Found Object works on exhibit during July

During the month of July, we were delighted to have 45 of Gayle’s Found Object works on exhibit in the Goodrich Gallery in Dallas.

The gallery committee did a fabulous job of hanging the show. Special thanks to Vance Booker and the crew, to Candace Kuzov for hostessing the reception, and particularly to artist Patty Reagan whose arrangement of the work made sure the pieces looked their best.

A few of the 45 pieces that hung in the show…

The reception was lots of fun, with friends from Koinonia and from Callier; we really appreciate all of you for coming to see the show and sharing our big day. We were so happy that some of our family could be there also: Kate and Nate, Andrew and Denise, Declan, and Cormac. And thank you, Karen Clark and Lisa Mazurek; it was very special to have two works sell to friends — we know they’ll have good homes!

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Fourth of July float billboards make their first trip through the parade

It’s hard to beat a “small” town Fourth of July.

This was the second year we rode in the parade on the Gillespie County Democratic Association float.

Our smiles were bright because Kate was with us and it was the inaugural trip for the new float billboards.

These very large panels were painted by Gayle and Lee. (The state capitol’s appearance was made possible by Lee’s draughtsman skills!)

The presence of several candidates for state offices, including MJ Hegar, Wendy Davis, and Rebecca Martinez, was an honor.

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Garden peace poles enhance The Riverside Nature Center in Kerrville

www.RiversideNatureCenter.org

The Riverside Nature Center in Kerrville is a gem nestled next to the Guadalupe River.

It is also the perfect setting for our newest garden peace poles.

Gayle painted a Pollinator Pole for the beautiful pollinator garden. And for the area beside the bird blind, a pole featuring 16 birds you are likely to see in that spot.

Two more poles are on order; the next will be decorated with some of the plants, animals, and birds that make their homes beside the river.

In the gift shop, in addition to T-shirts and other items, you can find some Bobcat Ranch Workshop products — birdhouses, bird baths, and even a mini garden pole, just right for your favorite flower bed.

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Notecards are here

We're very excited to introduce Bobcat Ranch Workshop notecards to our website shoppers.

Notecard Shop

"Plant"

We've included images created using a variety of media.

First there are Lee's beautiful nature photographs. Many of these have been taken using a Nikon D3200 with an 80-300 lens; others were captured on an iPhone.

My artwork, as reflected in its distinctly differing styles, is the product of diverse techniques. Some of the simple, high energy pictures, like "Moonlight", were made on an iPad using a very basic drawing app. Others, like "Young Oak", were created with an amazing -- and challenging -- iPad program called ArtRage. The images in both are made by drawing with a finger on the touchscreen. 

Some cards, like "Hummingbird", are photos of paintings done on canvas board using acrylic paints.

Others, like "Bluebonnets", are photos of paintings from some of the Garden Peace Poles we have made. Each pole incorporates customer requests, so there are opportunities for subjects I might not have painted otherwise...the praying mantis comes to mind! 

Like all of my art on this website, "my" cards are a collaboration; they wouldn't become cards without Lee's photographic skills and patient printer management. It's fun to revisit my work in this new format!

Mix & match...

...Or buy a set of the same image

SHOP

Working on the layouts for "Crèche" and "Factories."

The base of each piece is extremely important.

I started out trying to do a Christmas arrangement with a base made of a long board we found by the side of the road on one of our county walks. It had scabrous bits of white paint along its 6 foot length which reminded me of snow. I sanded it and Lee cut and reassembled into a 24x28 base. When I began to play with different bits of metal and other objects, I quickly had a manger, some wise men, and a nativity theme going. It was just too complex to show up well on the white-flecked board, so I talked with Lee and we assembled another similarly sized base out of grating reclaimed wood which felt just right for "Crèche" as it came together.

"Crèche"

Then I turned again to my "snowy" background searching for another Christmas theme. Alas, not to be...it really wanted a stronger presence. When I tried out some objects with more heft, it was clear that the snow was really ash and other wear and tear in an industrial scene. "Factories" developed before my eyes.

"Factories"

Guess the Christmas snow scene will have to wait for the right foundation to come along.