Wild Ozark™

~ Nature Artist in Kingston, Arkansas ~ Sharing my experience with Nature through art & writing about my life in the Ozarks

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

Blog

Fences, Necessary Tractor Repairs, and House-cleaning

Sunday morning: It was 33*F when I got up this morning, and I’ve decided to ignore any task list items for today. My body objects to this swing in temperatures, and prefers to go downstairs without needing to put on … Read the rest “Fences, Necessary Tractor Repairs, and House-cleaning”

18 March 2025
Still Working on that Old Shed Painting

Yes, I’m still working on that old shed painting. It’s taking me a while, but now it’s beginning to flesh out in the middle ground. Once I get the trees finished up, I’ll start on the ground around the shed.… Read the rest “Still Working on that Old Shed Painting”

15 March 2025
Iron Oxide as Pigment

The colors in my pigments are because of various combinations of iron oxide, for the most part. This gives me the browns, the yellows, oranges, and the reds. I have an earthy palette!

Hematite

The red colors are from … Read the rest “Iron Oxide as Pigment”

12 March 2025
The Earliest Ozark Spring Flowers

So far, the earliest Ozark spring flowers I’ve noticed have been the endemic Ozark witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis). Wriggly tendrils of yellow and orange add little splashes of color to the otherwise barren winter landscape, usually in February … Read the rest “The Earliest Ozark Spring Flowers”

8 March 2025
Lively Little Waterfall

When there’s rainwater runoff, we have a lively little waterfall. It splashes down right at the edge of our driveway and flows across it to the creek.

It usually only flows at a trickle, so only keeps the ground wet. … Read the rest “Lively Little Waterfall”

5 March 2025
Earthy Artwork Prints

Everything (almost) that I’ve painted is available as beautifully reproduced earthy artwork prints. The few that aren’t are most likely commissions, though a few of those are also available.

To find them, go to shop.wildozark.com and click the Artwork icon … Read the rest “Earthy Artwork Prints”

2 March 2025
Differentiate and Stand Out

Some of the agents in my brokerage are taking a 3-day workshop on becoming better at marketing our businesses. It’s geared for real estate agents, but everything I’ve heard so far is good for any business owner to learn, and … Read the rest “Differentiate and Stand Out”

18 February 2025
Cold, Windy Winter Days

The cold outside today wouldn’t be so intolerable if it weren’t windy. This morning, I actually had to wear my sunglasses to go bring food and water to the horses and chickens. The wind was brisk then, and my eyeballs … Read the rest “Cold, Windy Winter Days”

16 February 2025
Update on the Old Shed painting

Time has been very limited lately and I haven’t been able to work on my old shed painting often enough. Today an hour presented itself, between loads of laundry and after running to town in the rain to get hay. … Read the rest “Update on the Old Shed painting”

15 February 2025
Cooper’s Hawk and the Road Runner

On our way to town Tuesday, we stopped along our dirt road to get a better look a Cooper’s hawk. I had hoped to get a photo, but the bird wouldn’t stay in one spot long enough. As we got … Read the rest “Cooper’s Hawk and the Road Runner”

30 January 2025
Ozark Winter Walkabout

Yesterday it was almost 60*F, and inspired a little walkabout in the Ozark winter to see how the pond and creeks looked, and our little driveway glacier.

For the past few days, the temperatures have been mild, above freezing. But … Read the rest “Ozark Winter Walkabout”

26 January 2025
Our Little Driveway Glacier

At the lowest point on our driveway, there is a spring that seeps. During winters, the seep still flows. And as it does, our little driveway glacier grows. The water spreads out over the driveway and freezes into a large … Read the rest “Our Little Driveway Glacier”

21 January 2025
Newsletter Subscriber Special

Just a quick post to let you know that I’m running an impromptu newsletter subscriber special. Sign up before 5pm to get the code.

Subscribers will receive a code to buy original art, prints, and notecards at 50% off until … Read the rest “Newsletter Subscriber Special”

19 January 2025
I’m an Artist Who Uses Paints Made from Rocks

Every so often, I need to make a post at my website to introduce myself and share a bit about what I do. This helps keep my website relevant in the ever-important search engines. So hello! I’m an artist who … Read the rest “I’m an Artist Who Uses Paints Made from Rocks”

19 January 2025
Frozen Fingers on a Beautiful, Brutally Cold Morning

It’s another beautifully brutally cold morning here at Wild Ozark. After bundling up to go out and feed the horses and chickens, I glanced at the package of Hot Hands and decided, nah, I’ll only be a few minutes. Twenty … Read the rest “Frozen Fingers on a Beautiful, Brutally Cold Morning”

19 January 2025
The Moment of Quickening

I’ve been working on this painting for a while now. The sky is the farthest background, so that’s the area of focus. All the while it’s been pretty standard, putting paint here and there, by design or by whim. But … Read the rest “The Moment of Quickening”

15 January 2025
Owl Spotting Day

Before the snow began the other day, I needed to go into town to inspect one of the properties I have listed. That turned out to be a great Owl spotting day.

On the way down the driveway, the dripping … Read the rest “Owl Spotting Day”

13 January 2025
Snow Days at Wild Ozark

The past two days have been declared Snow Days at Wild Ozark. It’s been brutally cold, but today the temperatures have warmed up to 46*F so far and it is bright and sunny outside.

I haven’t been outside much because … Read the rest “Snow Days at Wild Ozark”

11 January 2025
Nature is Both Brutal and Beautiful

Beautiful brutality are two words that seem at odds with each other, right? But that’s exactly what the natural world really is – Nature is both brutal AND beautiful.

Even the parts most people would consider ugly is still beautiful … Read the rest “Nature is Both Brutal and Beautiful”

8 January 2025
Savor the Commute

When I used to work in Bentonville it meant a long drive to and from work every day. Most people probably don’t savor the commute, but I did.

On the way out, the thirty minutes of dirt road gave me … Read the rest “Savor the Commute”

5 January 2025
Finding the Balance Between my Creative Life and Business Goals

When it comes to multi-tasking my life, work, and creativity demands, finding balance is my goal for 2025. When I wrote out my goals for 2024, there was a lot more on my list and I didn’t even touch … Read the rest “Finding the Balance Between my Creative Life and Business Goals”

31 December 2024
Fiction influenced by Nature

This is a post I wrote in 2014 on this same date. I’ve added an update in italics, and a paragraph at the end about the current situation concerning my (lack of) writing. But re-reading this post makes me want … Read the rest “Fiction influenced by Nature”

28 December 2024
Herbal Care Gift Set 2024

Yesterday I made the decoction and infusion for the Winter Crud syrup that goes into my annual herbal care gift set that I make for each of my adult children’s households. The other items include a bottle of sting oil, … Read the rest “Herbal Care Gift Set 2024”

24 December 2024
December in South Texas

We just returned from a trip to south Texas, not far from Corpus Christie where my husband was born and raised. My next travel post will be in March, about springtime in south Louisiana, where I was raised, if not … Read the rest “December in South Texas”

21 December 2024
It feels like winter

Well, sooner or later ever year there comes a point where it feels like winter has arrived. This week here at Wild Ozark marked that point. It’s been 19*F some mornings, but this morning was 24*F and that is plenty … Read the rest “It feels like winter”

3 December 2024