Montana Artworking by Cindy Betka

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas and loads of blessing in the New Year! These works are from the Serbian Church in Butte

It bottomed out at -21 degrees around 3 AM this morning. A modest -3 now. Just went into town for lunch, not many people out and about. It is actually warmer up here at 7000 ft elevation than down in town by 12 degrees. Butte is around 5300 ft elevation. You bet we are staying in for the rest of the weekend.

It has been awhile since I read 'Lust for Life' by Irving Stone, so I decided to pick up a copy to read once again. It is the fascinating story of Vincent Van Gogh in his tempestuous and dramatic life. Looking at his paintings how can I not want to add more passion into my work. Well, maybe not in the way he went at it. 'Steadfast',   oil, 16" X 20"

This ermine or short-tailed weasel is the cutest creature. They help with keeping down the mice and voles. Our answer to a resident barn cat. The males are 30% larger than the females. Their coat is brown with white underneath and paws in summer/warm months.

'Turnaround',  oil, 24" X 20" 2016 is coming to an end. We all ask, 'where has the time gone' ? Seems like the older I get the faster the time slips by. I look at what I have learned as I piled on the art mileage. There is always room for improvement; always learning. The painting above I under painted with gold acrylic. This water theme can go on forever, it is an endless subject..

'By Faith' , Oil, 16" X 16" 'Quiet Waters' , Oil 16" X 16" My 2 paintings above were accepted into YAM's Art Auction. 49th Annual Art Auction Event is March 4th, 2017 Art Auction 49 exhibition will be on view: January 19, 2017 – March 4, 2017 The exhibition culminates in our annual Art Auction which consists of a silent auction, a live auction, a “Quick Draw,” and cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres, all within the beautiful background created by the museum’s spacious galleries. The auction begins Saturday, March 4, 2017 at 5 p.m. and features a catered dinner and dessert buffet. The Live Auction bidding begins at 7:30 p.m. and will include a raffle drawing.  Advance tickets to the Art Auction event last year was $95 per person and $105 at the door. http://www.artmuseum.org/special-events/art-auction/

These came by as the sun was just about ready to set, last week end.

Fall Over,  Oil, 16" X 16" This painting was one of those that I worked over more than 3 times. This last rendition is probably what I should have started with. Then again, it would have looked differently. The work overs I made actually made for a better finish.

This Grey came by yesterday hunting for treats.

Nice snow fall again early today. It is around 31 degrees, forecast for today cold and more snow/rain. Well, it is getting close to Halloween.

Aren’t we just all tired of the mud slinging on TV. Let it me known that I think all politicians are crooks; I hate any kind of politics. There, I got that off my chest. These days we stay away from watching the news. Mostly my energy is spent in what I hope will be more productive activities. While at my easel I listen to all sorts of music. Even bits of country music every now and then for laughs. Some of the lyrics in those songs are so comical. One particular singer has a tattoo; “Be Easy Baby”. Warm Water,  12" X 16", Oil 20" X 24", oil painting on the easel progressing slowly We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy. Colossians 1:11

What a beautiful Fall! Please enjoy the photos I have been taking over this last week.

Refuge,  Oil,  16" X 20" When painting this work I really pushed contrast in paint thickness. It is difficult to see on screen, but viewing in person you can observe where I used the white of the canvas in the water. The large rock is the thickest application.  

Infusing,  Oil, 20" X 24" This painting was working with infusing the light and the figure of the bird. What drew me in was spilling the light over the bird. I really had fun with that; like putting the icing on the cake.

  Low of 32 this AM and some nice white stuff. Those are hydrangeas in the pots, just bloomed 4 very small flowers. The tomato plants in the green house grew nice and big, also just grew a few flower buds. Zucchini plants have tiny squash on them, 4" the biggest. Oh well, there is always next year; earlier start. Haven't lost hope on this possible abundant harvest yet. Laboring on these 3 paintings on the easels today. Should make some good progress.

We all have been watching the news about the wildfires across the west. Here in Montana they are expected, but you want to think they won't ever be too close. I took this photo from our front porch today. This fire is know as the Nez Perce fire. It is small, about 50 acres, looking much larger. Fortunately, it is about 10 miles from us straight east across the divide. That said, it is the closest a fire has been to us since living here.

Before After For sometime now I have been looking at this painting thinking that it needed something. What I wasn't sure until today. What it needed was more depth. I achieved that by pushing back the background with a light blue glaze. Then I brought the foliage of the trees in the upper right corner more forward by making them darker.

Untitled, 18" X 30", Oil This painting is just off my easel. I haven't come up with a clever title as yet. I recycled the board from a painting I did awhile ago. No telling what parts of the old painting is peeking through.

5 Loaves, 2 Fishes - Oil, 16" X 20" This artwork has been selected to show at the 'International Trout Congress';  at the Emerson, in Bozeman, MT. INTERNATIONAL TROUT CONGRESS September 9 – November 27, 2016 Sept. 9th Opening Reception 5-8pm The Emerson is partnering with the International Trout Congress to curate two exhibits in the Emerson’s Lobby and Weaver Room Galleries this fall. This exhibit is in correlation with the Trout Congress’ first ever meeting in Bozeman from October 2 – 6th, 2016. The goal of this gathering is to explore and celebrate the intersections of trout with the arts, literature, education, socio-economics, science and conservation. To accomplish this they will bring together a diverse international community of people who are passionate about trout and trout conservation worldwide.

Just published the photo article Art of the Landscape on Artsy Shark, which includes my artwork and statement – and a link to my artist website.   Here is the long link for the article http://www.artsyshark.com/2016/07/19/the-art-of-the-landscape/    

 When I paint a multiple paneled painting I want each panel to stand on its own. Each panel must also work with the triptych design as a whole.  Here I purposely placed the panels out of order to show how they work independently. In this painting I used lots of contrasts with; complementary color palette, high contrasting values, and hard/soft edges.

    Early Evening Thunderstorm Old Grey Mare   Hitching Up Mowing Hay   Happy 4th!