Let the Show begin...

Both John and I have 'small works' in the Holiday Art Show at the Livingston Center for Art and Culture in Livingston Montana. The reception is December 6th during the Livingston Art Walk - hope you can make it!

Bronze Bunny
by John Stacy

Winter Patterns
Oil - plein air - by Shirl Ireland

Autumn Bouquet
Oil - plein air - by Shirl Ireland

Winter Bales
Oil by Shirl Ireland

Morning On The River
Oil by Shirl Ireland

Geyserland
Oil by Shirl Ireland

AND, we have a variety of table lamps at the Show that we have both helped to create - below are some examples...



 

 

 

What Yellowstone waterfall was that in my last post?

Osprey Falls

(It's also a great hike to the bottom of Osprey Falls - a spectacular angle to view the falls from. You can start off from the Bunsen Peak trailhead. We like to mountain bike the 'first leg' and then hike - mixes it up and makes for a fun 'day hike'.)

 

Our Yellowstone Zoo

- photos from our windows -

A sharp shinned hawk stopped by the property - the smallest hawk in North America... (similar to a Cooper's Hawk.) Their diet consists of mostly songbirds and mice.

With such acrobatic flying moves, it was hard to catch him in action...

 

 

 

Hear a sharp shinned hawk call, click here. 

(You'll also be able to learn more about them with that link.)

Name that Yellowstone waterfall...

So we went for a hike in Yellowstone a few days ago.

Here are photos of the waterfall we saw.....

 

 

Do you know what Yellowstone waterfall it is?

 

HINT: There is also a trail to the bottom of the falls.

(We've hiked that one too... it's spectacular!)

Our Yellowstone Zoo

- photos from our windows -

 

A couple Northern Flickers were 'flickering' around the property.

As you may have seen in my past posts, I love to try to 'catch birds'

(i.e. get a good photo of them flying)

 

I think I caught this one!

We also had some 'feisty' pronghorn...

 

I just dropped off pieces at the Livingston Art Center for their Christmas Show...paintings, sculpture and lighting. Next up, I'll preview our works to be in the show AND answer the waterfall question.

If it's not one thing, it's another....

The elk rut is subsiding and the big horn sheep rut is gearing up - so goes the action around here. Never a dull moment! 

 

Our Yellowstone Zoo

- photos from our windows -

 

Down by the Yellowstone River, the male was herding a large group of females and young ones....

He 'coaxed' them up a little closer....

And right by...

The 'handsome' male...

I liked the interesting 'mosaic' they made on their way out...

With all the wildlife action of late, I've been particularly inspired to paint wildlife. With many paintings in the works at the moment, I'll be sharing some of my progress in up coming posts. Stay tuned.

A lighting side trip

Port Townsend, Washington is a great little town on the way (sort of) to catch the ferry to Victoria, BC - so we wanted to swing by. We've been there several times and enjoy the quaint little town.

We were thinking we'd probably just grab a quick bite to eat, take a short stroll through town and move on. But 'luckily' our car broke down... so we got to stay longer! It gave us the chance to check out the Kelly Art Deco Lighting Museum.

With case after case of original lighting from the Art Deco period (1928-1938) along with a variety of other quality antique fixtures, it was 'eye candy' - especially for people like us who have created custom lighting for almost 20 years. As a visual person, I will always thoroughly appreciate functional art - a useful item made beautiful...shouldn't everything be? It was wonderful to see a collection of lighting at this level.

Privately owned, the Museum owner has been collecting for most of his lifetime....

 

And since it can be tricky to get car parts out there, we even got to spend the night....in a hotel, not the Museum :)

 

But if your car ever breaks down any where near Port Townsend, WA, we know who to call...Circle and Square Auto Care. They were fabulous and made our 'side trip' a very enjoyable part of the journey.