Figurative Series #1

Figurative Series - Silhouettes #1. Watercolors, pastels and metallic wax. I received 3 pots of Twinkling H2O's from a friend and started playing with two of the colors, sunflower and douglas fir.

Shadows and silhouettes have always fascinated me. I would love to do a series based on shapes of the human form rather than exact depictions. I'd like to think that is the beginning of that series!

After two weeks of dry weather it's beginning to look like we're in for a few wet days, always a good time to experiment and I hope to do just that. Over the weekend, though, I was hoping to get out into the garden but I was warding off the virus that Stacy has, so the yard is looking even more neglected. But, sometimes it's a good thing to be "forced" to stay indoors because I was able to create 5 new gesso/pastel backgrounds for Expedition Journal pages. There is always a plus when plans are changed, now if I can just remember that!

Let The Cruising Begin!

This manipulated photo, shot in Salinas on a busy street, reminds me of another era when cruising was a Friday night activity! Cruising - a word I contemplated Wednesday night while sitting in the ER for another fun-packed evening. Stacy had a 3 hour nosebleed and what is a mother to do but head for the ER and hand the problem over to someone else.
Stacy informed the doctor that she wasn't having a very good year. The very wise doctor said, "And I bet you had hoped that 2005 was going to be an improvement over last year. The good news is that anything that happened last year is now in the past. So, the thing to remember about today is that tomorrow this visit to the ER will also be in the past."
Touche!

Cruising might be prohibited on the streets of Salinas but I'd like to try "moving through life smoothly or effortlessly," or even "travel without destination or purpose." Let the cruising begin!!!

King of Prussia

A GTC - Glue-Trading-Card- created from 5 magazine clippings.

Prussion Virtues: perfect organization, sacrifice, the rule of law. At the end of the 1st century the Prussion settlements were divided into tribal domains, separated from one another by uninhabitated areas of forest, swamps and marsh. In each tribe the leader was responsible for the supervision of everyday matters, while the chief was in charge of the road and watertower buildings. Prussia was abolished by the Nazis in 1934 - since then the term's relevence has been limited to historical, geographical or cultural usuages.

This fella looks "kingly" enough to take back Prussia!

And then there is Prussion Blue - any of numerous blue iron pigments formerly regarded as ferric ferrocyanide.

ID Recorded

ID Recorded is a mixed media piece representing the state of our current world conditions. The phrases and stamps were on envelopes I received from France and Australia.

Suddenly There IS A Palm Tree!

Headlines: The Central Coast is Blasted With Wind and Rain.

What a shock to discover that there is a Palm tree in our neighborhood primarily known for its pine and oak trees! The majestic oak had covered up the fact that a palm tree has infiltrated the street. Fortunately, the oak tree was only a few feet from the house, so when the mighty wind uprooted it the tree merely leaned against the roof as if to take a nap until the storm passed. Sadly, the oak was beyond saving and now there is only a hole where it once proudly stood. I photographed this scene right after the branches had been cut from the tree and before the trunk was removed. No damage to the roof! But my view is ruined by the out-of-place palm in desperate need of dead frond prunning.

The fence in my front yard decided to play a game of dominoes beginning with the gate as board-by-board fell finally stopping when a solid post was reached. Termites, the main culprit first weakened the wood and then saturated by the storms the fence only needed a little push from the wind. It's times like this that I'm only to happy to point out the problem to my landlady!