Hi! This is Ria’s husband. I just thought I’d share the exciting news.

Ria’s “Spirit Of The Earth” collection, featuring many of her amazing new pieces, will be on display at the Art Gallery at the Historic Provo Library At Academy Square (550 N University Ave, Provo, UT) today through November 24th.

There will also be a reception to meet the artist held at the gallery on the 6th of November from 3:30 through 5:30 PM.

If you’re in the area, you should take the time to check out the show, and if you can, we’d love to see you at the reception!

I live in the mountains of Utah and one of the amazing things about winters here is that bald eagles come. Today my husband and I saw 7 eagles just sitting in a tree along the side of the road. We pulled over of course and he got some amazing photos. I’m even going to use one to do a painting.

There is something so majestic about bald eagles. They are so stoic and regall. You can see in their eyes that they know exactly who they are and that no one can touch them. They’re not afraid but it’s interesting because they won’t let you get too close. They seem to be very particular about who they will let into their world. Other eagles, elk, deer, but not people. They’re more skittish around humans than golden eagles are or even most hawks. I wonder why this is. I think their just more private. They want to be left alone. I can relate to that.

I like this one a lot better than the last one. I agree with Shane’s comment in my last post when he talked about the forground plant having something to say. It looks to me like he’s reaching out to sort of get a feel for the world but he’s a quiet type so he doesn’t want to bother anyone. He’s not pretending to be anything he’s not but he’s still not sure where he’s going or what he has to say to the world. He’s just glad to be alive.

Fingers of light spread over the eastern horizon and I am running. Air fills my lungs as I pull the earth beneath my pounding feet. The mountain before me gazes down through eyes that have witnessed the ages and I feel it’s earthy surface move with the rithm of my stride. I am home. I am running with my brother the wind. I breath his life into my own and I am made strong. The fingers of eastern light follow me. I glance back and know that they will win. They always do. The sparkling rays glide over the grassy slope warming the ground and drinking the morning dew. They pause for but a moment to caress my back then fly passed me with effortless speed. I smile and slow to a walk. I am no match for the sun. Anyway, winning was never the point.

The crickets are singing again.

The silence of winter cracks and melts

as the earth lays her great belly bare

to bask in the warmth of the life giving sun

and the crickets are singing for joy.

For the trees are dancing again.

The great branches of the mighty oak

sway in time to the cricket song

as gentle buds of delicate green

sparkle in the light of the sun

and the trees are dancing for joy

For the clouds are rolling again.

The mournful clouds roll their heaving bodies

to the distant horizon

revealing a sky of brilliant blue

that dries the tears of rain

and the clouds are rolling for joy.

Well, I went hiking today. It was great. The snow has pretty much all melted from the south face of the mountains near where I live and I was able to climb for quite a ways. I didn’t see much wildlife. Just some insects, birds, and a little chipmunk. Maybe most of the animals are still just coming out of hybernation. The deer are out at night along the sides of the road but I didn’t see any on my hike. Oh well, maybe next time.

I started working in the yard yesterday and would you believe it? I got a sunburn! This may sound to you like a negative thing but to me it’s a sign of warm weather and happy times.

It has been such a long cold winter and now the snow is finally melting. I went out to an area of the yard where the earth was dry enough to work with and started leveling out a section that will be my flower garden. I’ve already planted several different flowers and some vegetables in pots that are sunning themselves in my windowsill but really, there is nothing like working directly with the earth under the mighty blue sky. Several times throughout the day I heard an eagle screaming in the distance. What a powerful sound! I never could spot it with my eyes. It was probably too far away and the sky is just so big.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to spend long periods of time outside again. There is something so cleansing, so robust, so healthy about working with the earth, running your hands through the soil, breathing in the fresh pure essence of nature. Definately worth a little sunburn!

I am so excited for spring to come. It’s march now so warm weather is on the way and I can’t wait! I want to be able to go outside in a T-shirt and cut-offs. I want to be able to take barefoot walks and go hiking in sandals and lay out under the stars without sinking into 3 feet of snow! (: I want to be able to spend hours and hours outside working in a garden or wandering the mountains.

I drew this picture because I wanted to express a feeling of springtime and the fresh newness that comes with it. I took a few pictures of this one, the way I did with the red squirel, so that you can see some detail and have a better idea of what it looks like.

I finished this drawing today. I took 3 different pictures of it so you can actually see some detail.