"string.of"

"sara.toga"

Playing with veneers.

"try.ing"

port.trait

"indi.go"

Random sampling and a Lisa NZ blackbird. Playing with Paint.net again. Experimenting with sepia.

Lots of work and some soccer games. I saw a large falcon fly over the kids' soccer fields yesterday. Think it was a peregrine.

I have seen red tailed hawks, a few accipiters (true hawks)and kestrels while watching soccer. Much of developmental soccer happens the same time as spring and fall bird migrations.

My best.

"some.time.please"

Portrait.sure

"san.diego"


"when.in.ire.land"

Two samples, based on tree images - Ireland and Southern Califormia. One straight forward the other chewed and color.dot.composted.

"feather.ed"

Back to Japan with a taste of NY leaves by way of western Texas. Around the world in eighty megabytes, or less.

"snowy"

I took the liberty of sampling of a collage by an artist, from Spain. I hope she does not mind.

I miss white owls, not the cigars, though....I have seen a small number of snowy owls on Long Island beaches in the midst of bitter cold winters. These owls move south, erupt it is called, when the populations of lemmings die down in the artic. No food equals an eruption.

Birding made me appreciate winter - since I bird less these days, I prefer the warmer seasons. But there is a beauty to crisp daylight and frost on a dry brown leaf.

"42nd.tr.eet"

This quilt combine sampling of Japanese found art and a glossy from an actor acquittance who worked on a roadshow ("42nd Street") that toured Japan. Joanne wishes to collaborate. Please visit her site to see her work and read her poetry.

I admit the sampling here is heavy handed- sort of like putting a whole fish in a bass-o-matic. Regards, best wishes, good fishing.

Here are some variations:

"snowy"

Sample of a collage by an artist, from Spain.

I have seen a small number of snowy owls on Long Island beaches in the midst of cold winters. They move south, erupt it is called, when the populations of lemmings die down in the artic. Birding made me appreciate winter - since I bird less these days, I prefer the warmer seasons.

"endorse.ment"

Not sure if you saw Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama today - such a well thought out explanation of how and why. Mr. Powell even defended Muslims and that it is okay for an eight year old Muslim in the Midwest to think that someday he or she could be president of the United States.

Muslims have been slammed. It has almost been politically correct to do it and that is wrong.

"under.water(for.george)"

Thursday an elderly man, George, who had been a helpful neighbor, died. George had lied about his age and at sixteen he enlisted in the US Navy and served on a submarine during World War II. George was friendly, tough, kind and honest. He was a union Democrat.

George fed song birds and also unwanted pigeons in his back yard. He was an electrician. George always had his snow blower running and cleared many a blizzard laden sidewalk. He had every tool in his organized garage. He was very very handy (I am not). We saw him last week end when he gave our kids a pumpkin. That pumpkin is sitting on our doorstep outside.

Take care, George. Thank you.

"free.dom"

Another little study....electronic let.gos.

Hope all are well. It is Friday. My best.

"fire.flies.are.gone"

I miss the bliss of summer - the longer days, the flip flops, the lightness of being. I am sure this is sampled somehow - an old image now sliced and diced like vegan rocky mountain oysters.

"de.bate"

"fall.new.york.up.state"

Lovely Debi image, sampled - leaves pressed and sent to to western Texas by her recently married daughter, who has moved away.

Blue to red states of mind.

"short.trade"

economics.supply.demand.i.object

Little sister image is in the basement....spa.m loves me, some.times.

I know that this blog is like vanity press, but sometimes once does get a surprise from left field - a French left field in our creative international community.

I have been given the "Arte y Pico" award by a very strong art blog than found me by way of a Kim's far reaching laketrees blog. Please visit the "The Zen-Images Ikebana Blog (Where West Meets East)." I am adding them to my links list. The art there is inspiring - calm studio photographs of serene Japanese inspired arrangements.



From Zen-Images I understand that ""bloggers at Arte y Pico...created the Arte y Pico Award to honor artists who create, design, and inspire regardless of language or culture. It's an international award for a global community of artist-bloggers, acknowledging that what we create helps make the world a finer place."

Thank you. I am honored.

Here are the rules for the Arte y Pico Award:

1) Award five blogs that contribute to the blogging community through creativity, design, and interesting material, regardless of language.

2) Name each of the five blog authors and provide a link to his or her blog.

3) Award recipients must show the Arte y Pico Award image and the name of the award-giving blog author, as well as the award-giving blog author's blog link.

4) Award recipients must provide a link to the Arte y Pico blog.

5) Award recipients must show these rules and also bail out the American economy (sorry)..

My five deep pocket choices for the Arte y Pico Award are:

Andrea, on a well deserved vacation.

Kim, whose portraits glow and whose blog unites so many artists.

Lisa, who makes nests of wonder.

Debi, who photographs snakes, weed, bugs and life.

Sue, a generous wo.man's weaving mandala wonder.

There are others, everyone should send money to Washington, please.

"graph.bar"

"wall.street.bail.out.symphony"

For the third year Kim Barker at laketrees is contining her contest for some lucky blogger to win a portrait done in time for Christmas (ho, ho, ho). Check it out here. Best comment wins and I hope she does not grade down for typos.

Kim is a gifted and generous artist. From the land down under....

"fall.down"

Back to the woods and to cedar wax wings.

"four.nine"

eye.candy

I went today at lunch time to the Museum of Modern Art and raced through an incredible and small Van Gogh exhibit that is just perfect - "Van Gogh and the Colors of the Night" (September 21, 2008–January 5, 2009). The exhibition includes "The Potato Eaters," MOMA's own "Starry Night," "The Sower" and the lovely small canvas, above, that has a Japanese wood print influence. So many of these paintings I have only seen in art books. Jewels that inspire.

The painting below is truly exquisite and a new vision. It glows and vibrates and is exuberantly alive. I must go back soon and I do intend to bring my family.