more studio progress

The continuing progress of the "Faith" commission art piece:
(click on an image to see it larger)



This was actually the status late Wednesday before I left for class, beginning to build up layers of acrylic glazes.



And first thing this morning, with more layers - it's getting closer but not quite done yet -

dragon house

Had lunch with my art business group & then a quick field trip to a house in Curtis Park that has become known as the "Dragon House"...

An untold number of tiles cover the house in a wonderful mosaic that features a tiger

and a dragon on the side of the house that faces the alley...

creating an amazing piece of 'public' art.

And this is just one side of this artistically covered house!

One tile on the alley side credits the artists with the date, but work seems to continue around the other sides.

The front garden includes a creatively painted fire hydrant, moving sculptures and more tiles around and between all the plantings.

We spied a scaffolding on the north side of the house, speculating more creativity or upkeep...

faith

The progress of "Faith" - added pencil color detail, changed bird to leaf & acorn by request, first layer of acrylic glazes - many more layers to go...

(Click to see it bigger.)

progress

Working on "Faith" - adding textured leaves instead of the real thing -

Took Sparky to the dogpark while the texture dries -

Getting the first bit of color on with pencils -

on to the next

Began working on the next commission piece, a slighter larger version of "Faith." Just got the photos collaged on.

collected

Sparky was so antsy while I was trying to work that I decided to take us both for a walk at Gibson Ranch earlier. I ended up collecting a bunch of leaves & a couple acorns to possible use in the next commission I'm working on...


Valley oak (quercus lobata)

valley oak


valley oak


valley oak


valley oak (above)


blue oak (above)


above: blue oak twig & leaf, valley oak acorns

I arranged them on my flatbed scanner to document them, might incorporate them into work as acrylic image transfers...
(click on an image to see the leaves up close & personal)

mckinley park

Had a few spare minutes in East Sac, so decided to take Sparky for a walk around McKinley Park - one of the big old zelkova trees there -

finished work

Finished the pieces I had been working on & delivered them last week to the art show at the Davis Cemetery they were created for. Getting around to posting them now in an effort to catch up on postings.


"Renewal"
acrylic image transfer from digital capture in mixed media collage on 16x20" canvas


"Breath"
acrylic image transfers from digital capture in mixed media collage on 24x30" canvas


I'll post more about the meaning in these soon on my Visions of Heaven blog -

studio work!!

After a great break in Yosemite with the family, it's time to hit the canvas to make my Friday deadline for the Davis Cemetery pieces - (check out the Sept 22nd entry)

This morning, with the acrylic transfers still wet & the collage work drying, I applied the texture to several spots as well, but white on white doesn't show up much in this photo...

Had to use the heat gun to get it all to dry enough to keep working and by this evening I've got all the basic pencil work done.

Tomorrow I'll get the painting started & just keep at it until I make the deadline...

until next time

Oct 11, 09
midday
Yosemite Valley
warm, sunny

Visited the Ansel Adams Gallery after checking out to of the motel this morning, pretty cool with real darkroom prints by the man himself, as well as other nice work. Coming home with a calendar of John Muir botanical samples & notes, something different & wonderful.

We stop one last time in the valley before leaving, catching a view I had admired driving by but never had the chance to stop at before, looking east back into the valley across the Merced River.

A quad of images to create a panorama, something I'm playing with alot right now:

Raven in lower right corner one of a pair that made some noise at us but wouldn't cede their space to us, maybe hoping we'd leave something behind. So many of the animals here are no longer afraid of humans and see us rather as a source of food, we have to be careful for their good & ours.

Deidre's final stand in Yosemite - until next time.

more yosemite

10.10.09
Another clear sunny day in Yosemite Park -
morning

Bridalveil Falls at a trickle but still lovely-



A classic view of the Yosemite Valley - a flood of people at the vista point but the view is worth it. Amazing how the roads & river are hidden from view by the woods.

Phil, Dee & Sparky in a tourist shot.

Relief map utterly fascinates me: tracing our hike yesterday and our planned drive up to Glacier Point later.

Triptych of the Tunnel View:

A little later in the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias -

Roots of the Fallen Monarch-

Bachelor & Three Graces - I'm charmed by the names given to some of these trees.

The Grizzly Giant, estimated to be 1,800 years old - amazing how long some of these trees have been here - greatly humbled by their longevity & what changes have taken place while they slowly grew & persevered...



Carvings inside the California Tunnel Tree seem new by comparison, but still fascinate -

Under much direction Dee takes a shot of me with the California Tunnel Tree - I'm thinking it's not easy to be the child photographer of a photographer -

Little low wet spot with reeds growing & sunlight filtering down on young saplings.



Afternoon
Glacier Point
cooler at this higher elevation
still clear, just a slight breeze, more wind would be uncomfortable.

We came through patches of snow on the drive up - winter is coming and then they'll close the road. Until then people still flock from around the globe for this view. Little creatures scurry for food droppings not far from our feet -

Great shot Dee got of me while I hung out at the edge to catch the Valley Triptych - I just used my last pieces of Polaroid Type 55 that I have with me - more at home? I think so but I can't quite remember, I packed in a hurry - well, what better place to use the last of precious film?



Another directed shot: me with my faithful companion, Sparky before we head back to the motel for the evening.