Pet portrait

 

I want to share with you this painting of Oskar and Ulani by Josephine Aurora Burck.  Also known as Josie, this brilliant artist works from photographs, capturing the essence of a pet's spirit with her brush strokes on canvas.

Did I also mention that Josie is Farm Girl Beth's youngest daughter?  Or that she is eleven years old?

Josie, like many young women her age, has gone a bit horse crazy.  And in order to lease a horse for the summer, she needs to generate some income.  Luckily for her, she has great talent! 

I love how Josie captured the light on Oskar and Ulani's hair with just a few bold strokes, adding a lively tan across Ulani's muzzle for texture and depth.  The delicate gray hairs around Oskar's nose, and the dark shadow where his fall covers his eyes.

And how about the beautiful light periwinkle of the background?  What a choice!

I've been missing Oskar, but having this portrait in my living room helps me to remember him and keep him near.  Thanks for the good work, Josie!

Note, Josie wrote a post about her technique for the Briard hair -- check it out!

The Wolf Moon

The Wolf Moon Brings...

The Wolf Moon of January has been particularly brilliant the past few days.  I've been catching it on the descent when I go to the barn in the morning.

Today I stood closer to the back fence to try a different angle.  And in the silence of the dark morning I heard something move in the brush.

This is the unretouched photo I took aimed at the burn pile.  Can't tell much from that!  So I hit the "enhance" button, and more detail was revealed.

Now I've got something to work with.  So I started to look around the photo.  You can see the pile of brush waiting to be burned on the left-hand side.  And the first clear tree trunk just left of center.  Is that something on the lens, floating above the pile?

That's no speck!  That looks like a pair of glowing eyes!!!

My guess is possum, though I'm open to other interpretations.  I love my new camera!

How do you like the snow?

2012

A very windy day with falling temperatures, in advance of the threat of lake effect snow.

But we're bundled up warm inside.  A pot of red beans is on the stove; later on I'll make rice.  Ulani, Luke and I are safe and sound.  Barnard came over to the door earlier to say hello.  I expect she's sleeping in her bed of straw in the dog crate, the coos and clucks of the birds her own lullaby.

And so a new year begins at Busy Solitude Farm.

Happy new year!