Wild Ozark™

~ Nature Artist in Kingston, Arkansas ~ Sharing my experience with Nature through art & writing about my life in the Ozarks

Blog

A Meandering Mind, Cluttered Studio, and Holding Patterns

So, I’ve been puttering around and staying busy lately. But I can’t start anything major just yet because I’m in the middle of a lot of small projects. However, that’s not the real reason I’m not getting a whole lot … Read the rest “A Meandering Mind, Cluttered Studio, and Holding Patterns”

22 July 2021
New Exhibit Acceptance | 2021 Bosque Art Classic

I’m super excited to announce that Petunia was chosen for the 2021 Bosque Art Classic. A heartfelt thanks to juror Tyler Crow, the youngest artists ever inducted to the Cowboy Artists of America. It’s an honor to have a … Read the rest “New Exhibit Acceptance | 2021 Bosque Art Classic”

16 July 2021
Earth Tone Art | Earthy Artwork by Madison Woods

How gorgeous is the pigment in this stone! The richness of our sandstone colors led me to creating the paints that I use in my earth tone art.

A yellow limonite from the river near our house makes a rich
… Read the rest “Earth Tone Art | Earthy Artwork by Madison Woods”

26 June 2021
Kingston, Arkansas | A Rural Ozark Town

There are some hidden treasures in the Ozarks. The tiny little town of Kingston, Arkansas in Madison county is one of them. It’s been my adopted home-base since 2005, when I moved up here from south Louisiana.

About Kingston

Our … Read the rest “Kingston, Arkansas | A Rural Ozark Town”

26 June 2021
How Did the Buffalo National River Get its Name? | “Namesake”

I bet you’d already guessed it. The namesake of the Buffalo National River is … the buffalo. But that’s a misnomer. What we call ‘buffalo’ are actually bison. The American ‘Buffalo’ is really an American Bison. Before Europeans arrived on … Read the rest “How Did the Buffalo National River Get its Name? | “Namesake””

17 June 2021
Yellow-Billed Cuckoo | Rain Crow | Madison’s Earthy Art

It’s almost that time of year again when the rain crow, also known as yellow-billed cuckoo, starts calling. This is another one of those often heard but seldom seen critters that live out here at Wild Ozark. The other … Read the rest “Yellow-Billed Cuckoo | Rain Crow | Madison’s Earthy Art”

13 June 2021
Whippoorwill Says “Time to Plant Corn”

Yesterday evening I heard the first close whippoorwill of the 2021 season. Rob said he’d heard it the night before and wondered that it didn’t wake me up. And this week we “mowed” grass for the first time. But that’s … Read the rest “Whippoorwill Says “Time to Plant Corn””

10 June 2021
Paint Making Tools of the Trade

Update 2024: I have a page at my online shop with my affiliate links for the paint making tools of the trade that I use from Amazon, and hopefully soon some of the other places I use, like Dick Blick. … Read the rest “Paint Making Tools of the Trade”

6 June 2021
Soul of the Ozarks | The 6th Painting | Red Fox Kit

My 6th painting was a special request by my granddaughter. She loves wildlife and wanted me to paint a fox. Her actual favorite was a kit fox, but instead I painted a red fox kit. I had a good photo … Read the rest “Soul of the Ozarks | The 6th Painting | Red Fox Kit”

29 May 2021
Maybe it isn’t sandstone… Bituminous Coal?

I’m often surprised at the colors I end up with when making paints. Sometimes the rock powder looks a lot different than the rock itself led me to think it would. But today I found a new puzzle. I usually … Read the rest “Maybe it isn’t sandstone… Bituminous Coal?”

24 May 2021
The Beauty of Rocks | How I Use Our Most Abundant Resource

If there’s one resource we have an unlimited supply of here in the Ozarks, it’s rocks. There are many reasons I love the rocks here at Wild Ozark. But I think I can narrow it down to the functional beauty … Read the rest “The Beauty of Rocks | How I Use Our Most Abundant Resource”

20 May 2021
Painting in Progress: Dr. Carter’s Office

My current painting in progress is one of the buildings on the grounds of the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, located in Springdale, Arkansas. Dr. Carter’s Office was moved to the museum at a later date, but started life in … Read the rest “Painting in Progress: Dr. Carter’s Office”

23 April 2021
It’s a good day to make paint!

As I write this the temperature is dropping from an almost comfortable 50-something with sunshine, to overcast and already less than 40 by around noon. Yesterday it was a very comfortable 70 or so, and sunny. This afternoon, we’re actually … Read the rest “It’s a good day to make paint!”

20 April 2021
2021 April | Wild Ozark Musings | Monthly Newsletter

This is a website version of my monthly newsletter that goes out to subscribers. If you’d like to get this in your mailbox each month, just head on over <click here> to sign up. Sometimes I may post it here … Read the rest “2021 April | Wild Ozark Musings | Monthly Newsletter”

11 April 2021
A Bearded Dragon in Ozark Pigments | Painting Process

It’s not an Ozark critter, for sure, but I had a photo of my grand-daughter’s Bearded Dragon and so I painted it today. A print for Karter is already framed and ready to deliver for her birthday. This was a … Read the rest “A Bearded Dragon in Ozark Pigments | Painting Process”

30 March 2021
To my website subscribers: Just in case …

I’m deleting all of the users from my website’s database. There are so many spammers/hackers and bots attempting to leave comments and registering as users lately, that I have to wipe the slate clean. When I’m done, I’ll have to … Read the rest “To my website subscribers: Just in case …”

30 March 2021
Hermit Journal Updates | Early Spring Activities

It’s been a busy past couple of weeks here at Wild Ozark. Early spring and warmer weather brings a flurry of activity here at Wild Ozark. I’ve been working on our garden, grinding more rocks, and generally just enjoying the … Read the rest “Hermit Journal Updates | Early Spring Activities”

27 March 2021
Making Smooth Paint from Rock Dust (Earth Pigment)

Since I wrote my first post on ‘how to make handmade watercolor paint‘, I’ve learned some things. That first post is still a good starting point for anyone starting out. It just doesn’t go into how to make … Read the rest “Making Smooth Paint from Rock Dust (Earth Pigment)”

18 March 2021
Monthly Hermit Musings | A Glimmer of Spring

A few green things are peeking out, and I’m beginning to see the glimmer of spring.

Yesterday I sent out my monthly newsletter to subscribers. Each month I try to write up a summary of all that went on out … Read the rest “Monthly Hermit Musings | A Glimmer of Spring”

7 March 2021
Stones to Grind | A Fantastic New Interview and Publication

Lisa J. Tomey interviewed me way back in 2019 for an article to be published in Okra Magazine. Just when it was about time for it to run, Covid struck and that article got pushed back on the publisher’s … Read the rest “Stones to Grind | A Fantastic New Interview and Publication”

21 February 2021
Showy Orchis (Galearis spectabilis) in Ozark pigments

Originally, I had planned to do a series of my favorite woodland plants in grayscale. But that was before I found the stone that gives me a sort of green pigment. So changed up the plans a little. Now I’m … Read the rest “Showy Orchis (Galearis spectabilis) in Ozark pigments”

20 February 2021
Are you on Clubhouse?

My daughter called me the other day to tell me about Clubhouse. She had gotten an invitation to join it and after trying it out, thought it would be something I might be interested in. At first I groaned. … Read the rest “Are you on Clubhouse?”

19 February 2021
SOUL OF THE OZARKS | The 5th Painting

My 5th painting was a special request by my sister. She loves pelicans and wanted me to paint one for her.

This is the story of my journey into the world of being a watercolor painter. My angle on this … Read the rest “SOUL OF THE OZARKS | The 5th Painting”

17 February 2021
Winter in the Ozarks | Musings on a Very Cold Day

It was -12F when I woke up this morning at 0500. This is the coldest I think it’s ever been since we moved here in 2005. There hasn’t been many really cold, snowy winters in the past several years, it … Read the rest “Winter in the Ozarks | Musings on a Very Cold Day”

16 February 2021
SOUL OF THE OZARKS | The 4th Painting

After the second kestrel, which was the third painting, I thought I’d try another kestrel. I had another good photo to work from and I’d come to really love the colors and form of kestrels. By this time I was … Read the rest “SOUL OF THE OZARKS | The 4th Painting”

14 February 2021