I'm Still Here

It has been SUCH a busy summer! But a good one. I know I mentioned on my facebook page that I was starting a new little artistic venture. That company I started has taken off and is soaring. I'm actually struggling to keep up! Eeeeeeeeeeek! It has been exciting thinking about the possibilities it has.

But that is not what this post is about. This post is that, yes, I'm still here and I'm still painting! I had a couple of opportunities to teach some kids and adult art classes this summer through the Stumptown Art Center. I'll do a post about those in a couple of weeks after my last class. This has been such a busy summer between my new little flourishing business, art classes and all the painting I've been doing. I've had several commissions this summer....that have taken me longer to paint/finish than I ever wanted them to. :( I know I can't paint everything super fast but sometimes it's frustrating when you aren't painting as fast as you would like. Thankfully, everyone has been super patient. (Bless their hearts). I only have one left to go and I should hopefully finish that in a couple of weeks as well (fingers crossed).

I have also been painting for an upcoming exhibition at Stephen Isley Jewelry in Whitefish, MT. I've been working on some western images in an art nouveau style. It's quite exciting. I love how they are turning out. This image is Annie Oakley. I took a quick snap of the painting on my phone, in bad light, just after I finished it so it doesn't look as nice online as I'd like, but it's there for you to get a sense of where I'm going with this.

I'm going to have paintings of Annie, Calamity Jane, Bell Starr, a bison, a horse, and (if I'm able to get it done in time) Jesse James. If I finish Jesse or not, I like where this is going and want to do a whole series! Billy the Kid, Butch Cassidy, Wyatt Earp, Stagecoach Mary, Laura Ingles Wilder, General Custer, Sitting Bull, Chief Joseph, Crazy Horse, ect. I want to paint a lot of western icons in this style. It's been fun exploring a different artistic style while trying to add my own little flair to it and painting what interests me. YAY for something different and trying new things.

If you do happen to be in area September 1st, the show will be from 5-8 at Stephen Isley Jewelry in downtown Whitefish, MT.

And thanks for sticking around to see what is new on the blog! Sorry it has been so long since I last posted!!!!!

FINALLY finished!

I finally finished the piece of the draft horse I've been working on. Unfortunately, my scanner is on the fritz so there are all sorts of weird lines in my scan. :( Guess it's time for a new one. I've had my scanner for 11 years (Through 4 moves and heavy use)!!!!

A Different Direction

This year was a bittersweet one. The good of it was that I feel I accomplished some solid paintings and am continuing to grow in skill as a watercolorist. I love watercolor and the way it works. I have some ideas for directions to go with my work and am excited about what the future holds. The bad was the art fair season...they were rough. I love doing the outdoor art festivals...it's a great way to meet my clients and fellow art lovers and artists. I make friends and usually end up with a new piece for my ever expanding art collection. But I do need to at least break even on expenses to keep the habit going and this year I fell so far from the basic line. Perhaps I'm in the wrong venue? Wrong region? Oversaturated market? It's kinda hard not to take it so personal. I've read many blog posts from other artists that, in not so many words, say that when you sell you feel like you're a good artist and creative soul. When you don't, you feel like a failure, debating if you a hack or wannabe masquerading as an artist. You question your skill, training, talent, approach, technique, medium, subject matter, booth design, framing choice, your attire,....the list goes on. You wonder if you should even go on. 'Maybe I should just be like everyone else and get a 9-5 job...it would be stable'. So many doubts and fears, all because you had a bad show. One good show and it all disappears, but after a year of bad shows you begin to wonder, am I any good???

Bad shows or not, I know I am good....I have a style all my own, a voice, and that is neat! But I realize I have SO MUCH TO LEARN. And that is one of the things I LOVE about art. You can never stop learning. You can never stop progressing and evolving as a creative spirit. Sometimes, though, you need to take a step back and focus on the little things, focus on painting and creating solely for you.

Which leads me into sharing with you all a different creative direction for me from the watercolor. I've always been a doodler and a drawer. Most of my school assignments from my youth featured little horses prancing, rearing, bucking, and eating grass along the borders. There was one time I remember actually getting scolded in the middle of a science class because I was drawing on my notes instead of giving my full attention to the teacher as he lectured....chemistry, it's not my thing. (but give me biology and geology anyday!) Before I start a painting I begin with a little doodle to figure out the composition of the piece. Then I work on the drawing. If the drawing doesn't look right, I won't paint it. You have to start with a solid drawing...it's the framework of what you're wanting to achieve. But to keep myself from not getting bored or to inspire new ideas, I often doodle, sketch and draw. Most of these will never see the light of day.

I also have a passion for gift giving...in part so I can wrap a package and make it beautiful! I love pretty paper and ribbons and bows. LOVE...or maybe I should say obsessed??? LOL. I was looking at some doodles and thought it would look neat as wrapping paper. I wanted to know if I could make my own and started researching different options. Well, I'm happy to announce that I now have several designs of wrapping paper sheets that I've created and that has led to my silk screening/screen printing some of these drawings onto fabric and creating textiles for the home. I've printed and sewn fabric and made tea towels, linen table runners & napkins, pillows, infinity scarves, and men's neckties. It has been fun! I haven't screen printed since high school....which is a loooooooooong time ago. I forgot how much fun it is. I decided this holiday season I would do some craft shows and sell these instead of the fine art. It's been a lot of work but it's been fun.

The most amazing thing out of this different artistic venture is the passion for my painting. When I sit down to paint it is for me. It's so much more rewarding. I don't feel any pressure to crank out paintings of subjects that might sell. I can enjoy the process. I love this! I can't wait to see what paintings emerge from this new found painting freedom. I will still be doing art festivals, but not as many. I'm just going to paint! :) Oh, and if you want to see some of the things I've created on my new artistic venture, check out corvidaedrawingsanddesigns.com

Posting to Post!

Yikes! It has been A W I L E since I have last posted!!!!! :/ Sorry everyone! The day job has been keeping me busy. We were sooooo short staffed that I was working A LOT but thankfully we've hired a couple of people and the training process is winding down and I can get back to creating. I'm working on a draft horse now....similar to one I did several years ago that I named Blinders. It's taking forever, though, due to the lack of time I have to devote. I guess I could just sit down and force myself to finish it...but, ya know, projects abound and sometimes I swear I have the attention span of a goldfish!

I'm attempting to deep clean my house...always a necessity after art fair season. Things are just tossed by the wayside, clutter accumulates, half finished tasks pile up and then I feel like I'm living in a tornado. *sigh* So, I watch episodes of hoarders to make myself realize it could be MUCH worse! LOL. Plus, I'm really wanting to build a small house and am trying to purge all the unnecessaries in my life. It's especially hard for me because I DO hoard art supplies. Paper, frames, matting supplies, paint, canvas, etc, etc, etc...I know I don't need it all but I sure feel like I do! I really need to learn to live with less. I think that is really something we need to do as a society too. Maybe it's because I'm older, but every time I go shopping and go to a box store (TARGET IS MY FAVORITE!!!!!) for this and that I'm always surprised at how many things are pushed on us... and mostly through sales. Last week I noticed one store had a big sign announcing a Black Friday type sale with 'LOW LOW LOW Prices!!!!' I was thinking ' IT'S AUGUST for pete's sake. They must really want a leg up on the Black Friday competition.' Things are pushed on us from every angle. More clothes, More Food, Bigger this, Bigger that, Better better better! I guess I'm just feeling that if I'm able to get rid of so much and purge I won't be seduced by the feeling of 'needing' more.

However, It's rather funny I'm talking about getting rid of things and going without because I'm in a position, with my art and creative endeavors, that I hope people want to add to their collections. oh boy! It's a fascinating struggle we are all in. Pushing against some forces while pulling at others.

Well, It's now September, the start of my favorite time of year! We are on the verge of sweater weather, pumpkin flavored and spiced EVERYTHING, Football, apple cider, colorful leaves, crisp mornings, the 3 best holidays all in a row.... I am one happy camper that can't wait to create during my favorite time of year! YAY!

Happy September my friends!

Working

The past month I've been constantly working! I have a lot of opportunities and projects and apologize for allowing the blog to go to the wayside. I've been working on a lot of mini pieces for a gallery I've recently had the opportunity to become a part of. I haven't yet built up the amount of images I want to showcase to them, but I'm getting close.

I had been commissioned to paint 25 images for a wedding a while ago. A couple is getting married at the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco and want original artwork at each of the guests dinner tables...a different image at each table. I just finished everything today! And just in the nick of time. The wedding is next week!!!! It's been fun yet challenging. The images are small, 4x4 or 4x6 and they rang from ocean to jungle to african animals. I even painted a T-Rex, which is featured in the Academy of Sciences.

Then, in addition to attempting to get some pieces done for art fair season (which started this past weekend), I've been asked to hang for a solo exhibition next month! It will be at Steven Isley Jewelry again. :) Steve and Cindy asked that I exhibit some of my animals for the Art Walk in August! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! :D I can't help but grin ear to ear thinking about the wonderful opportunity. So, I've started working on some new wildlife pieces. I'm thinking some big game animals....and a maybe another bear! I'll also exhibit a few older pieces because I'm not sure how many quality pieces I can finish on such a tight deadline. Here is a Bison in progress. I have a LONG way to go but already liking the result!

Show today!

I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited about today. The opening at Stephen Isley Jewelry is later this afternoon/evening. I'll be exhibiting 5 river rock paintings. I have a fascination with little rocks in and around streams, rivers, and lakes. It has been fun exploring different facets of the rocks by painting them. Really studying the color, shape, and texture has made me look at them in a different way. Now I'll look at a rock and think "Ooooooooooooooooooooooooh! This would be a fun rock to paint"! haha!

The finished paintings look so wonderful in the frames. It's amazing how a frame can really enhance what is already there and just make it glow!

I'll be sure to take some photos of the event!

But here is newly finished piece that will be at the exhibit.

Great Goings On!

Oh my! How time has passed....or more like gotten away from me. I've been painting a lot...but still not as much as I would like to. I'm going to have a solo exhibition at a local art spot in Whitefish for the 'Whitefish Gallery Nights, First Thursdays' in June. I'm going with my rock theme and have been working hard attempting to finish pieces for it. Hopefully, everything will be done in time! Fingers crossed.

I recently delivered a piece to the Dana Gallery in Missoula for their Icons of the West Exhibit! I had one of my new oils accepted. I FINALLY gave it a name..."Stillwater Summer".

The show opens Friday May 15th with an opening reception from 5-8. It stays up the rest of the month of May and all of June!

The last bit of great news is I'm going to be in a new gallery in Snohomish, Wa! YAY!!!!!!!!! I don't have all the details as of yet, but when I do (like name of gallery, location, etc) I'll let you know. I'm so very excited about this new opportunity!

Well, I must jet and attempt to finish some more paintings!

Western Art Week: Wild Bunch Art Show

I just returned from The Wild Bunch Art Show in Great Falls, MT. The show was part of Western Art Week, an event encompassing 10-13 shows where artists set up booths in convention centers or hotel rooms to exhibit their work, art auctions for 19th & 20th century original western art as well as contemporary artwork, and quick draws & demos of current western artists.

The Wild Bunch Art Show was held at the Hampton Inn Convention Center in Great Falls. There were 13 artists at the exhibit. It was 3 1/2 days of greeting guests and art enthusiasts and selling work to collectors new and old. I invested in parts to turn my outdoor art tent into an indoor one. I didn't have all the parts I needed to maximize my space but it worked, and looked good I dare say!

The great thing about this show was the quality of artwork and the variety. There was something for everyone! My neighbor, Jeff Renner, painted detailed images of wildlife in acrylic. Check out his site here!

My good friends Larry and LeAnn Ochsner actually recommended me to the show organizer and promoter! It was great to see them and their stunning jewelry. Click here to check it out!

Close by me was Pam Harr and Harvey Rattey, two bronze sculptures. They were the sweetest little couple! Pam even gave us all a pewter pronghorn (one of my fav animals) as a momento! Thanks Pam! You can check out their work here

Show organizer and promoter Nadine Pickthorn was so nice! She did amazing paintings on rocks and incorporated the rock into the image she was painting. It was really remarkable. I wish I would've gotten a picture them, but she sold them all (I took photos the last day). She also did paintings on traditional canvas and such. Check out her work here.

Connie Tveten (standing up in the last photo) Did incredible carvings of birds. They were pretty remarkable. There was so much wonderful art! Bridget Stiverson created incredible works of art with glass. Leith DeWeese was another watercolorist, Todd Mandeville did some pretty incredibly detailed western paintings, Andy Knudson painted on feathers and tree bark in addition to creating images in a more traditional manner (canvas, paper, etc). Jeff Hoff (the other Jeff!) Painted beautiful images of western wildlife and birds. And from my neck of the woods was Ron & Lynn of Lowery Bronze in Kalispell!

It was a wonderful time getting to see some old friends and to make new ones! I had such a wonderful experience and can't wait for next year! Thanks to everyone who helped make this such a wonderful event to be a part of!

Teaching Classes

Over the past several years I've been asked by all sorts of people if I teach watercolor classes &/or lessons. I haven't, partly because I have always had a couple of other jobs so it's hard to find the time and no space to adequately teach more than one person. Now that I only have one other job, in addition to my art, the only hang up was a space to teach.

I began brainstorming...where is a space large enough to set up a couple of tables where I could be able to freely walk around and teach? Think, think, think, where? And then it came to me! A community center! YES! Soooooooooo, I reached out to the local community center to see if it was even a possibility and sure enough it is. I can teach.

I'm so excited. It's been at least 6 years since I've taught. The classes I used to teach were only 2 hours so I didn't feel like I could really get into the painting with the students...I felt like I had to rush them along to teach them everything they needed to know, which is NO way to learn watercolor. The classes I'll teach will be a Saturday afternoon and will be 5 hours. (well, really 4 when you count break time for lunch!) I'm anxious to see how I'll do, since it has been 6 years...at least!

The first class will take place January 17th from 11am to 4pm at the Whitefish Community Center. They are located at 121 E 2nd Street. 406-862-4293.

I had the hardest time deciding on a subject for the first class. I decided to go with something rather simple, floral pieces. And by simple, I mean ease of getting a good reference. I'll bring a couple of bouquets so those that have a bad photo reference will still have an opportunity to have a good reference. Maybe the next class will be a snowy landscape? Maybe animals? rocks?

If you had the chance to take a class, what would you want to learn?

Angie

I took a photo of my friend Angie a couple of months ago. The moment I saw it I knew I had to paint it. Well, today, I finally painted that picture! It helped being a cold gloomy day out...although I can see some blue sky peaking through the clouds, so that is a nice treat from Mother Nature.

Here is when I first started....a detail of her face

and here is the finished piece. I thought of adding more embellishments to her coat and outfit but figured that would take away from what I have

And a detail of her face

Watermedia 2015

OHMYGOSH!!!!!!!!! Could Watermedia be any cooler this year??? *****Prepare yourselves....this is going to be a long blog post***** First things first. This was my first year as being part of the Montana Watercolor Society Board. Wow, what an experience. I decided last year that after being a member for a decade (I know, right....crazy how time flies) that I should give back and volunteer. There was a little box at the bottom of the membership renewal form that asked if you were interested in being part of the board. I checked it and boy did they put me to work! They stuck me as chair for Watermedia....the BIG annual show for MTWS! YIKES!

But thankfully, they all held my hand pretty much! LOL and I learned a LOT about what really goes on in MTWS and how much planning and preperation goes into it from all aspects. Very cool. Oh, and if any of you readers out there are ALSO MTWS members, you should volunteer and help out. It's actually a lot of fun. I've gained some awesome friendships by being on the board. Ok, back to the blog.

So, besides being part of the board and helping plan the event (I got to find the juror for next year, the banquet location for this year, reach out to vendors for merchandise awards, etc), I also entered the show. I've had a couple of people ask me if that was legal and I assure you it is. The Juror (Jean Pederson and she is AWESOME) is sent only the images with numbers....no indication of who painted them. There were over 200 paintings submitted this year and 47 paintings made the cut with 3 alternates. My piece 'The Edge' made it in!

Days before the opening reception, the juror spends time looking at the exhibit, getting to view the pieces in person instead of as a small digital image. I was able to watch the process. We cover up the name cards on the wall next to the paintings with sticky notes and she picks paintings off the wall and studies them, arranging them in order of ranking she sees fit for awards. I held my breath as I watched her pick 'The Edge' and put it with 20 or so other paintings. Would she put it back? Or would she keep it? And if she kept my piece, where would she rank it??? I was screaming inside my head. AGHHHHHHHHHHHHH :D AGHHHHHHHHHHHH! We had SO many amazing awards from incredible vendors, I wanted to win them all (hey, starving artist here....I want a LOT of supplies! haha!) I ended up with a merchandise award from the University of Montana with $150 worth of art supplies! HOW COOL IS THAT???? WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! It ended up being 11th place. Not bad out of 47 paintings :)

As part of Watermedia Chair, the board and as social media gal for MTWS I became a little fly on the wall and took a TON of pictures at the workshop and the banquet. I'll share some pics from the reception with you in a bit. My darling friend Angie agreed to be my date for the evening (I enticed her with a rocking free meal from Grille 459). It was such a wonderful evening. The opening reception was held again at the Bigfork Museum of Art and History and our Juror Jean Pederson gave a gallery talk and spoke about the award winning paintings and why she chose them. Jean mentioned that she really like the luminosity that was present in 'The Edge' and felt that I captured the essence of the sheep. She said she liked the look of the sheep standing in a hot sun. She felt there was a story and wanted to know did he just climb steep terrain to stand where he was? Where was he going? Why was he alone? She said my piece reminded her of Walter Phillips, a deceased canadian artist. She said to continue on my journey and to paint what I love because it shows in my work!!!! :D

After the gallery talk about 30 of us went to the Grille 459 which was just about a 1/2 block down the street from the exhibition. It was awesome. It couldn't have been a nicer venue, the staff was AMAZING, the food was divine (Mediterranean Chicken - pesto excrusted chicken with kalamata olives and feta served with grilled asparagus, White Cheddar mashed potatoes and ended with a Lava Cake! YUM

It was such a great evening to be spent with friends and fellow watermedia artists! I can't wait for next year! :D

Big 'Ol Bison

Welp, I'm pretty much finished. I just have a few minor tweaks and I'll be finished! SO excited about how this guy turned out. In the early stages of the piece, my friend, Amanda, said he looked like he had a 'fro. Buffa-fro? He does have some pretty fuzzy bangs going on!

Big 'Ol Bison, 35x22

And, on a fun note....I got to do the Color Me Rad 5K in Missoula with my two besties....Sami & Amanda. It was so much fun. If any of you haven't done this fun run before, you HAVE to! It is an absolute blast. So many people dressed up...I even saw a guy wearing angle wings, lots of tutus and a couple of girls were in wedding dresses. FUN!

Rodeo

Got to go to a Rodeo last night with my friend Amanda and I got some GREAT reference photos! I'm super excited. I was planning on making some major headway on my rock painting and hopefully finish another daisy image but I had to at least paint one guy from last night. I'm so excited with the possibilites with the images I took!

Explosion, 6x7

Throwing in another plug for Texas...if any of you are in the area be sure to mark it on your calendar! April 12 & 13 in the Woodlands, TX over by the waterway mall. I can't believe it is less than a month away! I'm so excited and nervous.

Pushing New Boundaries

So, I LOVE to troll the internet for upcoming shows, exhibitions, artist opportunities and such in the western art world. I also look at what other artists are doing by checking out Legacy Gallery's website, Trailside Gallery's website, and artist pages for Cowboy Artists of America and such. It's very inspirational and reminds me not to settle.

Sometimes, I look at the art and think, 'GOSH. I'm never going to be that good.' Other times I'll look at a painting or two and think, 'I'm TOTALLY better. Totally.' (I KNOW I'm not really better than someone or worse than them....I just have so much more to learn and ways I need to grow as an artist). The point is, I'm looking at my contemporaries and letting myself absorb the simple truth that while I have my own unique style and approach to a subject, not to get stuck in a rut. Try new things, keep things fresh.... Paint what I love but don't get complaicent. Plus, it's just fun to look at great art!!!!

So, In my trolling this afternoon (when I should've been taking a well deserved Sunday Afternoon Nap) I came across an artist name Bill Owen. WOW, BILL IS AMAZING!!! Like, I-wanna-be-like-him-when-I-grow-up amazing. I came across a piece he did of a couple horses standing on a grassy hillside with a starlight sky behind them. WHOA.

lemme say that again.... W H O A

It was A.W.E.S.O.M.E! The colors, the simplicity, and those STARS. I immediatly wanted to try that...to even see if I could pull off an image like that. I don't have ANY reference photos of a horse/cow/etc. at night (got of some great ones of Whitefish City Beach though ;)!!!)

So, I pulled out a reference photo of two calves I've been meaning to paint and gave it go as a night scene. It's 8x11. It was fun. I liked how it turned out (went off of memory of that painting I came across of Bill's) I thought it was a pretty solid piece until I looked at Bill's again and I can see SO many much needed changes/improvements. Let's be honest, if it wasn't for the 'stars' (which compaired to Bill's look very 3rd grade btw) it could easily pass as a any piece in daylight or during a storm. This is something I definetly want to learn about. Capturing color, light and life in a muted setting and having it read as night.

It was a fun experiment! Maybe you'll get to see more stary pictures in the future (but I still need to finish another daisy, rock, and cow painting. Yikes, I have my work cut out for me!!!)

Apgar

Apgar, 11x30

Glacier Trees

Here is some progress on another piece I've been working on. This one is very tedious. It is from a photo I took in Glacier a couple of months after I moved to Whitefish almost 3 years ago. Shoot dang! Time goes by quickly. I've masked some parts of the trees to preserve the white from the light that will be hitting them, but everything else is painted one slow detail at a time. It may look simple enough but it is very time consuming. I think I've already put 10 hours into it...a little here, a little there. I haven't been keeping track as I ought because I've also been working on other pieces and will consistently take a break and work on another mini piece.

I'm on narrow horizontal kick right now! The last floral piece I finished was this format. I also have another horse image ready to go at this format...but I don't want to start that until I finish this and more minis and then apply for some shows. I have so many ideas and want to paint them all but I can't do everything at once! Plus, postponing a piece often gives me more time to think about it, tweak the composition, ponder about the painting process I'll use, and (cross fingers) lead to a more polished piece in the end.

Well, I just wanted to share! Happy Wednesday!

Finished Painting and a couple of mini's

I finished it! Spent all day working on this piece and a bunch of mini pieces for upcoming benefit auction exhibitions. So, you get two posts in one day! :D

Trunks & Tops, 30x11

I wish digital images captured all the subtle details but sadly they don't. As cool as it looks on here it's much more striking in the flesh. Oh well...Hope you enjoy it! I'm happy with the result.

It's a busy/chaotic piece but there is a method to my maddness. I have the subtle focal point that draws your eye, but then you look to the left, the right, back at the middle, back to the left, back to the middle. I wanted to capture the look and feeling I get when I see a patch of daisies. There are always so many different ones but of equal beautiful. I look at one and think of how stunning it is. 'Surely another daisy can't be more perfe...Oh look! There is one. Hey! There is another. Oooooooh, three more over there. Oppp, two over here'. When I'm looking at a patch of daisies, I usually spend a bit of time looking at all the different flowers. They are all so stunning and compete for my attention. So, hopefully you get that sense in this piece. I have another daisy one (vertical one this time) that I'll be starting soon...that isn't so spastic!

Here are a couple of mini's. These two are my favorites from today. So much so that they are probably going to become larger paintings soon! For sure the grey one!

Both of these pieces are under 4 inches.

Thinking Spring

I started working on a forest of daisies last night. I got so into it and completely lost track of time! I felt I had gotten to a good stopping point and decided to watch a movie before going to bed. Well, as I walked to my living room to pick a flick, I noticed the time... 2:15am. HOLY BUCKETS! I didn't realize that so much time had passed. Lots of washes and layers sure can be fun :)

I've already worked on it a couple of hours today. Just taking a break to eat some lunch and then I'll be back at it! This piece is 30x11. can't wait to see what the final result will be.

Happy Saturday

Nice and Easy....

This is one of those pieces that takes time to finish...I'm so anxious for the final result that I have to constantly remind myself that I can't rush it. Gotta take it at little chunks here and there to prevent rushing. I guess that's the downside to a piece I'm excited about. I've also been working on some mini pieces...I'll share those later. Here is the progress I've made recently on this piece.

and a little detail on the face

The Work of an Artist Never Ends

I have several pieces in process. One of a snowy landscape, several mini's that might end up being submission pieces for The Hockaday Mini Show and the {mini} benefit show for the ZACC (Zootown Arts Community Center)....and then there is this piece.

This is the one I'm most excited about. It's 22x30 (I know, another big one...I am just loving painting big pieces!) It is based off an image I took at the Ski Joring event a week and 1/2 ago for the Whitefish Winter Carnival. For those of you who have never heard of Ski Joring, here are a couple of shots to show what it is!

Skiers are pulled by a rope over jumps by a horse and rider, while making sure they zig-zag around flags in the ground. It is SO much fun to watch!