Deb Trotter, Cowboy's Sweetheart

Studio Angels (cowgirls in another life)

I spent all day yesterday cleaning and rearranging my studio. I’m embarrassed to say that it really DID take all day – I have "worked around" the mess for so long that I literally was having to watch where I stepped!

When I was done John walked into the room and asked, "What happened? I didn’t even recognize the room!" He was right – I STILL don’t recognize it.

I thought you might enjoy seeing the order that emerged from the chaos. I organized all of my paintings and hung up my Yee Ha Boot & Skull Christmas lights above my western teddy bears – too much fun! The boots & skulls don’t really add any light, just atmosphere – but they are sooooooooo cowgirl cool! (and by the way, the shelves aren’t crooked, it’s just that the photographer, as it were, can’t take a decent photo!)

Now that the clutter is under control (for how long, that is the question) I will finally be able to work on some secret projects. (Don’t you just love your own secrets, but hate it when someone ELSE has one, and you want to know what it is?)

Now that I have your attention, pray for a Wyoming Heat Wave – that would mean anything higher than ZERO!

Happy Trails.

Posted in Western Cowgirl Art | 14 Comments »

Who is this delightful pixie next to that fabulous abstract artwork? It’s the ever so talented Mary Beth Shaw, posing at a gallery featuring her art! Mary Beth is our Artist of the Month at the Art Pub, and believe me, if you want to be inspired you simply MUST check it out here. But wait – there’s MORE! Mary Beth is offering a background from one of her paintings for you to copy and use in your own artwork!

Other goodies at the Pub this month?

Transfer wizard Sally Turlington is offering a transfer tutorial as well as a drawing for a 2008 art calendar published by Art Ed Anima.

And from ME, you’ll find several wonderful photos of schoolchildren to use in your artwork (here’s a sneak peek)…

Aren’t they precious? Who are they? Where do they come from? What are they thinking? Answer the questions, use them in your artwork, and I’ll post your work on my Art Pub Blog.

You’ll also get to see Laura Steven’s digital art using last month’s free vintage photo – she did a fantastic job!

And stay tuned to my Art Pub Blog because I’ll soon announce a giveaway!

I’m off to organize my studio, pardner. I hope YOUR night will prove to be more fun – GO MAKE SOME ART!

Happy Trails.

Posted in Western Cowgirl Art | 1 Comment »

I’ve always wanted to be a brunette. Dark brown hair with blue eyes, or auburn hair and chestnut eyes have been a dream of mine since I was a kid. Why, you ask? Well, you have to have been born with a southern mindset, born to be a beach comber, or at the very least someone who hangs out by a river (or lake) in the summer.

Here’s the deal. When you are blond haired, blue eyed, with skin that burns in five minutes, that also means you have no facial features after you emerge from the water. Blond eyebrows and eyelashes do not a beauty make – at least not dripping wet.

I was always envious of my dark haired cousins because after they came up from diving into the pool, they looked as if they had eyeliner and mascara on (at least compared to me!)

I’ll never forget my freshman year in college – my student help job was to work in the cafeteria, waiting on tables, at the glorious hour of 6:30 a.m. I’d hop out of bed, throw on my clothes, and hit the cafeteria running. No make up. No gussied up hair. Inevitably, someone would ask, "Do you feel all right? You look so pale. Are you ok?"

Even worse was growing up in the south and having my friends’ mothers say to me, "Honey, you look like death warmed over! You need to get out and get some sun." What they didn’t realize was the "getting some sun" would translate to lobster-colored skin, blistering, and agony a few hours later. I lived in constant fear of seeing my Aunt Betty Jo, a southern beauty who frequented the tennis court and pool, and having to stand beside of her to get our pictures made. I wanted to crawl in a hole and stay there until after Labor Day.

I got to thinking about all of this while working on a collaberative book. Participants were to choose a color and describe it as if it were a person. Then we make artwork for the book interpreting our color on a 4X5 page. My color is BROWN. (Hey, no surprise, I know. Brown is a "given" for a cowgirl like me – just think of all that suede and buckskin and those red rocks in the distance). The tiny little picture above of the chestnut eyes is an itty bitty squeeze of my actual artwork. I can’t share it with you right now – that would spoil the surprise for fellow artists in the book – but I promise to let you in on the eye candy once the books have been returned to us.

Meanwhile, think of me when you put on your mascara (or NOT, because you don’t need any)!

Happy Trails.

Posted in Western Cowgirl Art | 3 Comments »

Happy New Year, pardners! 

If you’re like me, you’re listing your goals for 2008 and thinking about how you’d like to grow as an artist. I’m in one of my frenzied, "I want to learn something new" artist modes, and have signed up for an encaustic class in April, taught by Paula Roland. The workshop is held at The Immaculate Heart of Mary Conference Center in Santa Fe, and I’ve added a few extra days to the trip in order to explore and photograph one of my favorite places in the Southwest.

Other news:  I’m presently working on art for publications (more news on that later this year) and will be teaching at Art & Soul, Portland this coming fall.   

Art Pub News:  We are thrilled to have seven new members at the Pub. Go here to read all about it!

Check back with me later, pardner. I’m off to clean the studio (again!).

Happy Trails!

Posted in Western Cowgirl Art | 3 Comments »

Jill Hagland’s new book, Altered Art Projects, is now available, and features three of my western creations.

Here are my two shadowboxes, dedicated to – who else, but the quinetessential cowgirl…

And here are several views of my cigar box purse entitled "Cowgirl Congress…"

(even the inside of the purse is collaged)

Other artists in the book include:  Lou McCulloch; Ginny Carter Smallenurg; Susan Tuttle; Kristen Robinson; Jill Haglund; Deb Lewis; Carlene Federer; Linda Moss; Debbie Overton; Tia M. Bailey; Diana Lyn McGraw; KC Willis; Sue Roddis; Audrey Hernandez; Cathy Lucas; Teemie Eschenburg; Lindsay Haglund; and Joey Long.

The photography is fantastic, and you’re sure to be inspired.

You can order your copy of Altered Art Projects here.

(and thanks, Audrey, for your help scanning the photos!)

Happy New Year and Happy Trails!

Posted in Western Cowgirl Art | 14 Comments »