Wild Ozark™

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

Blog

Trying to get motivated

Everything in my life is in a sort of limbo at the moment, and I’m trying to get motivated to do anything at all. Even writing this blog post took some effort to begin. I’d also like to be working … Read the rest “Trying to get motivated”

27 November 2023
An Herbal Remedy for Winter Crud featuring Mullein, Beebalm, and Echinacea

Here’s my 2023 recipe for an herbal remedy I use every year to combat what we’ve come to call “Winter Crud”. We also take it at the first sign of anything that feels like trouble coming on.

This year’s formula … Read the rest “An Herbal Remedy for Winter Crud featuring Mullein, Beebalm, and Echinacea”

17 November 2023
My Real Name: Roxann Riedel

Today I went to the Madison County Sheriff’s office to get fingerprinted. I expected to have black finger tips all day, but they don’t do it with ink pads anymore. They use something like a scanner instead, so that was
… Read the rest “My Real Name: Roxann Riedel”

13 November 2023
Skippy, a new painting

This is a new 5 x 7″ painting. It’s a commission for someone out of state who’d contacted me about something other than art months ago. We got to talking, and she asked if I could do a painting of … Read the rest “Skippy, a new painting”

8 November 2023
Too Busy to Blog

Being too busy is probably the number 1 excuse for why people aren’t consistent with making blog posts. It’s the excuse I’m using right now, too, ha.

I’ve been attending real estate school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On Saturdays … Read the rest “Too Busy to Blog”

26 October 2023
On the Cusp of a New Real Estate Adventure

So, I’m about to embark on a new adventure. Tomorrow I’m beginning classes to prepare for my real estate exam. You might have heard me mention this a few times over the last several months, but the day arrived faster … Read the rest “On the Cusp of a New Real Estate Adventure”

18 October 2023
The Bear Chewed Our Water Line Again

This morning when I turned on the faucet to clean the cast-iron skillet to get ready to fix breakfast, the water pressure seemed a little low. By the time I’d finished washing the dishes after breakfast, it was lower still. … Read the rest “The Bear Chewed Our Water Line Again”

15 October 2023
Art Goals | Baby Steps Towards The Art I Love

One of my art goals is to be able to paint scenes like the ones I’ve admired in other artworks. Now that I’ve begun using my pigments in oils, I feel as if I might actually be able to reach … Read the rest “Art Goals | Baby Steps Towards The Art I Love”

11 October 2023
Wild Ozark Color Watch | Autumn 2023

It’s my favorite time of year! The ragweed is on the decline and I can actually get outside and enjoy the weather without too much fear of repercussion, lol. I’ll start taking pics when I see colorful leaves or pretty … Read the rest “Wild Ozark Color Watch | Autumn 2023”

10 October 2023
Stalking the Wild Lady Fern

Near the top of our driveway there’s a deep narrow gully where the creek runs in the bottom. There’s a flotsam island in the middle of that, with shade-loving plants and ferns growing on it. I’ve been eyeing that fern … Read the rest “Stalking the Wild Lady Fern”

8 October 2023
Painting Ghost, another dog portrait progression page

This is Ghost, a puppy I once loved. I painted the background in the first photo a few days ago in preparation for his portrait. The rest of the painting took place today, and it’s the first time I’ve felt … Read the rest “Painting Ghost, another dog portrait progression page”

3 October 2023
Picking Up Rocks, Digging up Mountain Mint, & Ordering Art Calendars

Today was a busy day of getting orders processed. The first one took me down to the creek to do a little bit of picking up rocks. That was a relaxing little while of walking around, looking at rocks, stooping … Read the rest “Picking Up Rocks, Digging up Mountain Mint, & Ordering Art Calendars”

2 October 2023
New Acceptance: Fenix Arts’ Magical Circus | Fayetteville Arkansas

I’m happy to announce that Detour for a Thirsty Raven was accepted into the Magical Circus show at Fenix Arts in Fayetteville, AR. Thank you to the juror Zeek Taylor, who is a multiple award winning artist and author … Read the rest “New Acceptance: Fenix Arts’ Magical Circus | Fayetteville Arkansas”

26 September 2023
Obstacles in my Art Journey | Painting a Portrait

I find it odd that I can paint an animal fairly well, but throw a human into the mix, and if there’s a face, I balk. Human faces are one of the biggest obstacles in my art journey, and I … Read the rest “Obstacles in my Art Journey | Painting a Portrait”

25 September 2023
Painting a French Bulldog Pup | Hugo

I’m currently painting a French bulldog pup. This is my youngest son’s fur-baby. He’s not so little as this photo anymore, but Garrison wanted one of him as a puppy, and then another later as an adult.

Progression

Photo reference
… Read the rest “Painting a French Bulldog Pup | Hugo”

16 September 2023
Progression Page | Gail’s House | Memorial Painting

Gail’s House

This photo taken by my dad is the reference I’m working from. In this memorial gift painting, there’s a lot more bright green than something I’m accustomed to. I’m not sure my pigments will get quite there, but
… Read the rest “Progression Page | Gail’s House | Memorial Painting”

15 September 2023
Upcoming Madison Woods Paintings | Memorial Gift, Paintings as Gifts

For the rest of the year I’ll be busy doing art for family members, so any commissions requested now will begin after 2024 begins. Here’s the itinerary for upcoming Madison Woods paintings.

A Memorial Painting

My oldest son’s paternal grandmother … Read the rest “Upcoming Madison Woods Paintings | Memorial Gift, Paintings as Gifts”

12 September 2023
See Artists Working at Art in Alpena | Wild Ozark Studio

This weekend, Sept. 30 from 10 to 4 and Oct. 1 Sunday from 10 to 2, come out to the Wild Ozark Studio & Gallery in Alpena, Arkansas to see artists working at art. I’ll be there on Saturday, but … Read the rest “See Artists Working at Art in Alpena | Wild Ozark Studio”

12 September 2023
Hiking up the Mountain

This morning I went hiking up the mountain to check on our water tank. It’s been very dry here for the whole summer, and the recent rains haven’t added anything to the creeks. The creeks are almost completely dry. Every … Read the rest “Hiking up the Mountain”

10 September 2023
Making a Temporary Fix in the Morning, Painting in the Afternoon

I was mending fences with a temporary fix in the morning, painting in the afternoon, and keeping a close eye on Rob in between.

Temporary Fix, Twice and a Dead Battery

Thursday morning, when Rob took his morning walk, I … Read the rest “Making a Temporary Fix in the Morning, Painting in the Afternoon”

9 September 2023
Limelight Hydrangeas in Progress | A commissioned painting

This is a 5 x 7″ commission of Limelight hydrangeas. I’ll use my Ozark pigments in oils plus white made from titanium. For the green, I’ll use a combination of the yellow lake pigment that I made from thyme I … Read the rest “Limelight Hydrangeas in Progress | A commissioned painting”

1 September 2023
Twisted Tree In Ozark Pigment Oils | #1-2023

Sometimes they’re just gnarly, twisted trees. Welcome to my progression page for a Twisted Tree in Ozark pigment oils. My Twisted Tree paintings fall into a category all by themselves. These paintings have no direction, and I just go wherever … Read the rest “Twisted Tree In Ozark Pigment Oils | #1-2023”

30 August 2023
Stonework is Also Artwork

Aside from using the rocks around here for making my paints, I love using stonework to make my garden terraces and stairways to wind through those terraces. Today I added another step to the stairway on the front end of … Read the rest “Stonework is Also Artwork”

29 August 2023
Wall of Gratitude

I love it when my collectors share their framed artwork with me. Seeing how they’ve framed it and where they’ve placed it in their homes fills me with a joyous sense of gratitude. So I’m making this post as a … Read the rest “Wall of Gratitude”

27 August 2023
Artist’s Log 2023 | Art, Nature & Homestead

My days are usually filled with a variety of business, art, and home related tasks. This post will serve as my art, nature, & homestead ‘short’ journal entries. More like an artist’s log book, if you will. Some of the … Read the rest “Artist’s Log 2023 | Art, Nature & Homestead”

23 August 2023