Wednesday, November 17, 2010


Can't believe my little Opie boy has been missing since October 23rd... he and Jack are brothers, but Opie likes to wander. Jack would love to wander but he's always with me and enjoys the benefits of a warm, soft pillow more than squeezing under the sage at a dead run after a bunny. We really miss him and have not given up. More signs, more time in the forest on the quad, more ads in the paper and searching through the animal shelters.

Below you'll see what our lil'black lab looks like. The pastel/charcoal really captured his quizzical look (his name is really Obie, named in honor of our president). Say a little prayer for him, will you?

Thursday, September 16, 2010

The Boys


comparing details with the real boys at home is really fun. This charcoal is getting ready to go the the Kern County Fair this weekend. More later, wish us luck.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Wildlife at Gulls Way Estate!


We had a great day Sunday August 22nd at the Dick Clark Gulls Way Estate in Malibu! Whooo hooo! Such a terrific cause to support: The California Wildlife Center "Rescue, Rehabilitate, Release" is their mission.
The Silent Auction alone had over 800 donated items. We brought in hundreds of dollars with pet portraits, building onto already thousands of dollars in support with those already created for the center. (see www. californiawildlifecenter.org ) . A $250+ donation to the center will earn you one of your very own commissioned watercolor portraits of your pet or favorite animal. $500+ for an oil painting.
Volunteers at the Arts For Earth Foundation booth (one of only two offered to their supporters) included: Roy Wells, Joette Snyder -artist, David and Lynne Schindler -photographer, Michelle Nosco-artist). We made many new friends eager to work together towards our mission of promoting sustainable living on the planet through the arts.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Facelift for AFEF Center

The cute little picket fence will be down temporarily along with the tent over the porch next week. The county is giving us a facelift as it pours a concrete curb, sidewalk and driveway for us.

A special design is "allowing" us to keep the only parking spaces we have. That was close... they were going to block off cars from the front and make the street a "no parking" zone. When the plans were drawn up last fall we were a mere twinkle in the eye. No one went to bat for any future the place might have had.

But when we started to see the orange vests gathering outside of our shop we got involved. Might as well close our doors as take away our parking. Curious passersby stop in all the time when there is easy parking. The plans have been officially altered. Not only will we get a new driveway and approach but this whole area of Mt.Pinos Way is getting a facelift courtesy of the stimulus program? Thank you Mr.President. I don't want to think of all those orange clad construction workers as going without. My hope is that they spend their money here so we can make it too. It's been a month since drive-by traffic has stopped in to see who we are.

The shop will be reorganized inside and out. Hope we'll make up the missing revenue cause we'll be so cute.

Seriously, it will be better for all concerned. It's just the hanging on that hurts.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

An Invitation:

How can we show enough appreciation to volunteers?
Yesterday Buzz and Madonna came into town. Between the newsletter organization from Madonna, Buzz and Roger carrying huge tables out to the porch and boxes to storage this place is starting to really hop! Roy put up the picket fence and more, Don donated a tarp for the tent. You are angels. Thank you.
The opinion poll says we are on the right track with our re-organization of the shop. A larger area has been given to making artwork right in the middle of the first gallery room (have you been there yet?). Our window dressing will be oriented towards display of large artwork visible to passersby. This is an invitation for YOU to come on in and enjoy the view!
More classes and nature club activites will be held at HQ. Gearing up for September takes a good solid month and change in days.
The newsletter is almost ready to send out (soon) and articles for the next issue are being written. This is progress.
Thank you all, love,
Chela

Poetry in Motion


Here's a letter from one of our members. Notice the language shift and pitch the voice as the blog moves along. As impassioned supporters of our Wild Mustangs, we find the recent ruling makes it more difficult for outrage to be heard in the White House. I asked for a few enlightening paragraphs written on the wild horse cause..."with no blood or guts". This is the best effort received. Can you imagine what would have been written if I hadn't asked? Next time the gloves come off.
-Chela

Dear President Obama,

I first want to say I know you have a lot on your plate, but this must be said and now. I can’t sleep worrying and thinking about the plight of OUR WILD MUSTANGS! Beats me with all the Protesters we can't stop this mess!

My anger about the mismanagement of Mr. Salazar and the BLM, taking our Mustangs from their home where they were perfectly happy and healthy, to have the Crap scared out of them to the point of miscarriages and death, the poor little foals having to be put to death. Taken from the wild and crammed into corrals with no protection from the elements to end up getting sick with this Pigeon Fever. This is Bull. One Veterinarian to care for thousands of horses. What the HELL is going on. This is a massacre that people are getting a pay check to administer. With TAX PAYERS MONEY! Put them back and stop this MASSACRE of our horses NOW, only you can do this. I have faith you have a heart, I voted for you, I believe in you.

I could go on, but you are a busy man with much on your plate so PLEASE help our wildlife and save tax payers money. This is all about wildlife getting in the way of Cattle Ranchers and Sheep Herders and nothing more, my personal opinion This sounds like the BLM and or Salazar are getting kick backs . . .money in the pocket.

One more thing; I want a law against FENCING WATER FROM THE HORSES ON PUBLIC LANDS!!!

THANK YOU FOR READING MY LETTER NOW PLEASE DO SOMETHING!

J.Snyder

Wednesday, July 28, 2010




FUEL!
Check out this trailer on the new Sundance Films winner!

http://www.youtube.com/thefuelfilm

First there was "An Inconvenient Truth"
now there's a solution. I like it!

Can it work? Yes. It can work if we do it. How do I do it? Let me get back to you or you can get back to us... I'm going to go ask Roy.

Love,
Chela

Mountain Lions need our help...




Here's a good link to Joette Snyders blog. She'll tell you all about the people trying to help our Wild Cats. Here is one of here latest works entitled: Watching

http://drawing-wild-things.joettesgallery.com/drawing/

It's amazing to think of these huge cats roaming the countryside. When you get over the fear and realize that WE are at the top of the food chain they are all the more awesome. Am I crazy? I wouldn't seek them out, but I have seen an adult cross the river in front of our ranch, and one time I had a rare siting of a youngster as it left its investigation of our home... and last winter the biggest paw prints were seen crossing our empty pasture... thankfully the horses were in the barn.
I suspect it's common for the horses to see the big cats as our cluster of old Pinion Pines had one hanging out among its limbs when we first moved in. They live here too, I guess. And here I thought it was only bobcats and coyotes and bunnies... lots and lots of bunnies. They are the featured attraction on the wildlife menu. We raise'em here.

If you want to see a youngster (rare) and watch it grow up... and help out the people raising it you can go to the California Living Museum outside of Bakersfield CA where they just received an abandoned cub named Willow. She is gorgeous... I'm painting her portrait for you!

love,
Chela

Time passes so quickly...




Here's the Lockwood Gorge watercolor.... created in spring of 2010