Full Bloom

Summer in Montana is a mixed bag of hot dry heat, cool breezy nights, languid sunsets, bright orange sunrises, late afternoon thunderstorms, and the occasional haze of wildfires. The grass is thigh-high, summer wildflowers are in full bloom, and the young bucks sport fuzzy little antler stumps. Airy mountain summits beckon me, the cool rivers entice, and the rolling bike trails challenge. Studio life has been temporarily replaced with outdoor commissioned works while creativity bubbles and brews inside my soul like a colorful sparkling soda just waiting to make a splash. I am tan (in some places), mosquito-bitten, inspired and smiling. Here’s a few tidbits to catch up:

Commissioned Carving

My commute to work these past few weeks has been a forty-five minute drive along the Yellowstone River in glorious Paradise Valley to Tom Miner Basin where I have been busy carving entry porch posts while Zaydee lounges lazily in the shade. Elk graze the hillsides nearby.  A resident deer and a red-tailed hawk have been closely watching me create woodchips and sawdust. The opportunity to work outdoors in such a gloriously beautiful place is a joy.  Project photos are on my blog and will continue to be updated.

Patron Winner!

"Sunrise Song"

Each season I pick a random name from the growing group of Patron Members to win an original Work on Paper of their choice.  Summer season's lucky winner is Bethany Aleman of Fairview Texas!  Bethany has quite a collection of my work and selected "Sunrise Song" as a gift from me.  Congrats Bethany! 

Not a Patron Member yet? Join or encourage friends to join. Members enjoy many benefits plus warm fuzzy feelings by supporting the arts (and this artist).  Membership is only $12.00 a year when you select an original Work on Paper. 

Gotta Love Summits!

Some call it “bagging” a summit, others call it “tagging” a summit; I call it downright FUN!! The month of July has gifted two memorable mountain top summits. I had the pleasure of taking my little nieces on their first summit hike to the top of Ramshorn Peak (10,289’). They were tough little troopers; swatting mosquitoes and giggling their way up and down the eight mile trail. We had a blast. The following weekend I mountain biked 3000’ in elevation, then hiked another 3000’ to the top of Electric Peak in Yellowstone Park (10,969’) with a fine fun group. We clocked twenty-something miles, saw zillions of wildflowers, a few hundred elk, mountain goats, and fresh bear tracks before we returned to civilization.  We topped the day with a soak in the Boiling River hot springs, before gorging on yummy (huge) buffalo burgers and milkshakes. Other summer plans include a backcountry trip to the Taylor-Hilgard Wilderness where we will traverse and summit 3 peaks in one day.  Then there is Abiather Peak with its long knife edge ridge beckoning me, spectacular Black Mountain, Granite Peak, and the list goes on.  Photos and stories are (and will be) posted on my blog.

Charity Auction

The Gallatin Valley Land Trust conserves southwest Montana’s heritage of open landscapes, working farms and ranches, healthy rivers, and wildlife habitat; and creates trails to connect people, communities and the land. I will be attending the “Evening on the Land” event next month to support their cause and I donated an “Evening of Storytelling with Amber Jean” as an item in the silent auction for the event.

"See" you on the web!

I get up before dawn a few days a week to climb rock before going to work on the commissioned carvings. Inspired by the fresh smell of morning and enticed by the lingering coolness left by night on the rock, I feel indulgent and invigorated. I love the feel of stone. Wood feels good too; pliable and youthful in comparison to rock. I feel fortunate to play on rock before working with wood in the temporary outdoor studio of the onsite commission.

A friend called me a “sensualist" on Facebook in response to one of my postings. Perhaps I am. I appreciate the communication and feedback.  The web offers many venues to encourage dialog and storytelling. I have tapped into a number of web resources to share bits and pieces from adventures inside and outside my studio. Follow me on Facebook , Twitter, or my blog if you want to journey along with me.