Montana Artworking by Cindy Betka

These are a few relics from the Serbian Church here in Butte. The text panel gives a bit of history. The founder came from the Serbian monastery in Libertyville, Il. Check out their website for more photos of the beautiful paintings on the interior. http://holytrinitybutte.org/ . Blessed Easter

CODA MAGAZINE: Healing Art   codaworx/codamagazine healing art (https://flipboard.com/@codaworx/codamagazine%3A-healing-art-56vorq0uy) Follow the many projects at CODA Worx; Collaboration of Design and Art. The link above should take you to the Healing Art issue. Here is one of those projects in Longview, WA, Peace Health Hospital. Millennium Cross codaworx millennium-cross peacehealth-hospital   submitted by Arthur Stern photo: Blake Praytor photo: Arthur Stern photo: Blake Praytor photo: Blake Praytor

When you look up what town has the largest number of Irish you find it is Boston and the communities on its south side. But others claim that Butte has the most. Butte sure does celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Usually it is cold and snowy that day but those celebrating do not care. No exception this year. It snowed just about the whole day, coming down in light and heavy spurts. The heavy snow accumulated to about 8" at our 7000 ft. elevation. I was able to do some painting. Worked on the oil triptych on my easel. Autumn Stream, Oil, 20" X 60" (each panel 20" X 20") Finally finished and hung the water color triptych. It is unconventional in its presentation. The top of each panel it glued to the rope/clothes line. The clothes pins are over size to help make the statement. This is the opening piece for my water series to highlight water conservation. Hanging Out To Dry, water color and mixed, on paper, 4' X 9' The fruit of the Spirit ...

The beekeepers tell us because of the mild winter there has been fewer bees missing in their hives. This is good news. We do not keep bees but we have seen a tremendous increase in the gopher population on our property. The only thing that this signals is an increase in their food availability around here. Gophers eat grubs, plant roots, shrubs and vegetables. Most of our plants are weeds; the invasive variety, unfortunately. Grubs may be the problem. Bug eating birds we hope to see more of. We have seen an increase of large birds such as white tailed hawk, great grey owl, great horned owl, peregrine falcon and raven, plus others out there. As more snow melts and the vegetation starts to green we look forward to the return of song birds. I enjoy creating these small works of birds and just sketching. It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

The Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art has accepted 2 of my oil paintings for their annual art auction. I am very pleased. The auction is a premiere social event in north central Montana connecting art collectors with the region’s finest artists, set against the backdrop of lively music, good food and drink. The 19th Annual Art Auction will take place in Great Falls, Montana, Saturday, April 9, 2016. Proceeds from the event support the museum’s exhibitions and related educational programs. Blue Flow,  Oil, 16" X 20" Clapping Leaves,  Oil, 20" X 16"

Are you a timid artist? I believe most of us are perhaps depending on where we are in the creating process. I find that I overcome timidity when I am at a point of frustration. My thoughts are that something must give with this painting. So just take a drastic step. Here I load my brush with a nice rich color and make a bold stroke. I figure it is just a piece of paper or canvas with some paint on it. What do I have to lose, besides the hours of work I already have into the work. OK, sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. Surprisingly, most of the time I discover just what that painting needed and it works in a good way. Well, below is my progress on that large watercolor/mixed media triptych. Still working on it and still overcoming the timidity. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  John 14:27

Still Life with Pie, Silver Ewer and Crab by Willem Claeszoon Heda (1658) Oil on canvas Frans Hals Museum , Haarlem Black Paint Types: Ivory Black Made from inorganic synthetic carbon black and Calcium Phosphate. First called Bone Black was invented by the Romans using burnt animal bones. For a nice good grade they began using ivory instead of the animal bones. Ivory Black has a higher carbon content than Bone Black giving it better intensity. Technical investigation of Rembrandt's paintings has been conducted by Hermann Kühn in 1977. The pigment analyses of some thirty paintings have shown that Rembrandt's palette consisted of the following pigments: lead white, various ochres, Vandyke brown, bone black, charcoal black, lamp black, vermilion, madder lake, azurite, ultramarine, yellow lake and lead-tin-yellow. Self-Portrait with Beret and Turned-Up Collar (1659), National Gallery of Art , Washington, D.C Lamp Black Carbon Black first made with burning...