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Archive for the ‘My Art’ Category

Where Have I been?

I haven’t written anything on my site for a few weeks. There has been a number of issues going on as of late. My mother had her second knee replaced on February 12th. This surgery, of course, utilized many hours of hospital time and being at my old homestead. She is doing very well and hopefully by mid-April she will be walking without a walker or cane. She is determined and that is always a good thing!!!

DSC_0012    My mother returned home on Saturday, February 23rd. My sister received an operation on February 26th on her knee. She had injured it on a tree root. She is doing very well too. On February 28th, I received a MRI to my head searching for any brain material. The Vertigo issues, as well as, other head and sinus related problems caused a required search to rule any negative things out. So far, I have not received any word.

So these important family related concerns were a big part of my time. I, also, have been working on some recordings for a friend, Bob Sink. Thus far, I have put two to three tracks on eleven out of thirteen songs for him. Bob is a great fiddle and mandolin player. Unfortunately, we have yet to have put any of his tracks done. Bob has been hospitalized twice in three weeks over heart-related problems. On February 23rd, the band I play guitar with, GOOD NEWS COUNTRY played at the Victory Praise and Worship Center near Corsica. All six band members were present to play! Bob, and his wife Elaine, were present to listen. They live several miles away from the center. Bob, at that time, said he was feeling very well, but, a few days later he was back in the hospital. Get well friend!

Detail of the muskie and the saw blade. Laurie told everybody I had painted a guppy!

Detail of the muskie and the saw blade. Laurie told everybody I had painted a guppy!

I have plenty of hours working on some paintings including a saw blade of a muskie for Mr. Muskie, Frank Maus. He loved it!

Saturday evening, March 2, Laurie and I attended an event and meal at the Whitesburg United Methodist Church. Great food and friends!  We later stopped and visited my mother and step-father, Bob.

Laurie, my mother-in-law Anne Craft and myself went to the Greensburg garden & Civic center to see the musical, GODSPELL. The original musical began in 1971. Neither Laurie or I were overly impressed with the event. While traveling I saw a lot of deer, a flock of turkeys and a gaggle of geese.

This morning I went for a winter walk to see what I could see. I saw several deer, mink  and coyote tracks and a small flock of bluebirds.                                                       DSC_0013

I saw my first groundhog of the season this last week. Also, I am noticing the goldfinches at my feeder beginning to brighten up with the yellows of sping and summer.

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My friend, Robert “Slim” Bowser asked me to do a road trip  today. The trip was a business trip in a way. We needed to travel close to the New York border into “God’s Country” of Potter County. We would be covering a section of the beautiful mountain region bordering Route 6. The catch was I needed to home by 6:00 in anticipation of a friend’s visit to do some recordings. (He forgot to come, by the way!)

Slim is a member and current president of the living history Civil War group representing the Company D 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry 5th Corps. www.62ndpvi.wordpress.com  I am honored to be an honorary member. This group does living history programs concerning the 62nd PVI. Activities include parades; grave dedications and programs to educate others about the 62nd PVI during the Civil War. the respect this group has for the past and those brave men is outstanding! take some time to study up on the group from the web site shown above. Many members of the original 62nd PVI came from  my area of Armstrong County.

First Fork Lodge

The final stop on this road trip would be near to a community known as Austin, Pennsylvania. Here we would be stopping at a home built in 1883 currently known as the First Fork Lodge. They owners, Jack and Linda Krafft supply lodging  to hunters and fishermen/ women. The building, also, has a Fly Shop; Sporting Goods and the beauty of art on flagstones. Their web site is: www.firstforklodge.com The other web site in regards to their art on stone products is: www.framingonstone.com  If interested in any art on stone products don’t hesitate to contact Jack and Linda!

The WHEATFIELD…on stone!

The owners have had success with prints from; “THE WHEATFIELD-WHIRLPOOL OF DEATH.”Readers of my blog will recognize this title from past blogs, such as from the July 6 and August 25 sites from 2011. These prints have been anchored to quarried flagstones and sealed. This, of course, allows for the stone texture to show through giving a different dimension to each print.

Our mission was to pick up five of these stones for use for the 62nd PVI group.

Jack, gave us a mini tour of the lower floor of the building. The rooms are chocked -full of art; antiques and hunting and fishing related things. NO TV! The owners encourage those staying to enjoy a sitting room to talk and become acquainted. This is a nice touch in the hurry-up world of today.

Beautiful sunset!

Our travels included returning via Route 872 south through the mountain region of Potter; Elk and Cameron Counties. This is such a beautiful area. We, also came through elk country. We saw over thirty elk and a number of deer. I spotted a large-racked buck that appeared to be tangled in a fence. We turned around and the buck was gone! We saw one grouse crossing the road and was blessed to see an eagle perched high in a sycamore tree. Due to timing restraints our photo opportunities were scarce.

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As a side note: In 1911, 78 individuals were killed when the Austin Dam collapsed. If interested in learning more of this disaster visit: www.austindam.net

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       See the write-ups under the Latest paintings section at the right of the screen

 

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The Civil War painting entitled, “THE WHEATFIELD-WHIRLPOOL OF DEATH”  has ventured into a new method of display. STONE! The process places a copy of the print onto flat, but irregular, stones. The contrast of the stone’s texture makes for an interesting touch of character to the image.   If anyone would be interested these are available for purchase. The original painting detailed the battle at Gettysburg featuring the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. The site became known as the battle at the Wheatfield.

Further details of the painting and battle may be found by visiting my blog sites of July and August 2011.

Contact : Robert Bowser at 724-545-1330 or Jac-Lin Framing On Stone (Jack and Linda Kraft) at 814-647-8644 for details and options.  The art on stone can be set on a stand (nice on fireplace hearth) or hanged as a painting.

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 BIRCH BEAR

Birch Bear

The painting entitled, “BIRCH BEAR” depicts a bruin peering through a birch setting. The art falls into the autumn season. Hope you like it!

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I am pleased to have had some art featured on the April cover of the Mid-Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide. The featured acrylic painting depicts a rainbow trout surging from the water preparing to feast on a mayfly.

  The title of the original painting is: MEALTIME. I had entered this art in the Delaware Trout Stamp Competition last year. The painting placed, but failed for 1st place. I have entered this contest again.

A much better color view of the painting may be  located on the web site page under “latest paintings.”

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More Eggs!

Randy Tost and his friend Big John were both impressed with the painted turkey egg gift. The idea caught on and Randy and his son both felt the need to have some paint splashed on two more. It must be remembered Randy discovered a nest of turkey eggs last spring. The little poults had left the nest with the hen turkey. Randy gathered up three of the eggs with the least amount of  shell damage.

Randy dropped off the remaining two prepared shells a month or so with requests as to what was to be painted on them. Randy preferred a gobbler’s head and his son wished for a wildflower scene with a turkey call on it.

Well, here they are the completed eggs.

The Painted eggs (Randy Tost photo)

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I have added 3 more paintings in my latest paintings link. To view the art go the right  and click on the latest paintings link.

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In Memory of my friend, Mike Slease (Colonel Armstrong at Blanket Hill battle site) Mike passed away last week.

   Some time ago I wrote a book entitled, “THE ATTACK ON KIT-HAN-NE”. The book was written as an educational book to inform individuals of our areas great history. The area of present-day Kittanning, Pennsylvania, not only features, some outstanding beauty, but played a pivotal part of early history.

    Prior to the settlements and fields, local natives lived  out their existences by farming, hunting, fishing and trapping. By 1755, our local Kit-Han-Ne Indians lead by War Chiefs, Captain Jacobs and Shingas entered the French and Indian War allied with the French against the British and colonists. These natives were of the Lenni-Lenape (Delaware) tribe.

 These great men launched raids across eastern Pennsylvania killing, plundering and capturing many. Colonists often fled with nothing but their clothes upon hearing of Indians lurking in nearby areas. They fled toeastern communities like Philadelphia.

Colonel John Armstrong and over 300 men headed into western Pennsylvania to attack the village. This would be the Colony of Pennsylvania’s only attack during the war. The September 8, 1756, lead  to many casualties and  burning of many of the village’s log buildings. The results are debatable. The raids continued into eastern Pennsylvania and the Indians did live at the site for a time before moving farther west behind the French line of forts along the Allegheny River.              

    The book was published by: Mechling Bookbindery. Their web site is: www.mechlingbooks.com  Last week the publisher contacted me about a new venture for the book. The book is now available as an E-book. For those of you interested in this rather new concept of downloading books you can go to Amazon.com and search by typing in my name; Kittanning;The Attack on Kit-Han-Ne…

Please, if you decide to obtain this book via this option, don’t forget to leave a review.

You can see the book by clicking on the book link on the right on my web site here too.

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A Surprise for Big John

First of all I have never met John. He is a dear friend of a dear friend of mine. My friend is Randy Tost. Randy has had John come to stay at his abode to hunt deer. This has become their tradition now for a number of years.

Randy is a unique fellow. He is special. He is a retired teacher with oodles of great traits. Kindness is just one of them!  Another positive trait is thoughtfulness.           

The Painted Egg

  

Close up- Tost photo

   Earlier this fall, Randy contacted me about an idea he had for a surprise gift for John. Indeed, the idea was an interesting one. It seems last spring Randy and John discovered the remnants of a turkey nest. The turkeys were gone but the eggs’ shells remained minus the newly hatched poults. Randy gathered a couple of the shells that were almost complete in shape. (Except where the peep removed itself)

Randy and "his" egg

   The egg shells, at his home, eventually gave Randy the idea of painting something on the shell as a gift. He mixed plaster-of-Paris and carefully filled the void for strength. I told Randy the task was doable and the decision to paint a feather on it was made.  I painted a turkey feather on the shell and sprayed several coats of clear varnish on it.     

Moss-lined wooden box (Tost photo)

           

The gift was made now that John arrived to hunt. The secret remained until now. I understand John was “eggsited” with his unique gift!

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