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.

Polypore Fungi, work in progress, 59 H x 41 W x 2 D, acrylics on canvas. Here is the painting after a few more hours of work.

Polypore Fungi, work in progress, 59 H x 41 W x 2 D, acrylics on canvas

Studying shades of dark and light are the basics of any Artwork done with color,  and it’s good to practice “real” drawing every so often, paying attention to lines, shapes, spaces…but enough of pencil drawings for a while. I’m craving color and space once more- ready to paint again, but starting this so close to the date we leave for holidays this coming Friday. My hope is to call it finished while it’s still at the open and lively stage, before over-working it.  Here is the painting after about two hours.

Brittany at the Beach, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper

More Children in the series

Adam, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper

Post-dated note: Adam , Merit Award winner, cash prize at the VAST 19th Annual Juried Exhibition held in Denton, Texas July 29 – August 23, 2007

Adrian, The Muddy Field, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper

 

One of the photographs from the series True Colors is accepted into the exhibition Visual Rhythms / Ritmos Visuales, an all-media juried exhibition that embraces the flavors and rhythms of Latin American influenced art and cultures] at the Target Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia, scheduled July 28 – September 3, 2007.
The storefront photo was taken in Guadalajara, Mexico. Beyond the clutter of typical-style pottery and items for sale, a child in a high-chair peeks out from behind a shelving unit The chair in front of the child indicates that someone, probably Mom – no doubt also the store-owner- was there a few moments before, feeding him or her. Two dogs and some pigeons scan the floor for leftovers. The room has a courtyard open to the sky, typical of the area, and there are more pigeons up on the window ledge on the back wall.  Available, white mat, black frame 23 x 27 inches.
Please visit the trucolors.info website to view the complete creative tribute to Mexico.

Alexander’s Cat, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper

Thanks to all for your responses to the recent group of pencil portraits. The portraits are practice using tones and values, something that needs more attention as a foundation to color.