Recently, my friend Shari and I took a delightful day trip to the 260 year old farm of my friend Carol Rollman. It's called Sycamore Spring Farm, where Carol runs a very successful CSA (community supported agriculture) in Frederick, Md. I had been meaning to get over to Carol's for quite a long time now...I had sold her an English Shepherd pup, (Maeve) from Skye and Finn's first litter about two years ago and I wanted to visit both Carol and Maeve but responsibilities and "stuff" kept getting in the way...until....I recieved a Canon Powershot SX20 for Christmas from my wonderfully supportive husband, Mike. This camera allows me to take gorgeous close ups of the animals that I so love to paint without forcing myself into their "space" so I can capture plenty of candid moments, and lots of inspiration.
Carol's farm is like walking into a wonderful world where animals peacefully co exist unlike anything I have really experienced before. Carol's love of animals and passion for growing natural and healthy food is in evidence everywhere you look. It is both an artist's and animal lover's delight. I fell in love with the Scottish Highland Cattle, so calm and gentle yet there is something almost prehistoric about them...And so utterly paintable! If you are anywhere near Frederick, Md. and want to experience the way life used to be lived as well as supply your family with healthy and nourishing food, Sycamore Spring Farm's website is: http://www.sycamorespringfarm.org/ I can't reccomend it highly enough.
Yours in Paint,
Jude
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Wonderful painings and photos! Those dogs (and highland cattle too) are truly beautiful!
ReplyDelete[BTW,I'm Elaine Thaxton Reynold's sister.]
Thanks for your kind words Lila, and thanks for visiting!
ReplyDeleteHi Judith, Great Blog, great paintings. Can't wait to see the show!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful painting of Beauty and her baby! And I only wish that I could visit Sycamore Spring Farm! Sounds like such a wonderful place and the pups are adorable! Will be looking forward to the series.
ReplyDeleteHi, I had noticed earlier today that you had added yourself as a follower of my blog. I came over and perused your blog and fell in love with your paintings. Those Highland cattle are wonderful, and I love, love, love your river otters. The otter is one of my totems. Some you choose - some choose you, and the otter is one I chose (both river and ocean). However, I was interrupted and logged out. When I came back to the computer this evening, I found an e-mail from my very good blogging friend Lila of Indigo Pears (she is at the top of this comment list - sister of Elaine Thaxton Reynolds) telling me about her connection with you. What a small world! I don't know how you found me but am wondering if it was the Scottish connection?? How I long to visit the home of my ancestors (and current relatives!) but I doubt I will ever get there.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely adding you to my blog roll.
From one dog lover to another,
Julie Fredericksen
Thank you so much Julie! I found your site thru Lila's wonderful blog and was absolutely blown away by the wealth of information and inspiration there. I love everything Scottish (Celtic heritage and trying to find out about my relatives) and can't wait to visit your site again to learn more...
ReplyDeleteJudith, thank you for the lovely comment on my faerietale of inspiration blog, so glad you like it. I love the painting of the highland cattle, we have a field full of these characters just around the corner, they are fascinating creatures. My daughter loves them for her hair is the same colour lol.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Ruthie! Yes, They are fascinating characters to be sure... I just love their odd blend of prehistoric-ness and cuteness :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Robert and Marguerite...I have about three more paintings to do in four weeks to be totally ready for my upcoming show. I guess you could say the crunch is on!
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