strawberry trees

The Strawberry Madrone trees have fruit right now - making it obvious exactly why they are called Strawberry trees - haven't tried eating one myself, but they are certainly pretty.

tree lovers

Found the evidence of true love at Central Park (in Davis) today...

in progress

Working on a piece at the home studio -

more park trees

I found a Hackberry seedling in an interesting place at Chestnut Park this morning...

Nestled in the crook of a very large Italian Stone Pine.

Been seeing some London Plane leaves like this one at Arneson Park that hang a little different than others, as they're shaped a little different, so I asked Rob if they were a different species -

But he said he didn't think so -

tree hugging

Out hugging (and mapping) trees at Chestnut Park in Davis again today - found a couple I couldn't ID on the spot, but figured out later...

This is a Bay Leaf Live Oak, I matched the leaf sample to one I found at Capitol Park in Sacramento - my journaling pays off.

Rob helped me ID this European Hornbeam, with it's very distinctive growth habit.

Sometimes it's not so easy, though - now this tree is homework for Rob; he needs an excuse to go to the park, anyway.

completed

After just a little more work, "Road Home" is now complete - and headed for exhibition - to see it a little bigger, you can click on it.

living with it

When I'm working on a piece, I often need to live with it for at least a little while to make sure it's done.

Right now I've got "Road Home" on an easel in the family room for review...

trusting

So finally getting to the last canvas collage piece, which I've titled Trust.

The title comes from a couple verses in the Bible, which are incorporated into the piece itself. It says, "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on (the right road.)" That's Proverbs 3: 5-6 in the Message & a little of my own flavor - other translations say God will direct your path, or keep you on a straight road, so I've altered what I incorporated in my artwork to reflect those other translations & explain why this image spoke to me about trust -

It's been a long time issue for me - or not, actually - I always used to trust & have faith completely that everything was going the way it was supposed to. Easy to do when things are going well and everything is smooth. Not so easy when it feels like life has been turned upside down, but that's what I'm deciding to do -

tree hugging

Another day of tree hugging, and a couple more that made my head puzzle - but not for too long - and this is how I learn -

Staring at this tree, I really felt like I should know it, but I was drawing a big fat blank - sometimes these things happen.

It turns out to be a Liberty Elm, a new variety of the American Elm, advertised to be resistant to Dutch Elm Disease (so why does it attack other elms, too? ;)

This was at Cedar Park, along with some Deodar & Incense cedars, and I figured it was another cedar, but which one?

Rob filled me in: Blue Atlas Cedar - and now I know & will try to remember.

more midtown alley

Got over to the midtown alley project where I put paint on the walls, along with a few other local Sacramento artists - looking pretty cool so far - click on an image to see it larger.



A close up of my piece of the wall - I'm just so tickled to have put photos there!



The far right hand section - including work by my friends Michelle MacKenzie (who got back to finish her piece, too) & Brenda Boles.



"My" section of the wall, including the Bug (with lots more Crest Theater detail now) by Allison Carlos & Sophie by Steve Memering (yes, she's his dog.)




Farther to the left, but not all the way - I decided not to shoot in the shade, just lazy today I guess -

seemed familiar

Came upon this tree today that confused me - thought I knew what it was, then doubted myself, so I took photos & leaves & double-checked with Rob & found out I knew what it was, mostly. I thought it was a hackberry, just didn't know what sort, now I know it's a European hackberry.

Growth habit.

Trunk & bark.

oak works

A couple of the oak tree images I have available right now, they make a great set as they were printed and painted to match each other:



"Oak near Palmerson Drive 2/5"
(You can click on this image to see it larger.)
The second of five darkroom prints in this size, painted individually so it's a unique work of art. The image is about 12x15", matted to 20x24" and retails for $750.




"Birdsong Oak 2/5"
(You can click on this image to see it larger.)
The second of five darkroom prints in this size, painted individually so it's a unique work of art. The image is about 12x15", matted to 20x24" and retails for $750.

cool bugs

Sometimes while I'm looking at trees, I see other things - like this praying mantis that had been on a leaf at the tip of the branch that I scared into running under the leaves - it surprised me at first, too, then I got out my camera.

And this cool moth color-coordinating with the redwood bark.

sac postcard design

I've put together a postcard design for the Sacramento Art Complex (SAC) with images from several of the resident artists - this is not necessarily the final version, but it communicates the idea. (Click on the image to see it bigger.)

If you haven't been down to the SAC yet, come check it out - this coming Saturday is 2nd Saturday, so not only will several artists have their studio open for the afternoon - the place will really be hopping from 6 to 9 p.m. -

midtown alley project

There's a new mural project in midtown Sacramento that I was invited to take part in, painting a piece of a wall along an alley parking lot. So I decided to try this crazy thing - painting like a muralist - sort of.

Recently I transferred a giclee photographic print onto canvas with acrylic gel medium (more on that at a later date) and now I've put a couple on a brick wall. I actually started this with friends yesterday but failed to bring my camera, so I'm posting what we've got now. This was how the today went:



My painting buddy, Allison Carlos setting up - you can click on this image to see it larger - her piece of the wall is the one with the VW Bug in it, I've got the long skinny one with tiny tree images in it to the right.

Allison's "Doodle Bug" at the beginning of our painting day (really afternoon, but we're artists, remember!)

My trees & the color square I got in the deal -

Michelle MacKenzie's work in progress; she started with us yesterday but is at an art festival this weekend in the Bay area.

I was too busy painting to take more photos in progress but Allison took this shot of me as I prepare to sign my piece & add my web address. (This is called marketing ;)

Close up of the artist at work.



My final work in all it's glory - and dappled lighting - I'll have to come back when the light is better. (Click on it to see it bigger.)

Allison's piece at the end of my day - she's staying to work awhile - check out how her city buildings have changed from the beginning of the day.

And Galynn down at the other end of the wall, still hard at work as well...

golden flames

Out hugging trees today, found one blooming - yes blooming in October, this is California, remember?

Commonly known as Golden Flame Tree, botanical name Koelreuteria bipinnata - close up of flowers.

Overall growth habit.

Trunk & bark.

Large, bi-pinnate leaves.