Deb Trotter, Cowboy's Sweetheart

"Buffy At Lunch"

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It’s not something I drew, it’s something that’s entering my life.

That’s right, pardner. It’s a backhoe.

Why is there a picture of a backhoe on my blog?

We leave tomorrow for Denver, Colorado, where Whit (my 19 year old son) is enrolling into a 3 month intensive heavy equipment training school. That’s right – my son, the "machine hungry, I’m a man’s man, I’ve been fascinated with big machinery all my life kind of guy" is moving away from home, hoping for a new career.

What can I say? This obsession began when he was just a toddler. He used to carry a basket full of bulldozers, backhoes, skid steer loaders, and road rollers with him to the nursery at church. While other boys in the neighborhood were playing ball, Whit was in the woods beside our house, scooping up dirt with his steam shovel replicas, dumping the dirt into miniature dump trucks, and making strange "vroom" noises.

What did I read to him at night, ever since he was 5? John Deere tractor brochures, Case International equipment brochures – mainly anything we could get our hands on at the dealerships. Let me tell you, trying to make the engine descriptions of a backhoe sound exciting enough for a bedtime story is a challenge. (I guess that college acting class where I had to learn to read a phone book page and make it sound exciting finally paid off.)

Whit became the "posterboy" of local dealerships, in a manner of speaking. They knew him by name. They marveled at how, off the top of his head, he could recite the model number, specifications, engine power, torque (whatever the heck THAT is), and city of creation for each and every piece of equipment they might mention.

We have known since he was a wee tike that college may not be his path – at least not right now. It may never be. What’s important is that he find his passion and follow it. That’s really all any of us can ask of this life – to follow our bliss. I hope – I really really hope that is what will happen for him. If it isn’t – if this turns out to be the wrong road – he is young enough to explore another one. Maybe he will be like his mom and love the journeys – all of them – as shining points of light in his universe.

I am trying so, so hard, not to take it personally when he says he hates this town. That he never wants to come back. That there is nothing for him here. Instead, I tell him I remember. I’ve been there – said that – meant that. And many years later I discovered suddenly, that that little town in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains was not such a bad place to grow up after all. That when I go back, the honeysuckle and the kudzoo and the misty mountains are a welcome part of me. That those dark blue mountains are the same color as my eyes, and I like that. I really do.

So, I’m hoping the good things and the good people will stay with him, and the bad things will eventually fade away with time. That someday it will be a treat to come home and spend some time with his parents. That the red rocks and the chilly dawns of Fall – the rip roaring independence of Wyoming – will beckon him to at least say hello every now and then.

For now, all I want is for him to like this path he has chosen for this phase of his life. For him to stay safe. Make new friends. Gain worthwhile knowledge. And maybe miss me every now and then.

That would be the happiest trail I could wish for him…the happiest kind of trail he could ride.

Think of me, pardners. I’m a bit sad tonight.

It’s time to say Goodbye.

Posted in Western Cowgirl Art | 15 Comments »

"Caterpillar" by Roszelle M. Schuff

(A stone is just a stone, and wire is just wire – until you place them in the hands of Roszelle Schuff.)

On Labor Day Monday, John & I set off to one of our favorite little haunts, Red Lodge, Montana.

I love Red Lodge. It’s one of those part rustic, part funky, former little mining towns one is apt to stumble upon in this part of the west.

Set admidst the background of the snow peaked Beartooth Mountains, Red Lodge is a cool haven in the summer and a ski town in the winter. Fantastic restaurants and coffee houses, mini art galleries, outdoor adventure shops, a bead store, candy and ice cream shops, and a fantastic antique/country furniture shop (my favorite shopping mecca) abound. One of my favorite Native American artists, Kevin Red Star, hand picked Red Lodge as his studio setting, in the midst of the pleasant downtown bustle.

Funny – residents of Red Lodge seem to frequent Cody on the weekend, and Cody folk sometimes head to Red Lodge at the same time. It isn’t necessarily that the grass is always greener – it’s simply getting away and feeling like you have be gifted with a "vacation day."

Red Lodge is becoming known as a sort of escape for the rich and famous (Mel Gibson recently sold his ranch that was located here), so it isn’t likely to remain quaint and undiscovered for much longer.

I especially enjoy the art scene there. It’s different from Cody, which is mainly traditional western. Red Lodge has a more "hip" vibe – a bit more flexibility. Don’t get me wrong – you know I cherish every breath I take here in Cody, Wyoming…and there ARE artists who stray from the norm of oils and watercolors ( and I DO I love oils & watercolors, too, by the way) BUT… sometimes it’s nice to rub elbows with artists who tend to create a bit more on the eclectic side. That’s just what I experienced at the Depot Gallery’s Labor Day Art Show and Sale – all kinds of arts and crafts, both for the artist and the collector.

Making my way along one side of the Depot Gallery, I found myself face to face with this little guy…

It was love at first sight. (Forgive the raindrop on the lens – I had to take advantage of the outside light in order to show "Mr. C" to his best advantage, even in the rain.)

I also grabbed this wide-winged, wire-frenzied dragonfly. (And I don’t even like dragonflies, in general)…

These clever little creations are the dreamchildren of Roszelle M. Schuff, of The Wired West. Somehow she envisioned combining wire with little river pebbles and came up with these clever little insects. She doesn’t have a website, but you can reach her by email at thewiredwest@aol.com . Her artwork is quite reasonably priced – a steal, if you ask me. I wanted to snarf up everything at her table, but luckily, hubby was right by my side (always a good deterrent!).

The caterpillar is going to a friend for her birthday. I haven’t decided about the dragonfly. He definitely needs a good home. He is actually making friends with the western teddies and cowgirls in my studio, so if I don’t decide what to do with him soon, he may end up living with me.

The days are getting shorter, and my obligations are getting longer, so I’m off to conjur up some more art magic.

Funny how the simplest little creations and the fresh air of snow-capped mountains can send me off to art heaven. (You know what I mean, don’t you, pardner?)

Happy Trails.

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"Lost Soul"

Posted in Western Cowgirl Art | 15 Comments »

Just a little sneak peek from Cowboy’s Sweetheart…

I’m working on a publication submission, so this is all you’re gonna see for now.

It’s been a while since I painted on fabric, and I’m really digging the texture of this heavy duty canvas.

What I really love though, is THIS…

 

I had forgotten how fabric painting medium makes paint blend so beautifully – you can achieve so much depth, and so many color values are possible.

In addition to painting, I have to decide how I plan to treat the rest of this "secret" object…

Intrigued? I certainly am!  I am so enjoying the journey of this new challenge.

On the home front, I have spent the last three days cleaning, purging, and reorganizing my studio, and it was worth it. I am content and quite happy with myself.

I have decided to honor my goal to take some time off. It’s almost Fall in Cody. Fall is my absolute favorite time of year – my PASSION when it comes to the seasons. Locally, there will be art shows and exhibits to attend. There will be photos to make in Yellowstone (the Grizzlies will soon begin to "fatten up" for hibernation). There are roads to travel, and sunny yellow Aspen trees to picnic under. There are strange, vibrant cloud formations to study and deceptive shadows to follow as they creep up the rock formations by the North Fork of the Shoshone River.

Most importantly, there is that new body of work I promised myself I would tackle. I am eager to attack the canvas, try some new techniques (perhaps encaustic? I know so little about it!), and maybe even pull out those pallet knives that have been staring at me ever since I ordered them from Dick Blick five months ago.

Yes, I will be blogging, but not on such a regular basis (this is a first for me, as I’m a fairly consistent blogger. I hope I don’t have blogging withdrawal symptoms!) I’ll likely post once or twice a week, so check in every now and then and keep in touch.

For now, I’m off to enjoy the crisp, tantalizing taste of an early Fall evening out in our back yard, armed with a good cup of coffee and a contented smile. And even though these words come from the wrong season, I am compelled to say, "God Bless Us, Everyone!"

Oh, Yes… and Happy Trails!

Posted in Western Cowgirl Art | 7 Comments »