Watercolor in progress "Explosive"

 

Explosive 12 x 20 Watercolor in progress.

Now that we are in the throes of humidity...I'm working more in the cool studio! 

Here is a glimpse of a new watercolor, Explosive, that I've been working on. 

Anyone who knows my humorous thinking, will understand this title and painting. In the start of the tainted lettuce, on the News, it was all I was hearing, explosive (you fill in the blank). While I'm truly sorry and feel empathy for those who were/are experiencing the rath of the vegetables, I just couldn't let it go without some sort of reference. 

With that being said, how this piece started, and my thought process, it has turned into a rather nice piece! The draft horses, splashing into the river, hauling a wagon full of explosives! They have somewhere that they need to be, and fast! Though not the same place the people on the News had to be...fast! 

It is believed that a great artist will paint the signs of the times, and document what is happening in our world at the time. While many may see my work as just a horse artist, a painter of horses, etc. I indeed do paint the times of our world as it is at that moment. I use the subject matter, the horse, to tell the stories of the now. Some get it, some don't. And some find their own stories in a piece of my work. Which is amazing!

I hope you have a great rest of your Summer.

~Deborah

Bolt

My first finished piece of 2026. Well, I have done a few miniature pieces, but this is the first larger piece. Bolt, a 10 x 10 Watercolor. This piece will be going onto the Watercolor Page of this Blog. 

I've been in the garden a lot, as well as recently, hubby replacing an old tub/shower combo with a new walk-in shower! Yay! Today, because of storm threats, I'm staying in the Studio, guitar music playing and finishing up this painting! I haven't signed it yet, but I'll get there. 

Today, I have cancelled my long-time running website, debfloodart. Feels a bit strange to think that I won't have that site and email anymore, but really, I will not miss all the Spam, and suspicious Countries that visited that site so much. So, I guess this painting is rather fitting...I'm Bolting! ha-ha. My mind works in mysterious ways!

I hope you are enjoying your Summer, seeing the sites, or staying home...it's all good!

Much love, Deborah

 

Draft Horse Watercolor in progress

Well, this has been sitting on my watercolor table for several weeks...or more now! It is in progress.

I was all fired up to paint it. I couldn't wait! I got the piece started. I worked on it often. Then....the weather changed for the better. My mind turned to gardening. And whatever else could occupy my mind and attention at the time, ha-ha. 

I think about this painting, often. Which, I have done on other pieces of art. I just think it's my way of creating. I often set pieces aside and paint them in my head. If anyone has tried to have a conversation with me, and I just don't seem all there with my attention, it's because I'm mentally working on a piece of art. Others may see me, as not working on my art, not focusing on a piece, letting it sit too long. But the reality is, I'm working on it every day. One day, I'll feel ready and confident to pick up where I left off with the paint. Like fine wine, Art takes time.

~Deborah

 

The Lure of the Garden! Spring has Sprung!

 

                                                                   My happy place!

Oh Man... I sure wish you could smell this Lilac! Spring in Maine, the way life should be!

Lilacs bring me a sense of peace and belonging. They remind me of the horse farm I grew up on. There was one planted next to the farmhouse porch. And my Grandmother, who lived up the road, would bring bouquets of them for us to put on the kitchen table. She had white and purple. 

The images here, of Lilac, came from my other Grandmother's farm. I dug them up, before the property went on the market. I do have a twig of a white Lilac; I purchased from a local plant sale a few years ago. It has been growing nicely, but I'm not sure I'll still be around to see it large enough to produce flowers! haha. I guess time will tell.

One of the Lilacs in the background, in the photo above. I also have a gorgeous yellow prickly bush, there, that also came from my grandmother's garden. It makes little red berries in the Fall. I did know what it is called, but for the life of me, I haven't been able to remember. Thanks a lot, aging brain...ha-ha. And I love my Mugo Pines! Planted about 30 years ago!

Here are my Phlox! They are coming along just nicely! I created this bed area, next to my garden shed a year or so ago. I love the Phlox! And I love rocks! I had a truck load of rocks, actually two, brought in, and I pick away at the piles, adding them here and there in the gardens. In the background, I'd had a cedar type tree, my husband had bought me. The deer destroyed it this past Winter. Just a week ago, I dug it up, and planted a Japanese Holly Bush, and I have a Dwarf Alberta Spruce ready to go in the ground there too. In the foreground is some Crimson Clover! It showed up on its own! I love it!

Crimson Clover.

Allium

I also have a bulb garden in the same area as the Phlox. This is Allium. Smells so good...like grape! There are also Daffodils there, but they have gone by.

The Iris is just starting to open. My grandmother had dug up some Iris, (Years ago) and had them in her garden, waiting to go somewhere else. One day I was visiting and she said to me "Here! Take these! before they rot!). Well, I couldn't say no to grammy! I'm glad I couldn't, because every Spring and Summer, she is here with me, through these Iris, and the gazillion Hosta...LOL. 

This Azalea is quite old! I can't even remember when I bought it. But it loves it here and is starting to open its fuchsia flowers! Every Spring it is loaded! The deer got at it this Winter, so I'll have to cut some of the leafless branches. 

Just recently I purchased a Wine and Roses Weigela. I think it is happy there. 

And a newly planted Dwarf Alberta Spruce. I had to dig up an Arborvitae, that the deer destroyed. In the background is a Birds Nest, that my Mom gave me! This area is newly developed also...work in progress!

You can see what the deer did here! This one will be dug up and a Mugo Pine will take its place.

Rock steps that my husband made, 35 years ago!

This old bird house, hung on a huge pine tree for well over 35 years, when we first built our house. This Spring, it finally let loose. It now sits nearby, where a new Shade Garden will be created!

The start of the new Shade Garden. I had a dump truck load of dirt brought in, to fill in the area. It used to be a place for our boys to play on a swing many years ago. Now, it will hold Hosta, Astilbe, Blue Star Juniper and whatever else I come across to put in there! 

So, as you can see, I'm pretty well occupied during the Spring and Summer months. It has become a renewed passion of mine! I love the gardens!

Deborah

Welcome!

 Hi, and welcome! This Blog is in its infancy, just created on May 12, 2026, I hope to share my creative world with you, as well as the things that are going on in my creative mind. Retirement, empty nest, aging, and keeping myself sane in it all!

I hope to upload some of my Fine Art, to show case some of my pieces. I've been a professional artist for 40+ years. Mostly, creating my love, horses. Oils and Watercolors dominated my realm. But within a few years ago, I discovered refurbishing old rocking horses! I'd love to share those with you. And I've also been working on the gardens and landscape around my home, here in Mid-coast Maine. 

And then there is the fun of creating greeting cards! Anna Griffin is my favorite go to paper goods for card making! Thanks to my husband, who supplied me with an abundance of her material one Christmas! 

I used to Blog years ago, showcasing my art studio and works only. Now, that I'm retired, I'm excited to share a lot more with you!

My first rocking horse refurbishment. Hand painted horse and rockers. And hand sewn saddle, blanket, and rosettes.

So much I'm looking forward to sharing!

The follow button is in the sidebar, if you are so inclined.

Thank you, Deborah