Deb Trotter, Cowboy's Sweetheart

Introducing the new ‘Cowboy’s Sweetheart’ Cowgirl on Wordpress!

It’s been almost five years since I began blogging about art, Cowgirls, and the Wild West. For most of that time I’ve used ‘Cowgirl Bess’ (whom you see ‘in transition’ above) to brand myself as a Cowgirl Artist.

It’s been a fun, challenging, and rewarding life acting as the official ‘Artist Rodeo Queen’ of Cowboy’s Sweetheart. As Gus would say to Woodrow in Lonesome Dove, “It’s been one hell of a ride!”

I’m still happy in my creative saddle – but I’m ready for a change, and so is Bess. So here we are on Wordpress, doing what Cowgirls do. Gettin’ better all the time.

Bess wants more than red hair, a sassy attitude, a fast horse, and a rugged Cowboy. She’s ready to embrace a more stylish persona, which may (or may not) result in diamonds around her neck and rhinestones on her boots. Right now she’s a blond bombshell of a Cowgirl with a fringed skirt and suede boots. Tomorrow … who knows?

And me … Deb Trotter, the artist? I want more than to follow a trail … I want to blaze one. These days, I create art more and more in Photoshop – a passion that has ‘morphed’ into another career. Now a licensed artist, I enjoy designing savvy art for manufacturers who produce everything from fashion accessories to home products and greeting cards.

I’ve also come to realize that Deb Trotter, the blogger, wants a little bit more these days than Typepad. (That’s not to say that Typepad isn’t a great blogging platform. It’s served me quite well for a coon’s age and I’m grateful.) Today, however, I want a blog that is more dynamic, interactive, fun, and appealing. I want a blog with more design options and cool plugins.

So, I went for it. I chose some colors and original artwork. Considered my blog’s first impression. Re-evaluated what was working for me and what wasn’t. I was psyched and ready to ‘get ‘er done.’

Then? Uh Oh.

I came to the conclusion that I didn’t have the time – or the knowledge – to do everything myself. At least not in a timely fashion.

So I contacted a fabulous blog and twitter designer, Nap Warden. She also designed my ‘Wanted’ blog buttons you see here in the sidebar, and created a custom background for my Twitter page.

I can’t recommend her highly enough, and I couldn’t be more excited about my new, self-hosted Cowboy’s Sweetheart blog.

In my next post I’d like to share some of the things I’ve learned during this blogging transition:  amusing (and not so amusing) tidbits, great resources, and things I still have yet to learn.

In the mean time, click on the ‘About’ Tab at the top of this page to learn more about me and my new blog.

Here we go, pardner. Slip off your boots, grab a cup of coffee, and have fun.

Happy Trails!

Tags: Art, Artist, Blogging, Cody Wyoming, Cowboy's Sweetheart, Cowboys, Cowgirls, Deb Trotter, Digital Art, Licensing, Mixed Media Art, Nap Warden, Vintage Cowgirl, Western, Wild West, Wordpress, writing

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 at 6:33 pm and is filed under Western Cowgirl Art. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.