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)

garden

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Today’s Nik-Pics

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008


 

Reflections - photography, sun poking through between storms.  Sunflower-heads, red variety, the plant is very healthy with plenty of flowerheads appearing.  Reflections #2 - Photography - Green Anole eating insects off of a spider web.

Reflections – Sun poking through between storms. Sunflower-heads, red variety – the plant is large already, and very healthy with plenty of flower heads appearing. I’m taking photos in sequence and will post those together when the plant is in full bloom. Green Anole eating insects off of a spider web, window reflection.

Little green feet

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008


 
Green Anoles mating

I see more little green feet in our future…

Single eggs, .25 inches small, are laid every two weeks between March through October and abandoned, hatching after 5-7 weeks.
Green Anoles mating

Bearded Iris, plein air painting

Sunday, April 20th, 2008


 

Bearded Iris, top detail of 44H x 18W inches acrylics on canvas

Bearded Iris painted plein air,44H x 18W inches acrylics on canvas

Bearded Iris, 44H x 18W inches acrylics on canvas, work in progress  Bearded Iris, 44H x 18W inches acrylics on canvas, work in progress  Bearded Iris, 44H x 18W inches acrylics on canvas, work in progresss  Bearded Iris - plein air,44H x 18W inches acrylics on canvas, finished

Progression of work

I could no longer avoid the subject of Iris, have always thought the subject to be too cliche, but they are blooming crazily in our garden this week, are so beautiful. This variety actually blooms an unprecedented 3 times a year here in Texas! Some of the flower stalks grow well over three feet tall, with six or seven large five and a half inch blooms.

In the garden

Saturday, April 19th, 2008


 

Male Green Anole, mating season

It is Green Anole mating season. A male sits on the warm barbecue and sports his attractive dewlap. My hopes are that the Anoles will expand their family here, and that they eat fire ants!

Portulaca

Portulaca: low-maintenance, sun-thriving, cheerful colors.

Garden sculpture of a heron, made of vines and grasses. A sparrow borrows some material for its nest.

Homemade garden sculpture of a heron, which I replenish regularly throughout the year with branches, vines and grasses. This morning a sparrow borrowed some material for its nest.

Green Anoles are back

Tuesday, April 8th, 2008


 
Green Anole, male

The little Anoles come out on the warmest days now, sporting their finest green skins! I watched this male do courtship ritual posturing, and hoped to capture him fanning out the red flap of skin under its’ chin (dewlap), but I guess I wasn’t pretty enough for him!

Bright spot in the garden

Monday, March 31st, 2008


 
Iris, a bright spot on a gray day.
It’s mostly overcast today, but the Blue Flag Iris is a bright spot in the garden.

More garden whimsy

Saturday, March 22nd, 2008


 
The Twins - garden sculptures of upside-down root systems

Adding to the whimsical garden sculptures of root systems, here are The Twins.

Beauty and the beast

Saturday, March 15th, 2008


 
Calla Lily

I couldn’t resist buying a deep-yellow Calla Lily at the local nursery, then while out pulling weeds and transplanting it, a large slow-moving beetle called for a portrait.

Beetle with a body about 1.5 inches long

Snow

Tuesday, March 4th, 2008


 
March snow melting in the rising sun - Lewisville, TX

75*F a couple of days ago, and snow last night. Spring temps here in northern Texas go from one extreme to the other.

Grape Hyacinth, March snowfall

Perennial Friends

Friday, February 29th, 2008


 
Grape Hyacinth

The Grape Hyacinth started blooming this week…next the Iris, and I can’t wait to see the Ornamental Onions again.

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