Oh ... This and That ...

Buddy

   I've been working on a portrait for the past few days - a recently-departed friend. I have to call him that, as he was a dog with a deep soul. Buddy was my landlady's dog for over eleven years; she got him as a rescue dog [ he'd been found, wandering around local barns ] He had a very good, long life here, and he deserves all that I can put into his portrait.


  Some LOOSER, more passionate paintings are my goal over the next few months, so I was out this evening getting some landscape shots with good value contrast.

Stump mounting block, at one of the park entrances

 

Some great contrast here, on the path

You're right, it's not a value study, but the ladybug was so cute

Old early 20th c. schoolhouse

Old barn, with yours truly's shadow in the shot

A trio of cool trees

Just a Quickie ...

   A friend was over yesterday, showing photos of his recent tour in India. He works as a tour guide all over the world; next week he's off to Greece ... lucky hot-dog! His Indian pictures were fabulous, almost a visual overload; I can't imagine what it would be to experience the country for real. There were some very good shots of the most intriguing-looking people - you could see the strength in their faces, and the pain and joy in their eyes. I was quite taken by the photo at top, and have done a quick sketch. I think I'll try a painting of her as well.

Old Photos ... or ... Look What I Found!

Santorini photo

My painting

Portuguese fishing boats

My painting

  I had my mind set to put an old photo I knew I had [somewhere] on a new web site. I started looking, and two hours later had STILL not found it. But I did find a veritable treasure trove of old photos. The two above I used as reference for the two paintings. I remember starting the Santorini painting once, and not liking it. For some reason, I reversed my image, and re-did it, as you see it.
   I also found some photos my aunt took about twenty years ago, when at a conference in Athens. She and my mother did a bit of traveling around, and having an extremely good eye, my aunt took some fabulous photos. Some of them have such depth, atmosphere and color, they almost look like paintings now. So I took photos of them, and downloaded them into my computer photo file, and I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO GET TO THEM!!!!! You will see them over the next few months.