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

Pantone’s Color of the Year encourages An Earthy Palette

I’ve never been one to follow the trends, but when all of my art is a spectrum of earthy colors, it makes me really happy that Pantone’s Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse, is one that falls in line … Read the rest “Pantone’s Color of the Year encourages An Earthy Palette”

11 May 2025
Sepia Dreams, But First…the Cedar Problem

I’ve been struggling with the cedar trees in my painting. And there’s been a problem with colors in my trees in the middle ground. Most of my paint are variations on sepia.

That’s just because almost all of my … Read the rest “Sepia Dreams, But First…the Cedar Problem”

29 April 2025
Spring Wildflowers late April

Here in the Arkansas Ozarks, the time for spring wildflowers is here. Some of the ephemerals are still lingering, but the bloodroot is well and gone. Now the later, more durable flowering is underway.

Here’s some I saw today while … Read the rest “Spring Wildflowers late April”

22 April 2025
Showy Orchid Watch

Between thunderstorms today, I went out to check on the Showy orchids. I always miss seeing them until the flowers are up, and sometimes not until they’re already peaked. So today began my Showy Orchid Watch.

At first I didn’t … Read the rest “Showy Orchid Watch”

21 April 2025
Spring Wildflower Walkabout

Today I took a spring wildflower walkabout. Mostly, I wanted to see if the Showy Orchid was up yet. I thought maybe there’d be at least some leaves. There was nothing. I’d have to check daily to catch them at … Read the rest “Spring Wildflower Walkabout”

9 April 2025
Inconveniencing the Horses

Sometimes, I feed at the back gate. There’s a few reasons why, but I’m sure they think it’s because I’m just inconveniencing the horses. That’s only part of the purpose, though.

Exercise

When the grass isn’t actively growing in the … Read the rest “Inconveniencing the Horses”

25 March 2025
Taking Detours

Today (it is Tuesday 3/18 as I write this) when I went to check the mail, I decided to continue on down the road a little farther to Felkins creek. I usually enjoy taking detours from the routine when I … Read the rest “Taking Detours”

21 March 2025
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