Deb Trotter, Cowboy's Sweetheart

Cowgirl Boots & Brands ©Deb Trotter~Cowboy’s Sweetheart

Howdy, pardners. Here we are on another manic Monday – and what could be better than beginning the week with a great photo?

Sepia tones and intriguing, friendly shadows. Vintage Cowgirl Boots, propped upon the base of a rustic mailbox. And a stucco wall – hand painted with old western ranch brands. I mean, how lucky did I get? Something in my gut made me grab my camera that day – I guess that little rascal of a Kodak was ready, as he did everything I needed quite readily. (Such has not always been the case.)

I love taking photos – especially of the things I obsess over. For years I’ve been determined to stop in Fromberg, Montana. Walk Fromberg’s main street before the sun is completely out, and you’ll likely notice a sort of eerie stillness. There are intriguing western buildings – many of them empty – that would make perfect cowboy shops or little cafes. They do have one thriving business there … a Cowboy Bar.

The buildings are obviously old and worn – the sidewalks still boast wooden planks. My cowgirl boots scuff along them, and for some reason it feels good – I like the sound they make. Once a bustlng little cowtown, Fromberg is midway between Cody, Wyoming and Billings, Montana. It’s pretty run down at first glance – but if you look more closely you begin to see that there is plenty of Old West architecture, legend, and lore.

I took this photo just as the snow was melting – stepping over the puddles, I noticed the shadows. I’ve always followed shadows. Out here they change from minute to minute, so you have to seize every possible photo the minute the shadows begin their creepy movements – morphing what you think you see into what is really there.

“I thought most of the Old West was dead and gone,” you say.

“Wrong,” I insist. “You need to bring your camera and stop off at Fromberg on your way to Cody. When you come – bet you’ll be bitten by the photography bug and those sneaky shadows. But you’ll be glad it happened.”

I was more than glad I followed the call of the shadows that day. I’ll be sharing some more Fromberg photos later this week. Stay tuned and read up on your branding symbols.

Deb Trotter ~ Cowboy’s Sweetheart Artist

Tags: Artist, brands, Cowboy's Sweetheart, Cowgirl Boots, Deb Trotter, Fromberg Montana, Photography, shadows
Posted in Art and Life, Blogs for Artists, Cowboy's Sweetheart, Creative Blogs, Photography, Western Cowgirl Art | 2 Comments »

“Bunk Down With A Real Cowboy” © 2009 Deb Trotter, Cowboy’s Sweetheart

If a Wild West Cowgirl met Mary Engelbreit, she’d likely be inspired by Mary’s bright colors, sassy attitude, and shrewd art licensing advice. And I’ll just bettcha that same Cowgirl would come away from the experience all fired up and re-energized … inspired by Mary’s approach to art and life.

Well, you’re looking at that Cowgirl, pardner. After listening to Tara Reed’s interview with Mary Engelbreit last night, I am fully confident that the trail I’m ridin’ … the path I’ve chosen … is the right one.

While listening to Mary – and tweeting with other licensed artists about her at the same time – it seemed as if we were all sitting around a campfire listening to a famous rodeo cowgirl sharing her story. It made me think about a piece I created for one of my Buckaroo Bags, celebrating Buffalo Bill’s historic Irma Hotel located here in Cody, Wyoming.

Mary Engelbreit and Buffalo Bill Cody seem to have the same zest for life … the same ’stick to-it-ness’ … the same clever head for business. They both burst with joy. When I created “Bunk Down With A Real Cowboy,” I renounced the classic ‘Deb Trotter’ hues of browns, sepias, and rusts – choosing instead to paint with bright yellow, turquoise, and red. The result seemed … well … Happy.

Happy. Truly happy. Maybe not as happy as Mary Engelbreit’s “Life is just a chair of Bowlies” – but truly happy in the Cowgirl sense of the word.

My favorite quotes from Mary last night?

“Even if you can’t make big money licensing your art, do it because you LOVE it.”
“Never devalue your own art or sell yourself short.”
“Hire a lawyer & have a contract 4 everything – even if it’s with your own mother!”

You may listen to the recording Tara Reed’s Ask Call with Mary Engelbreit by clicking here.

If you’re like those of us who were there last night, you’ll be undaunted in the belief that who you are and what you create is both meaningful – and valuable. You CAN be successful – and perhaps even a ‘hot commodity’ in the Art Licensing world.

It’s a good thing to know.

Thanks, Mary! (and Tara!)

Deb Trotter ~ Cowboy’s Sweetheart Artist

Tags: art licensing, Buffalo Bill Cody, Cowboy's Sweetheart Artist, Cowgirl, Deb Trotter, Irma Hotel, Mary Engelbreit, Tara Reed, Wild West
Posted in Art and Life, Blogs for Artists, Cody Wyoming, Cowboy's Sweetheart, Creative Blogs, Digital Art, Licensing Your Art, Tara Reed, Western Cowgirl Art, art licensing | 3 Comments »

~all artwork, including patterns & imagery are © Deb Trotter, Cowboy’s Sweetheart~

My mom’s birthday was last week. I made this special little birthday card to celebrate the kind of woman – and mother – she is.

Shirley (Mom) has been one of the creative forces in my life – as well as someone who taught me to work hard and believe in myself. In short, Mom made me a better artist.

In many ways, Shirley and I are very different.

Shirley has never slipped into a pair of Cowgirl Boots. Never been west of Tennessee until my family moved to Wyoming. Never been crazy ’bout a lot of the things I am: Cowboys & Cowgirls. Buttes & Mesas. Animals – except for dogs (Grandpappy & Daddy used to call ‘em Dawgs).

Unlike me, Shirley detests science fiction and movies that don’t have happy endings. ‘Adventure’ is a foreign (and scary) word. She has no use for anything that she can make – or do – herself. I guess when Mom grew up as the youngest of ten children – on a farm, way back in the hills of North Carolina – she had to learn to be resourceful.

But being creative and determined? That’s where Mom and I join souls. Improvising – being canny and inventive – are the skills Shirley taught me by example.

When I was in grammar school a few of my little friends and I would ‘play’ fairy princess. I wanted a Crown to take to school for recess … I always was a dreamer. And Shirley came up with the perfect solution – a magical Crown constructed from a detergent box, sewn and covered with fabric – and embellished with old buttons, rocks, and a few stray beads. I was the envy of the playground.

When Barbie was new and all the rage, some of my friends had every Barbie/Mattel accessory imaginable. There was no money in our household for frivolous things, but it didn’t matter. I had Shirley. I also had a Barbie dresser made from a Crisco can with lace around the edges, tied up with ribbon. The tin lid made the perfect mirror.

Shirley’s creative solutions continued throughout my life. My sophomore year in high school, we majorettes were dying for new uniforms to ’supplement’ the traditional (as in army, brass-button-inspired) jackets and skirts. Our head majorette came back from baton school with some great ideas, and mom was the natural choice to construct our new look. In the end, not only did we have beautiful Carolina blue and white suede, one-piece uniforms – we had white, maribou covered hats with huge, blue ostrich plumes. We were the envy of every band in the district. Shirley rocked!

Shirley would insist (and when she insists, you listen) that she isn’t artistic. She’s merely practical. She simply did (and does) what she taught herself to do … because she had to. But don’t let her fool you. Mom has a natural knack for color, design, and creativity. She never thought of herself as an Artist. But she is.

Having ‘learned’ from Shirley and my teaching and coaching mentors … having been nourished and inspired by their support and encouragement … that’s how I became who I am. A passionate artist.

Sometimes I am creative out of necessity. Sometimes I am creative because it’s in my blood. And usually, I stubbornly insist that I will never give up until I have achieved my goal.

I admit it – I am becoming my mother. And I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather be.

I celebrate all the Shirleys of the world. You may have your own Shirley.

Happy Birthday, Shirley! I love you.

Deb Trotter ~ Cowboy’s Sweetheart Artist

Tags: Birthday, Birthday Card, Cowboy's Sweetheart Artist, Deb Trotter, Mom, North Carolina
Posted in Art Techniques, Art and Life, Blogs for Artists, Cards & Invitations, Cowboy's Sweetheart, Digital Art, Dogs, Photography, Photoshop, Western Cowgirl Art | 2 Comments »