'in the Company of Cowgirls'

I have always loved the name of this art show. To me just saying 'in the Company of Cowgirls' brings the feeling of camaraderie ("a spirit of friendly good fellowship" says Webster). When we get invited to a branding or move cows and there's other women there, I always learn so much from them...they're way more experienced than I am...and get that feeling. It's just a heart warming experience to be in their Company!

This weekend will be another experience that I'll treasure...Michelle Severe has entered the drawing of Colt and I into 'in the Company of Cowgirls' Art Show in Pendleton Oregon.  My Man commissioned Michelle to do the drawing for my Christmas gift in 2010. I know, you've all seen it on my side bar...but, I can't help be proud of "my gift."

As their web site states: "Outstanding Cowgirl Art created by women Artists with a special understanding of the subject." Meaning that the Artists are pretty much cowgirls themselves. How cool it that!

So, I'm going to be literally "hangin' around" with a bunch of other cowgirls...even though, really, I'm not going to get to be there. Thank you Michelle for doing such a great drawing and choosing it for this show! Good luck...hope one of your three pieces places in the show!!

I encourage you to go to the link for the art show, and take a look at all the other artists' pieces that will be in the show (there's some great stuff there!)...do it soon, because it looks like they will be taking them off the web site on May 10 when the show starts.  Even better yet, if you can get to Pendleton, go!! The art show kicks off the Cattle Baron's Weekend which is quite the event!

Drawing titled "Circling Up"

Original photo

Michelle Severe & The Gift

~Ya gotta try different things cuz

that's what makes ya smarter.~

~Marge Medling 1896~

The title I wanted to give this post was "Michelle Severe, My Man & The Gift." But, that was going to just be a lil' too bit over the edge for me! But, Michelle Severe did have a conspiracy going with My Man...it started last August.

I've posted about Michelle Severe before. She's a wonderful western and wildlife artist using oil, pastel, pencil and pen & ink. But the talent doesn't stop there. She also does scrimshaw, glass etching and wood burning. In her spare time, she's a dang good hand with a horse, a cow and a rope! I better not forget to mention that she's a great friend too!

As the story goes...My Man cornered Michelle last summer at one of the cuttings and asked if she would be interested in doing something of his wife. She said sure (of course). My Man just needed to decide what he wanted. As Christmas got closer, My Man talked with Michelle again and said that he wanted something of his wife roping. Michelle said that he needed to go see our mutual friend Andi Harmon and that she had a great photo from this year's Futurity. So, he did. And three weeks later, this is what came framed in a big box...just a few days before Christmas...

"Circlin' Up"
Colt in the two-rein as a 5 year old.

Taken from this:

The original photo that Andi Harmon took during
my fence run at the Harney County Reined Stock Horse Futurity. 

As you can well imagine, there were lots of tears shed when I opened that box. I would have never guessed in a million years that My Man would have thought of "the perfect gift." I mean, I never thought of it for myself. If I want something, I usually just get it...because it's usually something I need. I'm not much of a shopper. But, this tops the list of gifts.

Michelle did such a great job too!! I love how she's captured Colt's facial expression and all the tiny details, down to the romel reins, the tooling on the breast collar, his wispy forelock and the fringe on my chinks. And yes...the silly cow IS sticking its tongue out!!!

Of course it's proudly hung in our living room.

Then, as if that wasn't enough excitement. Michelle wanted to include my piece in her "Working Ranch Women" series!!  I'm humbly honored to be included with these great women! Here are a couple other pieces from the series:

"Common Ground"

"In the Hackamore"

Last month, Michelle and Andi shared a vendor booth at the Red Bluff Sale. And the way Michelle told me, the very first thing that she sold was my print. WHAT???!!! Yep, there were lots of reined cow people there and the gal that bought the print is on the Board of Directors with the California Reined Cow Horse Association...so Colt and I are hangin' on someone else's wall...that is just weird when I think about it...but again, it truly is an honor for me.

Michelle Severe is working on updating her website, but please give her a visit at MichelleSevere.com You can also friend her on FaceBook! Check out her awesome pieces with wild horses too.

Isn't My Man the BEST?!?!? I think so ;~)

Talent~Some Just Have It!

I don't!!! But I know someone who does!

My friend and fellow cutting horse/cowhorse enthusiast sent me her latest piece of artwork, and I've got to share it with you all...it's just so cool...

"A Horse with No Name"

by Michelle Severe

I want to share what Michelle wrote in her email:

A Horse with No Name! I think fits this! Besides the fact I always liked the song by America! This is an American desert horse with no name, just a number freeze brand on his neck! This is Corinne Elser, works with alot of wild horses, and winner of the 2008 Mustang Challenge, and a horse she was gentling for a customer that adopted him 3 months ago. I was impressed how nice looking he was, he is out of the Kiger unit.

Here is the photo that she did the work from...

Michelle is doing a series of pieces titled "Working Ranch Women." I encourage you to visit her web site at: www.michellesevere.com and take a look at some of her other work; especially the Ranch Women series. She's not finished with the series yet...so there will be more! Go to the "Gallery" and click on the thumbnails. It will bring up a brief description and some background of the piece.

Enjoy some cowgirl art!