Patterns from Nature……

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nighthawk feathers

Found this beautiful pattern yesterday. It is the shoulder feathers of a common Nighthawk. These birds are rarely seen because they mainly forage for insects at dawn and dusk. Their call can often be heard at night and sounds like a frog.
Artistic I love the shape of these birds head and their markings strangely beautiful. Being able to zoom in on this bird and snap his picture was completely by chance and absolutely thrilling.

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Haunted Smokehouse……..

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haunted, photo, photograph, pioneer smoke house, smoke house image, southern living

Came across this old southern smokehouse…..and just had to stop to capture its image. The walls were made out of thick square shaped logs blacked with years of smoke . Took this photo on a misty morning. The low light and soft drizzle gave the smokehouse a haunted feeling. I chose an off set angle to enhance a sense of uncertainty. I can’t help to wonder what stories this place has to tell…….

Nature and the Artistic Process…..

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artist life, Mt. Washinton images, nature and art

Artist have drawn inspiration from nature for centuries, the names Cezanne and Monet are just two of many that pop to mind. I am basically a studio artist…(I really do not like fighting with the elements while painting)….. but I do find getting outside and the experiences nature has to teach as a vital component to my growth as an artist and person. Growing in the artistic sense in not enough….great art is a translation of what one sees through the lens of their experiences. Marc Chagall pops into mind when thinking about how experiences get masterfully translated on to the canvas.

Nature has a way of transforming us. If nature was ineffectual, then why did so many of early 20th century ‘Impressionist’ bother walking the European country side in search of color and composition?

Just recently my family traveled to the North Eastern side of the United States. During our travels we hiked a lot and one place we hiked was Mount Washington in New Hampshire.

We hiked up to Tuckerman’s Ravine. The hike took us nearly 4 hours to complete.

The hike was brutal. The upward incline was constant and steep, because of this we often had to stop for short breathers. Below are a few pictures of the snow muffled forest and rugged mountain views that we saw on our way up.

I can’t wait to see how the experiences of that hike effect my painting. The calmness of the forest and the biting cold still remain a part of my memories. The snow casted blue shadows and the trees standing strong like giants will somehow be translated into form and color on a canvas. But even if these images take on forms that look nothing like the pictured images- I won’t consider this experience a waste of time. This experience changed me as a person and for that I am very thankful.

Hope you can get outside sometime this week…..and let the experiences you have change the way you see.

Sabi

Chair Sharing Lizard Style…….

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lizard, lizard image, nature in pictures

On some Saturdays I do historical interpretation at a beautiful old southern house called Traveler’s Rest. On this particular Saturday business was slow, so I sat down in this old rocker. Got up and on my return found this little lizard hanging out on the back of my chair.

His crooked tail and somber eyes made my heart skip a beat. Always been a sucker for skinny guys.