A virtual Art Exhibit on RedBubble

Join me at SoJie 9, Solo's Juried Invitational Exhibition...

The show opens today! Here is the image that was chosen...

Le Flaneur

I'm honored to be among such wonderful artists nominated for this exhibition!

Update:  Well, I didn't win the SoJie, but I did win a nice award for Excellence in Urban Photography :)

March is the cruelest month

Old Barn on 59A

Officially it's Spring.  But the snow keeps coming.  And by the looks of our Mudroom, it is more officially Mud Season.  Little muddy paw prints all over the black and white checkerboard floor. Multiple pairs of Wellies lined up.  And still, those bulky coats on the hook. Freezing cold.  It all speaks to this ineffable sadness which lays over the earth today. The tragedy in Japan, another war in Libya, and the death of  Hollywood's most beautiful icon.
But there is hope. On the hills I'm starting to see the faintest blush of red as the Maples begin to set buds.  And my crocuses are in bloom by the driveway. And the water has receded from the lake that was our pasture, to once again become an obedient brook. On a walk down to the potager today, the Gentleman and I noticed that the Rhubarb were beginning to push their bright red noses up through the earth.  So all is on schedule, and I'll just have to be patient.  Spring will happen any day now.

Mercerie Bonneterie

It appears that we've survived the winter, but with the sad events in the world, but I have not felt much like working on digital art lately.  I've been glued to the news in Japan, and spending some time on the World Vision site, appalled by all of the suffering in the world.  I really wish I were one of those artists who could create art that would make a difference, but that type of art does not come easily to me.  I do often see images taking form in my mind when I'm at prayer or even during Bible study, but I have never been able to bring those images to my work.  So I continue to make art that is "pretty'.  Art that seeks to take our minds off pain, and to hearken back to a "better time."

That's what I thought when I saw this painting by William Tarbell.  She looked like a woman who had just gone shopping for a new hat, maybe in an effort to alleviate some pain she is feeling...but her thoughts are still heavy.
The textures are from Leslie Nicole, an artist friend who lives in France, and offers fantastic textures, brushes, and tutorials on her site Photo Artists Textures
  The text I used above is part of a new group of textures called Douce France, and features old French documents that Leslie has found at the brocantes in the Loire Valley.  I know she would love to have you visit her site and sign up for the newsletter.


Note:  I just got a note from Leslie, and she has changed the name of her texture site to French Kiss Textures What a great name!!!

Missing Venice

These are both made from the one good image I got of this iconic view in 2005. When I went back in 2009 , it was covered in scaffolding

Santa Maria Della Salute

I've been thinking about Venice this week, as it was the week when we are usually in Venice, the time of Carnevale.  There is no place as exciting and colorful as Piazza San Marco [ Saint Mark's square ] when it is filled with thousands of revelers, many in the outrageous Baroque costumes which are worn by the true celebrants of Carnivale.

This is typical of the kind of costume you see

I took this one on the back side of the island, in an attempt to escape all the tourists [ the "other ones"] around San Marco.  A bit darker than my usual process, but I wanted it to look like an old master's painting.

A Venetian Romance

Some of my friends were actually in this shot, but I cloned them out [! Nothing personal, I assure you!] and added these19th century figures.

This was actually taken in the middle of the day, and it was quite odd that I got this without any people in it.  Carnevale just ended on March 8, but there's always next year...Anyone up for going?

Hydrangea Hill

Snow, sleet, ice, rain, gale force winds.  In like a lion.  Out like a lamb. Or so we pray.

Off to Mama Joan's 97th birthday party today.