Evening storm clouds accumulating at about 5:30 p.pm. mid July in Stony Plain, Alberta

Sky appears to be falling, Airdrie Alberta, July 2007

Train and storm, Montana in July

I was gardening today, and saw the brown-grey soil shape itself into a toad…it was like one of those “magic eye” pictures. This little toad has excellent camouflage!

I’ve done a lot of traveling this year, and now company arrives tomorrow. Too much hopping around means no painting! Photos will be the convenient art of choice, probably for the summer.

Flying is not the thrill it used to be, and not necessarily because of unpredictable weather. Above, barely noticeable amidst the wide, beautiful, stormy cloud cover, is a plane, upper right.
I would much rather drive anywhere than fly, partly because of the extra time it takes crossing through customs since 9/11 and some of the ridiculous restrictions. Crossing the border into the U.S. at Calgary Alberta, Customs officers took away my dangerous tube of toothpaste. Lighters OK, but toothpaste?

 

… 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.