When life gives you lemons, draw them, 11 x 14 inches dry pastels, graphite on paper

"When life gives you lemons, draw them." (Nikki)

"Color! What a deep and mysterious language." (Paul Gauguin)

fruit and veggies

Dragon Fruit

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010


 

Dragon Fruit, 9H x 12W inches watercolor pencils, graphite on paper, white mat and 15H x 18W inches white frame with crackle finish. 

Dragon Fruit, 9H x 12W inches watercolor pencils, graphite on paper, white mat and 15H x 18W inches white frame with crackle finish.
I’ve discovered a strange-looking and wonderful new fruit here in Singapore: Pitaya, commonly called Dragon fruit, is cultivated in Vietnam, but apparently is native to Mexico and South America. Possibly then, it’s imported to the U.S. and hopefully is sold in Texas – yay. I’ve seen it in the markets here but thought it was some sort of artichoke. Rarely do you find a fruit that is so large and fleshy where you don’t have to deal with removal of seeds or pits or cores to get to the yummy part. This one’s all yum, about 6″ long, very refreshing and tastes much like a kiwi, but more sweet than tangy.

Red peppers and pear study 02

Friday, October 16th, 2009


 

Red peppers and pear study 02, 14H x 11W inches watercolors on 120 lb premium

Red peppers and pear study 02, 14H x 11W inches watercolors on 120 lb premium, white mat
I just started watercolors classes today with Jo Williams in Denton, TX.  Watercolors are in a league of their own…that’s what I learned today. Acrylics are my favorite medium because of their versatility, and I always start out covering the canvas using watercolor techniques, but even though both have similar properties at the wateriest level, they are nothing alike. Brushing up on watercolors skills though, will positively add to confidence in using acrylics.  I haven’t worked alongside others for a while either, so class critique will be really helpful too.

Red peppers and pear study 01

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009


 

Red peppers and pear study 01, 11H x 14W inches watercolors on 120 lb premium

Red peppers and pear study 01, 11H x 14W inches watercolors on 120 lb premium

Everything’s Bigger in Texas

Sunday, July 13th, 2008


 

A cucmber that grew from 1/2 long to 8 inches X 3 inches wide in two weeks.

After two weeks away, one of the first things I did was inspect the garden, most curious about the cucumbers, because it’s the first year they’ve survived this far into the season. There I was at midnight, feeling around in the dark, and found a cucumber that had grown from 1/2 inch long to 8″L X 3″ wide during that short time. I expected to find a virtual Jack And The Bean Stalk situation this morning, but all the other cukes are average-sized. The heart-shaped cookie cutters I placed around some veggies in order to shape them have fallen off, so will have to try again; now able to monitor the progress of growth.

Pumpkin leaves and blossom

Monday, June 23rd, 2008


 

 Pumpkin leaves and blossom

The first of the pumpkin blossoms are opening; they open early in the morning and close fairly quickly. This morning a bee was struggling inside a flower that had collapsed before it finished gathering pollen. When the flower wilts, the sticky soft petals bond together, and the bee would never have escaped had I not investigated where the frantic-sounding buzzing was coming from. I didn’t think a tender flower could be so strong!

Photo Smoothie

Friday, May 16th, 2008


 

Black Sheep Grape, photography
Black Sheep Grape, and a Photo Smoothie

Watermelon, apparently seedless  Lemon  Mango

Papaya and seeds  Apple  Red Grapefruit

Purple cabbage portrait

Tuesday, April 1st, 2008


 
Purple cabbage detail - photography

Purple cabbage portrait

Heart Shapes in Nature series

Tuesday, December 25th, 2007


Heart Shapes in Nature, ongoing photographic series

Heart Shapes in Nature is an ongoing photographic series. Love is infinite. Wishing happy holidays no matter what your faith, and Merry Christmas!

 

Garlic and Magic Apple

Tuesday, August 9th, 2005


 
You Go Garlic! - 6 x 6 acrylics

You Go, Garlic! and Magic Apple, 6 x 6 x 1 inches acrylics on canvas. Sold.

Magic Apple - 6 x 6 acrylics

Cantaloupe

Saturday, August 6th, 2005


Full Moon - Cantaloupe - 12 x 12 Acrylics on canvas
Cantaloupe, 12 x 12 inches acrylics on canvas – a cantaloupe growing in our garden.