Wild Ozark™

~ Nature Artist using Ozark pigments in Kingston, Arkansas ~

Wild Ozark: Where Madison Woods paints with Ozark pigments … and talks to rocks, creeks, and trees.

Blog

What to paint next?

I’m torn between what to paint next.

The Subject Possibilities

1 – Twayblade Orchid

2 – Box turtle (tortoise)

3 – rural scene

4 – spring peeper

5 – barred owl

6 – merlin

The only size boards I have … Read the rest “What to paint next?”

11 November 2025
Feels Like Winter Today

It was 40-something when I got out of bed this morning, but now it’s 37 and dropping. The wind is howling out there and I’m glad to be inside. It feels like winter today and I’m not ready for it.… Read the rest “Feels Like Winter Today”

9 November 2025
Checking our Spring Water Tank and Autumn in the Ozarks

Unless there’s a problem and we have to go up the mountain sooner, we usually check on our spring water tank before winter sets in. Today we went out among the beautiful leaf colors. Autumn in the Ozarks isn’t always … Read the rest “Checking our Spring Water Tank and Autumn in the Ozarks”

6 November 2025
Face-Planting the Ground, and…My Old Shed Painting is Done!

On Sunday this past week, I added my signature to this painting and am calling it FINALLY done. I’ll explain the face-planting after the painting.

Title: Old Shed, Red Sunset

Size: 36 x 24″

Medium: Ozark pigments in
… Read the rest “Face-Planting the Ground, and…My Old Shed Painting is Done!”

28 October 2025
Sunday Art Pop-ups at Wild Ozark

Sunday art pop-ups will begin at Wild Ozark on Oct. 26 until it gets too cold. They’ll begin again in spring as weather allows.

I’m going to start setting up my tent down at the connex on Sundays starting next … Read the rest “Sunday Art Pop-ups at Wild Ozark”

18 October 2025
Ai-assisted Blog Post Comments

Recently I’ve noticed a rise in what I am pretty sure is Ai-assisted blog post comments. I moderate all comments except from those who have been with me over the years and have posted comments before. So, you’re being spared … Read the rest “Ai-assisted Blog Post Comments”

11 October 2025
Old Tin for Old Shed Doors

We keep old tin around to use for various things, even if it isn’t fit for a roof. I actually like old tin for the character it imparts to interior decor or anything else creative. I’ve seen frames made from … Read the rest “Old Tin for Old Shed Doors”

10 October 2025
No Title, Just Recounting the Day

Recounting the day: We saw two bald eagles today on the ground in a field alongside the Kings river. I saw one in a tree on Friday. Bedraggled and head tucked, it looked as if it had just finished an … Read the rest “No Title, Just Recounting the Day”

21 September 2025
Garter Snakes in my Garden

There are some garter snakes living among the rocks in my garden. I made a short video of doing nothing really, just visiting with the snakes. They watched me while I watched them. And that’s about it.

Wild Ozark Garden
… Read the rest “Garter Snakes in my Garden”

18 September 2025
The kinds of things I notice

Saturday morning, after coffee, breakfast, and feeding the horses and chickens, we discussed the task list for the day. And here’s a story that shows the kinds of things I notice while going about an otherwise typical day out here … Read the rest “The kinds of things I notice”

14 September 2025
Old Witchgrass and Autumn in the Air

I know it’s going to get warm again soon, but for now I’m loving the sights and feel of autumn in the air. I bet you’re wondering what old witchgrass is, though.

This is a new plant discovery for me! … Read the rest “Old Witchgrass and Autumn in the Air”

6 September 2025
Art Themed Stationery Sets

I’ve been making some art themed stationery sets from my paintings. For the first sets, I had to outsource the boxes, printed envelopes and stickers. I made the tablets, notecards, and gift tags.

Now that I have a template … Read the rest “Art Themed Stationery Sets”

16 August 2025
A Poem by Joanna Macy

Yesterday I learned that Joanna Macy died on July 19, 2025. I heard about it on For the World podcast (a podcast I highly recommend, by the way!) Here’s a link to it:

https://forthewild.world/listen/joanna-macy-on-the-world-as-lover-and-self-homage

2016 original post:

This is an … Read the rest “A Poem by Joanna Macy”

7 August 2025
Building a raised stone path

Today I made a little progress. I’m building a raised stone path on about a 40* slope from the stone steps to the faucet.

This is a project years in the working. My garden is on a hillside behind our … Read the rest “Building a raised stone path”

24 July 2025
a Weekly-ish summary of life at Wild Ozark | Berries, Fences, Rocks in the Garden

Some people hate ’em, and some see them as a natural resource waiting to be put to work. When it comes to rocks in the garden, I fall firmly into the second camp.

A Wild Ozark Weekly-ish

A lot of … Read the rest “a Weekly-ish summary of life at Wild Ozark | Berries, Fences, Rocks in the Garden”

13 July 2025
A Relaxing Audio Soundtrack

9 July 2025
25 Small Ways Nature Makes Me Happy

As you might know, if you’ve followed me for a while, I live pretty far out into the middle of nowhere in the Ozark mountains of Madison county, Arkansas. I love it here! I realize, though, that some people wonder … Read the rest “25 Small Ways Nature Makes Me Happy”

5 July 2025
Plant Walk & Nature Journaling at Wild Ozark

There are other Arkansas nature experiences, but this one is probably a little different. The trails we’ll follow are deer trails and logging roads. The drive to get here is gorgeous. And the biodiversity here at Wild Ozark is incredible. … Read the rest “Plant Walk & Nature Journaling at Wild Ozark”

22 June 2025
Today’s Progress on the Old Shed

Here’s an update on today’s progress on the old shed painting. I didn’t have all day to work on it, but at least a few hours.

Time completely slips away once I begin to focus on what I’m doing. It … Read the rest “Today’s Progress on the Old Shed”

21 June 2025
Chocolate Tube Slime | An Alien Marching Army

Ever heard of chocolate tube slime mold? Okay, neither had I. Today I saw what looked like a miniature alien marching army and had to stop for a closer look.

I’ve watched a sycamore tree near the end of our … Read the rest “Chocolate Tube Slime | An Alien Marching Army”

17 June 2025
Stay Motivated – Oddly Easy for this Old Shed Painting

My brush hit this canvas for the first time in November 2024. And I’m STILL working on it. On one hand, I’m proud of myself for being able to stay motivated on a single project for this long. I think … Read the rest “Stay Motivated – Oddly Easy for this Old Shed Painting”

7 June 2025
Ozark Pigment for the Color of Dirt

The color of dirt in the Ozarks varies here around Wild Ozark. But the most predominate is a shade of yellow-brown. In some areas there is a darker brown, probably where there is more humus and organic matter. Some of … Read the rest “Ozark Pigment for the Color of Dirt”

4 June 2025
Finding Fungi in the Rain

Finding fungi in the rain is fun. When being inside makes me antsy, it’s time to put on my rain gear to get close and personal with the mushrooms popping up everywhere.

Fungi in the Rain

These are the ones … Read the rest “Finding Fungi in the Rain”

29 May 2025
Painting While it Rains

This post was written on Monday 5/26/25. I didn’t get to work on my old shed yesterday because I had other things I needed to work on, but today the weather was still soggy. Painting while it rains outside is … Read the rest “Painting While it Rains”

27 May 2025
Piddling Days

Today has been one of those piddling days here at Wild Ozark. It rained most of the day today, rained yesterday, and will rain some more over the next few days.

The creeks are flooded.

My peonies are dropping petals.
… Read the rest “Piddling Days”

25 May 2025