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)

trees

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Sugar Maple Leaves

Monday, February 22nd, 2021


 

Sugar Maple, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Sugar Maple Leaves, Napanee ON Canada, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. Framed size 27H x 33W”.

Native to eastern Canada and the US., sugar maple trees (Acer saccharum) are the showiest variety during Autumn, with colder nights producing deeper red colors. They are also the primary source of maple syrup, as well as hardwood lumber used for furniture and flooring. The sugar maple leaf is the central emblem on the Canadian flag.

MFA’s ‘Oh The Places I Would Go’

Saturday, February 20th, 2021


 
Queenstown Peaks, New Zealand - 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paperQueenstown Peaks, New Zealand – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper and Lake Louise, (Alberta, Canada) 16 x 20 inches acrylics on canvas Lake Louise, 16 x 20 inches acrylics on canvasare on view at the Maryland Federation of Art (MFA) online exhibition, ‘Oh the Places I Would Go’ Jan 22 – Feb. 26, 2021.

The prospectus suggests, “Oh the places we would go if we weren’t in quarantine. Or maybe, oh the places we will go once the world is safer. MFA’s fifth People’s Choice exhibition is all about the special places that we can’t be right now and places we’re dreaming of.”

Chinese Gardens, Singapore

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2021


 

Chinese Gardens, Singapore - 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

Chinese Gardens, Singapore with Strangler Fig trees, Jurong Lake Gardens – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on 90 lb watercolor paper

Snow Day 02: Rose Hips

Friday, January 29th, 2021


 

Snow Day 02: Rose Hips, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

Snow Day 02: Rose Hips, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper.

Petrified Forest

Sunday, January 24th, 2021


 

Crystal Forest Trail, AZ - 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Crystal Forest Trail, Petrified Forest National Park, AZ – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper.

Silent reverence for geologic history, Petrified Forest National Park, Crystal Forest Trail AZ USA. Not a whole lot more to draw here! The land is barren except for desert grass and the odd tumbleweed. This was once a lush forest, and dinosaurs roamed here. It was February, but I bet this place looks the same in July. The silence was layered with dry grasses in the breeze, ravens’ calls, and my imagination.

Tumbleweed, Petrified Forest National Park, AZI had never seen a tumbleweed up close before, so since I hadn’t seen any traffic or other people for about an hour, I hopped out of the car to take photos of one in the middle of the road before it blew away. Satisfied with the takes, I got up off the road and a bus was right there 25 ft. away, waiting for me to finish. I don’t know how long the bus was there, but was thankful the driver didn’t honk… and more thankful that he saw me.

Fruit Bats, Adelaide Australia

Monday, January 18th, 2021


 

Fruit Bats, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Fruit Bats, Adelaide Botanic Gardens, South Australia – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. One of my most memorable experiences of all time was seeing the thousands of fruit bats in Adelaide. On a hot day at sunset we sat and watched them skim across the river, fly back to a tree, settle on a branch and lick the water off their fur.

Kananaskis Valley, AB Canada

Sunday, January 10th, 2021


 

Kananaskis Valley, Alberta Canada - 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Kananaskis Valley near Banff, Alberta Canada – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. Framed size 27H x 33W inches, white wood frame, crackle finish.

Ouimet Canyon, ON Canada

Saturday, January 2nd, 2021


 

Ouimet Canyon, ON - 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

According to written information about this amazing place, the 100 metre deep (330 ft), 150 M (490 ft) wide gorge formed a billion years ago, when earth split due to advancing glaciers, then most likely the tremendous amounts of water released during their retreat, and erosion of the slabs by wind and rain.

It was a rainy day, so the park was tourist-free, and I was able to experience the park alone. In a meditative state of mind, foggy atmosphere enhanced the sense of mystery. I imagined the violent forces that created this wonder, and within the scale of a few small moments, tried to comprehend how much time a billion years is.

Campfire Smoke

Sunday, December 20th, 2020


 

Campfire Smoke, Yosemite National Park CA, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

Campfire Smoke, Yosemite National Park CA, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper.

Framed size 27H x 33W inches, white wood frame, crackle finish.

Wyoming Rockscape

Wednesday, December 16th, 2020


 

Wyoming Rockscape, Bighorn National Forest, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Wyoming Rockscape, Bighorn National Forest, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on watercolor paper

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