Still In Our Own Backyard

 "Sun Dogs at Prairie Hill Farm"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

I thought I'd share this morning's frigid sun dogs here on the acreage, and go with the theme I presented last week with what inspires me here right in our own backyard!  Only this week we'll look at just a sampling of photographs garnered here, without leaving the premises...there is something everyday here...and yet I miss most of it I'm sure!

 "Sun Dogs at Prairie Hill Farm"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

We've been having sun dogs lately and this morning was no exception as, the top two images testify.  However I've been putting off photographing them because the landscape is fairly bleak and snowless, taking away much of the winter's charm. Well I finally gave in for a "few" brief moments this morning and tried a couple shots anyway...the temp was at 10 below, but the wind was brisk (35 below windchill) and one shot I wanted to try was decided against and a shot from behind the barn was tried instead...the image directly above is from the edge of the crib, looking south east.

 

 "Big Bluestem in the North Pasture"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

But there are warmer times with hours spent outside here...sometimes just taking it in and other times doing chores in the pasture, yards, gardens or buildings...there's a lot to do here, beside being "inspired"!  But "inspiring" it is, and here's a small sampling of images photographing here on the property, throughout the year!

 

 "Bird Visitors Through the Year"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 "Cope's Gray Tree Frog in the Grove"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 "Fawn in the Yard"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 "Monarchs Roosting in the Back Grove"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 "Sharp-shinned Hawk in Front of the Studio"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 "Skunk Paying a Visit"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 "Male Western Meadow Hawk Dragonfly"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 "Anvil across the Valley"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 "Storm in the Valley"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

The weather images can be impressive here with our prairie's Big Sky, but there is so much more that is small or fleeting...things are certainly missed every day.  But what we do find, watch and marvel at, is amazing...we're very blessed.

Once again, I'm procrastinating!  Back to work at the easel!

Hope you're having a warm place to rest this winter, be good to one another and be inspired!

 

In Our Own Backyard

"September Summer"

oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison

As I work trough a difficult painting here in the studio, I've been reflecting a lot on the amazing opportunities for work right here in our own backyard - literally!  I looked back in my files and found so many paintings, drawings and photographs, that I wondered if I shouldn't break things up a bit...I can't show everything though, there just isn't enough space, even in a blog.

I'm just going to throw out a few paintings and drawings that originate right from our small acreage...the image above is from our north pasture - looking north onto the neighbor's ground; they had just mowed some alfalfa and the colors of September prompted me to do a painting.  This was the first painting I had done after we moved here many years ago and I considered it a milestone for me; I've been working more in earnest here ever since!

The following images are both early years here at Prairie Hill farm, as well as fairly recent.

"Late Summer Afternoon" 

oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison

"Summer Evening Formations"

color pencil drawing - © Bruce A. Morrison

"June Rains Past" 

oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison

"Summer Pasture" 

oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison

It pretty easy to see that clouds are an important element in my work done here on the acreage.  They certainly are where the landscape is concerned.  As I've said more than once in the past, the clouds are our mountains out here on the prairie, and the sky is very big here!

But there is more inspiration here in our back yard than just views of the landscape around us -

"Iris Study"

color pencil drawing - © Bruce A. Morrison

"Home"

color pencil drawing - © Bruce A. Morrison

Whether its the house, yard or the adjoining landscape, this place hasn't just kept me busy - its inspiring!  

I'll get back to work on my studio painting for now again...I needed a break.  Next time I'll share some photographic inspiration here at Prairie Hill Farm; until then - stay warm and keep inspired with what may very well be right outside your door!