Bibury Beans, 30″x 30″ mixed media (oil and ink) on canvas by Katherine Dove For those of you who follow this blog, you may remember that one of my favorite places to visit is the Cotswolds. The Cotswolds is an area in south central England that’s about an hour and a half west of London. It includes the counties of […]
This beautiful work of art was given to us by our good friends, Donna Tuten and Doug Frassa. I love its colors and texture as well as its composition. The artist, Susan Miller Bradbury is a fine artist who resides in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Roanoke, Virginia. She enjoys painting with both acrylics and oils. To learn more […]
“Cloud break,” 16 x 20, oil on canvas by Tonya R. Hengerer “The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.” ~ Aristotle
I first discovered the Shenandoah Valley artist, Marsha Heatwole several years ago while visiting an art gallery in downtown Lexington, Virginia. I love the way she captures farm animals and their personalities in such a delightful and whimsical manner. Farmguy and I purchased this painting a couple of months ago at the Roanoke Sidewalk Art Show, and I absolutely love […]
“You are the books you read, the films you watch, the music you listen to, the people you meet, the dreams you have, the conversations you engage in. You are what you take from these. You are the sound of the ocean, the breath of fresh air, the brightest light and the darkest corner. You are a collective of every […]
Farmguy and I were in England a couple of weeks ago on vacation. We stayed in the Cotswolds area not too far from a town called Broadway. Broadway is a charming place with a number of fantastic art galleries that we always enjoy visiting. A friend recommended that we stop by John Noott Galleries as they have a variety of […]
England doesn’t have a national anthem; however, unofficially the beautiful “Jerusalem” hymn is seen as such by many English people. “Jerusalem” was originally written as a poem by William Blake in 1804. The lyrics, written by Hubert Parry, were added to music in 1916 during the gloom of WWI when an uplifting new English hymn was well received and needed. “Bring me my bow of burning gold! Bring me my arrows of desire! Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold! Bring me my chariot of fire! I will not cease from mental fight, Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, Till we have built Jerusalem In England’s green and pleasant land.” “Sea Dreams” 8.5 x 11.5″ acrylic on canvas. by Tonya Rieley Hengerer After visiting a number of wonderful art galleries in the Cotswolds as well as spending the last week in England’s “green and pleasant land,” I was inspired by this country’s many breathtaking landscapes to pass a delightful afternoon painting. This worked out well as Farmguy was watching the Euro Cup. 🙂
Clementine by Tonya R. Hengerer Calico kitty with a Lovely ability to Emote and communicate with Me daily— Especially mornings, when she requests Not one, but Two breakfasts. This second meal Is due to her increased Number of meows and Engaging, sweet personality.
“By the River,” 11 x 14 acrylic on canvas A heartfelt thank you to my friend, Donna as well as my art teacher, Mrs. W for their helpful input and kind encouragement on my latest painting. “An extraordinary dream by Lord Charles Wellesley. (Charlotte Bronte) ‘In this slumber I thought I was walking on the banks of […]
I recently completed this painting of our beloved Maud. “Sweet Maud” is an 11 x 14 acrylic on canvas. It was just an ordinary summer day on Green Hill Farm. I’d been busy all morning with housework and farm chores when I decided to take a little break to relax. After a cup of tea, it was time to […]
My name is Tonya, and I grew up on a 300-acre farm in rural Virginia that has been in my family for over 100 years. After graduating from college, receiving my master’s degree in speech and language pathology, and living and working in a small city for six years, I decided to return to the place of my childhood. Here, in this rural area, on this patch of green, where for four generations my family has farmed, gardened, and lived, I, too wanted to be a part of this continuity. As a fourth generation farmgirl, I have many interests that not only include, but also go beyond the basics of farming, gardening, sheep and chicken-keeping. It is all of this and more that I plan on sharing in this blog.
fourth generation farmgirl 