Binder Park Zoo

This pic of a giraffe is soo cute! Grant has a great camera and a great eye for photography. He took a couple of classes in High School and hopefully he will continue in college. So excited, I added a new pic on the left, love Ben Stiller and Lance Armstrong. We are following the Tour De France, and today they were in Girona Spain to Barcelona. The rain slowed them down a bit, but they kept going. I loved this stage because I have been to Girona and it takes me back to when I was there. It is such a wonderful small town, reminds me of a small village in Italy. It is part of the Catalonia region with a very rich and colorful history. It was first inhabited by Iberians then later by the romans. I knew it, the town has a very Italianesque feel. Anyhoot, love the pics from Grants field trip to the zoo and love following Lance. 

With the rain coming and going and the sun shining ever so brightly, the garden is really taking off. This year my son decided to grow a garden so he removed some flowers (in my perenial bed) he didn't like, and planted many seeds and veggie plants. He is 18 and very stubborn, who am I to stand in his way. He was doing something he could follow through the summer, by taking care of it with watering, feeding and pulling weeds. It's amazing to see his excitment everyday watching his garden grow. When he told me what he had done (I was in Chicago) I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I knew somehow it would be a good thing thou, and it has turned out to be an amazing task for him. You know giving him the freedom and responsibility really worked out, now lets hope he does the same thing at college in the fall. He is such a great kid, there arn't too many 18 year old boys that knit, paint, garden and love photography. I'd like to think that by exposing him to many things around the house he has gained a love of the arts and nature. The 4th of July photo is his, and tomorrow I will post his adventure to the park. He is quite the little photographer, he had taken some nice shots of the animals at Binder Park. 

So cool Grant, keep up the good work. 

July 4th celebration in Harbor Springs, Michigan

We had an awesome holiday in Harbor Springs, Michigan. The town is an absolute blast from the past, at least the parade was. It felt like the old school parade of days gone by. We just absolutely loved it!!!

Harbor Springs is a city in Emmet County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,567 at the 2000 census.

Harbor Springs is in a sheltered bay on the north shore of the Little Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan. The Little Traverse Lighthouseis a historic lighthouse on the Harbor Point peninsula that forms the natural harbor there. M-119 connects with US 31 seven mile east and south at Bay View, with Petoskey just five miles away on the south side of the harbor.

During my holiday in Northern Michigan, I did alot of antiquing, shopping, dining and galleries. I did document some wonderful moments along with awesome ideas. I do love to spend time looking, seeing and absorbing, for my inspiration of course. I then come home and get to work so I don't lose the ideas. By documenting I mean: writing things down, taking pictures and or doing both. I did so enjoy the craft fairs as well, they are top notch in Harbor. One artist that sticks in mind is Rich Branstrom, his fish were amazing!!! He made them from recycled found objects and materials. He also made many other objects d' art. I can't wait to buy one of his pieces. You can find him at    adhocworkshop.com 

painting clouds

Well today was a day painting clouds, I think they are looking pretty good. It's kind of fun painting clouds because I move my hand and brush very quickly. I like to blend so it feels very familiar to me. I am new to painting clouds but really enjoy them. These clouds need a little more work, highlighting I believe. I will hit them with some warm white. I continue to work with sterling silver leafing, oops this one is copper leafing. Like I said yesterday, I will start to manipulate the leafing purely out of boredom. I have to see the transition or evolution into a different subject or composition. This piece is in the beginning stages, and I so hope to make this evolve. When we look at landscapes we as viewers and artists deal with very predictable ideas, my goal should be to imagine the space differently. I want the viewer to look at the air and imagine the air and not have boundaries. But, I have laid in the horizon. I need to add other elements to achieve my goal, maybe mist or sun. I need to take a break, maybe I will go shopping. I am travelling to key west soon and I need a couple more summer pieces. I love shopping as much as I love painting. I know nothing about Key West, other than it is south of Miami. I am thinking very casual, fun, warm,carefree, okay so that is the way I am packing. I will not forget the camera, love those Kodak moments and my Canon 30D. I never thought I would adapt to digital, since I am a product of the dark room. Love the manipulation one can do on the computer. Too many interests and not enough time!

baby robins in their nest

These little guys are in their nest outside of my living room window. We have been documenting their growth each and everyday. I am sure it won't be long and they will be ready to fly. I have always wanted to paint birds, but somehow I don't think I can do them justice. I will try even if I interpret them my own way. Isn't that the idea of drawing and painting. Does everything have to be true to life. I don't think so. Baby robins cannot fly for the first few days after they jump from the nest. Their parents lead them to low shrubs and trees and they gradually learn to climb and jump. Within a day or two their wings grow stronger and they begin to take short flights. As always, keep the camera nearby!

using perspective

We can often look at things the same way time after time, but I choose to look at them from different perspectives when thinking of a painting. I feel really little right now, maybe I am stuart little or perhaps I am looking up. What do you think when you look at the tulips? It's spring and I am energized! I am flying to Phoenix soon to help one of my daughters get settled, she has just moved there from Boulder. I sure am going to miss the fabulous restaurants and shopping there. I so hope Phoenix has plenty to offer, I am sure it does!!! I will take my camera and document images from many different perspectives.

I thought it was spring!

Ok.. yes we do live in Michigan, I still thought it was spring. This was looking out my kitchen window this morning. I can let it take me down, but no way am I going to let the weather affect me. We had a fun weekend with the family and had plenty of good food. I will be traveling to Phoenix soon, so I guess I will get my sunshine there. In the mean time off to the studio I go!

Living Greener

I found an article on 100 incredibly useful web sites, what a find! I have been wanting to live a greener life and leave a smaller footprint on the environment. So here are a couple of sites I really liked. http://www.treehugger.com http://www.freecycle.com http://www.us.zilok.com http://www.greenzer.com http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/ http://www.goodsearch.com/ http://www.fuelly.com http://www.retailmenot.com/
http://www.kiva.org/ Have fun checking them out.