Montana Artworking by Cindy Betka

It seems that the day goes by and I ask myself, 'what did I do today?'. Before you know it the year is at an end. These days, other tasks are taking up the day to a point of having no time for art. However, I did manage to sneak in bits of time here and there for this remake of a painting. My motivation was a need for a larger painting on one of our walls. The idea and planning of the composition was formulating in my mind for awhile. I did not do much in the way of sketches, I just had to dig right into mucking around the paint. Leaves Afloat,  24" X 40", diptych, oil on wood panels

Primavera Primavera (Italian word meaning "Spring"), is a large tempera painting by the Italian Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli painted in early 1480s. ‘Alla Prima’ The wet-on-wet technique, or alla prima (Italian, meaning at once), is used mostly in oil painting. Claude Monet, soleil levant (Sunrise), 1872, oil, Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris. Au Premier Coup The French term au premier coup (at first stroke/direct painting). When painting with watercolors, this (wet in wet) technique must be used with careful planning and patience. Usually it is unpredictable, but sometimes the results are wonderful. With loads of practice the frustrating accident will turn into rather nice results. Winslow Homer Stowing Sail, 1903 (The Art Institute of Chicago) James McNeill Whistler Sea and Sand: Domburg 1900 Pasta Primavera Pasta made with fresh spring vegetables. Too bad we are not in spring yet. Winter hasn’t even officially begun. Recipe - this is...

Among The Reeds, oil, 18" X 18" Hope, oil, 18" X 18" These 2 paintings have been accepted into the YAM Art Auction 50. It is exciting for me to continue to have paintings accepted into YAM's annual auction. The Art Auction is the museum's largest fundraiser of the year bringing thousands of patrons to visit the exhibition of auction artwork. Exhibition opens with artists' reception - January 25, 2018 Live & silent auction night - March 3, 2018 www.artmuseum.org Yellowstone Art Museum 401 North 27th Street, Billings, MT 59101 406-256-6804

It never ceases to amaze me what I might wake up to living in the mountains. This is almost spiritual. I must admit I am already tired of winter that hasn't official begun yet, ( Dec. 21st). This is the earliest we have seen this much snow and cold. Having said all of this, I will paint some snowy scenes. How can I not. Just off the easel is this fall water scene. Dusk Awaits,  oil, 16" X 20"

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.