When life gives you lemons, draw them, 11 x 14 inches dry pastels, graphite on paper

"When life gives you lemons, draw them". (Nikki)

"...the painting has a life of its own. My mission is to bring forth this life". (Jackson Pollock)

"Trust your intuition, it's just like goin' fishin'; you cast your line 'til you get a bite." (Paul Simon)

series

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Dragonfruit

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

  Dragonfruit, 9 x 12 inches watercolor pencils, graphite on paper

Dragonfruit, 9 x 12 inches watercolor pencils, graphite on paper

I’ve discovered a strange and wonderful new fruit here: Pitaya, commonly called Dragonfruit, is cultivated in Vietnam, but apparently is native to Mexico and South America. Possibly then, it’s imported to the U.S. and hopefully is sold in Texas. I’ve seen it in the markets here but thought it was some sort of artichoke. Rarely do you find a fruit that is so large and fleshy where you don’t have to deal with removal of seeds or pits or cores to get to the yummy part. This one’s all yum, about 6″ long, and tastes much like a kiwi, but more sweet than tangy.

Treasures

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

  Treasures 01, 9 x 12 graphite on paper

Treasures 01, 9 x 12 graphite on paper

I walked by a store the other day where there was a woman bargaining with the owner for one of the items inside, but she was only able to peek in and point because it’s crammed full to the entrance door. No customers can even get in to browse! It’s a store like one I remember on an old, old ’60′s episode of Outer Limits, where odd items just like these had mysterious powers over those who purchased them.

So if you’re looking for a Beta-Max video camera or a spooky-cool outdated deep sea diving outfit, I know where you can go… it’s a store  that would inspire any artist, any writer… and any hoarder! I took a lot of photos through the glass and this sketch is the first of a few that are planned.

The Masjid Sultan Crescent and Star symbol

Monday, May 31st, 2010

  Masjid Sultan, 9 x 12 inches graphite on paperMasjid Sultan, detail of the Islamic Crescent and Star symbol

May 31st, a different view of the Masjid Sultan mosque (also May 27th) showing also a detail image of the ancient Islamic symbol of the Crescent and Star on top of the golden dome.

Bonsai Garden

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

  Bonsai Garden, 9 x 12 inches graphite on paper

Bonsai Garden, Chinese and Japanese Gardens, Singapore  9H x 12W inches graphite on paper, white double mat and white frame with subtle crackle finish, 16 x 20 inches total

 

Masjid Sultan

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

   Masjid Sultan, Singapore 9 x 12 inches graphite on paper

Masjid Sultan,  (Malay for Sultan Mosque), Kampong Glam district, Singapore, 9 x 12 inches graphite on paper. 

When I get back home, all these studies will be scanned to reveal the true tones and details. For now they are being photographed and digitally manipulated, which explains the noise on some of the images.

Cockatiels

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

  Cockatiels at the Jurong Bird Park, Singapore 14 x 11 inches graphite on paper

Cockatiels, Jurong Bird Park, Singapore 9 x 12 inches graphite on paper

Check out the Jurong Bird Park website.

New Series: Twenty-five days in Singapore

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

  Parkview Square, Singapore, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper

Parkview Square, Singapore  11 x 14 inches graphite on paper

The opportunity to travel to Singapore popped up at a few days notice. While I’m here the plan is to do at least one sketch per day. The new series is called “Twenty-five Days in Singapore”. I drew the upper portion of the very unique Parkview Square building from my hotel room over the course of two days while recooperating after the 28 hour flight from Dallas. At a cost of $87 million, the Art Deco style building was completed in 2002. The eight fiberglass figures each holding a light-ball gaurd the buillding, only hint at the sort of art and design to expect on the grounds and the gorgeous interior.

Little pen sketches

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

 Marie Lake campsite, Alberta, pen on paper

Marie Lake campsite, Alberta, 8 x 10 inches pen on paper

I’m trying to get a painting started that’s all planned in my mind’s eye, but have been finishing written articles and upgrading/updating the websites, so these little pen sketches are all I can manage lately; maybe a series is borne?

Alberta Spruce

Friday, February 5th, 2010

 Alberta Spruce, pen and ink, digital pen

…there are too many other things to do, but I wandered off anyway, missing the Alberta Spruce, so brought some back to Texas with a few ink-pen and digital pen scribbles.

Most websites require that you register before leaving comments, but I was hoping not to have to resort to those kind of restrictions. Are the days of trust completely gone? I sure hope not in our daily life, but on the internet it’s only wise to be careful. I deleted 348 spam comments the other day, so if you wish to leave comments you must now fill out your name and email.  Thanks!

A Heart Filled to the Brim

Sunday, January 17th, 2010

Portrait of Alzheimer's: A Heart Filled to the Brim, 36 x 48 x 2 inches, water soluble graphite, acrylics on canvas

Above: finished final details yesterday. Started Aug.7th: A Heart Filled to the Brim, 36 x 48 x 2 inches, Water soluble graphite, acrylics on canvas. On exhibit along with Polypore Fungi February through May at the Oxide Gallery, Denton, Texas

Graphite painted with water, detail of hands, A Heart Filled to the Brim An excerpt from the song, I Don’t Believe by Paul Simon on the CD, Surprise:

I don’t believe a heart can be filled to the brim

then vanish like mist as though life were a whim.

Maybe the heart is part of the mist

And that’s all that there is and could ever exist.

A portrait of Alzheimer’s honoring my Grandmother, my Mother-in-law (whose portrait this is, and whose 80th birthday is in two days), and now recently my own Mother who is in the earliest stages; and with empathy for all those afflicted, including the families dealing with the awful emotional reverberations caused by this disease.

Portrait of Alzheimer's: A Heart Filled to the Brim, detail, water soluble graphite, acrylics on canvas, gallery wrapped

Here are a few websites providing information about Alzheimer’s Disease

http://www.alz.org/index.asp

http://www.alzheimersrxtreatment.com/learnaboutalz.html

http://www.alzheimers.org/

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