Montana Artworking by Cindy Betka

Bump in the Road Oil 12" X 16" We all encounter these in our lives; figuratively and literally. Those pot holes have really been a nuisance of late. This 'bump' is a pleasant country back road that winds around near a creek. The barn belongs to a sculptor who does large welded steel pieces. His artwork is usually animals or figures. He will have his latest pieces out in the surrounding area. I could not find out more information on this artist.  'Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path' Psalm 119:105

Yesterday's morning sunrise shown through the light falling snow. The sun's rays caught the faucets of the tiny crystals in such a way to make them sparkle so bright. Snow flakes are fascinating when you look up close. Their form is basic, but varied. There are seven categories of snowflakes, with each starting out with three axis lines forming six arms at 60 degree angles. From 'Abstraction in Art & Nature' Somewhere must be spring, just not yet in Montana. Spring skips over us until about June when summer officially steps in. Hope it is spring where you are. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:5

It feels good to squeeze out the blobs of paint on my palette, arranging them in groups of warm and cool. I pick up the palette knife to mix pools of colors from the color scheme in my head.   From here, I approach the blank canvas now with full confidence. I begin to create the scene that is patently waiting to emerge from the slumber of my gray matter. With brush in hand I begin, laying down stroke after stroke, not afraid to fall into the canvas. Layer upon layer of paint the image takes hold. Soon the painting seems to take on a life of it’s own. It speaks to me with needs,   ”Give me more detail in the center of interest” or “I need more warmth in the foreground”. So it goes on and on, pausing for the paint to dry before the next go around. Beginning with bold broad strokes and ending with confidently bold, dense brush strokes. A collector once told me that, “ Your paintings make me feel good”. When my painting starts to work out and at a point of fin...

The Society of Painters and Etchers was formed in 1880. Their main agenda was to promote printmaking as an original art form. Printmaking seems to becoming more popular, especially among painters these days. While in England around 1880, Anders Zorn met up with a fellow Swede, Axel Herman Haig. Haig was one of the founders of the Society. He taught Zorn how to etch, as Haig was an excellent, self-taught, prolific etcher. Zorn was casually interested at first and did not take it up seriously until he was established in Paris, 1888. Below I have put etchings and paintings by Zorn side by side for comparisons. One example is a sketch and etching. Zorn superimposed his portrait on the dancer in ‘The Waltz’. He wrote in his autobiography notes, “ I particularly recall my efforts with that troublesome task: the waltz. I was fond of dancing and wanted to attempt a study in movement using scenes from society balls I had attended in Paris. It was always the same crowd...