed a gal in a bathing suit with a voluptuously BIG butt.

See, I had this specific idea for the card, and no other type of woman would do.

Besides being a woman with an 'outstanding' Bum, she needed to be a little bit cynical and not exactly a spring chicken.

Thanks goodness for Photoshop's "Liquify" tool.

I practiced a few Photoshop YouTube tutorials, and in spite of the fact that the results aren't perfect, they made all the difference.

Check it out.

Women BeachBall BeforeSM

 WomanBeachBall SMFatafter

I tried to exaggerate her age – and her thighs, butt, and legs – but I left her arms thin, so as to really call attention to the lower part of her body. Not exactly right in terms of reality. But with art you can do whatever the heck you want to make a statement, right?

I can't show the finished card right now, but when the company has the catalog ready for its clients I'll be free to give you some small sneak peeks.

Thank you, Photoshop!

And Happy Trails!

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Posted in Art Techniques, Art and Life, At the Beach, Blogs for Artists, Cards & Invitations, Digital Art, Licensing Your Art, Photography, Photoshop, Travel | No Comments »

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