Art and Illumination

Here is my second ACEO there are kind of fun to do, makes me want to get ACEO cards from some of my friends. I would love a polymer clay one from my friend KC. You should see the eggs she makes! Two more tulips left and I move on to Daffodils. Then something more mythical.

I am adding new things and moving things around a bit. I have some more development to do. The Stores links are fully functional, but needing layout still. The galleries section will be a major effort because I am still developing the size of image I want to display and make available for free Internet use, as well as the terms of such.

It should be done by May 1st, but the gods know I often bite off a lot of work and delay myself with too many projects. It will all serve as good practice for my main portfolio site, and retail site. Slow but steady and it is good!

What a great week I have had! I am putting up a picture of my first ACEO painting. I think I will do one a week. I have three more to finish in this tulip series and then I think I am move on to something daffodils.

I was amazed how much detail I could fit into such a tiny space. I just wish that the scanner had a better descreening feature, because the finish I use to make it look more like an oil painting is a tad reflective.

These tulips were a gift from my best friend. They were a warm and friendly smile of support during a very busy and stressed week. I love watching things bloom! I wonder what today will bring.

The orignal was a gift, but prints are available on my Etsy store. Each giclee print is hand retouched and I promise the detail is amazing. I always scan at 800 or higher dpi.

One of my favorite winter guests to the bird feeder. I sure did not see them much today with the horrid windchills, but I am sure we will see some tomorrow. I enjoy painting birds. I hope to get out to see the migration at Crane Creek again this year and get some good shots of Herons for painting.

“….but you bent to her, Pear,

and offered yourself, breast

and milk both, the earth

grown pendulous and sweet.”

-Nan Fry

The above quote is from the poem “Pear” by Nan Fry from her collection “Relearning the Dark”. It is published on the web at Endicott Studio of Mythic Art. A fabulous site. I have always loved the shape of the pear. I see it repeated in so many places in a womens figure. Pears are ancient symbols. Found often in the classical texts to be associated with greek goddesses Hera, Aphrodite, and Pomona. In the Victorian language of the flowers they mean affection.

It is not terribly surprising. They are from the same botanical family as the rose. Their blossoms even have a soft rose scent. The grow on trees and vines. They are soft very soft and sweet with milky pale flesh- much like breasts of the Greek goddesses they are associated with. In the Odyssey they are said to be the gift of the gods.

So with so much room to play with them in myth I sat down saturday to do this first study of them. I am very happy with the study, though am noticing how difficult it is to scan paintings with a nice gum arabic seal over them. Too much light is reflected and I shall have to work on that. I can’t wait to get started on the universal goddess series I am developing sketches for.

Information on Images Without Watermark

The above illustration was sketched from a surprising bloom in the heart of Winter after the solstice in 2004. It was a sweet and cheery smile from the cold snowy ground. Delightfully coming up from seed all on its own. I enjoyed sketching it out very much! Though my neighbor thought it was quirky of me to sit in the cold so long to do it.

Mind you it was about two feet away from the dryer vent, otherwise I don’t think it would have.

This is a painting of the Red Admiral Butterfly. It is from a photo shoot I did this spring at Oak Openings Metropark at the White Oaks area. The Red Admiral Butterfly is easily found through the states and in the UK near oak groves, especially in early spring.

A few years ago I spent a pleasant afternoon with one of these butterflies by the Maumee River. It was quite content to just hang out on me after taking minerals from the rocks. Over and over I find them while in the oaks. Just another whisper pulling me towards oaks, and druidry.

The painting is part of the series I mentioned here -Into Autumn-. This painting, however, is from some journeys in the spring. I have placed the photos for free use on stockxchg. I will continue to add my photography to this site. It is great site for acquiring legal images open to public use.

Information on Images Without Watermark