Old Northwest Frontier Tours

10/02/2025

My artwork, "Catnap Cutie," is now available through Fine Art America. Click on the image below to go to Fine Art America for more details.

"Catnap Cutie" -- A small cat is peacefully sleeping curled up in a wicker basket, its fur blending softly with the texture of the basket. Sunlight highlights the cat's gentle stripes and its tiny, relaxed paws. A very cute cat catnaps in a wicker basket, snoozing away the hours. This image was created in Adobe Firefly AI from my original black and white image, and the coloring has added to the artistic effect.

Adobe Firefly AI software has been used to enhance my original black and white image.

Catnap Cutie Photograph by Barbara Smits

05/02/2025

My artwork, "Sunset Block Party On The Ice Sturgeon Bay Door County WI," is now available for purchase through Fine Art America. Click on the image below to go to Fine Art America for more details.

"Sunset Block Party On The Ice, Sturgeon Bay, Door County, Wisconsin:" -- A friendly group of colorful fishing shanties cluster together in friendship on Sturgeon Bay in Door County, Wisconsin. Other fishing shanties can be seen in the background, as well as a house on a small island, a tugboat breaking ice in the distance, and the ancient Niagara Escarpment looming in the background. It is a typical Wisconsin winter scene as residents fight the “winter blahs” while spending time in an ice shanty, or even playing ball on the ice. I expect that the Native Americans did the same when they occupied the area, and it’s too bad that they do not appear in the scene.

Digital artistic and paper texture filters have been added to enhance the image.

Sunset Block Party On The Ice Sturgeon Bay Door County WI Photograph by Barbara Smits

03/02/2025

My artwork, "Drilling The Hole," is now available through Fine Art America. Click on the image below to go to Fine Art America for more details.

"Drilling The Hole" -- Two men are preparing to begin ice fishing on a frozen Fox River in De Pere, Wisconsin. One is drilling the hole while the other prepares the automatic fishing devices with flags. They have pulled their equipment out onto the ice with a sled. A tracing effect filter has been added to the photograph to enhance the image.

Drilling The Hole Photograph by Barbara Smits

02/02/2025

I HEREBY DECLARE THAT I DO NOT GIVE FACEBOOK META MY PERMISSION TO USE ANY OF MY PERSONAL DATA.
I also don’t give AI permission to look at my internet presence period. I do not agree to let anyone offer me AI without my specific authorization or permission. Barbara Smits

29/01/2025

My artwork, "Simple Pleasures On The Ice," is now available through Fine Art America. Click on the image below to go to Fine Art America for more details.

"Simple Pleasures On The Ice" -- An ice fisherman pulls a sled with ice fishing necessities along the frozen river, on the way to his favorite spot on the ice. In the background are other fishermen sitting by their colorful ice fishing shanties while others chat or check their automatic ice fishing pop up flags to see if they have caught anything! It is a relaxed weekend afternoon of ice fishing, a way to pass the time during a long, cold, Wisconsin winter.

Artistic and snow filters have been added to enhance the photograph.

Simple Pleasures On The Ice Photograph by Barbara Smits

27/01/2025

My artwork, "WinterWalk Through Point Beach State Forest WI," is now available for purchase through Fine Art America. Click on the image below to go to Fine Art America for more details.

A winter path with footsteps in the snow is a pleasant scene at Point Beach State Forest near Two Rivers, WI. The path is clear and bright and leads into the future!

Digital artistic filters have been added to enhance the image

Winter Walk Through Point Beach State Forest WI Pyrography by Barbara Smits

22/01/2025

My artwork, "The Lost Geese," is now available through Fine Art America. Click on the image below to go to Fine Art America for more details.

A surreal scene, in Van Gogh style, showing lost geese searching for a familiar landing place beneath an October moon. We are all lost geese, searching for a safe place to land in an unfriendly world. An old barn on a hillside and a flock of Canada geese passing overhead are all part of the Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin. A winding road leads away into the distance, meandering into the woods.

A flock of Canada Geese, moon, smoke, and Artificial Intelligence Van Gogh filters have been added digitally to enhance the photograph.

The Lost Geese Photograph by Barbara Smits

20/01/2025

My artwork, "Bench On Newport Bay Lake Michigan," is now available through Fine Art America. Click on the image below to go to Fine Art America for more details.

An empty bench overlooks the frozen waters of Newport Bay on Lake Michigan, at Newport State Park, Ellison Bay, Door County, Wisconsin. The scene is restful and meditative, and makes you want to go there!

Digital artistic filters have been added to enhance the image.

Bench On Newport Bay Lake Michigan Photograph by Barbara Smits

15/01/2025

My artwork, "Sledding Hill Camaraderie," is now available through Fine Art America. Click on the image below to go to Fine Art America for more information.

A group of young people climb back up the sledding hill to complete a day of fun that has been enjoyed this way since long ago. A typical Door County, Wisconsin scene.

Families, friends, young lovers - fun in the snow on a winter day. How many generations enjoyed this accommodating hill in the same way…sliding, climbing, crashing…hot cocoa from a thermos - perhaps a bonfire on the hill...

Native Americans coming together on a winter day, relaxing, competing, making the best of Wisconsin’s long and snowy winters. A game of “Snow Snake” or ball playing on a frozen pond…now we call it “hockey” - simple toboggans or sleds, made from wood or hides - anything that flew swiftly down the powdery slopes…not rocket science - no need for anything fancy!
Just get to the bottom and climb back up again for another run!
That same warming bonfire later on the hill. Simple times are best…and they don’t cost us anything but a little time - I LOVE JOYOUS WINTER DAYS!

Digital artistic filters have been added to enhance the image.

Sledding Hill Camaraderie Photograph by Barbara Smits

13/01/2025

My artwork, "Sledding At Sunset," is now available through Fine Art America. Click on the image below to go to Fine Art America for more details.

A group of young people climb back up the sledding hill at sunset to complete a day of fun that has been enjoyed this way since long ago. A typical Door County, Wisconsin scene.

Families, friends, young lovers - fun in the snow on a brilliant winter day. How many generations enjoyed this accommodating hill in the same way…sliding, climbing, crashing…hot cocoa from a thermos - perhaps a bonfire on the hill...

Native Americans coming together on a winter day, relaxing, competing, making the best of Wisconsin’s long and snowy winters. A game of “Snow Snake” or ball playing on a frozen pond…now we call it “hockey” - simple toboggans or sleds, made from wood or hides - anything that flew swiftly down the powdery slopes…not rocket science - no need for anything fancy! Just get to the bottom and climb back up again for another run!
That same warming bonfire later on the hill. Simple times are best…and they don’t cost us anything but a little time - I LOVE JOYOUS WINTER DAYS!

Digital artistic filters have been added to enhance the image.

Sledding At Sunset Photograph by Barbara Smits

08/01/2025

My artwork, "Creation Waits For Change," with added text, is now available through Fine Art America. Click on the image below to go to Fine Art America for more details.

"Creation Waits For Change" -- A vibrant red cardinal perches on a tree branch surrounded by colorful spring leaves. The sky in the background is a bright blue with wispy clouds, and a quote from Romans 8:19 is elegantly written nearby.

My beautiful red cardinal, perched on a tree branch among soft, pastel foliage, is dreaming of spring and warmer weather to come. The image is one of beauty, joy, and inspiration. The image has been created with AI, and a pastel filter has been added to soften the image.

I have used the image of a beautiful red cardinal perched on a tree branch among soft, pastel foliage, to illustrate Paul’s Bible Passage in Romans 8:19, which states: “For creation is waiting with eager longing for the sons of God to be disclosed. For it was not the fault of creation that it was frustrated; it was by the will of him who condemned it to that, and in the hope that creation itself would be set free from its bo***ge to decay, and have the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation has been growing in agony until now..”

Digital AI and artistic filters have been added to enhance the image.

Creation Waits For Change Photograph by Barbara Smits

06/01/2025

Cardinal Dreaming Of Spring Photograph by Barbara Smits

01/01/2025

My artwork, "Lobo You Are What I Want To Be," with added text, is now available through Fine Art America. Click on the image below to go to Fine Art America for more details.

My Artwork, “Lobo, You Are What I Want To Be,” tells a story of the persecution of the wolf that was almost lost to extinction but has since recovered. I am including partial lyrics from my song “Lobo,” copyright 2023.

“Lobo, you’re what I want to be,
A part of everything.
Lobo, you’re here and then you’re gone,
But never far away.

Lobo, your eyes are like green fire,
Flirting with the night,
OOOOO, each star a funeral pyre,
Each hill a lookout tower.

Lobo, can you hear me calling low,
Oh, Lobo, don’t turn away.
Lobo, take the high road home,
Oh, Lobo, live another day.”

Digital artistic filters have been added to enhance the image.

Lobo You Are What I Want To Be Photograph by Barbara Smits

30/12/2024

"Run, Wolf, Run" -- A beautiful, large gray wolf runs in the snow, evading hunters.

This piece is one of nine sketches and photos used to illustrate my EPUB book, “Tony and the Wolf” - A Christmas Story, which tells about Tony’s adventures on a day at home alone during Christmas vacation. Bored, and irritated about being left home alone, Tony decides to take his new digital camera that he got for Christmas and go exploring on an adventure across the open fields, riding his horse White Cloud and taking his little dog Sam along for the fun. After seeing a wolf and snapping photos of the beautiful animal, Tony returns home as the sun is setting and feels real love for his home and his family for the first time as he sees his home in the distance. Tony grows up a tiny bit during the holiday season, and it is a warm, friendly story for young people.

I have also used the image to illustrate my song, "Run, Wolf, Run"
Partial lyrics are:
Run, wolf, run, run, wolf, run,
Out of the shadows and into the sun.
Run, wolf, run, run, wolf, run,
Tracks on the prairies away from the guns,
And it's run, run, run, run, wolf, run...

Digital artistic filters have been added to enhance the image.

Run Wolf Run Photograph by Barbara Smits

26/12/2024

My artwork, "Joy After The Storm." without added text, is now available through Fine Art America. Click on the image below to go to Fine Art America for more details.

A beautiful winter day with a sunlit path through snow-covered trees. A joyous day after a winter storm!

Digital artistic filters have been added to enhance the image.

Joy After The Storm Photograph by Barbara Smits

23/12/2024

My artwork, "Where There Is Darkness, Let Me Bring Light," with added text, is now available through Fine Art America. Click on the link below to go to Fine Art America for more details.

"Where There Is Darkness, Let Me Bring Light" -- I have used the image of a road through snow-covered trees with a bright yellow sun in the sky, a joyful scene, to illustrate a line from the Prayer of St. Francis: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: Where there is darkness, let me bring light.”

Digital artistic filters have been added to enhance the image

Shop for artwork by Barbara Smits. Purchase canvas prints, framed prints, tapestries, posters, greeting cards, and more. Barbara Smits artwork and print-on-demand products are ready to ship in 3 - 4 business days.

18/12/2024

My artwork, Heavens Gate Is Always Open,," with added text, is now available through Fine Art America. Click on the image below to go to Fine Art America for more details.

My artwork, “Heaven’s Gate Is Always Open,” reminds you that your spiritual self is always there, always ready to enter into infinite spiritual life through a gate that God always leaves open…all you have to do is walk in through the gate that your heart creates out of love.

"The Gate Is Always Open"
By Barbara Smits Copyright 2024

The gate is always open,
It was made that way;
Dinner is on the table...
Walk right in, sit right down,
No one is there to stop you!

The path is bright and sunny,
Well marked by others
Who have gone before,
Each in their own time,
At their own pace…
Some far ahead,
Some far behind,
Some walk with friends,
Some walk alone…
It doesn’t really matter in the end.

Jesus said it all…“Heaven is within you.”
What’s your problem?
Lose the drama, already!
Walk right in, sit right down...
your friends are waiting!
(By Barbara Smits)

Digital artistic filters have been added to enhance the image.

Heavens Gate Is Always Open Photograph by Barbara Smits

16/12/2024

My artwork, "The Gate Is Always Open," is now available through Fine Art America. Click on the image below to go to Fine Art America for more details.

My artwork, “The Gate Is Always Open,” reminds you that your spiritual self is always there, always ready to enter into infinite spiritual life through a gate that God always leaves open…all you have to do is walk in through the gate that your heart creates out of love.

The gate is always open…it was made that way…dinner is on the table...
walk right in, sit right down…no one is there to stop you!

The path is bright and sunny, well marked by others who have gone before, each in their own time, at their own pace…some far ahead, some far behind…some walk with friends, some walk alone…it doesn’t really matter in the end.

Jesus said it all…“Heaven is within you.”

What’s your problem? Lose the drama, already! Walk right in, sit right down...your friends are waiting! (By Barbara Smits)

Digital artistic filters have been added to enhance the image.

The Gate Is Always Open Photograph by Barbara Smits