Mustang A Day Challenge News

And The Winners of the 700 Give Away Are:

2012-03-05T12:39:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to all the three winners.
The next giveaway will be when the Blog views for the http://MustangADayChallenge.blogspot.com Reach 20,000!
Thanks to everyone who participated. ~Linda

Come Celebrate.. Enter my giveaway!

2012-03-02T07:23:00.000-08:00

I’ve reached700 “likes” on my Facebook page and I would like to celebrate!

The celebrationis open to everyone and anyone.. well, except family.

What you will Receive if your name is drawn:
I was digging through some of my older workand found this really sweet painting of a Buffalo Cow and her new calf. Iveprinted it out as a 8.5 by 11 inch print and it is signed by me. Be one of the first 40 people to enterand you might be the winner of this print.

Particulars:

When: The Give away Entries are open at noon onFriday March 2, 2012 And Close atMidnight Saturday March 3,2012 Drawingswill be made on Sunday evening and Announced on Monday. ( depending on theweather of course)

How toenter: Type in the word: 700GIVE

Where to Enter: You may enter in one of three ways: My News Blog, in the comment section for this posting for thegiveaway, on My Facebook Page or send me an email. Each is dated so it will tellme when you entered.

My Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LindaLMartinArtist
My News Blog: http://mustangadaychallengenews.blogspot.com/2012/03/come-celebrate-enter-my-giveaway.html

My Email: llmartisticservices@yahoo.com Please Writer "700Give" in the Subject line. I will confirm your entry via email

One entry per person please.
Once the name is drawn the winners have 48 hours to respond or the runner-up will be awarded the item.
There will also be two special Closed Give Away Winners To Be Announced on MondayMarch 5th

Winners will be announced here, on Twitter and on my Facebook Page. So Tell all your friends!! Gosh I love to give stuff away!!!!

Fund Raising Auction February 6th- February 8th Online!

2012-02-05T20:48:00.000-08:00

So many exciting things happened in the first month of 2012. Some events were very sad, like the passing of band stallion Davy Greasewood from Sand Wash Basin HMA. Some were very good, like the birth of Branson's Little Davy G a.k.a. Branson who surprised everyone at 4.30 am on January 31st at Alder Hill Farm Rescue. There was also the theft of a huge supply of hay from the Alder Hill Farm Rescue in January. Its devastating because of the slow donations due to the economy and because of the hay shortage in most states is driving the price up.

So I decided to hold an on line auction on my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/LindaLMartinArtist www.facebook.com/LindaLMartinArtist I will donate 100% of the money raised from the painting of Little Branson's first Day and 50% of the final price of 9 other items toward the purchase of Hay and any thing else that Alder Hill Farm. I would like to donate $200 plus to the effort. Please help me help Alder Hill Farm to replace this hay. We still have a good two and ahalf months before the grass comes in. So they need to replace it quickly.

You can bid in two ways:

1) Directly on the face book page in the comment section under the item you want to bid on by going to: http://www.facebook.com/LindaLMartinArtist
2) You may bid on items via email through LLMartisticServices@yahoo.com
Directions for Email: Please write AFH BID in the Subject.
In the body of your email please write the Item number and your bid amount. If you are the high amount at the time I check I will post your bid if your bid has been passed your bid will be acknowledged but not posted on the page.

For Full Terms of the Auction Please Read Here:

Auction to help raise moneyfor the hay that was stolen From Alder Hill Farm
Begins Monday February 6^th, 2012 Auction Ends Wednesday, September8th, 2011 ... Midnight Facebook Time( PST).

HOW TO BID:
BID in the COMMENT Section under each painting or print you wish to purchase. AStarting bid will be listed under each item as well as the retail value. You may also bid via email (see above)
Minimum bid $1.00 increments.

Terms:
~Paypal only accepted. ( if you have trouble with paypal please email LLMartisticServices@yahoo.com for alternative form of payment)
~Payment must clear with in 3 days of theauction ending date or items will be NO Sale.
~ No items are shipped until payment clears.
~Failure to pay will make you ineligible to bidfor 3 months. Second failure to pay makes permanently ineligible to bid onthese auctions. Make sure you have money in your paypal account to cover yourbid before the auction ends.

ALL SALES ARE FINAL
No refunds, exchanges or returns.
Bid retractions are not allowed. They make itunfair on everyone else bidding.
Remember Failure to pay in a timely fashion prevents the money from getting to the Charity and that hurtst the horses.

COPYRIGHTS ARE NOT SOLD WITH THE PAINTINGS orPrints

Shipping and Handling:
In USA: $5 for first painting; free shipping forup to 3 additional paintings of the same size
All OTHER COUNTRIES: $7.50 for all othercountries $3.00 for each additional painting.
Bid winner can request priority mail shipping.Item winner pays the additional cost.
Please Share with your friends! LET THE BIDDINGBEGIN!!

~*~*~*~
Paintings and Prints will be started at afraction of their actual retail value. Aportion of the final Sale value above the cost of painting or print will go toAlder Hill Farm Rescue unless stated below the painting. Throughout the auctionI will highlight different items so those with Iphones, Black Berries andNotebooks can see the different items and read the descriptions. If you haveadditional questions please message me through Facebook or email me atLLMartisticServices@yahoo.com

Mustang A Day Challenge Stats for 2010-2011

2012-01-02T17:32:00.001-08:00

Someone askedme recently if I had reached my goal with the Mustang A Day Challenge. I willlet you be the judge.

The Goal was to paint 260 mustangs in one year, tell someof their stories and put a name to a face of each living mustang I painted.

" Stylin' "
Wild Flower and Wild Wind
of Sand Wash Basin HMA
Challenge Painting #44

During thetime from December 1^st , 2010to December 31^st 2011 I painted 300 equines for the Challenge in 244paintings.

285 LivingMustangs either in the wild or in captivity were painted during that time.

5 of thehorses (not including Monet from Sand Wash Basin) were domestics.

11 were wildburros.

13 were ColonialMustangs from the East Coast.

5 were wild highlandponies from Virginia.

2 of themustangs, living this year in the wild, were painted in memorial after they haddied in the wild.

5 guest Artists participated during the 4th of July week and 2 guest artists participated during the Thanksgivng week and 2 guest artists participated during the Christmas Holiday week.

So what is coming for the Mustang A Day Challenge in 2012?

"Smoke"
Apache Mustang
Challenge Painting #210

I will still be painting Mustangs, as well as rescued horses. I will bedoing larger oil paintings this year with the goal of doing one completed oilpainting a week of Mustangs for 22 weeks beginning in February. Watch thisspace for more information to come. Plus I hope to have some interesting surprisesto announce later in the year.

If you are currently on the schedule to have your horse painted in thechallenge, It is on going until I finish all that are on the schedule. Contact me if you submitted photographs andyou haven’t seen the painting on the Mustang A Day Blog by January 31, 2012. Iwill paint them all.

"Domino"
Sanctuary Mustang At Alder Hill Farm
Challenge Painting #143

2012 is going to be a very exciting year. I cant wait to share the new paintings with you. Blessings to you and yours and a very Happy New Year!!

~*~

If you would like to commission me to paint a painting of your mustang please contact me at my work email: LLMartisticServices@yahoo.com

I would be pleased to have the opportunity to paint your Mustang.You can view current prices on the painting price list here:

2012 Commissions Price List

Burro Week On the Mustang A Day Challenge!

2011-12-20T12:24:00.000-08:00

Burro Week:
Very fitting leading up to the Christmas Holiday

We are very quickly heading into the time we Celebrate Christmas. This week is Burro Week. I am doing three very special burro paintings that will be translated into cards and prints. You can buy the items through zazzle and send a card to Gov. Perry of Texas help save the burros. 10% of the profit from each card will go to a charity that helps preserve, protect, find homes for or rescue “long ears”.

*****

Guest Artists!

In addition we have two very special Guest Artists this week.

Sue Kroll is a “Long Ears” specialist. Sue paints mostly mules and donkeys. I first met Sue on facebook when she was painting a “Mule A Day” She was one of the people who inspired me to paint the Mustang A Day Challenge Series. No one captures the essence of burros and mules through eyes of love like Sue does. I’m very happy to have her as a guest on the Challenge. Her paintings will be featured on Thursday December 22nd.

Our other guest artist is Western Artist Debbie Flood. She is internationally know and has won many awards with her watercolors of modern cowboy culture. One of the things I love about her work is her colors. She works with a warm pallet that always has the colors of the sun, sand and turquoise. You always feel the warmth in each of her works of art. Debbie told me that she also did a year as a daily painter. She said it was an amazing experience that took her to new levels in her work. I am very happy to have her as a guest on the Challenge. Her painting will be featured on Friday, December 23rd

******

New Products on Zazzle Benefiting Sand Wash Basin Mustangs. And where to buy Original Mustang A Day Challenge Paintings.

Items Memorializing Sundance, a popular
South Steens HMA Stallion.

Please check out the Zazzle Store for new items and products from the Mustang A Day Challenge. You can link in here: http://www.zazzle.com/LindaLMartinArtist*

Also don’t forget that originals of the Mustang A Day Challenge are available on line through my Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/MustangADayChallenge.blogspot.com

***

To all my clients and Fans:

Have a very Merry Christmas, a wonderful Holiday Season. Wishing You and Yours Much Peace, Prosperity and Joy in 2012.

***

Reminder: The Mustang A Day Challenge will not be posting mustangs on December 26th and 27th Several special paintings will be completed during the week between Christmas and New Years.

The Mustang A Day Challenge will resume with Happy Mustangs on January 3rd, 2011

New Listings for Alder Hill Farm Mustang Paintings on Etsy

2011-11-22T13:24:00.001-08:00

Please visit the Mustang a Day Store to view these and other Challenge Paintings available on Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MustangADayChallenge
To read more about Alder Hill Farm, which horses are avaiable for adoption and how you can get involved go to www.alderhillfarm.org

THANKSGIVING!! Giveaway! Guest Artists! Paintings Schedule

2011-11-20T15:53:00.001-08:00

"Gobbler and Hen"
Signed Print by Linda L Martin
To the Give A Way winner.

Thanksgiving 2011!!
I am always thankful for the many people who have supported me through the years. But I have even more to be thankful for this year. Ive made so many new friends and supporters through doing this Mustang A Day Challenge. I love everyone of you and your passion for horses and Mustangs. Thank you for your support and your encouragement.

There are so many really cool things happening this week to Celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Thanksgiving Giveaway:
Yes! We are having a give away! I'm giving away my annual Thanksgiving “Turkey” themed item . This year its an open edition fine art print of the Gobbler and Hen painting . It has a wide margin and is ready to frame as an 11 by 8.5 or mat and frame to 11 by 14. Yes it is signed. Entries will begin November 21st and run through 5pm Wednesday November 23rd. The drawing will be held on Wednesday and announced on my Face Book Fine Art Page. To enter type in Bless-U2 on my page http://www.facebook.com/LindaLMartinArtist or in the comments under this post. Be sure to watch for the winner so you can send me your address. Also watch the page for a special surprize on Wednesday!

Special Guest Artists for Thanksgiving Week!
This week we have two special guest for the Mustang A Day Challenge. Our first guest Artist is Rachel McCaffrey. Rachel lives in South Africa. She is well smitten with the Wild Horses of Sand Wash Basin HMA. Her painting of Apache will be featured on Monday.

Our Tuesday guest is a world renowned artist Jeanne Newton Schoborg , living in Iowa, who is well known for her beautiful traditionally realistic paintings of show and domestic horses. For our purposes she is going back to the basics with her wonderful oil painting of the spirit of a wild stallion.

Please let both of these artists know how much you enjoy their work ! On Wednesday Im offering my 2008 painting Snow Ponies for the challenge to get you in the mood for Christmas. It’s the Most Wonderful time of the YEAR!!

There will be no Mustang A Day Paintings Thursday through Sunday this week

to celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday.

~*~*~*~

Painting Schedule For December:

November 28th through December 2nd:
Monday – Wednesday More Mustangs and Kids
Thursday-Friday: Memorial paintings

December - 5th through 9th
Some of my Favorite Horses from Sand Wash Basin HMA ( TBA)

December 12 th – 16th
Happy Mustangs

December 19- 22th
Burro Week and a Special Guest Artist

December 23rd -26th
No painting Christmas Break

December 26th through 30th
TBA Traditionally I travel a lot during this week between Christmas and New Years So I won’t be painting regularly during this week.

January 3
More Happy Mustangs Begin The new year!

Celebration Giveaway for the Mustang A Day Challenge: 200 Paintings!

2011-09-23T22:14:00.000-07:00

Celebrate the 200^th Painting

Tuesday, September 27^th I will reach the 200^th painting in the Mustang A Day Challenge. To celebrate this achievement I will be having a give away.

The give away will Have three Prizes.

~First Prize is A full-body or head watercolor portrait 8 by 10 inches with a simple background

~2 runners up will receive one 5 by 7 watercolor head portrait with a simple background.
Winners provide reference photography of at least 300dpi with good contrast.
How to enter:
Go to my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/LindaLMartinArtist
Then comment with the word: 200GW

The entries are open now.
~The Entries Close at Midnight Tuesday September 27^th.
~Drawing will be held Wednesday September 28^th and announced on my facebook page.

~Winning contestants have 48 hours to respond or forfeit.

Previous winners may not enter this drawing.

Enter Now! Thank you for participating in the Mustang A Day Challenge.

Update on the Mustang A Day Challenge.

2011-09-19T11:31:00.000-07:00

New Auction on My Facebook Page!

Click this link to bid: Auction #3

So many exciting things are happening now that the weather is beginning to cool. The month of September I began offering small auctions on my facebook page as an experiment. They are working out wonderfully and the participation is growing. By giving my facebook fans a first chance offer to own some of these wonderful paintings it helps keep me in paint and paper to continue the challenge. It also helps to raise money for the photogrphers so they can continue the documentation of the wild horses they are trying to help preserve. This gives everyone that bids the opportunity to be a part of the solution.

The new Auction is up and running now and will be there until September 29th. Please contact me if you dont have paypal. If you have it it streamlines the entire process.

~*~

Fall Painting Special!

Click the Image to read the details.

As you know by now if you have been following the Mustang A Day Challenge I also run a painting special every few months. Well the Fall special starts on October 1st and runs through December 31st. This special is for any watercolor original that I have painted or any commissioned work during the time period its for 25% off of the retail value starting at size 5 by 7 inches and up. This is a really good deal and just in time for Christmas too. But you must have the code to participate. You can get the code here on this post and on the 2011 prices post from the advertising image. Remember no code, no discount.

This offere is only good with the code when you buy online through any of my three Etsy Stores or directly by facebook. Auctions are not included in the special. The special may not be combined with any other offers.
Links to my Etsy Stores:
www.etsy.com/shop/LindaLMartinArtist
www.etsy.com/shop/StoneFlur
www.etsy.com/shop/MustangADayChallenge

~*~

This week on The Mustang A Day Challenge
Coming up this week on The Mustang A Day Challenge: The mustangs of Alder Hill Rescue in Missouri.
You can read more about the horses of Alder Hill Farm at www.alderhillfarm.org
.

Whats New on the Mustang A Day Challenge This week! Begining Aug 15th

2011-08-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

Whats Hot on the Painting Challenge:

A Sand Wash Basin Stallion
Photographed by John Wagner

So much exciting going on this week. Starting this evening I will be painting more horses from the Sand Wash Basin HMA near Craig Colorado. The Sale of the paintings will help support the efforts of the photographers who are documenting family groups of the herd and their migrations. The Sand Wash Basin Wild Horses(SWBWH) Club is currently in the process organizing and is working with the BLM to help identify the horses for better management on the range and easier adoption for those who are rounded up.

The SWBWH Club is a loosely associated group of people with one common goal: the horses. Its foundation came from a group on Face Book that now numbers over 3,000 people. There is at this time no formal organization in place. I am encouraging a program of sponsorship of the horses for the purpose of continuing documentation is . It takes a ton of money to go out and do what our friends and photographers do and the more support we can get for this effort the better. If you would like to join in here is the Facebook Club link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sand-Wash-Basin-Wild-Horses/101181969939406

The exact date for the Sand Wash Basin(SWB) HMA roundup has not been announced but it will be sometime in 1012 or 2013 to complete the PZP birth control study being done on the herd by the Humane Society of the United States. Some horses will probably be removed from the SWB HMA at that time as a means of population control.

One of 7 watercolors of
Kiger Mustangs offered in
This informal Auction.

Something Different for Mustang Supporters:
For the first time I am running a Face Book Auction of the Paintings I did last week for the Kiger Mustangs on my Facebook Page. Its an experiment to see if this type of informal acution will help in raising money for Mustang Charities. If you would like to participate please go to the page listed here http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150285955418585.342439.61141573584 These are small format paintings of 6 by 4 inches with starting bids of $9.50. Auction runs through Midnight(PST)August

Click on the image to read details

The Mid-Summer Painting Special:
Don't Forget the Mustang A Day Challenge Mid Summer Special is still going on. Become a part of the solution. Have one of these wonderful 5 by 5 inch head portraits done for $35.00 ea. I will give $10 for each painting of this size to Alder Hill Farm for their Rescued Mustangs Upkeep for this winter. The goal is to paint and sell 20 of these and give $200 to Alder Hill Farm. You can contact me directly at LLMartisticServices@yahoo.com with your photography and request or you can purchase through my etsy store here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/73018514/mid-summer-watercolor-special-pet-or

2012 Commission Prices For Art From LLMartin Artistic Services

2011-07-23T20:50:00.000-07:00

2012 Price List

Client provides Digital images

and Copyright approval.

All works above $50.00 require a non refundable

Minimum deposit of 30% down

Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for watercolors and

6 to 8 weeks for Oil Paintings.

Always check the current special before your buy!

Watercolors

5 by 7 inches $55.00
6 by 9 inches $90.00

8 by 10 inches $150.00

11 by 14 inches $280.00

16 by 20 inches $560.00

18 by 24 inches $770.00 Prices are Basic for one animal or

head portrait with a simple complimentary background

Add 35% per added element, subject or spotted coat pattern.

Please add 50% for person.

Shipping, Handling, Insurance extra.

Quotes available for larger works

~*~

Graphite on Paper

5 by 7 inches $35.00

6 by 9 inches $ 55.00

8 by 10 inches $ 75.00

11 by 14 inches $140.00

16 by 20 inches $280.00

18 by 24 inches $385.00

Prices are Basic for one animal or

head portrait with a simple complimentary background

Add 35% per added element, subject or spotted coat pattern.

Please add 50% for person.

Shipping, Handling, Insurance extra.

Quotes available for larger works

~*~

Acrylics on Canvas or Paper

5 by 7 inches $65.00

6 by 9 inches $165.00

8 by 10 inches $265.00

11 by 14 inches $465.00

16 by 20 inches $665.00

18 by 24 inches $865.00

Prices are Basic for one animal

or head portrait with a simple complimentary background

Add 35% per added element, subject or spotted coat pattern.

Please add 50% for person.

Shipping, Handling, Insurance extra.

Quotes available for larger works

~*~

Oils on Canvas

5 by 7 inches $75.00

6 by 9 inches $175.00

8 by 10 inches $300.00

11 by 14 inches $500.00

16 by 20 inches $700.00

18 by 24 inches $1000.00

Prices are Basic for one animal

or head portrait with a simple complimentary background

Add 35% per added element, subject or spotted coat pattern.

Please add 50% for person.

Shipping, Handling, Insurance extra.

Quotes available for larger works

Please contact the Artist to place an order: at LLMartisticservices@yahoo.com or contact@LLMartin.com

Specials and original work can be purchased through www.etsy.com/shop/MustangADayChallenge

This week on the Mustang A Day Challenge: Guest Artists Week July 4th-8th

2011-07-02T15:16:00.000-07:00

Guest Artists Week
When I begin this project last year, I decided to work into the process several vacation days, as well as Holidays. This Week on the Mustang A Day challenge I will be hosting 4 of my favorite Mustang Artists. These are 4 remarkable women who are daily working at their craft. They all both admire and are dedicated to loving of the Mustangs.

July 4th: Day off! Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July as we will all Celebrate Independence Day here in the USA!!!

Day 1: Tuesday July 5th. The first Guest Artist is Karen Mclain has been refining her skills painting from life out on the range in Arizona all year and it finally paid off in an amazing way. Not only is she gaining in notoriety and popularity with the Mustang Public, her work has won her national recognition and she was invited to join the prestigious Western Artists of America organization.

Day2: Wednesday July 6th Oregon equine artist, Michelle Severe. Michelle is an artist and illustrator. One of her more recent collaborations is with writer and horsewoman Andi Harmon. Michelle illustrated Andi’s book Oregon's Living Legends. Michelle is going to lead us through her process as she paints one of the most renowned and very special stars from in the Steens Mountain Ranges, a beautiful mare named Charm.

Artist Karen Mclain painting from life a herd of wild horses. Karen will be
among the 4 guest artists on the Mustang A Day Challenge blog this week.
Photo by Becky Standridge

Day 3: Thursday July 7th A dear friend of mine living outside of Springfield, Mo. Jennifer Beers is a solid craftsman and a third generation artist. As a single mom she supported herself and her children with her wood working and wood burning business. These days she is a new grandmother and promotes her product line through etsy and facebook. When she first saw the mustangs of Sand Wash Basin HMA she was inspired by the photography of wild life photographers and soon collaborated on several projects. And she has more planned in the future.

Day 4: Friday July 8th I have the great pleasure of hosting Sonya Malecky Spaziani better known a the Cow Girl on Coffee or

This is the cover Art by Michelle Severe for
Oregon's Living Legends by Andi Harmon.
The book is available for sale through
http://www.oregonslivinglegends.com/
Special Thank you to Andi for the use
of the cover image.

Mustang Meg to many of her followers on facebook. This amazing artist, also from Oregon, is a mother, an extremely entertaining writer, photographer and a wild mustang advocate. As I write this she has just returned from a visit to the Steens Mountain HMA where she and friends spent a few days visiting the famous Kiger Mustangs.

~*~*~

I want to thank all of you wonderful mustang loving women artists for participating in this effort and for giving me a little break from painting.

The next painting for the Mustang A Day Challenge will be on Monday July11th. Please stop in an comment this week and make the guest artists feel welcome. Happy Trails and Many blessings. ~Linda

Call To Artists:
There are many more Artists out there that paint horses, the west, wildlife and Mustangs. However we only had 4 open Slots this week on the Schedule. So we will be scheduling again on the first week of October for the week of Thanksgiving. If you are an artist that paints mustangs please drop me an email at contact@llmartin.com and I will put you on the schedule.

Stay safe and enjoy the Holiday.

Commets and Replys Having Issues on Blogger.

2011-06-23T13:21:00.000-07:00

I will be turning off the comments and replys on the Mustang A Day Challenge Blog until Blogger finishes fixing the comment feature. I among others are unable to comment or reply to the Challenge Blog or the News Blog. When the issue is resolved the comments features will be turned back on. If you would like to make a comment or ask a question please email me at contact@llmartin.com . I will respond as I am able.

Thank you for your patience while we wait on resolution of the problem. ~Linda

Update: The trouble only seems to be when you use Explorer but does not affect FireFox. So I will keep the comments on and try to answer everyone on FireFox. If you are having trouble posting comments that is probably the reason. I hope this helped a bit. Let me know if you are still having trouble. ~Linda

What The Mustang A Day Challenge is all About and Why I do it ~ Linda L Martin, Artist

2011-06-22T12:36:00.000-07:00

Print of Davy Greasewood
Painting # 20 in the challenge

Why I am painting a mustang a day for a year and beyond.
by Linda L Martin, Artist

"Spirit"
Expressionist Painting of Corona
A pre-painting for the
Mustang A Day Challenge
by Artist Linda L Martin

Two months beyond the first year of the Mustang A Day Challenge Project, It has come to my attention that there are many people new to the project. I am so glad to have each and everyone of you following the project's daily painting phase.

Many of our new friends and followers don't understand the goals or how it works. So I have updated the information and hope that this will dispel many of the misconceptions and myths surrounding what has become a personal challenge and daily passion for me in supporting Wild Mustang Horses.

I have also decided to include some of my work over the past decade so you can see the different styles I have worked in. Please enjoy and know that everyone of you is special and much appreciated in your support of this very difficult and amazing challenge adventure that benefits so many Mustangs and the people that love them.

~~~

The Mustang A Day Challenge: It's personal!

Abstract expressionist painting
of wild horse spirits
by Linda L Martin, Artist

The Mustang A Day Challenge was begun as a yearlong personal painting challenge in which I collaborate with photographers all over the country to put a name to a face of a living mustang every day for 5 days a week except holidays and certain vacations. It has become so popular that I am continuing to paint through out 2012.

The research and organization for the main project began in the Spring of 2010 and the formal project was Announced in November 2010 to begin December 1^st.. The daily painting phase of the project will end formally sometime in January of 2012 after the completion of painting 260.

Mustang A Day Challenge painting #
4 by 6 inches Watercolor
Sold
by Artist Linda L Martin

My Purpose and Goal in the Mustang A Day Challenge:

The purpose of this challenge is, first and foremost, to tell the stories of Living American Mustangs from every aspect conceivable in a positive way. The Goal is to eventually bring these stories and paintings to a wider audience that is not readily in contact with our legally protected wild horse heritage.

How The Mustang A Day Challenge is set up and who it benefits:

I do sell the paintings to help fund the project.

Alder Hill Farm's Caramel
Mustang a Victim of Orphan Foal Syndrome
oil on canvas board
Painted for the Mustang A Day Challenge
$300.00
by Artist Linda L Martin

All of the paintings are done on Spec, except for those that are commissioned directly. When I use the photographs of a collaborating photographers, a portion of the proceeds from the profit ( after expenses) go to the photographer or the non-profit organization that provides the photography. I do this to not because I have to, but because It is my way of giving back to those who are doing something I admire greatly. These are people and groups who are on the front lines helping to solve problems the best way they can by documenting, preserving, helping in adoptions, rescuing and/ or rehabilitating Mustangs.

Some people have asked how I determine the amount that is given to individuals and designated non-profits. That figure is individual to the size of the painting and whether I have met the break even point for the month. I'm bound by some new IRS rules for small businesses and if I make that break even point for that month the percentage of the donation is larger. So the amounts are on a case by case basis. Generally, I try to give between 20% and 50% of the profit of Original paintings.

New Foals
by Artist Linda L Martin
Abstract Expressionism

In addition, I help promote these organizations and individuals by getting their stories out. Giving them an additional platform to bring people in to support them and hopefully give them another avenue of outreach that they would not normally have. Organizations and individuals that benefit from the sale of the paintings and have benefited from the promotion tend to cross promote what I’m doing on their blogs and websites and on facebook. Those who don’t tend to loose a great opportunity to help with their own fund raising.

How I am classified the IRS

I am an independent Artist and Writer

I am not now nor have I ever claimed to be non-profit. I have however worked with non-profits in some capacity since 1974. I enjoy doing this sort of promotion and project to help with fund raising and awareness. My most recent activities and more well publicized have been The Mid Atlantic Pug Rescue 2008-2009, Alder Hill Farm Rescue 2010 - present and Teens Opposing Poverty. The large folk realism painting I did for Teens Opposing poverty is now on tour at Churches and other locations throughout Virginia for the remainder of 2011 and will be auctioned off sometime in 2012 with 100% of the proceeds raising money to care and feed homeless through out Virginia and Washington DC.

My Background:

Breakfast Meeting
Folk Realism Acrylic on Paper
Corporate Collection
by Artist Linda L Martin
( I just add it because it's a favorite)

For my background I’ve been a horse painter nearly 40 years now. As a Natural growth from my art background I became a horse sport event photographer in 1994. I did that almost exclusively for 6 years. I have also been a horse sport feature reporter on and off for the past 18 years. I also hold a BFA in Fine Art.

I don’t copy photographs per say. I paint for this project in one of two ways: as a watercolor artist I paint shadows and light, in which very good photography is most helpful. As an oil painter my work is a little more impressionistic and I tend to sculpt the images with the brush.

I’ve always been some what of an illustrator and with my imagination I’ve never found it necessary to copy or plagiarize other artist’s work. And my sense of honor forbids it. I have on occasion had other artists copy my work, from time to time, usually for their own learning experience and on one recent occasion to profit.

I am relatively new to hard core realism. One can see how my skills are refining by starting at the beginning of the Mustang A Day Challenge Blog and viewing the paintings in comparison with some of the more recent attempts. My main forms of expression have been folk realism, for which I am best known, impressionism, and expressionism.

Sunday Brunch
18 by 24 acrylic on paper
$4,000.00
by Artist Linda L Martin

The Mustang A Day Challenge project its self took over 9 months to develop before it was announced publicly. Some people met the announcement with skepticism mostly because the idea of a daily painting was so foreign to them. Painting a daily painting in stark realism is one of the most challenging of all types of paintings. Add to that the fact that these are actually portraits of living animals, well the out come even amazes me sometimes.

How to have a Mustang Painted for the Mustang A Day Challenge:

All you have to do is ask and provide me with the reference photography. My email is LLMartisticServices@yahoo.com (all lowercase)

Remember when you provide photography you are also responsible to get permission for me to paint from the photo and you are responsible for all fees associate with its use. I will not deliberately infringe on anyone's copyright, so if you didn't take the photo yourself, you need to provide permission in writing from the photographer before I can begin the painting and include it in the challenge.

Picasso
8 by 10 Acrylic on Canvas board
$265.00
Mustang A Day Challenge Painting #2
by Linda L Martin

I am always open to suggestions for the painting of Mustangs and the sharing of their stories. So far I have only painted the living, except for one little foal that we lost at the Sand Wash Basin HMA this past spring. I do not require anyone to commission a painting if they want their horse included in the challenge, however, If they want to buy the painting I try to keep the size affordable or use the current special so that cash strapped trainers and owners can afford to purchase the painting of their horse.

To ensure it the painting fits your budget its always better to communicate with me and commission a painting in a size you can afford. I do take payments for those on a budget. I will gladly work with anyone who wants to be involved.

Yes, I do paint other commissions as well. The secondary subject focus of my art has always been companion animals and animals frequently seen as a part of Virginia country life.

What is Next for the Mustang A Day Challenge:

(and how you can be involved)

Phase 2 of the Mustang A Day Challenge:

Penny Lane
Mustang Challenge Painting #135
Watercolor on Acrylic Paper
$300.00
by Linda L Martin
Currently in Virginia Gallery Location

Currently, I am looking for business and individuals that would be interested in helping to Sponsor the Traveling exhibit. Part of the tour would be a special program/ reception to tell the stories of the horses represented in the exhibit. This would also present to the general public opportunities that are available for them to own mustangs, become involved with their preservation and support the activities of some of the more proactive groups that are helping find hands on solutions.

The idea would be to book two traveling art collection tours in 2012 for targeting areas east of the Mississippi that would end in locations near adoption centers or Mustang Heritage events that could help promote those events. If you know of anyone who might be interested in this phase of the project please pass the word along and have them contact me at LLMartisticServices@yahoo.com(all lowercase) please write Traveling Exhibit in the subject line.

I just found out yesterday that in addition to Tennessee that there are plans for a major Mustang event possibly in New Jersey or another area in the North East as well. These are in addition to regular TIP and BLM Auction events. All of these TBA.

Thank you for reading the update and please feel free to email me your questions.

Very Sincerely, Linda L Martin Artist

Here is a current list of Organizations that benefit from sale of specific Mustang A Day Challenge paintings.When the items are listed for sale there will be a statement saying that a portion of the proceeds are designated for that organization or a specific individual photographer :

Mustang Heritage Foundation

International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros

Nancy Roberts and the Sand Wash Basin Wild Horses Club

Mustang U

Alder Hill Farm Rescue

*note some of the above mentioned organizations are pending donations waiting for the designated paintings to sell. Once a buyer comes forward a portion of the proceeds, after expenses will be donated directly to the organization. Also not all organizations are listed that receive donations. Generally lessor known /one time designations are not listed above.

This week on Mustang A Day Challenge: "Father's Day on Sand Wash Basin HMA" June 13th-17th

2011-06-13T08:55:00.000-07:00

Coming this week: June 13th through June 17th

Starting Monday June 13th: Fathers Day on Sand Wash Basin HMA

Tuesday June 14th: Celebrating the Halfway point of the Mustang A Day Challenge with painting #130 and a special give away.

June 14th through June 17th: "Father's Day on the Sand Wash Basin HMA continues"

June 16th Voting ends for the Shadows Contest on Fine Art America

Also:

Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover Art Contest Results,

FT Collins EMM results,

The Mustang A Day Challenge HALFWAY Giveaway info

Newest Listings on Etsy and Fine Art America

Fathers Day Week on Sand Wash Basin HMA

Vegas and Daughter China
Sand Wash Basin HMA

This week on the Mustang A Day Challenge are paintings celebrating Father’s Day. Just wait until you see. Three Photographers are collaborating on this one. Its going to be so much fun!

Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover Art Contest Results,

Here are both of my entries for the Art Contest. I didn’t win this time however I have a better understanding of what they are looking for and I made a new Artist Friend that I will tell you about later in the project.

FT Collins Makeover Results:

Team R&M Performance Horse
L to R Watson, Robert, Madeleine

Saturday was the last day of the final competition for Watson and Tango in the Extreme Mustang Makeover. One last painting of the two will close the door on their series. I’m going to miss painting Tango and Watson. According to Robert Carlson Tango missed the finals by one point. He was adopted to be the working mount of a Park Ranger in Wyoming. I have a feeling Tango is going to love being back in the wide open spaces.

Watson was the real surprise. Robert Rode him to a 7^th place finish but wowed the gathering by bringing a whopping $5400.00 in the adoption auction. He was the highest bid horse of the entire proceedings times 3 according to photographer A. Spivey who was there photographing the event. Madeleine and Tango came in a very respectable 12 out of 40. Tango is going to his new home as a park ranger horse in Wyoming

Next week I start painting the R&M Mustang Program’s Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover horses.

You can see photos and videos from the Ft Collins event on the EMM page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/Extreme-Mustang-Makeover/65575491400

You can see photos of Watson and Tango and their trainers at the event on the R&M Mustang Program page and on Lightening Bug Creek Photos.

Newly Listed on Etsy:

"Looking Forward"
Madeleine LeClerc and Tango
Now Prints Available on Fine Art America
Prints are framed or unframed
Click Here to Purchase

All of the Finished Original Mustang A Day Challenge FT Collins Paintings of R&M Mustang Program horses Tango and Watson are now on ETSY. A portion of the sale goes to the Mustang Heritage Foundation for their programs. http://www.etsy.com/shop/MustangADayChallenge

You can also purchase prints of all the Ft. Collins Paintings on Fine Art America http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/linda-l-martin.html?tab=artworkgalleries&artworkgalleryid=73886

JOIN IN!!

Celebrating the Half way point in the Mustang A Day Challenge:

On Tuesday of this week I will reach painting #130 in the Mustang A Day Challenge. To celebrate I was planning a give away to start Saturday and run through the drawing time on Tuesday. The first 20 to type in HALFWAY on the page would be entered in the drawing.

Well a surprising thing happened. In the first 7 hours of the giveaway we had over 28 entries. Since the rules stated I had to close the entries at 20, I decided to hold a second chance give away. So here are the rules for the Second Chance drawing.

Second Chance drawing (HALFWAY give away winner not eligible)

SECOND CHANCE GIVEAWAY!!! Due to the popularity of the HALFWAY GIVEAWAY. This giveaway is for ONE 5 by 7 inch, no background painting, winners provide photography within 24 hours of winners posted. To participate simply type in "MeeToo" on my page http://www.facebook.com/LindaLMartinArtist or the here on the blog

More details below:

*One painting given away for every 20 people that enter (up to 80 entries). All entries from the HALFWAY Giveaway are automatically entered except the winner.

*Drawings are held Tues June 14th after 5pm EDST. Watch this space for more info.

*The paintings and the stories of the horses will be posted on the Mustang A Day Challenge blog for Winners week TBA

*Here is the link to post your entries www.facebook.com/LindaLMartinArtist

This week on Mustang A Day Challenge: "The Eyes Have it" May 28th-June 3rd

2011-05-28T02:56:00.000-07:00

Olga and PJ
Prints Available on
Fine Art America

Coming this week: May 30^th through June 3^rd

There will be no painting on Monday June 30^th for Memorial Day

Tuesday May 31st: The last painting before the Ft.Collins Makeover Madeleine and Tango

June 1 through June3: "The Eyes Have it"

Painting Series this week: Details

One of the drawbacks as well as the benefits of daily painting is that people send you emails filled with suggestions that are actually veiled criticism. I will not go down the list as it is boring and mostly made up of people who are actually more dissatisfied with their own life than what I do.

First of the Eyes Have it Paintings

But every once in a while you get one of those emails and you wonder if they ever really looked at your work. Then I realized the problem. Part of painting daily is painting small. Usually 8 by 10 or less. So details are going to be fuzzy sometimes at that size. Although I do try to put detail in when at all possible. Today though I decided to begin work on a few close ups, so people can see the detail.

Friday's Painting is the first of a series I will be carrying through to until June 5th. I call it Details. I'm going to do a little practice on the details of the horses from some of the photographers that have given me larger images to work from.

This First painting is "Cueca" in close up with her bridle on. The Photo reference is provided by Cecilia Steel. The painting is called " Her Working Eyes.

The Ft Collins Extreme Mustang Makeover Paintings:
:

I will Follow You
Madeleine and Tango
8 by 10 inch Watercolor by LindaLMartinArtist
Prints Available on Fine Art America

Remember that Watson and Tango are both up for adoption at the Ft Collins Mustang Make over. The Ft Collins Makeover is June 10th and 11th. The Sale is on Sunday June 12th. The final Makeover paintings will be the week after the event. In the mean time the Week of the Make over the R&M Mustang Program horses for the Supreme will be introduced on Tuesday June 7th in a group painting.You can read more about the event on www. MustangHeritageFoundation.org
You can follow Madeleine LeClerc and Robert Carlson and the horses they have In training on their facebook page: www.facebook.com/rmmustangprogram

Painting Special For Those on a Budget

Single Horse Painting Special for those who want to commission a painting of their horse. You can contact me at contact@llmartin.com or LLMArtisticServices@yahoo.com or through face book mail. The special is:

1 horse no background 9 by 6 inches watercolor $55 plus shipping and Handling. Free S&H for additional paintings. Owner provides the photography. Mention Alder Hill Farm Rescue and a portion will go to them for the Sanctuary Mustangs.

You can support Alder Hill Farm Directly by going to their Website:

www.AlderHillFarm.org

Alder Hill Farm is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Charity in the State of Missouri

~*~*~

Wishing everyone a very happy and safe Memorial Day Weekend as we remember those on duty and those who have gone before. God Bless our Troops and their Families. God Bless All that Support them. And God Bless The USA!

This week on Mustang A Day Challenge: Fighting Stallions of Sand Wash Basin HMA May 16th-20th

2011-05-17T02:45:00.000-07:00

This week on Mustang A Day Challenge:

Fighting Stallions of Sand Wash Basin HMA

I must say horse watching even on facebook and blogs can blow away a lot of myths you have about wild horses in general. What I discovered was that I only understood about half of herd dynamics and that was from my mostly limited view of the horse from watching my own animals kept in as natural a situation as possible for their own health and well being.

My own personal Myths were the perception of how Stallions actually interacted with each other and their herds. This information I learned from other horsemen who for generations kept domestic, highly bred horses such as Arabians and Thoroughbreds. Even the Quarter Horse and Appaloosa Stallions I knew were rank, scary, pushy and demanded a healthy respect. Having my own stallion for a time I also learned from him but not as much as I have from the accounts of wild stallion behavior from the photographers and horse watchers.

This week I am going to examine those myths of how and why stallions fight as I paint the fighting Stallions of the Sand Wash Basin HMA.

A portion of the money from the sale of this weeks paintings will go to those who’s tireless efforts have been dedicated to the Wild Horses of The Sand Wash Basin to document and help in the preservation of these animals.

Ft Collins Extreme Mustang Makeover

This challenging Supreme Extreme Mustang,
hasnt got a name yet but he is definately a
wild child Mustang. I will begin painting
him and the two new Mustang Mares for
Madeline and Roberts efforts to the Supreme
Extreme Mustang Makeover in September.

With only 4 weeks to go to the Ft Collins Mustang Makeover Both Madeleine Lecleric and Robert Carlson have taken on a combined three new horses for the Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover(SEMM) event.

Unlike the two Fort Collins horses, Watson and Tango, who will be offered for adoption on the last day of the event, these three new horses were purchased by Madeleine and Robert for the SEMM Challenge.

Training started on the new horses the day they arrived at their Texas training center Where the trainers were holding a two day audit only clinic on How to Start Your Mustang. The three horses, it seemed were as different as night and day. Madeleine’s little roan mare was about average for a mustang fresh out of the BLM holding pens and never been touched. The additional mare they brought home was a sweet little bay, that according to Madeleine only took 5 minutes to halter break and that after noon she had the saddle on for the first time.

"Going For a Spin"
Available
8 by 10 Watercolor
by Linda L MartinArtist

However it was Robert’s horse that was the surprising challenge. The black gelding was a truly wild and a bit aggressive in his reactions. He challenged each new thing that Robert put him to. Being young and athletic and knowing how to use his hooves and body to get his way made for a demanding first two days that only an experienced trainer could handle well. In fact the team of Robert and Madeleine had to work together at one point to help him get his mind where it needed to be.

Tuesday Night’s painting features Madeleine and Tango.

If you would like to follow Madeleine and Robert as they train Watson and Tango as well as their new Supreme EMM you can follow them on their new combined facebook page: R&M Mustang Program

I understand they will also be holding several more clinics in the coming weeks. You can find out more information on their page.

Fund Raiser For Alder Hill Farm!

Rosie and Brio Two of the BLM Branded
Mustang Mares currently at Alder HIll Farm.
Thre are currently 10 plus Mustangs in Residence.
Some are in training and ready for adoption.
Find out more http://www.alderhillfarm.org/

Just a Reminder we still have a Special on 6 by 9 inch simple watercolor portraits of $55.00. The special runs through June 30^th. Simply email me at contact@llmartin.com or LLMartisticServices@yahoo.com for information. Mustangs painted using the special will be included in the Mustang A Day Challenge along with their story.

A portion of the proceeds from this Special will go to Alder Hill Farm Rescue to help with the care and feeding of the Mustangs in residence there. You can also donate directly to Alder Hill Farm by going to http://www.alderhillfarm.org/

This week on the Mustang A Day Challenge: May9th through May13th Happy Adoptions Week

2011-05-09T12:42:00.000-07:00

This week on the Mustang A Day Challenge: May9th through May13th

Shancho
Photo provided by Cecilia Steel.
Used by permission

Happy Adoptions:

This is another one of our Happy Adoptions weeks for the Mustang A Day Challenge. The first painting this week is unique in so many ways. First its of the horse of choice by our Mustang 1oo giveaway winner, Cecilia Steel.

His name is Shancho. He was a TIP horse started by Gerry Gesell. His story is a little different than most. Check out the Mustang A Day Challenge Blog tonight to hear of his unique circumstances and what a special horse he is. We also have 3 other horses that will be featured that have unique and heart warming stories. You wont want to miss one of them. And please share with your friends too. http://MustangADayChallenge.blogspot.com

Madeleine LeClerc and Tango
Photo provided by
Lightningbug Creek Photography

Ft. Collins Makeover Paintings

Again on Tuesday we will be doing week 8 of the Ft Collins Makeover horses. This week will be Robert and Watson. As part of the preparations for the June Event Robert Carlson and Madeleine LeClerc have been riding Watson and Tango in as many different circumstances as possible public events, raging storms, near loud roaring machines, In doors out doors on trails, through water and then doing it all again at night.

If you happen to be in Texas and have some free time R&M Performance horses will be Picking up their Extreme Makeover horses on Friday May 13^th and will be hosting a Supreme Extreme Mustang Starting Clinic using these horses for both Friday and Saturday. Go to their facebook page for more information on how you can participate. They still have a few spaces open so don’t hesitate to contact them. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=150997271632422

Original Art/Gear/Reproductions

The Picasso T-shirt is available on Zazzle

Just want to remind everyone as we are going into the Summer Season that there are now 3 online venues that you can purchase Mustang A Day Challenge Originals, Reproductions and Mustang A Day Challenge Gear. More items and choices are being added daily so check back often.

For Original Paintings you can shop at: www.etsy.com/shop/MustangADayChallenge

Or contact me directly at contact@llmartin.com if you would like a unique commission of your horse included in the challenge.

Print of "I will Follow You"
Madeleine LeClerc and Tango

For Framed Prints and Canvas Reproductions go to http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/llmartin/all

For T-shirts, mugs and other fun Mustang A Day Challenge Gear go to www.zazzle.com/LindaLMartinArtist*

Money generated from the sale of these items goes to Mustang Charities, Individuals, and to the support of the Mustang A Day Challenge Educational project.

Steps To Greatness
Robert and Watson
by LindaLMartin Artist
Digital Image
All Rights of Reproduction Reserved
Copyright(c)2011LndaLMartinArtst

Mustang Heritage Foundation Art Competition:

As many of you know the Mustang Heritage Foundation is holding a Competition at the end of this month for their Program cover for the Extreme Mustang Makeover. I have been working on a number of works with this in mind for the last month or so. I’ve finally come up with the first of two entries. Since the original painting I wanted to use didn’t fit the format, I decided to make a digital collage of the 3 of the watercolors. And then I have two more weeks to add an additional painting. For a total of 2 for the competition. Here is the composite. For more information on the Mustang Heritage Foundation Activities and the Supreme Extreme Mustang makeover got to http://www.mustangheritagefoundation.org/

We Have a Winner!!!

2011-05-04T22:51:00.000-07:00

The winner of the Mustang 100 drawing is :

Ceilia Steel.

Cecilia receives a 9 by 6 single horse simple watercolor portrait.

Thank you for every one who participated. Keep a lookout for our next give away for the Mustang A Day Chalenge.

This Week on the Mustang A Day Challenge: May2 - May 8th: MOTHER'S Day!

2011-05-03T16:53:00.000-07:00

This week we remember all our Mothers with the Mother’s of Sand Wash Basin HMA.

Challenge Painting #100
Kinstry and Zephyr
9 by 6 watercolor
LindaLMartinArtist

We start out with A beautiful grulla mare from Jet’s band and her sweet red dun baby named Kinstry. Kinstry was born in April 2010. Follow for the entire week to see Selected Mom’s and Babies of the Sand Wash Basin HMA

Don’t forget the Mustang A Day Challenge is Celebrating 100 Mustang paintings. Read the details here for the give away: http://mustangadaychallengenews.blogspot.com/2011/05/celebabrate-100-mustang-day-paintings.html

On Tuesday of this week again we highlight the training of Robert Carlson and Madeleine LeClerc as they work toward the Ft. Collins Mustang Makeover with Watson and Tango. This week’s feature painting is Tango and Madeleine.

Next Week : Starting May 9^th is more Happy Adoptions.

Celebrate 100 Mustang A Day Paintings!! Giveaway!!

2011-05-01T16:04:00.000-07:00

Who can believe it! On May 2, 2011 I will paint my 100th Painting for the Mustang A Day Challenge. So, I'm having a Celebration Giveaway!!

Hurricane
Challenge Painting #98

1 person will win a 9 by 6 portrait of the mustang of their choice with no background.

The details of the portrait are that it must be a mustang, only one horse, the photo is provided by the winner with lots of detail and resolution, It will be included in the MADC with an image of the photo.And the winner must include a brief story of the horse.

Anyone can be in the drawing.

Only one entry per person.

(Everyone can enter with the exeption of the Artist's Family of course)

Directions to enter the drawing:

You may enter on this blog or on my Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/LindaLMartinArtist

To enter simply type: 100 Mustangs

Kiowa
Challenge Painting #17

Winners will be announced on Facebook and On the MustangADayChallengeNews Blog after 5pm on Wednesday May 4th

Directions will then be given to the winner on the Blog on where to send their shipping info and the image to be painted.

Winner must respond with in 48 hours or an alternate will be chosen.

Good Luck Everyone!!!

Remember if you use another persons photography you must provide permission before I can paint your painting.

Fund Raiser Special for Alder Hill Farm ~ Starts now and Goes Through June 30th

2011-04-28T17:22:00.000-07:00

(click the image to make it bigger)

This is a great opportunity to have your mustang painted and be a part of he Mustang A Day Challenge. What an amazing keep sake. And it helps a wonderful cause: The mustangs of Alder Hill Farm Rescue. llmartisticsevices@yahoo.com to place your order. Or go right to the http://etsy.com/shop/MustangADayChallenge or http://etsy.com/shop/LindaLMartinArtist to check out.

Offer expires June 30th, 2011 May not be combined with anyother offer

This Week on the Mustang A Day Challenge: April 15th - April 29th

2011-04-25T14:48:00.000-07:00

This week on the Mustang A Day Challenge: Grayson Highland Ponies

Amy Flood is the Mustang A Day Challenge Guest
this week. This is one of her amazing photos of
the wild ponies of Grayson Highlands. On the right is
band stallion Smokey. The left is his yearling
filly, Flicka. You can follow the story of these
feral ponies on Amy's blog:
http://graysonhighlandsponies.com/

This week I am taking a small break from our wild Mustangs heritage herds. I am highlighting the photography and observations of photographer Amy Flood who documents the Grayson Highlands wild ponies here in Virginia.

I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with the manager of the Grayson Highland Sate Park, Mr. Harvey Thompson. He is a wealth of information on the History of the ponies, how they are used to maintain a healthy environment. They are a big draw to people who have never seen a pony up close.

The following information was supplied to me by Mr. Thompson.

Thorny Hawthorn photo by:
www.lifepermaculture.com

“The ponies were introduced into the Grayson Highlands and surrounding mountains in 1960, as a way to control the Hawthorn. Hawthorn is a thorny fruiting shrub, native to the mountains of the Appalachians. It produces a red berry much like a crab apple. Its fruit is very sharp in taste and it comes from the pear family. Originally the Department of the Interior through the National Forrest Service in conjunction with the Virginia Park System, introduced Sheep into the area to deal with the problem over growth of Hawthorn.

The sheep project worked wonderfully until the snowfall in winter. Unfortunately during the winter the sheep would only eat those shrubs that were above the snowfall. Since hawthorn grows closer to the ground, the sheep ate mountain laurel which is a taller shrub. The mountain laurel causes toxic impactions in sheep when they eat too much of it. The sheep experiment failed.

Smokey and Flicka digging through the snow.
their home range in South Western Virginia
is above 4500 feet. Within the Federal and State managed
land is Mt. Rogers, the highest point in the State of Virginia.
Photography of Grayson Highland Ponies by
Amy Flood. Used by permission.

The ponies were introduced because they would dig down into the snow, much like mustangs do in the west, to reach nourishing food that is healthy. As a rule they don’t eat the easy to reach mountain laurel but love the sweet bark and sour fruit of the hawthorn. The ponies thrived. The hawthorn is successfully managed and thousands of people come to see the wild ponies each year.

Currently there are three herds headed by three band stallions. Two are on the land managed by the National Forrest Service on Mt Rogers. And the third is on land managed by the Virginia State Parks system known as the Wilburn Orchard in the Grayson Highlands State Park. The ponies themselves are managed by a private group of local citizens called the Wilburn Ridge Pony Association.

The pony association watches over the general health of the ponies, maintains the herd numbers at a manageable 120 divided into the three separate herd locations. The pony association removes excess ponies that are auctioned at the annual Grayson Highlands Fest held the last week of September each year. “

Grayson Higlands Pony standing amid a winter pasture of Hawthorn.
Photo by Amy Flood used by permission.

The ponies are defined as truly feral, meaning these were ponies taken directly from local domestic pony stock and released into a combined 155,000 plus acres of Federal Forrest land and State park, then allowed to go completely wild. The three herds are made up of a mixture of hearty pony breeds the most prevalent being Shetland pony. These ponies are uniquely suited physically for the rocky alpine heights over 4500 ft.

To see the daily paintings go to http://mustangadaychallenge.blogspot.com/

To read more about the Grayson Highland’s State park and activities you can participate in including pony watching and horse trails:

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/gra.shtml

To read more about Amy Flood’s pony watching and documenting experiences with the Grayson Highland Ponies you can follow her blog here: http://graysonhighlandsponies.com/

Photo credit : www.lifepermaculture.com for hawthorn. This sight has wonderful documenting of edible wild natural foods.

This has to be one of my favorite photos of
Watson and Robert Carlson. Amy Spivey
of Lightning Bug Creek Photography, shot this one
after just 5 weeks of training. The Ft Collins Mustang
Make over will be held in June. This horse
is really devoted to Robert. One of Amy's documenting
photo's shows Watson following Robert to help
him set up the trail course. You can follow
both Robert Carlson and Madeleine LeClerc
on their Facebook Page

Two Reminders:

Remember that we are in the middle of our spring rainy season here in Virgina so we have a lot of violent storms mixed in with the gentle soaking rains. These storms may affect my ability to post the daily paintings. Be assured they are being painted, however, they may be late. If the paintings aren’t up by midnight Pacific time you will be able to find them early the following morning.

This week the Ft. Collins Mustang Makeover painting will feature Watson and Robert. That will be the Tuesday painting as usual.

You can follow the weekly updates on R&M Performance Horse's Ft Collin's Mustang Makeover page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/2011-CO-Mustang-Makeover-with-RM-Performance/119433394800806

Please Also Check out Amy Spivey's wonderful page on Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/LBCPhotography

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Weekend with their families. Many Blessings!!

New Video Release! Riddle Me Dino: Steps to Finish Promoting the Mustang A Day Challenge

2011-04-09T15:59:00.000-07:00

Today is the release of the new video on You-tube promoting the Mustang A Day Challenge. The work on this promo project has been on going for a month and was just finished and ready for distribution today.

Linda L Martin Artist photographed each step of the process from painting the Kiger mustang known as Riddle Me Dino, owned by Lisa and Kevin Sink of Oregon. The purpose was to give people an opportunity to see how the painting process works from start to finish and to also promote the year long process of accumulating each of the 260 paintings to raise both awareness and money for the preservation and care of America's Wild Horses known as Mustangs.

For more background on "Dino" you can read his blog post for his painting: http://mustangadaychallenge.blogspot.com/2011/02/adoption-riddle-me-dino-stormy-ranchs.html

The original painting and prints will be available on Etsy by Monday with a portion of the proceeds going to the Sinks for Cystic Fibrosis and The Mustang Heritage Foundation.

This week on the Mustang A Day Challenge April 4th - April 8th

2011-04-04T14:45:00.000-07:00

"Caramel"
the first of the paintings chosen for the
Traveling Mustang A Day Challenge Exhibit

Available for adoption Week.

This week courtesy of Mustang U we have 4 weanlings from Oregon HMAs, that are looking for homes. More information on who to contact as the paintings are posted.

"Just A Kiss"

Also I want to remind you al,l that As we follow the Mustang Makeover Horses of Madeleine LeClerc and Robert Carlson, both of their makeover horses will be available to bid on at the Fort Collins, Colorado Mustang Makeover event In June. I haven’t heard as of this writing, if the two horses have names yet, but I will let you know as soon as I find out. Check in on Tuesday to see the painting of the week.

Chosen!

Detail of Tripod and Cheyenne

Well as you know I am trying to choose from the paintings, the very best for the traveling exhibit. As yet we haven’t had any nibbles on sponsors. We have already had one gallery say they are ready as soon as I am for long term exhibition of all three mediums although we are going to try to do some larger paintings for those. Right now I have 4 paintings that will be among the first 22 chosen. And several that I might do larger a little later on. Currently the 3 watercolors and one Oil painting chosen for the Exhibit are : ”Just a Kiss” Picasso and Monet, “Tripod and Cheyenne” the beautiful lead mare of Corona’s and her cream foal from 2009; “First Touch” Robert Carlson and his Ft Collins Makeover horse, and Carmel, the orphan foal syndrome horse currently in residence at Alder Hill Farm in Missouri. Prints of these paintings will be offered on Fine Art America with a portion of the proceeds going to their respective charities and to help fund the cost of exhibition.

Coming Next week: 2011 Babies of the Sand Wash Basin

Coming Easter Week New ‘Stangs at Alder Hill Farm There will be no daily painting Easter Weekend starting on Thursday April 21^st. The next Daily painting will be April 25th

This Week On The Mustang A Day Challenge

2011-03-28T14:26:00.000-07:00

This week in the Mustang A Day Challenge

"Pick Up Day" is now Listed on Fine Art America
http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/llmartin/all

Monday kicks off another Happily adopted Mustangs week. We start with a Happily adopted Mustang mare that survived a gather mishap during the 2008 round up at Sand Wash Basin HMA to be adopted a year later by the organization that was formed as a Support group to Wild Horse Annie,Velma Johnston.

Tuesday We will have the next painting in the collaboration of Linda Martin and Lightning Bug Creek Photography as we watch the progress of Madeleine LeClarc’s and Robert Carlson’s Fort Collins Mustang Make over horses.

The rest of the week will be filled out with more Happily adopted Mustangs. You can check the Mustang A Day Challenge Blog each day to see the new paintings.

Also new this week: Linda’s Mustang Makeover paintings will be available on Fine Art America. They will be listed with in 24 hours of the blog post or as soon as possible after completion. There will be canvas prints as well as glossy prints available Fine Art America will also frame them as well.

Newly 9 newly Uploded to Etsy Paintings to Benefit Mustangs.

2011-03-26T17:57:00.000-07:00

Please Help me support these causes. A portion of the proceeds for the sale of these paintings will go to either Mustang U in Oregon or to help out the work of the Sand Wash Basin HMA Wild Horses Club in the documenting and observing of the mustangs.

A portion of the proceeds of these 4 paintings
will help the Wild Horses of the Sand Wash Basin HMA
Click this link to see the page on Etsy.com:
Mustang A Day Challenge Sand Wash Basin Blacks

A portion of the proceeds of thse watercolors support Mustang U
Click this link to see the paintings on Etsy.com:
Horses from the Steens

This week on Mustang A Day Challenge

2011-03-22T07:58:00.000-07:00

The Black Horses of the Sand Wash Basin. I’ve chosen 4 of the Most Beautiful Sand Wash Basin HMA Black Horses for this week’s Challenge Paintings.

Plus we will be having our first collaboration painting with Lightning Bug Creek Photography of the Fort Collins Mustang Makeover horses being trained by Madeleine LeClerc and Robert Carlson. As of this posting we don’t have names yet but they are two gorgeous bays.

Robert Carlson and Madeliene LeClerc on
Pick-up Day in Oklahoma picking up their
Fort Collins Mustang Makeover Horses

Just a note about Spring postings: where I live in the Piedmont of Virginia, just an hour south of Washington DC, we are prone to violent Thunderstorms and sometimes very high winds and even tornados in the Spring. In the Fall we are on the east side of the Mountains and sometimes a hurricane will come up the Chesapeake Bay and follow one of our many rivers inland. The power surges caused by these storms can wreak havoc with routers and computers. As a result during these spring storms I maybe be posting the Challenge Art a day or two late depending when I can get back on line safely.

Mustang A Day Challenge Gear on Zazzle: New Release!! "Just A Kiss"

2011-03-15T11:10:00.000-07:00

New designs now available on Zazzle. “Just A Kiss”

You can now buy “Just A Kiss “ Gear to support the Mustang A Day Challenge and help Preserve and Document the horses of Sand Wash Basin HMA.

Just a Kiss is painting #47 of the Mustang A Day Challenge. It was painted on Valentine’s Day 2011 as part of a series called “Romance on the Range”

Included in the new products are a canvas print of the original painting “Just A Kiss”. Also designs for T-shirts, blank greeting cards and a wonderful Tote bag for your trip out to SWB to watch the horses.

Please stop buy the Zazzle on line store soon and remember that Zazzle has special sales nearly every day.

Follow this link to the Mustang A Day Store:

http://www.zazzle.com/lindalmartinartist*

South Steens Week on the Mustang A Day Challenge

2011-03-13T22:09:00.000-07:00

This week will be an opportunity to learn a little about the horses that range on the South Steens Mountains of Oregon. Our guest blogger this week is Tracey Westbury operator of Mustang U, a non- profit organization. Mustang U is a chapter of the American Mustang and Burro Association.

It is located in the Pacific Northwest Corner of Washington State.

“Their mission is to increase public awareness of the beauty, trainability and timelessness of the American Mustang. They assist the BLM at wild horse adoptions, as well as foster and gentle wild horses in an effort to place them in adoptive homes.” The focus of Mustang U is to help out with the adoption of wild horses destined for Long Term Holding or effected by the Sale Authority Act .

According to the blog about Mustang U, the most challenging thing about helping to place a gathered mustang for adoption is educating the public that simply because a horse is over the age of 4 that it does not mean it not be trainable. Tracey has proven over and over that older horses not only are very trainable but they make wonderful work and companion animals, and excellent pleasure horses.Tracey works with the horses and the potential owners as well as helping to place the horses in adoptive homes.

The majority of the horses she works with are from the South Steens HMA:

Photo by Tracey Westbury used by permission.

In Stacy’s own words:

“The South Steens HMA is located in Southeastern Oregon, roughly 70 miles southwest of Burns along hwy 205. It consists of just over 130,000 acres. In this area of the country, it takes approximately 100 acres to support just one horse, which equates into an ideal herd size of 130 horses.

The region is covered in volcanic rock, with rim rocks and plateaus dissected by perennial and intermittent stream channels.

The horses are managed for their pinto coloring, but you'll see every color under the sun on the South Steens, from coppery gold palomino to black, buckskin, sorrel, and the occasional appaloosa.

South Steens horses are known for their good size, often reaching 16 hands, as well as their exceptional conformation. Most people don't know they're looking at a wild horse when they see them all saddled up. I recently showed a calendar to a quarter horse person who argued with me that some of those horses were turned out, and must have been bred in captivity.

There are several bands that congregate not far from the highway that have been dubbed the Hollywood Herd. They're typically not all that shy, and they love having photos taken of them. Seriously...they pose. “

Read more about Tracey Westbury and Mustang U on her blog : http://mustangu.blogspot.com/ or follow her on Facebook

Linda L Martin’s Mustang a Day Art Represented at Horse Fest in Springfield Missouri

2011-03-11T08:38:00.000-08:00

The Original Painting of Carmel
is still available and prints can also be
ordered through Linda Martin's site:
http://www.llmartin.com/

Linda L Martin’s Mustang a Day Art Represented at Horse Fest in Springfield Missouri. The Prints of Carmel Challenge painting # 35 can be found at the Alder Hill Farm Rescue's booth.

Starting today March 11^th 2011 at Horse Fest in Spring Field Missouri prints of Carmel, the mustang rescued as a foal by Alder Hill farm will be available to purchase at Horse Fest. If you are in the Area please stop in and meet all the Folks at Alder Hill’s booth.

Click the image to
see the entire poster for
Horse Fest in Springfield, MO

In addition to the prints of Carmel, Linda will also have prints of the Alder Hill Minis. Both of the Alder Hill Minis, Napoleon and Prince Charming, will be at the event and you can meet them in person. Alder Hill will also have a number of other fundraising items including a special rescue coloring book, other works of donated art, saddles, and information on the Rescue its self. There will be two horses on site ready to adopt as well.

A portion of the proceeds from the prints will aid Alder Hill Farm in the ongoing expenses of their sanctuary and rescue horses. Horse Fest runs from March 11^th through March 13^th.

Alder Hill Minis
from original watercolor by LindaLMartin
Prints and Notecards avaialable on site at
Horse Fest in Springfield, MO

Click the image to read more about How you can Help
Alder Hill Farm Rescue

Announcing the Collaboration: Linda Martin and Lightning Bug Creek Photography for the 2011 Fort Collins Mustang Makeover

2011-03-10T04:05:00.000-08:00

Click the image above to see the
entire poster and about the exhibiting
event as well as the auction.

It’s such an exciting time! This week, on Friday, the competitors for the Fort Collins, Colorado Mustang Makeover converge on several locations through out the west to pick up their horses. I will be collaborating with photographer Amy Spivey of Lightning Bug Creek Photography to paint the Makeover horses assigned to Madeleine LeClerc and Robert Carlson as they go through the 100 day process of taking a wild horse, taming it, training it and competing with it, to make it more adoptable.

So what is the Mustang Makeover?

Basically it is a way to take older mustangs, give them some basic handling and training ,then show case them before the world. The goal is to help make the older horses easier to handle then find new owners willing to purchase them, continue their training and provide them with a good home. This event was especially set up to target older horses that are more difficult to adopt and thus give them an opportunity to be matched up with good homes.

At the end of the 100 day period the horses are then shown in a special competition. All the horses are then auctioned off to the highest bidder on the final day.

To find out more about the Mustang Makeover events you can go to their website: Extreme Mustang Makeover: http://www.extrememustangmakeover.com/emmcolorado.php

To find out about all the events and activities of the Mustang Heritage Foundation go here: http://www.mustangheritagefoundation.org/

Madeleine LeClerc will be blogging about her training experience and once the blog is up and going we will link in here. In the mean time you can check out Madeleine and Roberts website http://westernclinics.com/RM_Performance_Horses/RM_Performance_Horses.html

Debra More McGuire To Guest Blog the Mustang A Day Challenge the week of March 7th

2011-03-07T16:57:00.000-08:00

Image adapted from Resource Photogrpahy
by Nancy Roberts
Photo Used by permission.

Debra More McGuire to Guest Blog on the Mustang A Day Challenge March 7^th through March 11^th.

In Her own words:

"I have been around horses all of my life. Got my first pony for Christmas when I was 3. My mom swears my first word was "horsey" ;o). I raised my first foal at 16 when I bred my Morgan mare to the neighbors Appaloosa stallion (true back yard breeding). I was raised in Oregon with beef cattle. Always had a couple horses.

When I graduated, I moved to Seattle to go to college and moved to NW Wash after that. I brought 2 horses with me to Washington. In 1981 I bought a 2yr old dun AQHA colt that put me into the show ring and into foundation QH breeding. In researching his coloring, I met and learned much about colors and breeding from Virgean Miller, one of the pioneers of the Buckskin breed.

Image adapted from Resource Photogrpahy
by Nancy Roberts
Photo Used by permission.

I have always been fascinated by unique horse colors and unusual breeds. So I enjoy digging into the whys and wherefores of the colors and combinations of colors that we see in horses and ponies. The mustangs have some of the most unique and varied colors of all.

As a teenager I was one of the horse crazy girls who wrote letters to "Wild Horse Annie". We never had a place at home set up to be able to get a mustang. Last Feb (2010) I was able to adopt my first mustang. A grulla tobiano 2yr old filly from Paisley HMA in Oregon. I now have her, her grulla overo 1/2 sister, her dam and a silver dapple Cold Springs filly we adopted in Nov 2010. As well as several AQHA horses.

I have been married for going on 33 yrs, have one son and daughter in law. A silly macaw, 3 goofy boxers, an Australian shepherd, too many horses and barn cats. I work at a feed/farm store. After many years of showing/judging IBHA, ABRA and open, I now just like to trail ride and camp with the horses back to where I started. In my "spare" time I woodburn, read and sometimes do some leatherwork."
It is with great pleasure we welcome Debra and her expertise and knowledge in horse colors as we explore the golds and silvers of Sand Wash Basin HMA. Thank- you, Debra for your participation.

Just Released: The Sand Wash Basin Wild Horses Poster

2011-03-05T16:57:00.000-08:00

Poster: 24x36, $30.- plus shipping, to order contact:
Gabriele Moritz : moritz4@q.com

The Sand Wash Basin Wild Horses Poster: The collaborative effort of 4 artist and one Mustang Make over participant and Enthusiast.

What are the Odds that 2 Artists and 2 Photographers, who are completely unconnected, and didn’t even know of each other, would all simultaneously begin to produce artistic out comes on the same subject matter at the same time. Well, according to my art professor at University in the 1970’s its not all that uncommon. He warned us not to think so highly of our selves that we think we are the only one. He told us, once we settle into the idea that we are the first and the original, probably someone in Japan or Europe is thinking of it at the same time.

Enter Nancy Roberts. Nancy is a horse watcher, photo documentor who is so passionate about the Horses at Sand Wash Basin HMA(SWB) that she inspires people to follow the drama of every day life of the SWB Herd. Her following on Face book has now Surpassed 2000 and she is currently raising money to organize a Club of followers that will help her fund her on going activities.

My involvement with Nancy actually started when she ran an impromptu naming contest for a particularly aggressive bachelor Stallion. I suggested JimmyDarksand. And thus the name was accepted with two variations of Jimmy or JimmyBlacksand which all fit him quite well. I was hooked!

It wasn’t long before I began to visit the page not daily,but multiple times daily, just waiting on news and stories about the horses that were drawing at my heart. Previous to that I was trying to figure out direction and had decided that If Nancy agreed, I would begin painting the horses so people other places could see and understand , putting a name with a face to make them more real to people far from The SWB. My project was delayed by 6 months because of a graphic design class I was involved with.

Then one day out of a clear blue sky Melody Perez, also from the East Coast, but newly located to Colorado contacted me on Facebook. I will never forget my first meeting with her because It was a bit surprising. Melody and I had so much in common it was strange. We were both artists, teachers, musicians, prophetic artists and loved and had a passion for horses. Because of the delays due to my other commitments and it took me most of October and November to prep the marketing set up. I wasn’t ready to announce my project so I never went into any details with Melody about what horses I was painting or when, or even that It was going to be a painting a daily challenge.

We have some major style differences. Melody has about the best color pallet control I’ve ever seen in paintings. She works large and bold. There is strength, aggression, beauty and courage in every brush stroke she puts to the canvas. She takes Expressive Realism to the next level. In days to come, I expect that not only will she make an impression locally in the region of the SWB, but she will probably come into her own as an International artist.

For myself ,right now I work in small format, coming from a Folk-Realism and Impressionism background my paintings are softer, more intimately and emotionally connected and my color is a bit provocative to intimacy. I want to express these feelings with color and light and form and shape that the everyday person can feel good, feel hope, simply be blessed and mostly feel that they too can be a part of the solution. As a 40 year veteran artist who specializes in alternative venues, my work is already in collections all over the world on every continent even though I am not known well, I do have a very strong cult following of passionate collectors.

Two different Artists; Two different perspectives, both out of passion. In fact the thing the four of us seem to have in common is Passion; Passion for the wild horses of the Sand Wash Basin, Colorado.

It was Airline Pilot and Mustang Makeover Competitor Gabriele Moritz that noticed it all developing. She saw an opportunity to bring the wild horses to the forefront with a Collaborative Collection made into a poster of The Sand Wash Basin HMA Wild Horses. Gabriele brought in Lourie Zipf ,an amazing professional photographer and graphic designer who also loves the Sand Wash Basin Herd and also spends hours out there photographing them. Gabriele working with Lourie’s skill put together the design. The out come is an Amazing Collaborative effort that brings people a snapshot of life on the SWB in a way that showcases the artistic endeavors of the 4 of us: Nancy Roberts, Photographer, Melody Perez Painter, Lourie Zipf, Photographer, and myself Linda Martin, Artist.

And thus we have this amazing collaborative effort. Thanks to everyone involved.

You can order a copy of the poster by contacting Gabriele Moritz through her email: mailto:moritz4@q.com. Please make sure to refer to the Sand Wash Basin Horses Poster on the subject line.

A portion of the proceeds of this project will benefit the Sand Wash Basin Horses.

Please Join us on Facebook at the Sand Wash Basin Wild Horses Club Page: Sand Wash Basin Wild Horses On Facebook

Mustang A Day Challenge Giveaway!! We Reach the 60 Paintings Milestone on March 4th!

2011-03-04T02:21:00.000-08:00

Announcement!!! Heads up everyone following the Mustang A Day Challenge. In Celebration of the Milestone painting Friday Eveing March 4th we are going to hold a surprise give away!! Yes that’s right Painting #60 Friday night!! Everyone who posts under this announcement on my page: www.facebook.com/LindaLMartinArtist will be in a drawing for a free signed print of "The Kiss" The print is a 5" by 7 " signed by me and printed in house. This one will be different than all the others, because it will be remarked by hand, by me!! Tell your friends only those who comment on my page (not the profile) will be included in the drawing.

"Just a Little Kiss" is based on the photography of John Wagner a frequent photographer at Sand Wash Basin HMA and features Picasso and Monet. Remember you have to post( not just like) under this announcement to be in the drawing on my Page. The Drawing its self will be held on Saturday evening March 5th at 6pm EST. So tell all your friends.

Head 'um up! =0)

Why Aritst LindaLMartin Decided to Get involved with Mustang A Day Challenge

2011-02-23T06:32:00.000-08:00

Velma Johnson
AKA Wild Horse Annie
Used by permission
http://www.ispmb.org/

The Back story: Where the concept of the Mustang A Day Challenge came from and why Artist Linda Martin decided to get involved.

"True, growing up in the 1960s, I was a Breyer collecting, horse loving, little girl in Virginia. I had my fantasies about The Black Stallion, Man o War and my very own Flicka. Those fantasies were closer to reality than some far fetched dream, when it came to the possibility of horses. There was always a pony to ride some place, either a friend or a friend of a friend.

Misty, to the children where I grew up, wasn’t just a book; She lived on the Islands of Virginia. We embraced the drama of her life in 1962, as if she was one of our own families. Many years later when, I moved to this county, I discovered that Wesley Dennis who illustrated the books about Misty of Chincoteague, lived here for a while during the summers. I never met him, but I heard the stories of this larger than life artist who drank hard, was a family man and on occasion was called by the Sheriff to come and get his emu when they got out.

In my teen years, I lived near the Town of Front Royal Virginia, where the rail head brought horses from the west to the Army Remount station. There were always retired Remount men who had boxes of photos and a story for each one. I loved listening to the tales of those retired horse contractors, about how they just put the new recruits on the back of a horse and handed them 10 lead lines. Each lead had horse at the end of it that had never been handled. Those new recruits had to lead those horses from the rail head in the center of town, through town and a mountain pass and to the intake at the remount training center.

I tend to believe the storeys were not exaggerated. I saw the photos of men leading horses like that. However, I couldn’t figure out how these young raw recruits, with no horse experience, could pony 10 half wild horses from the range, when I could barely pony one tame one myself.

Still, what I knew about wild Mustangs could fill a thimble.

Yet as a child, and later as a teen, I did know about Wild Horse Annie. I read her book and discovered it was about more than Mustangs. It was about how a young woman could do anything, even if she was a disabled woman from a poor family and unprivileged background. All she needed to do was to educate herself and preserver.

I will never forget the picture in my head of Velma Johnson(Wild Horse Annie) standing in front of the mirror, having someone fix her hair so that her hair line looked normal before she went to speak to congress.

It wasn’t until 1974, that I began to understand fully what all her sacrifices meant. It was eveident to my friends and I, that Annie's work wasn’t finished. I know that some people disagree with me on the issue of America’s wild horses. The issue is a complex one. However, one thing I do know is that in this day and age, with so many people so far removed from their horse heritage and history, that any animal, especially the horse, that is not made memorable by a name, then becomes invisible to them. When an animal becomes invisible it is easily forgotten, and when forgotten, it is often lost for ever."

Read more of the back story about Ms Martin’s involvement in the Mustang A Day Challenge The Back Story: http://www.angelfire.com/jazz/llmartin0/MADC_TheBackStory.html

Credit for the Wild Horse Annie photo goes to www.ispmb.org

What is the Mustang A Day Challenge?

2011-02-22T03:48:00.000-08:00

What is the Mustang A Day Challenge??

"JimmyDarksand"
MADC preliminary painting
Jimmy was named by Artist Linda L Martin.
Jimmy, also known as Jimmy Blacksand,
is the key reason that she became involved
with painting the Sand Wash Bain Wild Horses.
"The naming of a horse suddenly makes
it personal. One follows the horse and
takes an intersted."

The mustang a day Challenge Project is a personal challenge of Artist and writer Linda L Martin. Linda was a daily painter from 2004 through 2007 although she hadn’t painted horses seriously since 2001. Using her talent to bless people and help preserve the American Wild horse known as the mustang is the way she has chosen to give back.

The Challenge: To paint one real living Wild American Spanish Mustang a day, 5 days a week for a year( excluding holidays). In this way Ms. Martin chooses to bpt a face with a name of as many wild horses as possible that are our uniqe American heritage.

To read more about the Mustang a Day project Visit the project page on her website: http://www.angelfire.com/jazz/llmartin0/MADC_TheProject.html

Spirit of the Mustang Wins Recognition on the Best of Zazzle.

2011-02-22T03:46:00.001-08:00

Spirit of the Mustang Wins Recognition on the Best of Zazzle.

Posted for less than 24 hours, the printed canvas offering of the original Mustang A Day Challenge Painting "Spirit of the Mustang" was recognized along with 25 other designers as the Best designs of Zazzle.

Spirit of the Mustang is an abstract expressionist interpretation of the wild band stallion, horse watchers have named, Corona. He is from the Sand Wash Basin Herd Management Area in Northern Colorado.

Prior to beginning the Mustang A Day Challenge, Artist Linda Martin began warming up with small format expressionist paintings inspired by some of the horses she hoped to paint in the coming year. The Spirit of the Mustang is one such painting. Spirit of the Mustang is used in much of the promotional material for the start of the challenge.

Spirit of the Mustang is also the base design for some of the Mustang A Day Challenge Gear Ms. Martin is designing to help raise money for the project. Spirit of the Mustang variations can also be seen in blank cards, ornaments , t-shirts and mugs.

Go to www.zazzle.com/LindaLMartinArtist* to support the Mustang a Day Challenge.

This story was originially posted in November 2010

Mustang A Day Challenge Begins December 1st 2010

2011-02-22T03:45:00.000-08:00

First published on Line November 2010

Mustang A Day Challenge Begins December 1^st.

The Mustang A Day Personal challenge of Artist Linda L. Martin begins with a vengeance on December 1^st 2010. The yearlong event is to produce 260 pieces of original art featuring America’s treasured mustangs. Painting A Mustang a Day 5 days a week to help preserver Americas Mustangs one face at a time.

It is the hope of the artist that in addition to the sales of paintings and other items to raise money for the project, that corporate and individual sponsors will be found to fund a traveling exhibit and program to take the paintings and the stories of the horses on tour.

This project will benefit the cause of America’s wild horses in two ways.

The first is to not only make people thousands of miles away from the Mustang rangelands aware of our wild American horses and their daily lives, but it will give people a personal connection to the horses, even perhaps give non –horse people the opportunity to be involved with wild horse and burrow preservation in ways they never thought they could.

Once the cultural and artistic aspects of the project have been funded, the very horses who have been the subjects of the paintings will benefit from the fund raising effort. Especially those horses that are in crisis after they have been released from BLM management through adoption.

To make this work we need individual horse watchers, herd watch groups, photographers, non-profits and agencies interested in the care and protection of wild mustangs. If you can provide stories and reference photography please go to the Get Involved page for directions on how to participate.

If you or your business would like to be involved please connect through out Sponsor’s page.

~Thank you all for caring enough to become involved in the preservation and protection or four beautiful wild horses.

Mustang A Day Challenge News

And The Winners of the 700 Give Away Are:

Come Celebrate.. Enter my giveaway!

Fund Raising Auction February 6th- February 8th Online!

Mustang A Day Challenge Stats for 2010-2011

Burro Week On the Mustang A Day Challenge!

New Listings for Alder Hill Farm Mustang Paintings on Etsy

THANKSGIVING!! Giveaway! Guest Artists! Paintings Schedule

Celebration Giveaway for the Mustang A Day Challenge: 200 Paintings!

Update on the Mustang A Day Challenge.

Whats New on the Mustang A Day Challenge This week! Begining Aug 15th

2012 Commission Prices For Art From LLMartin Artistic Services

This week on the Mustang A Day Challenge: Guest Artists Week July 4th-8th

Commets and Replys Having Issues on Blogger.

What The Mustang A Day Challenge is all About and Why I do it ~ Linda L Martin, Artist

This week on Mustang A Day Challenge: "Father's Day on Sand Wash Basin HMA" June 13th-17th

This week on Mustang A Day Challenge: "The Eyes Have it" May 28th-June 3rd

This week on Mustang A Day Challenge: Fighting Stallions of Sand Wash Basin HMA May 16th-20th

This week on the Mustang A Day Challenge: May9th through May13th Happy Adoptions Week

We Have a Winner!!!

This Week on the Mustang A Day Challenge: May2 - May 8th: MOTHER'S Day!

﻿﻿ Celebrate 100 Mustang A Day Paintings!! Giveaway!!

Fund Raiser Special for Alder Hill Farm ~ Starts now and Goes Through June 30th

This Week on the Mustang A Day Challenge: April 15th - April 29th

New Video Release! Riddle Me Dino: Steps to Finish Promoting the Mustang A Day Challenge

This week on the Mustang A Day Challenge April 4th - April 8th

This Week On The Mustang A Day Challenge

Newly 9 newly Uploded to Etsy Paintings to Benefit Mustangs.

This week on Mustang A Day Challenge

Mustang A Day Challenge Gear on Zazzle: New Release!! "Just A Kiss"

South Steens Week on the Mustang A Day Challenge

Linda L Martin’s Mustang a Day Art Represented at Horse Fest in Springfield Missouri

Announcing the Collaboration: Linda Martin and Lightning Bug Creek Photography for the 2011 Fort Collins Mustang Makeover

Debra More McGuire To Guest Blog the Mustang A Day Challenge the week of March 7th

Just Released: The Sand Wash Basin Wild Horses Poster

Mustang A Day Challenge Giveaway!! We Reach the 60 Paintings Milestone on March 4th!

Why Aritst LindaLMartin Decided to Get involved with Mustang A Day Challenge

What is the Mustang A Day Challenge?

Spirit of the Mustang Wins Recognition on the Best of Zazzle.

Mustang A Day Challenge Begins December 1st 2010

Celebrate 100 Mustang A Day Paintings!! Giveaway!!