“What’re ya starin’ at Kid?”

“Jist admirin’ this fine poster Shorty had made fer all the folks that are a part a Carrot Ranch.”

“Oh, yeah, ain’t thet somethin’? Who was it done thet up?”

“It was a Australian illustrative artist name a Stephanie Davies.”

“Wunner what else she’s about?”

“Ask her, Pal. Here she is now. Howdy, Stephanie, welcome ta the Saddle Up Saloon!”

“Hello Kid. Hello Pal. Thank you so much for having me here.”

“Thank you fer makin’ time fer us.”

“I love interesting opportunities so was excited when Charli Mills reached out for me to create the website’s motif. What a pleasure Charli is to work with; she made the quirky task a very pleasant and straight forward one.”

“We’re real pleased with thet piece too, an’ mighty glad ta have it hangin’ here at the Saddle Up. Have ya always been a artist, Stephanie?”

“I sketched as a child, pausing our Video player to try and recapture Disney characters. In 2016 I completed a Visual Arts diploma after receiving lots of encouragement from friends and family when I started sketching again.”

“Sure glad ya come back ta it! Good on yer folks fer encouragin’ ya. What were ya doin’ when ya weren’t at yer sketchin’?”

“My background the past 20 years has been massage therapy, mostly  in offices, where we relax stressed staff from many industries. One of the clients was Walt Disney Animations Australia, massaging the illustrators shoulders at their desks – weekly for 5 years until they closed their Sydney office; as you can imagine that was a tough place to visit. From time to time massage clients were touring celebrities, to help ground and soothe them after lengthy flights and broken sleep.”

“Well thet sounds like a good gig, thet masseusin’.”

“It is. Was. Thanks to Covid restrictions my massage business almost closed. But my art practise has come to the forefront rescuing me emotionally, and ever so slowly, financially.”

“It’s good ta hear somethin’ good outta present circumstances. ”

“Yep. Stephanie, how would ya describe yersef as an artist?”

“I’m quite an experimental artist (and cook). I dabble in a variety of media and intend to continue the adventure. Though a regular user of acrylic and watercolour paints, I find myself regularly coming back to a simple sketch with pencil on paper.”

“Reckon thet’s where ideas git their start, kinda like sketchin’ out a raw 99-word story ta grow later.”

“Sure, Pal and this year I’ve had a number of requests for digital art including Charli’s and a picture book to illustrate which is a childhood dream of mine.”

 “Well good luck with thet! Mebbe there’s some picture book writers here in the saloon need a good illustrator.”

“Good thinkin’, Pal. Stephanie, I’m wund’rin’ where ya git yer inspiration fer yer art.”

“Well Kid, my eleven and fourteen year old redheads keep me inspired. I sketch them reading and writing their own stories on a regular basis. Beyond that I find great interest in the relationship between animals and man and how we can live together cohesively on this crazy planet.” 

 “We got all kinds a animals roamin’ the ranch, an’ not jist hosses an’ cattle. We got rainbow cats an’ uni-corns an’ mice…”

“That’s great, Kid, very inspiring! This is an eclectic and quirky place! It reminds me of my illustrative idol, Freya Blackwood, with her relatable quirky lovable characters and effortless sketching style.”

“Well, it looks like yer not too far off the mark yersef there, Stephanie. What are ya workin’ on lately?”

“Currently my canvas is a 20 foot Shipping Container! The request was for ‘The Aussie Bush’ an outback scene of gum trees, cockatoos and kangaroos to help it blend into a property North of Brisbane (where it will be shipped to) in Queensland Australia.”

“Kin we see it?”

“Sure Kid.”

“Whoa! Thet is so cool!”

“Thank you.  At nights I’m also working on children’s picture book illustrations via my iPad so I get to sit on my comfy couch to do it.  I also have a butterfly passion at the moment… sketching and colouring with watercolour.”

“Thet’s real purty.”

“Dang. D’ya git any spare time? Ya seem mighty busy fer someone who’s outta business.”

“When I get any spare time, I’m working on a little picture book story idea of my own. I don’t feel writing is my strength, however I have the images and cute story asking to be brought to life.”

“We know a little ‘bout that, Stephanie. Git it writ!”

“Ha! Okay Kid, we’ll see. I can’t wait to see what’s next, I’m loving my artistic path.”

“Well we’re real glad yer path took ya ta the Saddle Up Saloon! Didn’t ‘spect ta see a masseuse mother a two in a place like this.”

“The Saddle Up is so open to art! When chance takes me I adore soulful music and a warm spirit in hand.”

 “We got thet here.”

 “This moody feel will come out in works to come, likely using coffee, red wine, and beetroot juice.”

“Whoa. Soun’s like we need ta serve yer drinks with a brush.”

“Reckon this one kin really paint the town, ey Pal?”

“She sure has brought some color ta the Saloon. Thank ya fer stoppin’ by Stephanie Davies. Let us know when yer website is up an’ runnin’. In the mean time folks should know ta find ya at https://instagram.com/stephaniedaviesart .”

Free ranging characters who live and work at Carrot Ranch, Pal & Kid now serve up something more or less fresh every Monday at the Saddle Up Saloon . Got something to share? Take the stage! If you or your characters are interested in saddling up for a wild ride as a saloon guest, contact Pal & Kid via  shiftnshake@dslayton.com.