Wild Ozark™

~ Nature Artist using Ozark pigments in Kingston, Arkansas ~

Wild Ozark: Where Madison Woods paints with Ozark pigments … and talks to rocks, creeks, and trees.

Blog

Starting an Art Journal

It’s been on my list to do for a while and piqued my interest even more after one of the monthly meetings I attended last year with the Artists of Northwest Arkansas. In particular it was the ones Ruth Lawlor… Read the rest “Starting an Art Journal”

7 February 2020
Convergence Show Opening, and Tiny Little Prints

Opening dates for the Big Sur Convergence show in Salinas, and a preview of my tiny little prints.

Convergence Show in Salinas, CA

If you’re in the neighborhood, the opening for the Convergence show in Salinas, CA is on Feb. … Read the rest “Convergence Show Opening, and Tiny Little Prints”

28 January 2020
Small Works | Old Sheds and Ancient Goddesses

While I’m between birds of prey paintings, I’m doing a few small works on paper scraps. They’re not truly ‘scraps’, but leftover 5 x 7″ pieces from large 300# Arches watercolor paper I had cut down to size. I … Read the rest “Small Works | Old Sheds and Ancient Goddesses”

25 January 2020
Presenting … A Rainbow of Ozark Pigments

Skip right to the discussion for your workshop: email me at madison@wildozark.com. I’ll bring my stash of Ozark pigments and rocks, or we can go foraging on site at your location. Plus, I’ll bring all the materials needed to make … Read the rest “Presenting … A Rainbow of Ozark Pigments”

17 January 2020
Details make a difference | A before and after study

I’m still getting the hang of techniques when it comes to painting. One thing I’ve found is that details make a difference in the right places. The key is in figuring out where those details need to go. And how … Read the rest “Details make a difference | A before and after study”

15 January 2020
A Nature Artist’s Business Plan | 2020

An artist’s business plan is just like any other business plan, really. It all boils down to a strategy to make more money than is spent. 2019 was my first full year of ‘being an artist’. Last year was mostly … Read the rest “A Nature Artist’s Business Plan | 2020”

13 January 2020
Activity & Products Lineup for Wild Ozark 2020

Last year I had a lot of plans for a variety of different products. This year I’m streamlining a lot. 2020’s new products plan is an effort to reduce costs and effort and increase sales and income. My next post … Read the rest “Activity & Products Lineup for Wild Ozark 2020”

11 January 2020
Big Sur Land Trust | Goshawks on Exhibit in California

My two goshawk paintings, Rhapsody and Goshawk No. 1 are heading west! Both were accepted to the Convergence Show put on in conjunction with the Big Sur Land Trust and California State University in Monterey Bay. They’ll be hanging at … Read the rest “Big Sur Land Trust | Goshawks on Exhibit in California”

10 January 2020
A Wild Ozark Decade | CHANGE

If I had to summarize an entire decade in one word, I would say it was the decade of CHANGE. So much change happened in both my personal life and business direction.

But some things never change. If I had … Read the rest “A Wild Ozark Decade | CHANGE”

31 December 2019
It’s not really raining | Sporadic Musings

As the sun rises over the ridge-top to our east the frost on our metal roof quickly responds. It sounds like rain as the melted drops fall onto the lower roof. But it’s not really raining. The sun is shining … Read the rest “It’s not really raining | Sporadic Musings”

23 December 2019
The Bear Issue with Our Spring-fed Water Line

So I’ve done a good job of making sure the water is dripping on the cold nights and so far so good with not letting the lines freeze (since the first time I let it happen this year). But this … Read the rest “The Bear Issue with Our Spring-fed Water Line”

18 December 2019
The Orange in Osage Root Bark

The color in the Osage root bark is quite vivid and I’m trying to capture that pigment.

My first attempt wasn’t very successful. I used water to try and extract the orange. I simmered it on low heat, then strained … Read the rest “The Orange in Osage Root Bark”

11 December 2019
Leave the Water On

You’d think by now I’d remember to do that when the first true cold snap arrives. But no, I always forget, just like I forgot last night. And now, of course, there’s no water running from my faucet when I … Read the rest “Leave the Water On”

11 December 2019
Eye of the Storm – 2nd Nature Fantasy Painting

This one was an experiment to see if I could let go of my self-imposed restraints a little. I wanted to produce something different. Both of my sons took one look at it and shuddered. “You should stick to birds, … Read the rest “Eye of the Storm – 2nd Nature Fantasy Painting”

3 December 2019
Bone Black

I made bone black, from a cow vertebra that I charred inside a small tin inside the wood stove. Previously I’d used charred wood from hickory and oak. It has been a difficult paint to re-wet and it never reached … Read the rest “Bone Black”

30 November 2019
A Reflection on Gratitude | A Thanks-Giving for Blessings

I feel a sense of gratitude often throughout most days, but each year around this time, I like to compile a list of things that make me feel grateful. As the end of the year approaches, I start thinking more … Read the rest “A Reflection on Gratitude | A Thanks-Giving for Blessings”

28 November 2019
Not so Daily Musings – Too Much Busy-ness These Days

It’s been a very busy November. Too much busy-ness. My ‘Daily Musings’ looks like it’s going to be a ‘Not So Daily’ Musings kind of post. Today, and every day for the past week or two… I can’t even remember … Read the rest “Not so Daily Musings – Too Much Busy-ness These Days”

21 November 2019
Making Mounted Prints the Wild Ozark Way

Today I’m working on a few 9 x 12″ prints, and the idea occurred to me that the process of making mounted prints might be something you’d like to see. There’s a bit of work involved with making these, but … Read the rest “Making Mounted Prints the Wild Ozark Way”

20 November 2019
Daily Musings- No Colic Today

I’m going to try and start writing some of my old ‘musings’ posts again. Regularly, if I can. They might not have a lot of photos, since it’s optimizing everything that takes so much time up when I’m making a … Read the rest “Daily Musings- No Colic Today”

14 November 2019
Decorating with Nature: Paintings Made from Ozark Pigments

If you like decorating with nature, oh boy, do I have some artwork for you. Think earthy colors and natural tones: ochres, umbers, and siennas. Yellows, reds, browns, oranges, and shades of black and gray. I mean, literally, shades … Read the rest “Decorating with Nature: Paintings Made from Ozark Pigments”

11 November 2019
Making Paint is Meditative

Early this morning my friend moved through the doorway of this life and into the realm of whatever lies beyond. And because making paint is meditative to me, that’s what I did for most of my time today.

What comes
… Read the rest “Making Paint is Meditative”

10 November 2019
Paint from Red Sandstone

Today I made several different shades of paint from red sandstone.

When I make a paint from a pigment-rich stone, like this one, rather than waste what is left on the plate after mulling and scraping up the paint, I’ll … Read the rest “Paint from Red Sandstone”

10 November 2019
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2 November 2019
Color from Osage Root Bark

Today I experimented with Osage root bark to see if it will make paint. Ordinarily, I avoid using plant pigments because they tend to be fugitive, meaning they fade or discolor with time. Some plant pigments, like the green I … Read the rest “Color from Osage Root Bark”

30 October 2019
What are Paleo Paints?

The Paleo Paints

My husband once said my handmade paints reminded him of how the cave men made their paints for the cave drawings. And he was right! And so we called them Paleo Paints.

I make them by crushing … Read the rest “What are Paleo Paints?”

30 October 2019