… just returned from Alberta, where this summer’s hot temperatures have maintained high numbers of dragonflies and damselflies. These ones will have offspring born in Airdrie, just outside of Calgary.

Emerald Tree Boas, 24H x 57W x 2D inches acrylics on canvas, wrapped sides painted, trim frame

This painting accumulated finer detail than is typical of my work, except in graphite illustrations. The Emerald Tree Boas are one of my favorite exhibits at the Dallas World Aquarium (Texas). Their beautiful green skin has striking black and white scale patterns along the spine and a turquoise mother-of-pearl overall sheen that’s visible at certain angles where the body delicately curls and bends.
It would be nice if this painting could carry enough potency to alter the automatic responses of fear and disgust that are associated with snakes. I made Santa hats with construction paper and cotton balls, taping them on as part of our Christmas decorations.

While in Alberta I painted my niece Camille’s room then a mural based on her ideas, the bedding design, and colors. I love that creativity is portable!

Morrill, Nebraska

 Driving up through Oklahoma, Nebraska, Wyoming, then Montana to Alberta. Awesome, awesome. Back to Dallas August 8th.

Lisco, Nebraska – The Lazy U Motel

Southeastern Montana, sunset

Southeastern Montana

It has rained so much this year in Texas, so the sunshine is most welcome!

Joseph At The Park, 15 months old, 11H x 14W inches graphite on paper

 

This week: organizing photos and material for The Majesty of Trees solo exhibition, here are the unusual flowers of Yellow Poplar – Niagara Falls, NY, U.S.A.

Bold and as curious about us, a family of five raccoons played in a willow tree in our son Adrian’s back yard, Ottawa, Ontario

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These ultra-vibrant milkweed flowers were blooming beside the highway in Kentucky, like fireworks in the ditches. Happy 4th! (1776 – 2007)

…back after two weeks of driving from Texas to Ontario and back the long route this time through North Carolina just so we could see it, and thanks to the invention of the digital camera my daily image requirements remain satisfied! Maple trees are common almost everywhere between Texas and Canada, here are some branches in honor of Canada Day, held on July 1st. This shot was taken at Jones Falls Dam near Kingston, Ontario.