Montana Artworking by Cindy Betka

The morning was a dark, cold one. I had no ambition to do anything, let alone paint. From my window I watched the cold front blow in with a blizzard. The wind let up slightly so I threw on a couple of layers and grabbed the camera. The best way to really feel the snowy atmosphere is to hike deep into the forest. Just to take it all in cleared my head to accomplish more that day.

Memories, Oil 16" X 20" Fond memories are those we keep close and do not push back down further into the cerebrum. Those of the fun, happy moments in childhood like the times in a row boat fishing with your dad. There is something about being in a row boat drifting along on a quiet pond. Can't you just hear the little waves slapping against the side of the boat as you bob up and down. The best is digging into the worm bucket picking out a nice fat, squirmy piece of bait. Hook that poor fella on and fling the line out into the water. Sit and wait for a poor fish to swallow the bait and give a tug. If I was lucky the fish didn't eat the worm off the hook. Most of the time it did as I wait and wait unsuspected. Row boats have been slipping into this new series of paintings I am working on. It is fun to add this human element. The boat also acts as the main character in the story that must be there.