Happy New Year

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
Fade away like frozen photographs
Remember, Forget
The stakes, the ways you take
The ways you make the moments pass...

Yoav
"A Beautiful Lie"

Happy New Year Everyone.
Wishing you all the best in 2016
~ Betsy

My Word for 2016

SINGLE

a SINGLE

act
word
thought
moment
person
image

can change a

heart
mind
day
life

a SINGLE

decision

can change

outlook
direction
momentum

a SINGLE

event

can bring

joy
happiness
sorrow
devastation
regret
and even...
resolution


What's YOUR word for 2016?

Open Studio Hours

Beginning Monday, January 5th I'll be back in the studio full time and will be having open studio hours on (most) Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. I'd love for you stop by and say hello, chat about what's new or talk about that piece you are ready to commission. Visits during other times are always welcome by appointment. Please contact me at betsy@solacepointe.com for details.

Upcoming Open Studio events will be announced soon!

Dear Caleb

I uncovered your grave yesterday. It has taken me a year to remove the blocks and boards I laid over it the day I had to say goodbye to you.

I built it up with fresh soil, readying it for your garden. Jordan laid down beside me as I worked, as Lila gave chase to Brennan up and down the length of the pond, just as she used to do with you.

This morning is grey and it is raining, and it seems fitting. I started planting your flowers. Placed the paw print marker that says "if love could have saved you, you would have lived forever".

There are days now when I can say your name with a smile, that the tears don't flow.
Today is not one of them.

My heart is breaking. Again.
Still.

I miss you.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!
Wishing you all the best in 2014.
~ Betsy

Inventory Auction

I'll be posting the first piece in the studio inventory auction on my facebook page shortly. Before I do, here's some more info:

You must "Like" the page in order to participate (That's easy!)

I'll be posting two pieces per week: Monday morning (end Wednesday 9pm est) and Thursday morning (end Saturday 9pm est)

Bidding will be in increments of $5.00. Opening bid will be posted on each individual piece.

I'll notify winners at close. Payments are expected within 5 days, or work will be offered to next highest bidder then relisted. Paypal (betsy@solacepointe.com) or Personal Check (payable to Betsy LaMere) accepted. I will split payments on work over $100; message me for terms. Work ships only after payment clears.

You are responsible for shipping! $5.00 Gallery Mount / $10.00 Framed flat rate. Free shipping on bids over $100. US residents only, sorry. International bidders are welcome; please message me for a shipping quote.

About the work: These are display/exhibit pieces from my personal collection being offered to make room in the gallery for new work. As such, they may have minor touch-ups. All work will be professionally cleaned and inspected prior to shipping; please allow a few extra days for this service. Framed work will ship with plexi glazing.

Questions? Fire away!

Featured Art

"Garden Jewel"

A constant visitor to the garden in front of the south end of the barn, this female ruby throated hummingbird is a familiar sight during my morning and evening trips to the barn.

Undeterred by my presence there, I often stop and watch as she flits from blossom to blossom sipping nectar from the Jacob Cline Monarda which blooms profusely at the back of the garden.

As difficult as hummingbirds can be to photograph in motion, I found capturing one at rest even more challenging. My patience was rewarded with this image of her momentarily perched among the tall grasses beside the paddock fence.

Open edition. Unstretched canvas print, lustre finish. Image size: 12 x 8", $85.00. To purchase, click here.

Brush stroke finish, Gallery and Museum Wrap also available.

Additional sizes, papers, and frame options on request.

Image also available on notecards.

Art at the Classic

I received confirmation today that both of my photographic entries have been accepted to Art at the Classic, held in conjunction with the 26th Annual Draft Horse Classic in Grass Valley, California, September 20 - 23, 2012.

Now to get them framed!

"Days Gone Bye"

"Jeremy and Phil"

Mi Choyce

He is my very best friend. My inspiration. Muse. Mentor. My heart.

Mi Choyce. Handsome. Bud. Many of you will recognize him as he is most often referred to, The Love of My Life.

Today, we celebrate 30 years together.

There are far too many pictures and memories for one post to do justice, so I've created a page to share some of my favorites.

CAG "Puppies!" Online Exhibit

"Caleb", one of my two pieces in the Puppies! Exhibit

The last Canine Art Guild online exhibition showcased our old friends. This time around we are celebrating puppies! After all, aren't they old friends in the making? Full of promise, with wrinkled skin and clumsy, clunky paws - they represent the future; one full of wagging butts, sloppy kisses and the knowing weight of an old friend's head on your knee. They test our patience to the limit with an occassional chewed shoe or puddle on the floor - yet warm our hearts with their antics and can draw a smile from even the sternest individual.

Visit the Canine Art Guild to view the entire online exhibit which includes forty nine heartwarming works from a talented array of the guild's members. Be sure to pick your favorite and cast your vote for the People's Choice Award!

Featured Art

"Thanks, Bud"

On Tuesday, July 10, 2012, I will be celebrating 30 years with my very best friend, Mi Choyce. I wrote this blog post several years ago, and while trying to decide on this months featured art I felt this image summed up simply what all of us horse crazy kids know to be true, so I'm sharing it with you again:

Of little girls and horses...

This piece is quite possibly the one of greatest sentimental value to me. A tender moment is exchanged between my then two year old daughter Michaela and my beloved horse, Mi Choyce.

In appreciation of her ride, Michaela marched directly into the hay room, came back with an armload of hay - which she stuffed in his feed bucket - and patted him gently on the head.

That inexplicable connection between little girls and horses, captured in this heartwarming moment. An enduring reminder of one of the simplest joys: friendship.

Open edition. Unstretched canvas print, lustre finish. Image size: 24" x 16", $225.00. To purchase, click here.

Brush stroke finish, Gallery and Museum wrap also available. Additional sizes, papers and frame options on request.

Image also available as a large magnet and single or boxed notecards.

Featured Artist @ Imagekind

Thank you Imagekind for selecting me as one of your Featured Artists of the day! :)

Visit http://solacepointe.imagekind.com/store to view available work and purchase prints.

SPBR Transport - Mimi

Image courtesy of Smilin' Pit Bull Rescue

Early tomorrow morning I'll be on my way to St. Louis, Missouri, transporting Smilin' Pit Bull Rescue's Mimi from Buffalo, NY to her adopter Samantha.

Mimi's journey with SPBR started in a kill pound in West Virginia, where she and her five newborn puppies were slated for euthanasia unless a rescue stepped in - which is exactly what SPBR did.

They found a foster and fundraised for her flight to New York, where Mimi would stay until the pups were old enough to be adopted. Samantha learned about Mimi's story, and offered to open her heart and her home to this precious girl.

When coordinator Kristy posted on Facebook asking for volunteers to transport Mimi to St. Louis, I looked at her proposed route in hopes I could volunteer to drive a leg of it. And then it hit me: this dog needs to go to Missouri. Well, that was that. My mind was already sorting out the details of how I could make my plan work as I contacted Kristy to tell her I'd drive Mimi the whole way.

A momentary sense of craziness was followed by excitement.

My daughter Allanah moved to Missouri last fall and her pup Paul Anka was left with us until she got settled. Mimi wouldn't be the only one going home...

The past two weeks have been spent coordinating schedules and sorting out details. With the efforts of a lot of wonderful people (thank you!) tomorrow morning Paul Anka and I will embark on what may be our last adventure together as we drive Mimi to her new home.

A bittersweet journey for all of us, to be certain.

I'll share my weekend adventure with the pups on Monday. Until then, read Mimi's whole story here.

Featured Art

"Paul Anka"

After spending a great deal of the first two years of his life with me, on Saturday, I will be taking Paul Anka on a transport run to St. Louis where he'll be reunited with his girl - my daughter Allanah.

Very simply, I am going to miss him.

Open edition. Unstretched canvas print, lustre finish. Image size: 12" x 8", $85.00. To purchase, click here. Brush Stroke finish, Gallery and Museum wrap also available.

Additional sizes, papers, frame options and gallery mount on request.

Image also available as a 12x18" poster, magnet and single or boxed notecard.

"Helping Paws" Update

I received an email from Eric at Smilin' Pit Bull Rescue letting me know that the donation they received from the sale of the pen and ink drawing "Pick Me!" that I did for the Canine Art Guild's fourth annual "Helping Paws" exhibit - an event to raise funds and awareness with a portion of the proceeds going towards the artist's designated rescue/shelter - would be going towards little Olivia's emergency clinic bill, and I couldn't be happier.

Born December 7th, little Olivia and her seven siblings were rescued along with their Momma Ella from a West Viginia kill pound - a place where, because of their breed, they were unable to be adopted to the public and slated to be euthanized if a rescue organization could not be found to take them.

The dedicated people behind Smilin' Pit Bull Rescue were not about to let that happen.

On Christmas Eve, at just fifteen days old, the pups began to show symptoms of pnuemonia - Olivia's the worst, and she was taken by her foster to the emergency clinic, where they gave her, and the rest of her litter a grim prognosis, telling SPBR that the pups would not make it. Again, the dedicated people behind Smilin' Pit Bull Rescue were not about to let that happen. After incurring a $1,500.00 vet bill for Olivia's emergency clinic two-day stay, she was taken home to have volunteers continue her treatment - oxygen, nebulizer, Unasyn and tube feeding - round the clock. The other pups were put on antibiotics and their condition improved.

Olivia improved daily in their care, and is now happily reunited with her siblings and will be available for adoption in early February.

Read the whole story about this family's incredible journey here: Ella and Eight

If you are able to help, you can Chip In for Olivia's vet bill until January 22nd. Donations after the 22nd can be made by clicking on the link on the left hand corner of Smilin' Pit Bull Rescue's home page: http://www.spbr.org/. Thank you!!

If you haven't visited the Canine Art Guild's "Helping Paws" exhibit, please stop by and be sure to cast your vote for the People's Choice award by January 31st - a monetary donation which also goes to the artist's designated rescue. I would be thrilled to have you place your vote for "Pick Me!" on behalf of Smilin' Pit Bull Rescue!

Pic of Olivia courtesy of Smilin' Pit Bull Rescue

Happy New Year

Wishing you all the best in 2012.

~Betsy

Featured Artist @ Imagekind

Thank You, Imagekind, for selecting me as one of your Featured Artists of the day! :)

Visit http://solacepointe.imagekind.com/store to view available work and purchase prints.

Tar

"Sunrise Silhouette"

Tar (on left) and Frisbee (right) are Tenessee Walkers that belong to my neighbor across the road. Over the years, they have served as models for my work (many of you will recognize Frisbee from "Morning Mist") and when Kathy is out of town, I've looked after them for her.

In mid December, Kathy was in a car accident that left her with a shattered ankle and fractured sternum. I have been caring for her animals while she recouperates. Early Sunday morning, she and her daughter left for a week long trip to Jamaica that had been planned months before for the winter school break.

On Monday, Frisbee and Tar greeted me as usual for their morning feeding. Tar was filthy from lying down in the run-in, and was going to need a good grooming before going back out. As I closed the outside gate, instead of going to his stall as he usually does, Tar went into Frisbee's stall and refused to come out when I asked. I shut the barn door and went to the stall, noticing immediately that he was shivering. As I backed him out of the stall into the isleway, it was apparent that he was in distress. Sometime during the night, Tar had coliced. I had checked on them around eleven, but it was now nearly ten o'clock the next morning. How long had he been like this?

As I tried to quickly assess his condition, my first reaction was to start getting him warmed up. Finding no blankets in the barn, I ran home and grabbed what extras I had, bringing towels from the house to dry him with, explaining to Michaela - home for winter break as well - that I needed to take care of Tar and she was on her own for the time being.

Back at the barn I found him still standing in his stall, but I needed more room to work on him so I pulled him out into the isle. It was as if all the resolve he had had crumbled once I understood his need. He could barely stand as I threw the blankets on him, and he leaned heavily on me for support. Dialing the number for the vet, I fought back the panic that was rising in me. His condition was becoming increasingly critical, and I was alone. I knew his life was in my hands. I would need all of my knowledge to help him, and then some.

I breathlessly told the receptionist everything, repeating it again to the vet when she transferred me. Tar's condition was dire, and he disregarded it as such. His recommended course of action would have done nothing to help Tar. His flippant attitude left me disheartened. I was angry for having wasted precious time for Tar. I dialed my own vet, not caring if I was overstepping my bounds - knowing full well my decisions might be challenged later. I was willing to defend my actions if necessary and would deal with that when and if the time came. My only concern was doing whatever could be done for Tar.

With his heart rate elevated at 78 bpm, we started him on a 500lb dose of Banamine, and as I waited for Dr. Ayers to arrive, I continued to towel dry him. Calling in route to check his response to the Banamine, she gave the go ahead to give him another 500lb dosage. I tried to call Kathy as I worked on Tar, but kept getting her voicemail. I dreaded having to tell her what was unfolding here at home. I then called her son and son-in-law to fill them in and have them continue to try and reach Kathy as we further assessed and treated Tar.

My heart sank as we tried to lavage him with warm water, unable to obtain a clear reflux. Large amounts of sour smelling coarse hay particles and a few flakes of corn were all that came back through the tube. After approximately forty minutes, the tube clogged completely and finally had to be removed. Dr. Ayers suspected that we were dealing with more than just an impaction, and I agreed. I called Kathy's son again to tell him our next course of action would be an iv treatment. Things were not looking good, and we had no guarantee that further treatment would be successful, especially if our suspicions were correct. At this point, we had to consider the financial burden we would be placing on Kathy as well.

We went ahead with the iv fluids, administering 5 L bolus of fluids before letting him into his stall, where he urinated normally before lying down. His heart rate had dropped to 56 bpm, and he remained lying quietly in sternal recumbency as we administered another 5 L bolus of fluids. It was near 4:30 as we drew up our overnight plan.

The next few hours saw me checking frequently on Tar to change his sweaty blankets as I tried desperately to keep him warm. We left him to lie quietly in his stall as his breathing was becoming more labored, and even a brief walk was stressing him. He got up momentarily, and I cleaned his stall as he lay in the isle waiting for me, giving him extra shavings to keep him warm and comfortable. The other animals still needed feeding, towels and blankets needed to be washed, and phone calls made. I gave Michaela something to eat and let the dogs out. Michael came to help me administer another round of iv fluids at approximately 9:30. Tar showed signs of himself as we started the second bag - getting up and pawing impatiently, that familiar glint in his eye. I allowed myself a moment of hope that things might turn.

He immediately returned to lying down once the treatment was finished, the spark extinguished, my hope with it. I left him at 12:30 to get some rest, setting my alarm for 4am, only then aware of how cold I'd been when I crawled under my heated blanket. I fell into an uneasy sleep a little after two. My body was less than happy at my request to get back up at four, thanking me with gut wrenching heaves of bitter bile. Tar was quiet on my check, and I returned home for a few more hours of sleep, knowing it would be another long day ahead of us.

At 8am he was still lying quietly, but his respiration was worse and he grunted uncomfortably with each breath. I flushed his catheter again and called the vet. Dr. Dwyer was scheduled to come at 10am, but had another emergency and couldn't make it until noon. Dr. Sutton was available and I requested she come out as soon as possible. I tended quickly to the other animals as I waited for her to arrive.

Her exam confirmed my fears: despite our efforts Tar's condition was deteriorating. His heart rate was 90 bpm. He had discharge from refluxing and the rectal exam revealed intestinal distention. The treatment had not helped. It was agreed to forego surgery and the heartbreaking decision was made to put Tar down.

We took him out into the pasture and I held his head, speaking softly to him and kissing him gently as Dr. Sutton prepared the injection. When it was done, our attention turned to Frisbee, who was frantically calling for his friend from the barn. We gave him a light sedative and then turned him out to say goodbye. As he pawed and nipped at Tar to get to his feet, his sad whinnies piercing my heart - the realization that his friend was gone finally began to sink in as he stood protectively over Tar's still form. I stood wondering with a heavy heart how anyone could possibly believe animals don't understand loss. Frisbee's grief was palpable.

We buried Tar this afternoon in the paddock behind the barn.

My gratitude and thanks to Dr. Ayers, Dr. Sutton, Dr. Boatwright and the rest of the staff at GVEC for everything they did for Tar, and for me. My thanks to Butch for coming to help us put Tar to rest. My gratitude also to Will and James for helping me through this. My heartfelt sorrow to Kathy on the loss of her boy.

Featured Art

"White on White"

Meet Lila, a beautiful eleven week old Lab/Pit mix, and my present from Michael this past Christmas. She joins my two boys Jordan and Caleb, filling a very special place in our pack.

When my best girl Faith passed away in August of 2009, the boys never completely filled the hole she left in my heart. The love I had for her needed to be shared. I had room for someone new. And so begins our journey with my new best girl. Though Faith can never be replaced, and Lila's got big prints to follow in, my pack feels whole again.

At four months now, Lila has found her place easily; embracing her new life here and bringing joy to each of us. Her story is just beginning...

Open edition. Unstretched canvas print, lustre finish. Image size "24 x 16", $225.00. To purchase, click here.

Brush Stroke finish, Museum and Gallery Wrap also available.

Additional sizes, papers and frame options on request.

"White on White" is from our "Foster Hope" collection. A percentage of the sales from this print will be donated in Lila's name to the local rescue she was adopted from.

Featured Art

"Percheron Foal"

Spring may be months away yet here in Western New York, but it has not stopped me from dreaming of frolicking foals and green grass. This winter in particular has found me counting the days until warmer weather arrives; it has been unseasonably cold this year, and seemingly greyer than usual.

So, as I sit nestled in my studio until the grass reappears and that new crop of foals arrive, I thought I would share one of my favorite foal pics with you ~ a darling percheron colt dozing in the lush Spring grass and this month's featured art:

Open edition, unstretched canvas print, lustre finish. Image size: 24" x 16", $225.00. To purchase, click here.

Brush stroke finish, Gallery and Museum wrap also available.

Additional sizes, papers and frame options on request.