Montana Artworking by Cindy Betka

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" ~ Luke 2:11-14

Yesterday's snow fall painted the landscape pure white. After I got done shoveling I took these photos to share. "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and they will call him Immanuel"   -which means "God with us" Matthew 1:22-23

Carl Larsson (28 May 1853 – 22 January 1919) was a Swedish painter representative of the Arts and Crafts Movement. His many paintings include oils, watercolors, and frescoes. He considered his finest work to be Midvinterblot (Midwinter Sacrifice), a large painting now displayed inside the Swedish National Museum of Fine Arts. (From Wikipedia) Anders Zorn considered Carl Larsson to be the best watercolorist. Carl was a sort of Sweden’s Norman Rockwell. Self Portrait In The New Studio Breakfast Under The Birch Cozy Corner Christmas Morning Christmas

Work in Progress If I don't continue to experiment and try different methods of creating art I will stop growing in art. I work in watercolor, pen and ink, color pencil and oil. Mostly in oil but, as in this painting, I under painted with copper leaf. On top I layer transparent colors. The copper has a nice shimmering warmth as bright rocks laying on the bottom of the stream.

Close With Pink Curtain,  Oil   20" X 20" This piece of mine was accepted into the Yellowstone Art Museum's 48 th Annual Art Auction ;  I am so excited. Art Auction 48 March 5, 2016 Artists, buyers, sponsors, volunteers and attendees once again guaranteed a fun and exciting Art Auction 47 last March.  Thank you!  We had a wonderful event, raising funds that sustain valuable exhibitions and education programs throughout the year. Mark your calendars!  Art Auction 48 is next.  It will be on exhibit: January 21, 2016 – March 5, 2016 The YAM’s auction was the region’s first and is still the area’s finest and most exciting auction of contemporary regional art!  It’s the place to be, and it’s an exceptional way to support the artists living and working in your midst.  Every year, the Art Auction raises crucial support for the exhibitions and educational programs that the Yellowstone Art Museum present...

Norman Rockwell’s World - An American Dream;  a short documentary film from 1972. It won an Academy Award in 1973 for Best Short Subject. Does Norman Rockwell’s America exist today, of course not. America has changed dramatically. Somehow I thought it fitting to show Rockwell’s pieces for the Thanksgiving holiday. Thanksgiving Careful Aim Connoisseur The Little Model, As seen on Antiques Road Show - Appraisal, $500,000. Freedom To Worship Saying Grace "Give thanks to all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Thessalonians 5:18

This painting in progress is a change from my norm. The color scheme is certainly different from what I usually do. The design is simple and I started with less detail thinking I would stay with that but I am not. The steps are a slow build of transparent colors. I have jumped back into it with lighter colors concentrating on the detail. Later I will blog the finished painting. Untitled, 18" X 36", Oil This close up view is after I worked on it; adding more detail and warmer whites/greys.

Cliff Swallow, mixed media, 7" X 5" Northern Pygmy Owl, mixed media, 4" X 6" These small pieces will be available at Birds and Beasley's , Helena, MT. They were fun to create. I used mixed techniques, these were; etching, ink, color pencil, and water color. The Cliff Swallow piece I tinted the water color paper with coffee grounds.

Freezing Autumn,  16" X 12", Oil Autumn being my favorite season I thought I would go about freezing it; at least in paint. When you think about it, perhaps that is what winter does. And here it is what it looks like out front, as I speak.

Just finished making 5 new journals. These are a bit different; I drew illustrations in each of their 1st and last pages. The illustrations are in ink and color pencil and of birds or wildflowers. All of the illustrations have a story from the photo referencies I took. Below are a few of those journals.

'Clapping Leaves', 20" X 16", oil, progressive stages With a wonderful fall I have been spending a lot of time outdoors sketching and painting. The weather has been perfect for it, not to mention the scenery. I am blessed with the scenes right on our small ranch. Here I tried to capture the steps in this painting. I worked over the whole painting bringing the foreground in focus as the center point towards the final stage. The painting background, middle ground and foreground are in simple shapes keeping the whole scene open. 'The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.'  Psalm 18:30

The triptych has gone through some design changes particularly on the last panel. The setting sun reflecting on the water helps bring the composition around to the beginning. Without that vertical element I think your eye would move out of the scene. More work is needed but at least it is starting to come together.

Blue Flow, Oil  16" X 20" Pablo Picasso had a a time between 1901 -1904 when he painted in monochrome blues and greens. I will go through a few paintings in a row when my palette is mainly cool or warm colors. This is one of those paintings in a series of 4 where I used a cool palette.  Rest assured that I am NOT depressed or going through a dark time in my life as Picasso did during his 'Blue Period'. Pablo Picasso,  The Old Guitarist,  1903, The Art Institute of Chicago

The scenario is there before you. You spot a scene that is so stunningly beautiful to pass up. It can happen anywhere at anytime. Usually it is when you are without a camera or too fleeting to capture anything. All you have to work with is your memory to record the vivid detail. Well, such was the case around 5 pm yesterday. We were passing the fall meadow and among the aspens were a magnificent bull moose and a young moose revealing just his ears and head in the tall grass. We returned the next morning to take photos of their resting place. Enjoy the fall colors.