vacationing with art

Ohmygoodness it's been a long time, friends! By far, this has been the longest break I've taken from my blog since I started it January 1. Does anybody still read this blog, I ask? I hope I haven't lost too many of you! I know I said I'd be gone a week or so...I guess that explains the 10 days I didn't blog. In all honesty, we returned home from Black Butte Ranch last Friday, but my husband had vacation through Monday, so I did too! Thanks for all your well-wishes on my vacation. It was just lovely and a little difficult to come back to real life.

One of the few contemporary-styled paintings in the home - this one's probably 4' square. It's the simplest, but probably my favorite.

So, as is my custom, I either forgot to take pictures of things, or my memory card was full, or I didn't have my camera with me, or (fill in the blanks with some other nonsense) which kept me from getting pics for the blog. But I did manage to take a few that I thought you art-lovers might appreciate.

This was my next favorite, due to its scale and drama as much as the subject matter. This painting of white birch trees is probably 7' - 9' tall and hangs above the staircase. Good thing there are vaulted ceilings in the home for this guy!

We rent the same house every year from a nice couple that my in-laws have known for years. The husband is an orthodontist by day, artist by night. (Actually, I don't really know what time of day he creates his artwork, it just sounded more dramatic that way.) Anyway, the house is FULL of this doctor's original artwork. It is just stunning. Many of the pieces have an outdoors/sporting theme (which is appropriate, considering the purpose of the house). He paints with watercolors and acrylics and is even a sculptor. Oh my word. As you can imagine, I was quite in heaven, wandering around and looking for his signature on the pieces on the walls. Every picture in this post is a piece of the owner's own original art (his name is Don Griffith, by the way).

There were no prints they just picked up at Target or TJ Maxx, here, people. We're talking original paintings, some of which were easily 4' by 6', like the one above, just stunning in their colors and vibrancy.

Here's the sink he made. That's right. Sculpted by hand to go in the powder room.

This one, also in the powder room, is of a man fly-fishing...

A regal...hawk? (How embarrassing if it's not...oh, well...bird expert I do not pretend to be)

This one features the infamous Black Butte (the one the Ranch is named for)

And this one...a gorgeous eagle in flight (probably a 3'-long painting)...

Anyway, while I might not choose to put every single one of these in my own home, the point is...I've gotten snobby in my old age and prefer original art...oh wait, that's not the point...I mean, the point is, I LOVE to celebrate the individuality and creativity that original artwork showcases. The kind of personality it brings to a home is just amazing. Here we were staying in a vacation rental - and I've never even met the owners of this home - yet I feel that I have a little insight into the artist's personality, interests, and talents.

So I hope to share a little more of my trip with you tomorrow, friends. For now, it's good to be back, and I have...oh, about 513 other blogging friends' posts to catch up on now. Yikes!! And hey, thanks for checking back in after my long absence!