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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 10: The Cloth Shop This is an ink & wash piece of a shop on London’s Portobello Road. It was tricky to capture the layers - exterior/front, reflections, display & shop interior. I loved the details. Exercise in patience & brought back good memories. #ArtYear #watercolor #ink

This watercolor and ink painting shows a store front of The Cloth Shop in London. The exterior is a rich navy blue and we see potted shrubs on the sidewalk. There’s a distorted reflection of the building across the street and a big display window with stacks of folded fabric.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 9: Rush Experimental abstract - limited palette with different tools and techniques. #ArtYear #acrylic

This is an abstract acrylic painting with ochre, burnt sienna, payne’s gray, white and black. I’ve used different tools and energetic strokes and swooshes.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 8: I Know You by Touch This was an interesting exercise. Using blind contour and continuous line, touch your face slowly and draw without looking in a mirror. It felt so unusual - my brain worked differently. #ArtYear #drawing

A single line pen drawing of a woman’s face done by touching the face only. This type of blind contour drawing is done without looking in a mirror. The drawing suggests a fringe of hair and traces the outline of the glasses, eyes, nose and mouth.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 7: Written in Stone Inspired by a Spanish castle ruin. I loved the layers of history and the textured stone walls. Acrylics are new for me, and this is the 4th painting on the same canvas. #ArtYear #acrylics #painting

Semi abstract acrylic painting of the ruins of a castle in Spain. A green grassy area is behind the dry stone wall on the left, and the grey and terracotta colored walls are constructed with layers of stone and brick. An arch at the top frames the cloudy sky.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 6: Flight of the Hummingbirds This was inspired by watching hummingbirds at dawn during fall migration. Pale lilac sky + the colors of the birds. It’s like a flight tracker of the paths from trees to feeder & all over the neighborhood. Magnificent. #ArtYear #watercolor #ink

This watercolor and ink piece is a combination of pale lilac, deep teal and bright orange. The straight black lines crisscross an abstract background with spatters of color. Circles float around randomly.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 5: Autumn Morning, Kansas City I did this little ink & wash piece when it was still hot as hell down here in Texas. It has Kansas City landmarks & images that remind me of fall in KC. It’s for my dad, who’s in memory care. Memories for both of us. #ArtYear #watercolor #ink

This small watercolor and ink piece is a grid with Kansas City landmarks & images that remind me of fall in KC. There are autumn golds and oranges, trees and leaves that are changing colors.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 4: Ruins of a Distant Future I love ancient cities & ruins. This scene shows a crumbling hilltop fortress & cave dwellings in an imaginary world. I love painting with watercolors & good paper makes a difference! #ArtYear #watercolor #ink

This scene shows a crumbling hilltop fortress & cave dwellings in an imaginary world. The landscape is a mix of yellow ochre and orange mountains and a blue geological formation under a yellow and purple sky with 2 suns or moons. I imagined that this was another planet in the distant future.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 3: Arboretum Trails Tried out Caran D’Ache Neocolor II #crayons & drew some impressions from recent walks. I loved the feel, bright colors, and mix of marks & watercolor. The one on the upper right is done with #watercolor & #pencil & the rest are Neocolor. #ArtYear

A grid of 6 sketches done with Caran D’Ache Neocolor II aquarelle crayons of impressions from recent walks. There’s a crape Myrtle with beautiful twisted roots; a footpath with a bridge; golden autumn plants standing tall; a bamboo arch in a Japanese garden; purple pink berries; and plants with bright red flowers.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 2: Diary Madrid A visual diary or artist’s journal is a good way to observe, record thoughts, experiences & memories, use watercolor, pencil & ink, and do some urban sketching. Fun & meaningful. #ArtYear #watercolor #ink #journal

Visual diary page with watercolor and ink drawings of yellow Portuguese custard tarts (called pasteís de nata) and coffee with a heart in the milk foam. Also included are handwritten notes about a cafe in Madrid where the pastries are made.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 1: “Early Morning Rain” This is inspired by a beautiful morning when the sun was shining and rain showers looked like shimmering crystals. I’m enjoying the beauty in my feed - so many different works from talented artists. It’s good to be back. #watercolor #ArtYear

Watercolor painting with blue, yellow, pink and green streaks. This is inspired by a beautiful morning several weeks ago when the sun was shining and rain showers looked like shimmering crystals.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Artists & art lovers - are you ready? It’s time for the best Bluesky tradition - Art Advent Calendar! December 1-24. Post original work, discover new artists, celebrate every day, flood your feed with joy. #ArtAdventCalendar Hosted by @jayispainting.earthskyart.ca #art #artsky

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

“Our Land, Once Big and Beautiful” While we’re being distracted by Epstein files, MAHA Coke & racist team names, our public lands are being destroyed in the name of Energy Dominance. Nothing beautiful about it. More in alt text 👇 #ArtYear #mixedmedia #watercolor #ink #contecrayon #coloredpencil

Mixed media piece depicting a landscape with jagged lines in front of. This is a personal response to the sadness I felt when reading about some of the “victories” described on the Department of Interior website. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” includes changes to promote expansion of oil and gas production, coal mining, and more logging (20 million more board feet annually). Our public lands were intended for preservation, not destruction. What is done cannot be undone.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

I could paint imaginary cities every day. Look closely & see the textures of ancient walls, stone archway, roofs, wooden doors, balconies & windows. I love this lesson from “Creative Abstract Watercolor” by @essoldodesign.bsky.social. #watercolor #ink #creativeabstreactwatercolor

Watercolor painting of an imaginary city, with buildings in light tan, blues, terra cotta and burnt sienna. The buildings have different shapes, and lots of tiny details drawn in white and black ink. The sky overhead is a stormy indigo color.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

A summery watercolor painting for a friend who lives by the water. Inspired by a lesson in “Creative Abstract Watercolor” by Kate Rebecca Leach at @essoldodesign.bsky.social #watercolor #nature #artyear

Abstract watercolor painting with waves over colored pebbles.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

“When you are lost, choose beauty.” This really spoke to me this morning. Gina is finding a way through, one stitch at a time. Beautiful work.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

I just called my Representative using 5calls and spoke to a staffer about H.R.1. CALL NOW & let your voice be heard! Thank you @5calls.org! And thank you @repfletcher.bsky.social for being accessible to your constituents & opposing this monstrous bill. #biguglybill

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

Every time I start a journal, I get tired of my introspective drivel, stick the diary in a drawer, find it years later & shred the pages. But stories are different. Moments are like little movies. So I write them down & sketch what I see. Enjoying this more. #ArtYear #journaling #storytelling

A page from a journal shows a woman with long dark curly hair looking out the window of a bus at a church. She tells us that the church is dedicated to her “santo” - St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of lost causes. She says she thinks this is appropriate, with a sad, sarcastic chuckle. We get the feeling that she is in a hopeless situation.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Since we’re on the cusp of hurricane season down here near the gulf coast… It’s helpful to know the difference between a watch & a warning. The Fort Bend County library system explained it perfectly. Using a language we all understand. #taco #hurricaneseason

Graphic from the Fort Bend County library system using tacos to explain the difference between a (storm) watch and a warning. This photo shows the ingredients of a taco laid out and says “Taco Watch - We have the ingredients to make a taco.”

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Mindful & meditative art inspired by A.A. Murakami’s Floating World immersive exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. Materials: Faber-Castell aquarelle pencils, ruler, circle template, aqua brush with water. #ArtYear #watercolor #mindfulart #color

Small abstract piece with colorful lines radiating out and forming wavy patterns, and colored circles floating like bubbles.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

A visual diary or artist’s journal is a good way to observe, record thoughts, experiences & memories, use watercolor, pencil & ink, and do some urban sketching. It’s fun & meaningful - can’t wait to do more! #ArtYear #drawing #sketching #watercolor #ink #journaling #urbansketching

Page from an artist’s journal with an ink and watercolor sketch of a plate of pasteis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts) and a cappuccino. There is also handwritten text describing a visit to Manteigaria, a cafe and pastry shop in Madrid, Spain.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

I was so pleased to find Thomas Dambo’s “Malin’s Fountain” (#127) in Austin, Texas. Malin's Fountain symbolizes the community's strength & ability to come together as one. Thomas Dambo is a Danish recycling artist & his mission is to 'Waste no more'. #thomasdambo #artsky #art #sustainable #austin

Thomas Dambo’s “Malin’s Fountain” (#127) in Austin, Texas. This large troll is seated in a wooded section of a park, and is constructed of salvaged wood, branches and stones. The troll ((Malin) is holding a large basin that serves as a fountain.

Malin's Fountain symbolizes the community's strength and ability to come together as one.

This is a poem written by Danish recycling artist Thomas Dambo, and carved into a boulder:

Sometimes, the summer times are dry
Sometimes, the sky will cry
Sometimes, the fountains full of rain
Sometimes, an empty drain

Sometimes are good for summer birds
Sometimes are cursed with thirst
So it always makes a difference when
You fill the fountain up again

Metal plaque that says “No. 127, Malin’s Fountain, Thomas Dambo”

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

It’s serious, y’all. 105 degrees in May.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

“View of Sepúlveda” This is a view of the medieval town of Sepúlveda, Spain, with its stone walls, Romanesque church & old buildings, and narrow winding streets. I’m back to 3x3 watercolor & ink and enjoying focusing on all the details. #watercolor #ink #artsky #ArtYear

View of the green countryside and the medieval walled town of Sepúlveda, Spain. At the top of the hill is a Romanesque church and winding roads lead through old buildings and plazas.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Pay attention, but remember there’s beauty in the world. See the comments for a healthy dose of Vincent Van Gogh.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

So beautiful, and pulsating with life energy. Thank you @wonderloststudio.bsky.social for sharing your work, process & inspiration.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Street Messages “No Estress” (no stress) & “No Te Compares” (don’t compare yourself). Interesting what you notice & what speaks to you. Seen in the streets of Madrid, Spain. #graffiti #streetart

Graffiti scrawled on a white wall in Madrid that says “No Estress” (no stress).

This photo shows a large round grey stone on a brick sidewalk, with the coat of arms of Madrid - a shield with a crown, a bear, and a tree. Purple graffiti that says “No Te Compares” (don’t compare yourself) is scrawled under the insignia.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

“Make Art, Not War” Collage art by @prospektcol.lazzaph (IG) on a wall in the Lavapies neighborhood of Madrid More details in alt text 👇

Collage art by a digital creator seen on a textured terracotta colored wall in the Lavapies neighborhood of Madrid, Spain. Top left is a torn leaf shape on paper printed with space, stars, nebulae and planets. Next is a photo of Michelangelo’s David with a paste up of DaVinci’s eye - a speech bubble says “never mind!” A neon red orange sticker says “MAKE ART NOT WAR” and features a bike made of cork circles that says “La vie in bike.” The bottom sticker is a piece called “Universal Love,” and shows a silhouette of two figures, facing each other, made of a print of a universe of stars and planets. The artist’s work can be found on Instagram @prospektcol.lazzaph

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

The last few weeks have been about exploring and gathering ideas & inspiration. This is a quick watercolor sketch of a street in Pedraza, a walled medieval town in Spain. It was good to just get the pens & paint out & make some marks. #watercolor #ink #ArtYear

This is a quick ink and watercolor sketch of a few abstract figures walking down a street in the medieval town of Pedraza, Spain.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

On April 28, 2025, a major power blackout occurred across Spain, Portugal & southern France. Everything came to a halt & shops, hotels, metro stations & restaurants closed. ATMs out of order. Cash only. Some waited it out at bars with friends. Cheers in the streets when the lights went back on.

Red and white church candles glow on a wooden table in a dark room. The window is open and we can see a dark building with candle light in the windows. This photo was taken in Madrid, Spain on April 28, 2025, the day a massive power blackout occurred across Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

“1984 - Orwell was right” Note the surveillance camera image in the eye. Graffiti seen in Madrid.

Image of graffiti in Madrid. A black eye with the white image of a surveillance camera in the pupil, surrounded by lettering that says “1984 Orwell tenía razón” (“1984 - Orwell was right”)

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

Enjoyed Pinta Malasaña, Madrid’s annual urban art festival. 2025 marked the 10th anniversary & 100 artists covered walls, windows, plazas & shop shutters in the University neighborhood with their work. The talent is amazing & I love the color! #madrid #artsky #streetart #urbanart

Artists paint the walls around a plaza in Madrid during the Pinta Malasaña festival. One artist paints a mural with a collection of bright abstract shapes (a bird, a hand, and some leaves), and another paints a large colorful bird with wings spread.

The metal shutter of a pharmacy in Madrid is painted during the Pinta Malasaña festival. We see a large rat in front of an aqua background, peeking over a hot pink wall.

Artists paint the windows of a Greek restaurant in Madrid during the Pinta Malasaña festival. The artist on the left paints a mural with two abstract figures embracing, and another paints a band of blue cartoon figures playing instruments.

Artists paint the metal shop shutters on a street in Madrid during the Pinta Malasaña festival. One artist stands on a ladder and paints with aqua and yellow, and another is painting a colorful abstract mural.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

Day 55: “Simplicity” One-line tulips and a few additional lines. Stripping things down to focus on loose lines and color. Life is busy and this has turned into the “Create when you feel like it club,” and that’s just fine. #watercolor #ink #artsky #the100dayproject #ArtYear

Small watercolor and ink piece of a glass vase with pink tulips next to a window looking out on a building. The vase and flowers are drawn with one continuous line, giving the piece a free and playful feel.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Astounding! I love the use of color and impressionist brush strokes.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Day 50: “Hollyhock Cottage” This is an experiment in continuous line drawing, with a few accent lines. The act of letting the hand freely “trace” the contours promotes a state of flow and connection with the subject being drawn. #watercolor #ink #drawing #artsky #the100dayproject #ArtYear

Small watercolor and ink piece of a path lined by colorful red and yellow hollyhocks in front of a brick cottage. The outline of the building, flowers and greenery are drawn with one continuous line, giving the piece a free and playful feel.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Day 48: “The Front Porch Remains” This old abandoned house is in shambles, but the thermometer still says it’s warm for spring & the porch remains. Spirits linger & I wonder about their stories. A string of lights awaits the dusk. #watercolor #ink #artsky #the100dayproject #ArtYear

Small watercolor and ink piece of an old abandoned house made of weathered white boards, with missing windows, a damaged roof & piles of wood and rubbish on the front porch.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

Day 47: “All That Glimmers” Testing some paints, including Beam’s glistening Dreamers Gold & Wintery Night from the Waasnoodin-Northern Lights palette. #watercolor #artsky #the100dayproject #ArtYear

Abstract watercolor painting with rounded rectangles in muted ochre, blue and green, with glimmering gold and dark blue accents.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Day 46: “Pueblo Andaluz” “White villages” are small Andalusian towns in southern Spain. This was an exercise in mindfulness & my imagination traveled through the ancient winding streets of whitewashed houses built by the Romans & Moors. #watercolor #ink #mindfulart #the100dayproject #ArtYear

Tiny watercolor and ink piece showing a village of whitewashed buildings in southern Spain.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

Day 42: “Humanity Lost” On Saturday, I visited the Holocaust Museum - a deeply disturbing reminder of the power of hatred & our infinite capacity for cruelty. Started with power, book burning & bans. Aided by laws. Could it happen again? Will we let it? #watercolor #ink #the100dayproject #ArtYear

Tiny piece with watercolor flames and dark colors (descending to blood red and black) over a handwritten timeline of the 1933-1945 Holocaust. This piece is a reflection of my experience and emotions after visiting the Holocaust Museum, and it’s a belated post for the 100 Day Project.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

💥Don’t miss it! Join historian Heather Cox Richardson & Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett to learn more about how Project 2025 is being implemented & what YOU can do about it!

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

Day 44: “Galactic Trapeze” 3 square inches isn’t a lot of space & complicated scenes with microscopic details just ain’t working for me. So I’ve taken a mid-century modern approach - lighthearted, with a touch of the Jetsons. #watercolor #ink #MCM #design #artsky #the100dayproject #ArtYear

Tiny abstract watercolor and ink piece, with a mid-century modern feel. Ink lines curve about in space, with yellow-orange, red-purple & blue-green shapes accenting this space age design.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Day 43: “Project Row Houses” Today our road trip takes us to Project Row Houses in Houston, Texas - an experiment in art, cultural & historic preservation, revitalization & empowerment. Now on display, works by local graffiti artists. #watercolor #ink #houston #artsky #the100dayproject #ArtYear

Tiny watercolor and ink piece of a Project Row Houses in Houston, Texas. The houses have art installations and we see a couple of houses brightly painted by local graffiti artists.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Bridget’s adventures: Art, music, humor & a time traveling cat. Delightful thread full of creativity & imagination. It will make your day! #artsky #art #cats

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Day 41: “Honky Tonk” Want to take a break from this week from hell? Let’s take a road trip. First stop, the Smallest Little Honky Tonk in Tomball, Texas. Watch your hat as you enter & get ready for some great music. #watercolor #ink #texas #roadtrip #artsky #the100dayproject #ArtYear

Tiny watercolor and ink piece of a honky Tonk bar in Texas. The signs say “No knife fights,” “No disrespect ladys” and “No cover songs.”

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Self-sufficiency, growth, sustainability & resistance all meet up at #TheOutpost Follow, learn & find kindred spirits! #sustainability #gardening #herbs #health #resist

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Day 39: “Mindwalk” Sometimes when it seems like the world is falling apart, I take my mind on a walk through the woods. And I realize that nature will have none of that nonsense. #watercolor #painting #trees #nature #walking #artsky #the100dayproject #ArtYear

Tiny watercolor painting of a walking path in the woods that winds through trees with spring leaves and cool shade.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Day 38: “Good Trouble” So much courage, truth, commitment to the ideals of this country. All I could do is witness this historic moment & sketch. Thank you @booker.senate.gov for taking a stand. We the People. What comes next? #watercolor #ink #sketching #artsky #the100dayproject #ArtYear

Tiny sketch of Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey as he spoke for more than 25 hours on the Senate floor and detailed the impact of this administration’s destructive actions on the American people.

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Lone Star Blue 💙 @kmontes.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Day 33: “Tulip Fields” Day 33 - and 33 years ago our family moved to a village in the Netherlands near the “Bollenstreek,” or tulip fields. Spring there is like another world. #watercolor #aquarellepencils #spring #holland #flowers #nature #painting #artsky #the100dayproject #ArtYear

Tiny piece made with watercolor pencils of colorful flowers in the tulip fields in Holland.

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